Alliance – Chapter 27

I looked at the men in shock.  Not only was Chill not surprised to see Parker, but they went way back. That was information I should have gotten long before this moment.  I didn’t fully understand what was going on yet, so I remained quiet and sized up Chill.

No matter how many times I saw Chill, his appearance was always startling to me.  His hair was spiked and dyed the same shade of blood red as his contact lenses.  His lanky figure was always shrouded in black clothing and I could tell he kept his complexion ghostly white on purpose.

“So, the two of you are friends,” I said finally.

“Do not be cross, Songbird,” Chill answered.

“Cross, Chill?  No, I am beyond that.  I knew you were hiding something from me when I asked you about him.”

“Ramsey wanted for you to draw your own conclusions about him without any outside information from me.”

I narrowed my eyes.  “Really?  How nice.  Should I also assume that all of the information you’ve sold me is bogus as well?”

Chill took a swig of his beer.  “I am not in the business to betray my customers.”

“You could have fooled me.  The only question I still have is why I’m even here right now.”

“Keep your voice down.”  Parker leaned forward in his chair and said, “I’m telling you this because you need to know Chill is in this with us.”

“Oh?” I said, picking up my drink from the table. Too late, I realized it was the drink I said I didn’t want.

“If Raptor wants to set up a deal in this town, he will contact me,” Chill answered, smug.

“That’s right,” Parker agreed, “Raptor will need someone to hook him up with a crew and all of the specs needed to pull off a job.  It’s just a matter of time now.”

I looked Chill squarely in the eyes.  “Were you just toying with me when you warned me about him?”

Chill shook his head with purpose.  “No.  I still think this cat is one dangerous dude.  We may go way back, but I would sleep with one eye opened around this one.”

“You always sleep with one eye opened, Chill, regardless of who it is,” Parker joked.

Chill stood up.  “That is true, Ramsey.  Sorry, but like I told you on the phone earlier, I have got some business to attend to in a few.  I’ve got to jam.”  He turned his gaze on me.  “Always a pleasure, Songbird.”

I sat in silence long after Chill left us, sipping on my drink.  Parker eyed me, but seemed to know enough to keep his mouth shut until I was ready.  Finally, I said, “Is there anything else I should know, Ramsey?”

Parker shrugged.  “It was Chill who first gave me your number to contact you about the job, but I’m sure you’ve already figured that out by now.  Of course, he doesn’t have a clue who you really are yet.”

“Well, at least I’m not the last one to know everything.”

“There’s no reason for dramatics, Skylar.”

Oh, did he want to see dramatics? “It isn’t being dramatic if I’m right. I don’t like being lied to.”

“I haven’t lied to you.” His leg brushed against mine when he leaned close. “So, yes, you are overreacting right now.”

“I am not…and you did.”

“You never asked me if I knew Chill.” He reached out to straighten the silver rose dangling from my choker – or, I assume that’s what he did. His hand lingered for a moment, fingertips grazing my neck. “So, why don’t we fast forward through the part where you acknowledge I’m right and get on with the conversation?”

With the exception of Raptor, I don’t think I’ve ever hated someone as much as I hated Parker Ramsey right now.

Even more annoying was the distraction of his leg brushing against my bare legs. I couldn’t stay sufficiently mad when his close proximity was wreaking havoc with my hormones. This had to be the result of the alcohol.

All five sips of it…

“Why is Chill in this with us?”

“We already answered that for you.”

“No,” I replied, shaking my head, “I want to know the real reason.”

Parker sighed.  “His brother worked with us on that last heist.  He met the same fate as everyone else.” His hand slid across the table to cover mine. “Chill wants revenge and he’s every bit as motivated as you are.”

We’d just have to see about that.

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