Chapter 28
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Penn
“This one holds up to fifty pounds, and this one holds eighty-five.” Danny held two different nylon ropes in his hands.
“Nothing weighs more than fifty, but let’s get the eighty-five just to be on the safe side.”
He nodded and tossed it into the basket. “Anything else?”
“Nah, I mean…” I moved down the aisle. “Maybe more stakes for the ground.”
“Have at it.” He held out the basket, and I grabbed a bunch.
“That’s good. Let’s go; we’re burning daylight.”
He chuckled and followed me. I’d just turned to head to check out when two large men blocked my way.
“Excuse me.”
They looked slightly out of place but not horribly. They had flannels and jeans on, but it was the way they were laser focused on me.
“I said excuse me,” I tried again.
“Maybe you should move,” the man on the left sneered.
I glanced at Danny, who was poised and ready to strike. We’d left the other two guys in the car because it was overkill for all of us to go into the store.
“I mean, I can move, but you’re both literally blocking my entire path.” I shrugged. “So, you see, it’s kind of impossible.”
The bigger of the two guys took a step forward. Danny pressed the basket into the man’s chest. “That’s far enough. What do you want?”
The man glared at Danny. “Just shopping.”
“Well, I suggest you turn around, walk away from us, and do just that.”
The guy smirked. “Sure. One thing first.”
That couldn’t be good. “What?” I cocked a brow.
“A message,” the smaller of the two answered.
I side-eyed Danny. “I don’t think we need to ask who the message is from, do we?”
“No, I’m fairly sure we don’t.”
I sighed. “Get on with it already.”
The bigger guy was faster than I thought he’d be and managed to punch me square in the jaw before Danny was on him.
“What kind of message is that?” I wiped the blood from my mouth and smiled at the one who wasn’t tussling with Danny. “Did you have a message too?”
The man charged me. I held my ground, and he wasn’t able to tackle me to the floor.
He started punching me in the stomach, so I kicked him in the nuts.
He wailed and stepped back enough that I was able to clock him in the nose, and blood sprayed everywhere.
I looked over at Danny, who was managing just fine, then glanced at the basket.
“Fuck, who got blood on the rope? Now I need new ones.”
“You son of a bitch.” The man I’d punched growled and came at me again, but I slid to the left, and he crashed into a Krazy Glue display.
“Graceful.” I laughed.
“That’s enough!” I turned and saw three security guards, and I held my hands up.
“We were just shopping, These two attacked us.” Of course I glanced at Danny, who had the other man in a headlock, and my guy was on the floor trying to stop the blood flow from his nose.
“Okay, I see it looks like maybe we are the bad guys here, but we defended ourselves.” I pointed to the cameras. “Go look.”
“We will,” a guard said. “But you’ll all follow us to the office. Police have been called.”
Danny released the guy and straightened his shirt. “Might want to call an ambulance for these two fucking idiots.”
I was pissed. This was going to take forever and interfere with my decorating schedule. As we followed between the security guards, I texted Gideon.
Penn
We’re gonna be late.
Gideon
Why?
Penn
A little issue nothing bad.
Gideon
What little issue?
Penn
I’ll tell you all about it when I get home
Gideon
Or you tell me now
Penn
Nah
Gideon
Fine I’ll just come there then
Penn
No. Not necessary. Danny and I have this under control
I watched the three dots appear and disappear, waiting for him to answer. Danny was reading my phone from beside me.
“If you don’t tell him, it’ll be worse. Either way, he’s coming here.”
I knew he was right.
Gideon
I’ll be there in five. Where are you?
Shit.
Penn
Security office in the back
Gideon
Fucking hell
“Told you.” Danny smirked. He was sporting some bruises and would absolutely have a black eye.
“How’s my face look?”
He scrutinized me. “Gideon will be pissed.”
I sighed and entered the office. One guard motioned for Danny and me to sit on one side of the office while the other two men went to the other.
“I’m going to go watch the video. You four stay here with Dave and Phil. Don’t give them any trouble.”
I observed Dave and Phil and if we decided we were leaving, those two weren’t going to be able to stop us.
“No problem.” I smiled.
Danny and I stared at Benito’s messengers. It appeared like the one guy had been able to stop the blood pouring out his nose. The other looked like he’d gotten a good beating but would be fine.
“Was that really the message you had? Because I’m confused. Is the message that you don’t like us?”
Danny laughed. “I mean, I feel like we were judged based on our shopping choices.”
“That’s enough talking,” Phil said.
“I guess we’ll never know, Danny.”
He patted my arm. “There, there. It’ll be okay.”
The door opened and the other guard entered. “I watched the video. And it does seem like these two men instigated the fight. But I’ll ask you two to stay until the police arrive.”
Benito’s guys didn’t make a sound. They didn’t give a shit that they were going to be led out of here in handcuffs.
“That’s fine.” I smiled at the guard.
We heard raised voices and I looked at Danny, who hung his head. Gideon was here. The door opened, and a very angry Gideon stepped in, his eyes frantically taking in the room. He saw the two men, security guards, and Danny; then his gaze met mine, and I waved.
“You beat the police, impressive.”
He narrowed his eyes and kneeled in front of me. “Which one did this to you?”
“Sir, the police have been called, and they will be here soon. I’ve seen the tapes and as soon as statements have been made, we can let your friends go.”
I smirked at Gideon and whispered. “He thinks we’re friends.”
Gideon sighed and stood to face the guard. “Are you aware of who I am?”
He eyed Gideon up and down and shook his head. “No, but I’m a transfer from Minnesota.”
He glared the other guards and they nodded. “Inform your buddy here who I am.”
The three of them left the room, oddly leaving us with the two guys who’d started this. Gideon sneered at them.
“Who are you?”
The one with the bleeding nose answered. “My name is Mack, and this is Harry.”
“I didn’t think to ask you guys your name.” I bumped Danny. “We should’ve done that.”
“Sorry.” Danny rolled his eyes. “I was busy blocking Harry from pummeling my face.”
“Who do you work for? As if I have to ask.” Gideon folded his arms over his chest.
Mack grinned. “No one.”
Gideon’s voice lowered, and it was satisfying to see Mack and Harry fidget. “So no one can claim your bodies when I’m done with them, is that right?”
“They said they had a message for us, but just began punching.” I cocked my head. “Maybe they aren’t good with words.”
“What’s the message? I’m listening,” Gideon growled.
Harry swallowed loudly. “Where’s Elijah?”
Gideon chuckled darkly. “Who?”
“The message is to return Elijah, or it gets worse,” Mack said.
“Well, I don’t know an Elijah, so I can’t help you.” Gideon waved his hand at me and Danny. “You did all this for nothing.”
Mack and Harry shared a look before Mack spoke. “That’s the message.”
Gideon nodded. “And now the two of you will get arrested for something that could’ve been an email.” He tsked. “Shame.”
The door opened again, the three guards entered followed by the police. I slumped in my seat. I just wanted to go home and decorate.