Page 51 of Sainte
“Well, that was my original plan, but since the owners are closely connected with you, I have a better idea. I want to buy him out. I don’t care what it costs. The MC will take over the business, minus the trafficking of course.” He chuckles. “Hell, I own a strip club. Why not a sex club?”
“What if he doesn’t wanna sell?” Michael asks.
Ice shrugs, even though Michael can’t see him. “Then you make him an offer he can’t refuse,” he says in his very lame Marlon Brando impersonation.
The three of us burst out laughing. I know the situation isn’t funny, but I love how we can all appreciate a little humor now and then.
“Let me see what I can do. Sit tight for now, and I’ll be in touch.”
“Thanks, Michael,” Ice says.
“Sainte, you staying out of trouble?”
I laugh. “Of course.”
He laughs and disconnects the phone.
“So we wait,” Ice says.
“Yep, but I want to get to know the Master. I want to know his connection to Santino.”
Ice shakes his head. “No, I don’t want you sniffin’ around there while Michael is trying negotiate a deal for us. Just let them be for now.”
“But—”
“No, Sainte,” he says, cutting me off. “Be patient.”
“Fine, you’re the boss.”
“Damn straight I am,” he says, laughing. I can’t help but join him. He looks at his watch. “I gotta go. Emma and I need to be at Gage House in an hour to get Brianne. It’s in Erie, so we need to leave now.”
“Need help?” I ask.
“Nope, you stay here with Honey. How’s that going by the way?” He gets up and walks toward the door.
I follow him. “Good, better and better every day.”
He reaches for the knob. “Good, that’s what I wanna hear.”
We step out into the clubhouse and find the girls, all of them, gathered at the bar. “All of them” sounds like there are so many, but lately, with Tara added to the mix and Brianne coming, we are getting overrun with women. Not that it’s a bad thing.
Ice walks straight to Emma. “You ready to go?”
She smiles, “Yes, I have been waiting for this day for a long time.”
“I told you, sweetheart, we’d save her. Took a while, but now hopefully she’s whole, and we can help her move on with her life,” Ice says.
Emma beams at him as if he is her hero. I guess he is.
“Where ya’ll going?” Honey asks.
Emma says cheerfully, “We’re bringing Brianne home!” Nope, she’s not excited.
“Oh yeah, that’s right,” Honey says and turns toward Tara. “I need to get her room ready. I was too tired last night and thought I could get it done early this morning. Care to help me?”
Tara is like Honey’s shadow now and quickly says, “Yes.”
Honey looks at me as if to ask if it is okay, and I nod. They both head upstairs.
