Page 99 of Riordan's Revenge
But right as we passed out of sight of the front of the building, I spied something that sent my blood pressure skyrocketing. The door opened, and three women in the club’s black-and-pink uniform emerged with trays of what looked like cocktails, presumably as a gesture of goodwill to the assembled masses.
Cassie was leading the way.
Chapter 31
Cassie
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Lara peered out from behind me, her tray of espresso martinis balanced on one hand.
Genevieve’s drink of choice, caffeine fiend that she was.
I’d got a taste of them and was now hooked.
“How to make friends and influence the influencers,” I quipped back. “A kind smile and a free drink will create happy thoughts about the warehouse and stop some of the bitching and the threat of further protests. I’ve been listening to what they’re saying, and the sniping about Divine needs to end. This is our mission. Are ye ready?”
My session of getting dressed with Dixie had revealed that the protesters outside were denting business. Not good for the women who needed to earn a wage. I’d come up with a solution to fix it and enlisted Clem’s help with rounds of drinks and some of her barmaids. None of us were technically working, but Lara and Moniqua had both agreed to uniform-up with me and do thecircuit. Even Lonnie, my replacement guard dog after Mick was needed elsewhere, had approved the plan.
The three of us moved out and offered the cocktails with winning smiles.
A couple operating a professional-looking camera took the drinks with surprised expressions.
“Compliments of Divine’s hardworking team,” I told them.
I repeated the phrase to a group of ladies who were prepping to record. They cleaned out the rest of my tray.
“You work here?” one asked. She fished a metal straw out from her bag to sip the drink without ruining her makeup.
I confirmed it. “The warehouse is the best employer. We’re a family.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Isn’t it exploitative?”
“Only when it’s men at the top. When you have women running the show and helping each other, it’s a whole different picture.”
“Wait, there isn’t a head pimp guy living off the women?”
“Nope. Not at all. Only protecting them.”
Her eyebrows drifted up, and her gaze moved from me to the front of the clubs.
I hid a smile and turned around, ready to go recharge my tray and make a second loop. This was working. It was what I’d?—
A pair of cops blocked my path.
I tilted my head, appraising the two big men. “Oh, hello.”
Then my focus fell on the person behind them. Inch-perfect brown hair, elegantly greying at the temples. A smart casual business suit over a slim figure. The mayor of Deadwater was here, and not ten feet away from me.
I took an excited little rush of breath. Of course he’d come. Every person with any kind of audience was here to report on Bronson’s confession. Trust the mayor to steal some of that limelight and spin this as his success.
His gaze locked on mine.
I popped my hip out, my tray aloft on the other hand. Used correctly, it would make a great weapon.
All of a sudden, a shoulder hit my belly and I was airborne. Strong arms clamped my legs, and wide-eyed, I dropped the tray. But no part of me was confused by the identity of my skeleton-masked captor.
Riordan stormed through the throng, bypassing the cops and ignoring all, including his father, on his quest to return to the warehouse. His heavy biker boots hit the cobblestones in thuds, and his strong fingers indented my thighs.
“Stop, right there,” one of the cops called.