Chapter 31
Ronnie didn’t get out of his lap, though he’d thought for a minute, as she’d pinned him with that glare that she was going to get up and go somewhere else.
She hadn’t, but she had a stiffness to her back that hadn’t been there before.
He didn’t like it, but at least she wasn’t mad enough to not want him touching her.
“We raided the house where his cousin has been staying this morning.” Gavin sat hunched forward, his elbows resting on his knees, coffee mug cupped in both hands between them. “We brought in one Jim Bob Jennings, and have been questioning him.”
He hadn’t thought it possible but her back grew stiffer as she sat up, ready to protest something, but she stayed quiet.
“We’re not looking to keep him. We’re looking to flip him.
” Gavin looked up from where he’d been staring at his coffee mug as if the answer to all the worlds problems was hidden at the bottom, and met his sister’s gaze.
“Once we’re done, I’ll make sure he’s turned over to you so you can take him and get your cut of his bond. ”
She relaxed slightly, it seemed some of the tension was draining out of her, but Demon couldn’t be sure what she was thinking or why she was less tense.
Gavin dropped his head again. Demon wasn’t sure he was even seeing the mug he seemed to be watching so closely, or if he was seeing something else entirely, something from today, from longer ago? Who knew.
“He only had a few names, and no proof on any of them but one. That was an important one, he was able to give us the name of the person who got him into the deal with the Devils.”
“The lead up tells me I’m not going to like this.”
Ronnie reached down and picked up one of Demon’s hands, he watched as she wove her fingers among his and set both hands in her lap. The gesture warmed something in him. Maybe she was getting as attached to him as he’d quickly become to her.
“Just spit it out.”
Gavin looked up, the pain in his eyes was clear even to Demon as he met Ronnie’s gaze. He was silent for several seconds.
“It was Dad, Rica.”
All the air left her body. Demon couldn’t help but notice the way her shoulders slumped, and she sagged against him. He didn’t move. All he could do was be here for her as she faced this.
“What does this mean?” she asked, her voice soft, as if she didn’t have the strength to speak any louder.
Gavin sighed. “It means you have some decisions to make.”
“What do you mean?”
“Do you really want the bail bonds business or is it something you’ve done to get by and maybe in hopes of getting on Dad’s good side?”
Ronnie scowled. “Why? What does it matter if I ‘really’ want it or not?” She used one hand to make air quotes around the word really.
Gavin sat up, set his mug on the table between them, then pinched the bridge of his nose.
“I had to recuse myself as soon as the tie to Dad was uncovered, so I’m not getting information as quickly as I would like.
I’ll get it, it will just take longer. In the mean time, with my experience with the agency, as well as what I know about Dad, here’s what I predict will happen.
” He took a deep breath. “I think they’re going to find evidence tying the business to Dad’s illegal activities, which will make the whole kit and caboodle subject to seizure. ”
Her breath caught in her throat. Demon wouldn’t have caught it if she wasn’t in his lap, but he did. He used one hand to rub small, hopefully soothing, circles on her back while she still held his other in her lap.
“What does that mean?”
“That means that the government can take it all.”
“Where does that leave me?” She sounded lost.
Demon didn’t know if it was because she was devastated at the thought of losing the business or what could possibly happen to their father.
“This is why I asked if you really want to be in the bail bonds business. Do you want the business or was it just easy? Is there anything you think you’d rather be doing?
Maybe go back to school, get into a totally different field.
Do something where you’re not chasing idiots who can’t get their lives together and be doing something you enjoy for a change. ”
“How? Even if I want to go back to school, and I’m not saying I do, but if I did, how would I live? I need the money from taking Jennings in to make my rent next month.”
“We’ll figure it out. I’m not saying it would be easy, but the opportunity is there.”
“And if I want the business? What then?”
Gavin took another deep breath. “Then I try to call in some favors.” He shook his head slowly. “I can’t guarantee it will work, that I’ll have enough pull to be able to save it, but if you really want the business, if you want to run it, I’ll do what I can.”
Ronnie sat so still that if he hadn’t felt her breathing, he would have wondered if she was even awake. She was quiet for long enough that he was considering asking if she was okay when she finally spoke.
“Can I have some time to decide?”
Gavin nodded. “Yeah.” He nodded again. “We have some time. They were on the way over to pick Dad up when I left to come back this morning. Things don’t move quickly, but I wouldn’t take too long to decide, a few days, maybe a week at the outside.
I’ll need time to talk to people if you determine you want it.
And like I already said, I may not even be able to pull it off. ”
She sat quiet and still long enough that Demon started to worry, but he kept his mouth shut. Instead of asking what she was thinking or trying to distract her, he let her be. The hand on her back continued to work in small circles.
After ten minutes, she released his hand and scrambled from his lap.
"I can't just sit here staring at the walls. What’s the plan?"
"I don't know about you two," Damon stood and reached both hands toward the ceiling enjoying the stretch and pull of his muscles before relaxing, “but I need to get some sleep. Even if it's just a couple of hours."
"Is the office even going to be open today?" Ronnie looked at Gavin, her hands on her hips.
"I'm sure it will be, even if the government takes everything and the business closes, it will take time.
But there's nothing saying you can't take a day off.
If you're worried about it, call the office and see if anything new has come in.
One day, or even three or four days taken off won't hurt you. "
"So says you," she scoffed. "I'm going to be the one scrambling for the money to cover rent." She threw her arms in the air, as if that would convince him.
Demon watched the two of them in silence. He wanted to speak up and tell her not to worry about it. He didn’t because then she would demand to know why, then she would argue when he told her he would pay it.
He wasn't up for that argument, not until he'd gotten some sleep at least.
"What's about you?" She looked at him, her hands on her hips once more.
"What about me? I told you, I need sleep."
"I get that." She waved one hand in a dismissive gesture. "Where?"
He lifted one shoulder and let it fall. "I was thinking I'd borrow your bed, if you don't mind.
" He didn't bother to look at her brother or check his reaction. Demon didn’t care about how Gavin felt about the two of them sleeping together or any other part of their relationship.
He wasn't part of it. Their relationship was between Demon and Ronnie, and hers was the only opinion he cared about.
"I don't mind. How would you feel about a little company?" Mischief glittered in her eyes.
"I'd love to have you there, firecracker, but whether you're with me or not, I'll only sleep as long as he's here and awake." He tilted his head toward her brother.
Ronnie watched him with narrowed eyes for several seconds. “Why?”
“Same reason I wouldn’t sleep last night.
If you’re here, someone has to be awake, just in case whoever is supposed to take you gets tired of waiting and decides to make their move.
I won’t put you at risk that even the few seconds it would take me to wake up and respond to a threat will be the ones that matter.
” Demon didn’t look away from her as he spoke.
Would he like to hold her in his arms while he slept?
Fuck yes. But he wouldn’t put her at risk, not even for that.
He’d been pushing it on the keeping her safe earlier while he’d taken her to bed, but he hadn’t been able to resist any longer, and at least he’d been awake and able to respond more quickly, should someone come in.
He watched as she turned, hands still on hips, to face her brother.
“Well, what are your plans? Are you going out to play cowboy some more or are you going to hang around here?”
Gavin stared at her for several seconds, his gaze flicked to Demon for a moment then went back to Ronnie.
“I’m here for at least a couple of hours. You can go lay down with him if you want, but I’d prefer not to have to listen to you two having wild monkey sex. Try to keep it down, will you?”
“I’m not planning on that, I’m just going to lie down with him for a little while, then I’ll come back out and we can talk.”
“Sure. I’d like some time to just visit with you.”
“Me too.” She glanced around the room. “I’m sure you’ve got something you can do for a little while, either for work or not, and you’re always free to watch the TV. I’ll be out in a while.” She turned back to Demon. He motioned for her to lead the way. She headed down the hall.
Demon met Gavin’s gaze, making sure the man planned to be here. When Gavin nodded once, Demon turned and followed Ronnie into the bedroom.