Page 27

“Natalia is the best person I know.”

Wizard winced when Tink slammed an empty mug onto the bar.

“I can’t believe you were that stupid!”

His shoulders snapped back at the insult. He couldn’t really argue with her, but it was still disrespectful of her to say it to his face.

“Slow your roll, Tink. I made that bet when I was fucking exhausted from trying to manage the money this club goes through like water through a fucking sieve. Our suppliers are jerking us around by raising their prices, forcing us to increase the prices of our goods. Ask me how well that’s going over with our customers. Then I came here, wanting nothing more than a cold beer and some sleep, only to have the price of a septic tank thrown at me. Hell, I was in such bad shape that I would have bet I could convince the Duchess of York to join the club if it brought the price down. That doesn’t mean I could’ve done it, but I would’ve given it a shot.”

“Natalia already thinks I’m crazy for working here,” Tink fumed, “or for ever getting involved with Doom. How am I supposed to go to work tomorrow and face her? I’m sure she’ll think I knew about the bet!”

“Some stool pigeon didn’t fill you in?” Wizard stared at her intently, gauging whether she was telling the truth. “And you didn’t rat me out to her?”

If looks could kill, he would have dropped dead on the spot.

“If I’d known, you can bet I would’ve told her!” Tink’s hand returned to the handle of the empty mug as if she intended to coldcock him with the heavy glass.

“Then how did Natalia find out?” He shifted his gaze from her to survey the crowded room. Who did he have to thank for the shit show that had just gone down? He was going to make it his personal mission to find whoever had spilled information that should have stayed inside the club.

A mixture of emotions crossed Tink’s face. Doom’s wife knew who the culprit was, but hell would freeze over before she told him.

“That’s your mystery to solve.”

Why could nothing involving women ever be easy?

Accepting that Tink wasn’t going to tell him, Wizard tried to cover his tracks. “I called off the bet this morning.”

Tink gawked at him in disbelief. “Is that supposed to make it better that you made it in the first place?”

“Judging by your reaction, I guess not.”

Deciding he was wasting his time, Wizard left Tink to plan his untimely death and walked to his booth. He’d find the motherfucker on his own. He didn’t need anyone’s help.

“Doom!” he bellowed across the room.

Doom took his time finishing filling a plate with food before coming to see what Wizard wanted.

Once he sat down, Wizard gave him a hard look. The brother began eating, completely unconcerned.

“I want you to get Tink to tell you who snitched on me to Natalia.”

“Fuck no. Brother, you’re on your own where that’s concerned. I have to live with Tink. There’s no way I’m moving back in here just because you want me to do your dirty work.”

Wizard eyed him malevolently. “I miss the good old days, before Tink ever set foot through our door.”

“Sorry, but I don’t. I love Tink, and as long as The Last Riders don’t do something to screw it up for me, I’m pretty set on staying with her.”

“Fuck you,” Wizard said without any real heat. “You owe me.”

Both of Doom’s eyebrows rose. “For what?”

“You stole Tink from me. She should’ve been mine.”

Doom picked up one of the garlic knots Natalia had brought. “You never would’ve stood a chance with her. In case you haven’t noticed, I don’t think she likes you very much.”

Both men looked toward the bar, where Tink was glaring at them as she stacked the empty food containers.

“Brother, I don’t think she likes you any more than she likes me right now.”