“We didn’t order a stripper.” She smiles and eyes Candace. “I always wanted to say that to someone else. Who are you?”

“Candace—”

“Do you go by Candy Savage? That’s an excellent stripper name.”

“Because Lilah Fucking Love isn’t an excellent stripper name?” I challenge.

Candace laughs. “She’s right, Rick. It really does sound like a stripper name.”

Lilah glances between us and then gives me a deadpan look. “What do you want?”

“I need to reach Kane.”

“I told you on the phone that I’m not his keeper.”

“Just the woman that shares his bed that he’d also kill for?”

“He shares my bed and I’d kill for him,” she corrects. “Which does not make me his business manager.”

“He was supposed to meet me today,” I say. “Call him. Tell him, Savage—”

“I can’t call him. He’s dealing with an unexpected situation. He’ll call you when it’s contained.”

“That’s unacceptable.”

Lilah folds her arms in front of her and just stares at me.

“Tell him,” I add, “to shoot the motherfucker giving him trouble, and call me now.”

“Unlike me, and apparently you, Kane doesn’t just ‘shoot the motherfucker.’ But I will. Especially you.” She smiles like she enjoys the idea. I think she might.

“Okay then,” I say. “Let me tell you a story. Pocher, we both know you know Pocher, wants to kill Candace. He also wants to meet with her at six tonight. Candace is my Lilah. I not only sleep with her, I will kill for her which means that I’ll be killing Pocher tonight at six, and I’ll just let Kane deal with the aftermath. I’m sure the next guy in charge of the Society won’t have a hard-on to kill you the way Pocher does. And even if he does, I’m sure Kane can just chop his brother’s finger off, and make it all better.” I catch Candace’s arm. “Let’s go, baby.” We start to turn.

“Stop.”

I turn back to Lilah and arch a brow. “Yes?”

“You’re a fucking asshole.”

“And you’re a fucking bitch.”

“That’s true. Meet me at Stephanie’s diner in an hour. You found me. I’m sure you’re resourceful enough to find it.”

“I’ll follow the yellow brick road lined with M&M’s.”

“Don’t do anything stupid.” She turns and walks away.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE SAVAGE SERIES HERE:

THE POET

New York Times bestselling author Lisa Renee Jones brings a fresh, modern take to the thriller genre that will keep you guessing until the very end.

“The poet is a liar who always speaks the truth.” -Jean Cocteau

Some call him friend or boss.

Some call him husband or dad.

Some call him son, even a favorite son.

But the only title that matters to him is the one the media has given him: The Poet.