Mad Delights by Beth D. Carter

see what he’d say.
    Dax folded his arms. “I’d say I’d feel like second choice. That I wasn’t as good as Romeo.”
    “You could say that,” she replied. “But you’ve felt the chemistry too. I know you have. There’s something between us.”
    He didn’t say anything for a long moment. His gaze never faltered from hers. “Why don’t you start by telling me where you can get that type of weaponry. Then I’ll consider the offer.”
    She bit her lip. If she told them who she really was, would they turn away? Her family wasn’t one anybody liked to fuck with. Reputations were a very nasty burden to shed.
    “I thought not,” he said, turning away. “Come on, Rome, we have to talk to Hook.”
    She watched them walk away, frustrated. She’d pushed too soon. Damn.
     
    * * * *
     
    Shantel dialed the number she knew by heart and waited for the other line to pick up. It rang twice before a deep male voice greeted her.
    “Is he there?”
    Shantel watched Romeo Barrigan from her concealed spot. The big man had on an arm sling and he looked to be arguing with his enforcer, Dax, and some whore. “I am,” she said.
    “How does he look?”
    “Rattled.”
    The man laughed. “Good. Perhaps killing that prospect wasn’t a waste after all. Is Boone there too?”
    She shifted her gaze but didn’t see the vice president of the Men of Hell. Instead, the enforcer walked with Romeo and they joined two others talking with the remaining whorehouse bodyguard.
    “No, he’s not here.”
    “Well, that’s okay. The next part of the plan will begin shortly. Once we eliminate both men, Bair will be ours. Good work, baby,” the man praised.
    “I didn’t do much,” she murmured.
    “You did enough. Come on home and I’ll give you a real sweet treat.”
    Shantel grinned. “On my way, lover.”
    She ended the phone call and stuffed the cell into her pocket. She’d get rid of it on her way back home to her man. With one last lingering look at the destruction she’d helped create, she walked away happily humming.
     
    * * * *
     
    “What the hell happened?” Romeo asked Hook.
    “I don’t know,” Hook replied. A cut had been bandaged on his forehead and his left wrist was wrapped up. “Drifter and I were on duty and I went outside to call my girl. The next thing I knew, something exploded. Drifter… Shit. He was in there, Romeo.” His voice cracked and he squatted in an obvious effort to hide his emotions.
    Romeo certainly didn’t blame him. Two men inside a week. What the fuck was going on?
    “Hey, Romeo,” Sheriff Wilson said behind him. He turned around and shook the cop’s hand. Wilson had been on the MOH payroll for years, looking the other way whenever they had their suppliers come to town. No doubt he’d been on the Shanks payroll too.
    “Hello, Tony,” Romeo greeted wearily.
    “Do we know what happened?”
    “Looks like a gas line popped.”
    Dax snorted. “That’s bullshit. Not with what happened to Babyface.”
    Tony cocked his head. “What happened to Babyface?”
    “Same as what happened to Mendoza,” Romeo replied.
    “Shit,” Tony whispered. “My deputies are still working that crime scene.”
    “So you know about the Shanks?”
    “Yeah. What the hell is happening in this town, Romeo?”
    Romeo shook his head. “I’m not sure.”
    “Six people died tonight,” the sheriff snapped. “From what I’ve managed to gather, two were customers, two were working girls, Candy Box and Drifter. Your people.”
    Romeo closed his eyes in despair. “The back of the Whiskey Lick Her was targeted.”
    “Yes,” the cop agreed. “There’s a shitload more casualties. I don’t know if I’ll be able to make sure this doesn’t interest the feds.”
    Romeo nodded. “I’ll find a way to compensate you.”
    “Of course you will.” Tony rested his hands on his hips and narrowed his eyes. “Does someone want to take over your trade route?”
    Romeo glanced at Dax. Yeah, that thought had crossed