DAX
“What do you say about going to Santa Monica? Then we can play at the pier as well as lay out?” Tilly asked.
“Oh my God, yes! It’s been ages since I’ve been out there!” Harper exclaimed, pinning me with a hopeful look.
I rolled my eyes. “Whatever you guys want to do is fine.”
The beach was never something that I really loved but I knew Harper did.
I was far too pale and burned no matter what I did or how much SPF one thousand I put on.
We’d already stopped in a town along the way where I picked up a simple bikini for the day, and they thankfully took electronic pay, since I only had my phone.
If anyone from the Empire caught me, they would think I’ve lost my mind acting all soft, but for Harper I would do anything to help keep our friendship intact.
If that meant getting roasted in the sun then I’m fucking doing it.
“Wherever we end up, I need a drink, preferably a margarita,” Tilly stated. “Why is it so goddamn hot this summer? It hasn’t rained in like two months.”
“We can’t have it all, even if they say California is paradise,” Harper chuckled.
I glanced at the rearview mirror and noticed a nondescript tan Ford Taurus was still following us.
We’d picked up it up once we left the town twenty minutes ago and I didn’t like how it always seemed to linger a few cars back.
Granted, there weren’t many exits out here until we got closer to the more metropolitan area, but it still gave me a nagging feeling.
“Hey, can we stop somewhere along the way? I just want to get a few personal items from one of my buildings,” I called up to the front.
Of course, being the smallest, I took the back bench seat so Harper could have the leg room.
“Sure, where is it?” Tilly asked, watching me in the mirror.
“Near Saugus in the warehouse district,” I shared. “Once we get closer, I’ll direct you. It’s pretty off the beaten path.”
“Where else would a self-respecting criminal mastermind put their building? Next to a Walmart?” Tilly joked, giving me a wink.
As we exited off for Santa Clarita the Taurus continued on, setting me a little more at ease, but I still wasn’t convinced we were out of the woods just yet.
We wove our way around the city as I gave directions, purposely making it more difficult than it needed to be—just in case they switched cars on me.
That, and I didn’t want Tilly to be able to tell anyone about this location if she was ever taken or tortured.
“You sneaky bitch, this is right next to the railway,” Tilly said, giving me a knowing look as we pulled up to a battered warehouse with no signage. “How very convenient for you and your business.”
“Location, location, location.” I grinned. “You two wait here. I’ll be just a sec.”
Popping open the small jump door, I escaped into the blazing sun reflecting off all the metal roofs as I made my way through the parking lot.
There were only three cars parked outside, letting me know that Carol was working the front desk and would let me in.
I knew this location had gotten a few new faces that didn’t know me yet and would have made things more challenging.
I got up to the door, which I knew would be locked, and hit the speaker button.
It crackled a few times before a voice that sounded like gravel answered. “If you’re delivering, you’re late, go around back.”
I couldn’t help but grin, Carol hated nothing more than tardiness. One of the many reasons she still worked for me at seventy years old. “Carol, it’s Dax, I need to grab a few things out of the office.”
“Oh, hello, sweetie, let me buzz you in.” Seconds later the door buzzed, and I entered.
The inside of the office area reeked of cigarettes, since I let Carol smoke inside—seeing as she was too old to be walking out back fifty times a day for her fix.
We never had inspections since I paid everyone off, so it’s not like anyone was gonna know about it.
When I rounded the corner, I found her standing next to her desk, flapping her hand at me.
She looked as if she could be anyone’s grandmother, short permed white hair, wearing khaki slacks, a god-awful floral print shirt, with a cream sweater over it, and a Kleenex tucked up her sleeve.
“Come here and give me a hug. It’s been ages since you’ve been by,” Carol wheezed. As I hugged her, she squeezed my head against her boobs like she was trying to smother me. “What can I do you for?” she asked once I was freed.
“Shit’s about to hit the fan, Carol. I’ve got the De León Cartel and the Mad Dogs after me, wanting to take over my turf,” I answered honestly. “You might want to think about taking a trip to go see your daughter in Portland for a bit. We’ll be able to manage this place with one of the others.”
“The fucking hell you will. This is my goddamn warehouse and I’ve been looking after it for forty years!
For fuck’s sake, Dax, it’s why you kept me on when you took over the smuggling ring who started it,” Carol groused.
“My daughter’s a total cunt as it is. Staying with her would kill me just as fast as sitting right here doing my job, making sure we get what we need in and out. ”
I leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. “This is why you’re the best, Carol. Don’t you let anyone tell you differently.”
“I’d shoot the little shit right in the kneecap if I caught wind of that talk going on around here.”
“Man, why couldn’t you have been my mom? I feel like I would have been way more successful with your kind of attitude.” I smirked.
Carol tweaked my nose. “Sweetie, you’re the spitting image of me when I was your age. Now go get what you need and give ’em hell.”
Flashing her a bright smile, I headed off to the back office that Weston and I would work out of if we needed to be on location for a deal or something.
Placing my hand on the scanner first, then inputting my ten-digit passcode, the door snicked open.
The office wasn’t fancy, just like the rest of the building, but its outward appearance was deceiving.
Why waste your time looking around a space that looked like it was from the sixties with sagging, yellowed ceiling tiles from water damage.
There was a large inspirational poster, a desk, filing cabinets, and a credenza to fill the space.
Heading over to the filing cabinet, I pulled the whole thing back, revealing a gun and supply rack filled with everything I could possibly need.
We used it to showcase our merchandise, but since I know the boss, I decided to borrow a few things, as well as grab some cash.
Grabbing a small duffle, I tossed in some boxes of nine mil ammo, two extra clips already loaded, and two of my favorite Smith he’d never been able to stick up for himself.
Now here I was alone, with him buried in the ground, because I was too selfish and wanted my own life.
I watched Harper as she scoured the beach for the best spot, ready to claim it the moment she found it, further resolving my need to protect her.
This wouldn’t be another instance of not being able to come back here with my family. Not this time.