Chapter 5
Chapter five
Standing tucked inside the safety of the treeline that covers her driveway, I watch Parker lock the front door to her house and walk over to her car.
It’s sunny outside but the dense forest provides enough darkness that she can't see me. She’s wearing a simple, yet breathtaking outfit, hair down, and I can tell she's not wearing any makeup.
She is without a doubt, the most breath taking woman that walks this earth.
After she backs out of the driveway, I wait a beat before I make my way back to my bike. Once I pull on my helmet, I start the bike and take off in the direction she went, catching up to her in no time. The streets are busy enough I’m able to keep her in my sights, but go unnoticed.
I watch her go into a grocery store, pharmacy, a clothing store, and a couple of other random stops.
I follow inside each and every one of them.
Today she doesn’t seem as on guard as she was last night at the bar.
She seems more relaxed, and her lack of awareness is working to my advantage.
I watch the way she smiles politely at people who say hello, the way she tucks her hair behind her ear, left ear, how she smells the flowers in the grocery store and runs her fingers along their petals gently.
She rolls her lip between her teeth when she’s concentrating, and her hips sway gently when she glides down the aisles.
She’s much shorter than me–maybe five feet tall, with an hourglass shape, thick thighs, and the most incredible curves.
As the sun starts to go down, I follow her to a neighborhood and park around the corner from our current stop.
Swinging my leg over my bike, I head in her direction, using the trees that line the sidewalks for cover.
She makes her way across a small concrete sidewalk, then climbs the stairs to a full sized porch that runs the length of a small, ranch style home with red shutters, and window boxes with flowers that spill over them.
Raising her arm, she knocks on the door.
Who is she stopping to see? A friend? A boyfriend? My blood boils at the thought. I hope for your sake it’s not a boyfriend, Sweetheart, because he’ll be gone soon.
A middle aged woman, maybe fifty, opens the door. She has shoulder length silver hair and a petite frame. She wears a pair of dark washed jeans and a wine colored pull over sweatshirt. She beams at Parker, making her bright blue eyes sparkle and pulls her into a hug, then ushers her in the house.
I wonder who the woman is. Her mother maybe?
After waiting around for a while, it’s clear she plans on staying for a bit longer.
Waiting a moment, I look around to make sure no one in the neighborhood sees me.
Once I’m sure I won’t be spotted, I walk closer to the house.
Scanning the outside of the house to make sure she doesn’t have cameras, I cautiously flip the u-shaped lock on the gate to the front yard.
Pressing my body against the side of the house, I take slow steps around the perimeter while continuously scanning the area.
I need to make sure this area is safe enough for my girl.
Reaching the back side of the house, I slowly peek into the corner or a low sitting window.
Parker sits at an island in the kitchen, and the woman is plating food for them.
They’re deep in conversation and I note the look on Parker’s face.
She watches the woman with admiration, and I can tell she’s comfortable here.
The woman sets both plates down, and gracefully sits in the seat next to Parker.
Satisfied she’s safe here, I decide to leave and take the same path out of the yard.
Closing the front gate softly behind me, I once again use the trees along the sidewalk to remain undetected–a feat in broad daylight if you ask me.
It’s not as if there’s no one around. There are some kids riding their bikes up and down the street, and couples walking their dogs.
Normally, I’d scoff at peoples’ lack of awareness, but today, their complacency has been a friend of mine.
Making it back to my bike, I pull my phone out of my pocket to see a text from Karson.
Karson
Meet me at the warehouse in twenty.
Checking the time he sent it–ten minutes ago–I curse under my breath and hurriedly mount my R1.
The warehouse is about fifteen minutes or so from here, located in the midst of a ghost town.
Starting my bike again, I fire a text back before shoving it in my pocket, shifting into gear and pulling out of the neighborhood as quietly as possible.
Right on time, I walk into the warehouse that Karson and I use to train our new guys, unzipping my jacket with one hand and holding my helmet in the other.
The sound of I Prevail’s Violent Nature still plays through the speakers as Karson glares at me.
I level him with a look that tells him I’m not in the mood for his bullshit and he rolls his eyes.
“I thought I said twenty minutes. Where the fuck have you been?” My best friend demands with a shitty tone I’m not about to entertain.
His legs are raised–resting on the side of a boxing ring we acquired from a mixed martial arts gym that had shut down–and the old, metal folding chair he sits in is kicked back on only two legs.
“I had some errands to run. I’m here now. What is it?” It isn’t a total lie. Parker ran errands, and I went with her. Sort of. He eyes me suspiciously for a moment, then stands from the chair.
“I found Cole this morning, while I was out and about, with his arm across some girl's shoulders, talking to her about his job. I told you we needed to deal with him so I brought him here, to deal with.” He grins, then places a cigarette between his lips and pulls out a zippo to light it.
I pinch the bridge of my nose and let out an exasperated sigh. “I thought I fucking said to let me watch him a little more and come up with a plan.”
“Yeah, well, he’s here now. No time like the present.” He blows out a cloud of smoke and I tighten the grip on my helmet. His impatience and anger issues are going to give me an aneurysm one of these days, but he isn't entirely wrong. I just simply don’t want to deal with this shit today.
“Where is he?” I grind out. Let’s get this over with.
Karson smiles at me, resembling the Joker and stalks off in the direction of where he has Cole.
We walk down the long hallway, take a left hand turn, and stop in front of one of the storage rooms. Looking inside, I see Cole sitting on a metal chair in the middle of the room with his hands tied behind his back, a black eye already starting to form.
Arching a brow, I slide my gaze to my friend who's giggling to himself like a schoolgirl. He’s proud of himself, that much is obvious. He catches me staring at him and lets out a dark chuckle.
“Sorry. I got a little impatient.”
Nooooo shit.
Stepping into the room, I slide my jacket down my arms then place it and my helmet gently on top of a table. Turning to face Cole, I cross my arms over my chest and shake my head, taking in the sight of him.
“Can you explain to me why your name is coming to me through the rumor mill? Something along the lines of telling people what you do for a living? Not only that, but dropping a client's name?” Taking a few steps forward, I place my hands on my knees to get eye level with him and tip my head to the side. “You signed an NDA. You do know what that means, don’t you?”
Cole lifts his head slightly to meet my eyes and the fucker has the nerve to laugh. Now I’m pissed.
“Yeah man but come on who are these broads gonna tell? Don't tell me you never used your job to get chicks.” He licks his lips and stares at me, a shit eating grin plastered on his face.
“No, I haven’t. Have you Karson?” I question maintaining eye contact with Cole.
“Not-a once.” Karson is standing next to me now. He pulls the cigarette from his lips and flicks it across the room. He slaps a hand on Cole’s shoulder, making him jump. “But tell me Cole, was the pussy worth it?”
Cole lets out a nervous laugh. “Come on guys. No one’s gonna find out. I’ll keep my mouth shut, I swear!” All arrogance leaving his tone. His blue eyes find my green ones, and they plead with mine to be reasonable.
Sucks for him. Not going to happen.
Karson and I are both a little…nuts, but whereas he has a much more menacing demeanor and he doesn’t try to hide it, I’m always calm.
I never let my emotions get the better of me, making me seem as if I am the more approachable of the two of us despite my size.
So, he probably thinks I’m willing to cut him some slack.
“A little too late for that now, don't you think? I’m pulling you from private detail. I made a couple calls today and you’re going to start working protection at a bar.
You’ll start tomorrow.” Giving him my back, I walk over to the table I placed my helmet and jacket on, ready to get back to Parker.
I tracked down the owner of Doc’s this morning, and called him as a concerned citizen.
A couple of girls closing down a bar alone isn’t exactly safe, considering some of the questionable people that could visit his establishment.
James Murdock was extremely understanding.
I might have recommended my own company, and ten minutes later my work phone rang.
Now my girl will have security while she’s on shift, as well as her coworkers.
“A bouncer? Are you fucking serious, Mav? This is bullshit! That’s a demotion, I don’t deserve this shit!”
I pick up my helmet and take a few steps back to Cole.
I’m done with this conversation.
“That’s your first mistake—thinking you deserve anything from me.”
Swinging back my right hand, I slam my helmet into the side of his face.
Blood sprays from his nose and mouth, his scream slightly delayed before morphing into a groan.
Lifting my foot, I kick him in the chest, sending him and the chair he’s tied to flying backwards.
He lands on his back, crushing his hands beneath his own weight and the unforgiving metal of the chair.
I stalk forward, straddle his body, and reach down grabbing a fistful of his shirt.
“Listen here you little fuck. You will do whatever job I fucking tell you to do, or I can make sure you never open your damn mouth again. Do you understand me?” I say through gritted teeth.
Cole’s widened eyes never leave mine and he works to swallow before giving me a slight nod.
Despite the rage I feel I manage to keep my voice low. “You will be at the bar tomorrow night by six p.m. I don’t do three strikes. If you fuck this up, I will end you. Am I clear?”
“Jesus fuck, alright. I got it.” Cole says, trying to catch his breath. Releasing his shirt, his shoulders hit the ground again with an audible thud. He turns his head to the side and spits blood out of his mouth.
I stand to my full height, crack my neck then look down at my helmet, now cracked and covered in his blood.
“You owe me a new fucking helmet. I’ll send you the name and address of the bar later.
Go home, pull yourself together, and don’t fuck this up.
” I drop the helmet next to his face and he flinches.
Turning around, I walk over to the table and grab my jacket.
Karson is back to leaning against the wall, a sly grin on his face.
He gives me a slight nod as I make my way out of the concrete room, and keep walking until I exit the warehouse.
It’s now dark outside and I check the time on my watch. Ten o’clock.
Straddling my bike, I start the engine and peel out of the warehouse parking lot.
I’ve got a date with a pretty little brunette.