Gun Moll by Bethany-Kris, Erin Ashley Tanner Page A

cost,
James.”
    Mac lifted a brow,
refusing to show his annoyance and confusion. “First off, it’s Mac.”
    “Ah,” the
detective said, smiling, “your father is the James of the family, yes?”
    What in the hell
was this guy playing at?
    Mac didn’t give
him an answer.
    “How about I just
call you Maccari?”
    “How about you get
these fucking tools you call desk workers to enter in the bail money I just
paid them, approve the bond, and release Melina like the law demands?” Mac
asked, tired of the games.
    “They will,” the
man assured, “once we have a little chat. As I said, I find it interesting the
Pivettis have such a high-priced escort working one of their clubs, when we
both know they can have more than enough women to take care of that business.
Is the boss stepping up his game, Maccari?”
    Fuck this.
    “I have nothing to
say to you,” Mac said simply.
    And he never
would.
    Frankly, Mac had
no idea what the detective was going on about anyway. Melina had no ties to the
mob and whatever work she did as an escort had nothing to do with the Pivetti
family. This guy was pulling at straws and would come up with nothing. Mac didn’t
plan on helping him along in that game.
    “Funny, Melina
said the same thing. Nothing to say, no calls to make, no info to give. But
rest assured, Maccari, my department has been watching Guido’s club for a while,
as well as his crew and the rest of Luca Pivetti’s business. We caught a lucky
break with Melina being at the club. I’m sure the task force working the escort
scene won’t mind opening their case files to us so we can have a little look at
what they know, too.”
    Good to know.
    Mac didn’t give a
damn, nor did he know, what they could or would find.
    They could have
fun trying.
    His plan was
simple—get Melina the hell out of jail. As it were, she’d been in there all
weekend. Mac had waited until Melina was arraigned on false solicitation
charges the day before, and then that morning, he skipped down to the jail with
money in hand to bail her out.
    Nothing was ever
simple and Mac had a mess to clean now.
    The police was
just one of them.
    Mac smirked. “Then
I suppose my girl gave you everything you need to know.”
    “Well—”
    “The bail has been
paid,” Mac interrupted coolly. “I’d appreciate it if you released my
girlfriend.”
    Mac seriously
hoped Melina didn’t have a fit when she heard that little title. It wasn’t like
Mac had much of a choice. He could have brushed off the scuffle he had with Vin
the night at the club, but then Melina got arrested. Guido got wind of a woman
being arrested outside of his club for solicitation, and when he added in the
fact that the same woman had been the source of discontent between two of the
Capo’s guys … well, Mac had to make up something worthy to explain that shit
away to his Capo.
    So, Mac’s girl she
was.
    Melina would have
to suck it up until Mac came up with a better plan.
    “Do you often
allow your woman to dance with another man like she’s single and ready for the
taking?” the detective asked.
    Mac bristled at
the comment, but hid it well. “Watched that, did you?”
    The man grinned,
but said nothing.
    “Good to know you
pigs are inside the club. I’ll be sure to let Guido know, so he can make sure
you don’t get inside again.”
    The detective’s
haughtiness faded fast.
    “As far as who my
girl was dancing with in Guido’s club and what she was doing,” Mac continued
calmly, “I don’t think there’s very much to be concerned about. I invited her
to the club and while she was waiting for me to finish up some business, she
danced with another man.”
    “A man you clearly
took issue with.”
    “I handled it.
Vincent won’t make the mistake of pushing up on my girl again.”
    “Him, not her,”
the detective said, shaking his head.
    “Because he knows
better.”
    All made men did.
    Claimed women were
untouchable.
    Melina just got
branded, whether she wanted to be