Chapter 12 #2
Phelan laughed. “My goodness, not at all. Of course not. I didn’t—I just meant my conversation with her that night. I warned her to be more careful.”
“For her safety?”
“Exactly. A woman like her shouldn’t be a cop. She’s small and fragile. Too pretty for her own good. She shouldn’t have been out by herself at all. She should’ve had you with her. No offense.”
It pissed me off that I almost agreed with him, at least in part. If only I’d been there that night. But not remotely for the reasons he was suggesting. Keira was a great cop, and I would never hold her back, even if we sometimes disagreed. She knew how to do her job.
The thugs who invaded her home took her by surprise. That could happen to anyone. Man or woman, cop or civilian.
But I smiled and nodded. “Right. Like you talk about on your show. Men need to be in charge of what’s theirs. Never show weakness.”
“Exactly.” He beamed at me like I was his star pupil. “Now, how about you? What industry are you in, Dean?”
I stuck my hands in my pockets, keeping my posture casual. “I’m a ski and snowboard instructor in the winters. Off-season, I’m a bartender.”
“But I suspect you’re eager to get more out of life. Take more for yourself than just working by the hour for someone else.”
“You read my mind.”
“If you’re looking for a new opportunity, I need salespeople.”
I stroked my jaw, feigning curiosity. This could be an opportunity to learn more about the guy. Get close to him. If I could stand engaging with him long enough to stay undercover.
“Yeah? I might be interested.”
“Natasha can give you an application.” Phelan sat forward.
“But here’s some free advice. The key is taking a stand at home first. Make sure Keira knows her place.
” He paused, his gaze turning appraising.
“Not that I fault you for being hoodwinked by a girl like Keira Marsh. That sexy little body? Her face? It would be hard for any man to resist.”
Yeah, no. Fuck this guy, and fuck his job opportunities. I wouldn’t make it working undercover for this fool.
Fury ignited in my chest, hot and immediate, and I barely managed to keep it from showing on my face. My hands stayed in my pockets as I stepped closer to him casually, like I was just shifting my weight.
I’d told Keira she shouldn’t provoke him. But she wasn’t here right now, and I had no problem doing it myself.
My plan had been to stay calm, but hey. Plans changed.
“But you’ve got to keep her in hand,” Phelan continued, oblivious. “Show her who’s boss at home. Who’s king of the castle, the big cock in the henhouse. You catch my drift?”
He laughed. I nodded, grinning.
And that’s when I lunged.
The first two fingers of my right hand jammed hard into his nostrils and squeezed, while my other hand clamped over his mouth to cover his scream. His eyes went wide as saucers, and his cowboy hat tumbled off his head and down behind the chair. His hair was limp underneath.
“I think I’ve heard enough,” I said quietly. “Now, it’s time for you to listen. You were talking about the importance of learning lessons. I’ve got one for you.”
Phelan started to struggle. I controlled him by squeezing my fingers tighter inside his nose. Tears streamed down his face. I leaned closer, keeping one ear out for Natasha and Keira, but there was no sound from the hall.
“You see, I wasn’t always a ski instructor. I used to kill people for a living. I was very, very good at it. My skills are slightly rusty, but I’m training up again, Donny. Just for you. Because you really are an inspiration.”
His face was turning red. His breath wheezed through his nostrils as he inhaled around my squeezing fingers.
Was I already breaking my vow? Some would call this violence. And it felt way too good. Making him suffer a little after how he’d treated Keira.
“I know you threatened Deputy Marsh the same night she was shot. I know all about it, Donny. How you were harassing a server. Making a nuisance of yourself. How you told Keira she’d made a big mistake, because you ‘know people. Important people.’”
Phelan shook his head frantically, his eyes bugging out even wider.
I leaned in close so I could murmur in his ear. Just to be sure I got my point across. After all, the key was taking a stand. Right? Making sure this asshole knew his place.
“If I find out you sent those men to hurt her, I’ll destroy you. I will end you. I’ll go Jack and the Beanstalk on your ass and grind your bones down to bake them into bread. Same thing if you ever bother her again. Am I getting through to you, Donny? Do you catch my drift?”
I lifted my hand from his mouth just enough for him to rasp, “Yes!”
“Do you feel like a Real Man now? Like a king in his castle?”
Donny shook his head slightly, leaking more tears from the pain in his nose.
“Good. I’m glad you’re catching on. The thing is, real men, good men, take care of their families and friends. They’re not selfish. They choose forgiveness over cruelty. But guess what, Donny?”
I leaned in one last time.
“I’m not a good man. I’ll break you apart, piece by piece, until there’s nothing fucking left.”