Chapter 44 #3
“She’s got bigger tits,” Ames points out.
Then her jaw drops and her eyes open wide.
For a moment, her eyes land on Pippa, and obviously realises the VP’s old lady’s story had relevance to her own situation.
“You’re suggesting that you’re going to make it look as if I died instead of her?
” She stops talking and looks around. Everyone, including me, is anxiously looking her way.
I don’t think any of us expect her to slap her hand on the table and announce, “That’s fucking genius.
” She even adds a strangled laugh. “Satin always said she was protecting me, then she turned and betrayed me. It’s poetic if in death she does what she couldn’t in life. ”
It seems like everyone’s taking a sharp intake of breath, and letting it out as a sigh of relief.
Then Ames grimaces. “If I’m dead, then Flynn gets my money. Won’t that paint a target on him?” She turns and gives me a look full of concern.
“I’ll, hopefully, get the insurance money from the policy Pippa concocted for your brother.
If the Bratva insist on you paying his debt, we’ll have that in our back pocket,” I tell her.
“As for your inheritance, Ames, I got no use for that kind of money. I make a decent living here at the club. Of course, I’d like to renovate my house or we can build one here on the compound instead.
What I’m saying is, whether or not it’s got my name on it, the money’s always going to be yours to do with what you want. ”
“Except for the club’s cut,” Stalker butts in with a wink.
“Babe…” I wait for her to face me. “I don’t think you’d have the same problems as Pippa.
The Russians have never met you, and all Volkov had was a picture.
You could dye your hair, that’s probably enough to throw him off.
If he gets the money, he’s got no reason to come looking for you.
And you could do what you want, you could even enroll for your studies at the University of Arizona in Tucson.
” I raise my eyebrow at Saint’s old lady, fully convinced now she can work fucking miracles.
And she doesn’t disappoint me as Pippa again leans forward. “Easy peasy to concoct a whole new identity for you. You tell me the credits you got, and your new persona will have them too.”
Ames’s eyes widen at Pippa’s confidence in her abilities. I squeeze her hand. “Pippa can do that,” I confirm.
“I’m not sure if I want to go back to my studies,” she says, thoughtfully. “I mean, I saw my future in helping law enforcement solve crimes. But how would that jell if I was here at the club? I could be working to take the club down.”
“She could be our cleaner! Bitches can be useful at times.” Lancelot chooses that moment to make his first contribution at church.
I start laughing, and once I begin, I can’t stop. I swallow my own saliva and begin to choke, Ames helpfully slapping my back. When I can control myself, I see everyone’s looking my way. I let them in on the joke. “Sounds like me when I first found my feet.”
“Fuck, we’ve redeemed one asshole, now we’ve got another?” Tempest shakes his head.
Lancelot holds up his hands, giving a puzzled, what the fuck have I said look.
Prez lets his fist hit the table. “What you do with your life doesn’t need to be decided right now.
Go to college, or don’t, that’s between you and Rat.
Working with law enforcement could be a conflict for the club, but it could have its good points.
It’s something to discuss. The real question is, are you ready to be dead?
To take on a new identity and leave Ames Stone behind. ”
“I’m not Ames Stone,” she reminds us. “I’m Ames Ellington. And I never really liked my name. Our parents named us after jewels…”
Genie frowns. “Malachi?”
“Malachite. A semi-precious green gem stone,” she enlightens him.
“Here’s your chance to come up with a name you really like,” Freak suggests.
Ames bites her lip. “I’d like something simple, and something that sounds somewhat similar to Ames, so it catches my attention. Like Jayne, perhaps.”
Jayne. I roll my lips around it, trying it out. I lean over and say, “I like that too.”
Bullseye interrupts. “Do you want to think on it?”
Ames, no Jayne, shakes her head. “I don’t give a damn about the money.
My parents were rich, but I can’t remember what our life was like.
My grandparents lived hand to mouth. His inheritance corrupted Malachi.
I’ve no relatives left, and I don’t want the shadow of the Russians hanging over my head.
I want to live, and not hide. And,” she glances around, “I’m growing to love this club, though, maybe the club girls will be an acquired taste.
” There are a few awkward laughs. “What I’m saying is, I don’t think I want to wait.
Satin tried to kill me. Let Volkov deal with the outcome that she did kill the golden goose.
” She pauses and looks at me. “I just don’t want him to come for Rattler. ”
Bullseye nods. “Then let’s plan.”