Read Online SHANK (A Wilde Crime Series) by j.a. kazimer - Free Book Online Page B

had kicked his ass in front of a casino full of people. A wealthy oil executive from last night’s game had tried to pursue a closer relationship with Frankie, in an empty elevator. He wound up with a black eye as did the guard pulling her off the guy. I scanned the rows of cars in the garage for Drew’s Mustang, narrowing in on it three lanes from the back.
    Frankie waited for me, leaning against the fender like a bad beer commercial. Drew was asleep in the driver’s seat. I approached her shaking my head. “You couldn’t have said a polite no thanks?”
    She frowned . “I tried, but he wasn’t taking no for an answer.”
    “I think he learned his lesson.”
    “Ian, I didn’t—”
    “It’s all right. We’re ahead forty grand.” Another ten thousand would be easy enough to scrape together. “Let’s get moving. We have to be in D.C. by six.” I opened the car door, motioning for her to get in.
    She slammed the door closed, narrowly missing my outstretched hand. “D.C.?”
    Damn , I’d forget to tell her. This was going to get messy. “We’re picking Clair up.”
    “The same Clair who ’d almost got you killed?” She bit out each word.
    I grinned. “The very same one.”
    “Are you insane?” her yell echoed off the concrete structure.
    “Not that I’m aware of.”
    “Why?”
    I wrapped my arms across my chest. “She saved my life,” I said, which was, in the strictest sense true. Frankie didn’t need to know about the Cayman deal. If she found out there would be hell to pay. She’d want in and I wasn’t about to put her in danger. Look at what had happened in the last twenty-four hours. She’d been accosted twice and I’d almost been arrested. Who knew what would happen if I took her to rob the bank?
    “ Do you love her?” she asked, her voice quiet.
    I chuckled. “Come on, you know better than that. Wilde’s don’t fall in love.” Or at least this Wilde didn’t. Sure, I’d said those three little words before, but I’d never meant them. Love was for other men. Guys that failed to calculate the odds, and more often than not lost.
    Frankie stared at me for a long minute. Finally she shook her and opened the car door and without another word she slipped inside. I climbed in after her and we set off. Silence filled the car for the rest of the trip to D.C., which was fine with me. After the last two days, I was happy to sit back and enjoy the peace. I should have known it wouldn’t last.
    ******
    “Ian?” Clair’s tone was uncertain.
    I gave her a smile , running my eyes along the soft curves of her body. She looked great, like a naughty Barbie doll in a pink wraparound dress. “Zoë didn’t tell you I was coming?” I asked with complete sincerity, even though I knew damn well she hadn’t. Mostly because I hadn’t said a word to Zoë. I wasn’t stupid. If Zoë knew what I had planned she’d keep Clair far from me.
    “No, she didn’t. ” Clair bit her bottom lip. “Maybe I should give her a call?”
    “Suit yourself,” I said with a Boy Scout smile, while inside I seethed. I needed Clair to trust me. The three of us, Drew, Frankie and me, stood there, waiting for Clair to make up her mind. I held my breath but kept my face unreadable. If she didn’t agree we were fucked. “It’s only a ride, sweetheart,” I promised, eyes radiating sincerity and charm. “You can trust me.”
    Frankie let out a snort and Clair grinned.
    I glared at Frankie. “Clair, these are my friends, Drew O’Dell and Frankie Hurley.”
    Drew stepped forward, kissing her hand. “It’s a pleasure. Ian’s told me so much about you.” Frankie rolled her eyes, but kept silent. Clair smiled, pulling her hand from his. “It’s nice to meet you, both,” she added looking at Frankie with interest. “Thanks for...the ride.”
    “ Those your bags?” I asked, wanting to get our little circus on the road. There were four large suitcases sitting behind her. She nodded, and I grabbed the closest