"None of that means much to me."
"Possibly, it doesn't need to," Lawman says, downing the scotch. He sets the shot glass on the table gently, allowing his fingers to circle the rim. "Or possibly, a man in your position ought to be able to feel the heat on his back."
"I can't tell if that was a threat."
"I don't threaten people," Lawman says, smiling in a way that makes me believe he's telling the truth. "Too many people make threats these days. How many guys playing tough guy end up pissing their pants the minute trouble arrives? I'd say a majority of them. No, threats are a waste of time."
"But I should worry."
"Between us, just two men with no particular allegiance to the powers in this part of the world, I'd say you should worry. People die exceptionally easy around here. I don't particularly think anyone is interested in targeting you or the sister of a club president. People aren't stupid, but they can be sloppy. The McLaughlins cause problems. The Deadly Dogs cause problems. There are a whole lot of other groups in a hundred mile radius who cause problems. You and Sawyer Johansson could easily become collateral damage."
"So we should run?"
"No, you should duck," he says, standing up and taking his hat. "Or learn to use human shields like the McLaughlins. People take shots at them all the time."
Leaning back, I cross my arms. "This felt like a pointless chat."
"I get paid for showing up here and give you a warning. They didn't specifically tell me what to warn you about. I know your club isn't treading into enemy territory. I figured I'd use our chat to say what I wish someone would have warned me about."
Lawman adjusts his hat and glances around. "These people are nuts, so watch your back."
Watching us, Sawyer's always been protected by the Reapers. Her father was a killer. Her brothers are killers. Her sister once tasered a local cop. Most of her friends are married to killers. Threats are quickly eliminated in Ellsberg. They're eliminated the same way here except we're the threats in Last Dollar.
Returning my focus to Lawman, I say, "I won't claim we're leaving, but I can tell you this'll likely be our last chat."
Lawman gives me a nod before curling a finger for Bodie to join him. She leaves her chair immediately, and I frown at her obedience. Before I can wonder when she lost her balls, she walks around the bar to say hello to ten people before finally arriving in front of Lawman.
"Nice hat," Colbie says, grabbing it from Lawman while he looks at her sister.
"Snickers has gone missing," Lawman says to Bodie.
Bodie shrugs. "I hope he killed himself in a really painful way."
"Do you happen to know where he might be?"
"Which chunk?" she asks, grinning big for him while Colbie stands on my table and howls.
Lawman snaps for Colbie to return his hat. This command spurs her to jump on another table and howl again.
"I didn't think that would work, but a man has to try," he tells me. "So, Bodie, if you happen to come upon Snickers, and he's still breathing, help the poor fuck out, will ya? His mom is worried."
"I seriously doubt she cares."
"Fine, his club is worried. You shouldn't want them wondering if your houseguests are the reason he's missing."
"I'm not even an itty bitty titty scared, but A-plus for effort."
Bodie walks away. Colbie follows while throwing Lawman's hat at him. He returns the hat to his head and adjusts it slightly.
"Visiting Last Dollar is always a pleasure," he says to me, and I hear the warning in his words.
Lawman leaves with as much ease as he arrived. Joining Sawyer at the bar, I hope she realizes our home is a thousand miles away in shark-infested water where we don't play the role of bait.
Chapter 35
Sawyer
Tall, Tall Trees
Even after weeks with the McLaughlins, I have no idea what most of their errands involve besides driving around and talking to people. Never do I sense the conversations have anything to do with business. In fact, most of their meetings sound like gossip.
With Bodie and Jace running an errand elsewhere, I'm stuck with Colbie who hasn't heard a story she can't make longer. Boredom setting in, I doze off in Colbie's SUV.
"What do you normally do during the summer?" she asks after slamming the door and waking me.
"Swim, read by the pool, eat by the pool, and swim again."
"You live a complicated life, Miss Future Todds."
"I'm not changing my name."
Colbie snorts but says nothing. We finally arrive at the Hidey-hole where I'm able to sit under an air conditioning vent and drink a beer.
"I like chips," Colbie says to her dog.
"I think he already knows that."
Colbie studies me. "So you and Jace are happily ever after now?"
Nodding, I down half of another beer. "Even after all the bullshit and pain and more bullshit we've experienced, I'm happy when I'm with Jace. There's no explaining it except no other man will do. I hope you find that one day."
"I will. I'm too amazing not to."