Chapter Fourteen #3
“That’ll be thirty-seven dollars,” the cabby grumbled from his seat. I couldn’t see him, but he didn’t sound pleased to have two ticked off bulls in his back seat.
They didn’t move.
“Get out,” I ordered.
“Not on your life,” Cole spoke just as ominously as Brent. “I don’t know what you were thinking, but this area is not even remotely legitimate.” He paused. “I know better areas in Afghanistan and Iraq.”
Brent grunted his agreement.
This was ridiculous and I was getting fed up. “Do you two trust me or not?”
Gradually, both nodded their heads as they scanned the landscape that I couldn’t see.
“Good. Then get out.” I jabbed their thighs – all I could move - with my fists. “We have an appointment that we need to be on time for.”
“Are you carrying?” Brent asked Cole quietly and seriously.
I heard the cabby’s quick intake of breath.
“Of course,” Cole murmured, sounding offended.
“Good, so am I.” As Brent opened the cab door, he muttered, “We may need it.”
After Cole paid the cab driver, we watched him peel away from the curb, burning rubber in the process. He wasn’t running from the area. He was running from the two brutes standing guard in front and behind me. Good grief!
I pushed Brent’s shoulder, but he wouldn’t budge, so I pointed at the old building across the street and down a bit.
It was one of those old movie theatres that were all the rage back in the sixties, but now it was a shelter for battered families and the homeless.
I had looked it up online when Cole had deigned to let me use his beloved laptop a few days ago.
I had been trying to find something worthwhile to do while I was here and this option had really struck a chord with me.
Now, Brent and Cole were going to come along for the ride since they had been ornery.
“The Safe Home Away From Home?” Cole asked absently, still scanning the area after following my pointed finger.
“Yep. Now let’s get a move on. We’re gonna be late.” I grunted, pushing at Brent again.
They – finally – started moving, keeping me between them.
Brent questioned quietly while eyeing moving shadows in an alley, “What exactly have you gotten us in to?”
“You’ll see.” I grinned. Paybacks are so amusing.
We entered the run down, but very clean establishment.
The lighting was bright and showed every crack in the wall and some of the tiles were chipped or missing on the floor.
There were a few dark offices on the left and right that were open, but obviously unoccupied.
All in all, pretty much what I expected for the entry to look like.
A rough man of undetermined years stood up from behind the reception desk a few feet in front of us.
He was bald with tribal tattoos all down his arms that disappeared beneath his tee and peeked out above his neckline, curling along his throat.
He had on a white shirt and faded jeans that stretched over every muscle that hadn’t lost any definition with age.
I cocked my head. I bet this is how Mr. Clean would look if he were a biker.
“Ms. Lerrus?” he asked me, but studied Brent and Cole instead.
On his journey of their persons, his focus caught at Cole’s right ankle.
He raised an eyebrow, while he conveniently placed his hand under his desk.
It didn’t take a brain surgeon to see that he had street smarts and had noticed where Cole’s gun was.
I’m sure he was gripping his own now, too.
Brent and Cole deceptively relaxed poses didn’t bode well, either.
Time to defuse the situation.
“Please, call me Ember. This is Cole Donovan and Brent Terrance,” I stated calmly, placing a hand on each of their elbows. “Their harmless and we’re not here to make trouble. We have an appointment with Lou.” I nodded to his still unseen hand. “There’s no need to worry.”
He grinned, showing glowing white teeth. It wasn’t a comforting smile. “Pleased to meet you. I’m Joe. I’ll take you to Lou as soon as your friends hand over their weapons.” His smile broadened. “All of them.”
“Of course.” I nodded and shoved Brent and Cole forward.
They glared at me and I glared right back, but they did as told.
Joe, and his still unseen hand, and I watched unblinking as Brent and Cole unhappily unloaded their “goods”.
Both of Joe’s eyebrows lifted this time as Brent laid not one, not two, but three knifes down and reached behind his back for more and Cole lay down his second gun. I said hurriedly, “They’re in security.” I waved a fluttering hand. “It’s what they do.”
“Sure it is,” he murmured softly, his eyes finally taking me in.
He was a man that saw way too much for my liking.
He glanced back at Cole and Brent. “She’ll be safe while she’s here, so make sure you get rid of it all.
” He smirked. “I’m going to search you, so don’t think you can get anything by me. ”
Brent and Cole paused at his statement that I would be safe. Little by little, they peered up at Joe without moving their heads. They smiled. The Jaws theme song echoed in my mind.
“Yes, we know,” Cole stated quietly, icicles hanging off every word.
The phone rang. Thank goodness.
Joe picked it up slowly, watching them closely, he answered, “Joe here.” He uh-huh’ed a few times and then asked Brent, “I only want a yes or no. Did you have a loner tailing you?”
Brent hesitated, then stated, “Yes.” He glanced at Cole. “We need to work with him more, dammit.”
Joe chuckled, the tense moment floating away in the breeze, and Cole stated, “Tell whoever that is to blow his cover. And tell him Cole said to come inside.”
Thirty seconds later, Bas walked through the doors.
He wore “normal” clothes and wouldn’t meet Brent’s or Cole’s eyes.
Joe ordered him to get rid of his weapons, seeing as he was now staying.
Brent and Cole were through unloading. They had been carrying seven knives, six Chinese throwing stars, and three guns between them.
Bas added four guns and five knives to the heap.
We stared at the pile in silence.
I muttered an intelligent, “Huh.”
“Just who the hell are you, young lady?” Joe asked, both hands visible now. He picked up a knife and said to Brent, “This is fucking nice, man.”
“Thanks.” Brent shrugged. No biggie. Yeah.
“I’m Ember,” I stated and shrugged, following Brent’s lead.
Joe snorted.
He searched Brent, Cole, and Bas. They didn’t have anything on them. No surprise there with the stock pile already on Joe’s desk. He turned to me. “Okay. Your turn. Arms out to your sides. Palms up. Feet shoulder width apart.”
Visions of the airport drone danced inside my head.
“That’s not necessary,” Brent stated while Cole moved between Joe and me.
Joe laughed outright. He was having a great time now. He sputtered, “I search her or you don’t go inside.”
“Fine,” I stated, dodging Cole’s arms and sliding behind Joe’s desk. I dropped my purse and assumed the position. I’d watched it happen three times now. If they could do it, so could I.
“You fucking touch her even slightly wrong and your dead,” Brent stated oh, so calmly. He leaned a hip against the desk while his eyes bore into Joe’s.
“Then I’ll burn your body and flush the ashes down the toilet after I piss on them.” Cole yawned. “I’m friends with a mortician a few miles from here. He owes me a favor.” A shrug after that lovely pronouncement.
Joe glanced at me, humor filling his eyes. I don’t think he took them seriously. I studied the tiny scar very near his carotid artery. Or, maybe he did.
He stated, “You have some very interesting friends.”
I smiled. “They’ll do in a pinch.”
“I just bet they will.”
He moved closer and ordered seriously, humor fading sharply, “Don’t move while I’m doing this.”
I nodded and stood still.
He started with my hair. Not sure what he thought would be there, but I didn’t move. Brent and Cole watched his every move. Good grief. As if the guy was going to try anything.
His hands skimmed my shoulders, and then he started to move one hand sideways down between my breasts. I jumped back, eyes wide. He hadn’t done that with the men.
Everyone went motionless.
“What do you think your doin’?” I asked flabbergasted.
“Sweetheart, he’s searching you.” Cole’s hand motioned at my breasts, looking mighty ticked off. “Women have added areas to conceal weapons.”
“Oh.” I blinked and flushed bright red, all kinds of flustered. Not good. Not good at all.
“You don’t have to let him do this. We can go back to the hotel, darlin’.” Brent studied Joe like he was envisioning multiple ways of killing him.
“No, no,” I murmured and glanced at Joe, trying not to look guilty. “Go ahead.” It wasn’t like he had copped a feel. He wouldn’t notice anything sliding a hand down between my breasts.
He was watching me and trying not to laugh. Good. Humor is always good.
I stepped back up and stared at a spot over his shoulder, breathing evenly. He started at my shoulders again and then glided the side of his hand down between my breasts. He kept moving. Whew!
I glanced back at him, relieved. He was doing his job dutifully. No funny business.
Then, he surprised me. He began running the backsides of his hands directly under my breasts.
They stopped.
I froze.
“Are you fucking joking?” Joe whispered, choking on a laugh.
“Like I knew you were going to be touching my private bits,” I hissed right back at him.
“I would suggest you step the fuck back or we’ll make good on our promise,” Cole stated in a death’s whisper. Brent and Cole hadn’t heard our commentary. All they could see was Joe’s hands directly under my breasts.
Joe wasn’t stupid. He stepped back, turning sideways so he could watch all of us. He raised an eyebrow at me and crossed his arms. He was going to make me tell them.
“Fine!” I huffed and reached under my shirt, and pulled out the switchblade I had hidden in my bra.
“Ember Marie Lerrus! What in the hell do you think you’re doin’ with that?” Brent exclaimed in shock, his twang back in action.
Cole cocked his head and considered the blade. Yep, laundry wasn’t all I had done today.
“Same thing you were,” I answered peevishly and tossed the small blade on the pile-o-goods. I glared at Joe. “I don’t have anything else on me, so do your worst.” I hesitated, glancing at his bulging arms. “Well, maybe not your worst, but I’ve got nothing else to hide.”
He smiled without teeth and it looked guanine. He stepped forward again when I raised my arms and he murmured softly, “There’s nothing wrong with a woman protecting herself.”
He finished up the search of my person with no added surprises. Next, he started digging through my bag. It was embarrassing. I had so much crap in the thing. And he started unloading it all after briefly rifling through it.
I was red faced already when he pulled out a tiny hand gun. I stared at it in shock. What in the heck? He didn’t even blink an eye, but added it to the heap. I was still gawking when he pulled out a knife that wasn’t so unlike my own. I blinked repeatedly.
“Those aren’t mine!” I finally found my voice, pointing at the load. “I swear!”
Joe grunted, throwing everything back inside my purse. “I know.” He tilted his head toward Brent and Cole. “They’re theirs.”
“What?” I asked riled and snapped my head toward the two men who were now staring at Joe baffled.
“How in the hell did he find them in that pit?” Cole mumbled in awe.
“I have no fucking clue.” Brent shook his head in shock. “It’s like the holy grail of hiding spots.” He bowed his head to Joe. “You’re good.”
Bas took that moment to speak up. “Not so good that he turned his back on you when he was searching Ember.” He looked disgusted. “The weapons were even behind him.”
Brent and Cole shot him a heated look.
Brent stated, “Bas, you’re new, but Christ man! Look around!”
Bas glanced around, as did I. We turned back to them, blinking like idiots. What was he talking about?
Joe chuckled as he handed me my purse. Huh. Evidently, we were missing something.
Cole rubbed his temples. “He needs so much work. How did we miss that?”
“I don’t know. But it can be fixed,” Brent griped. “Zane did his training. We’ll have Stash give him a refresher course.”
Cole grinned.
Bas went white.
Hmm. Wonder what that was about.
Joe was tossing weapons in a large trash bag he had pulled from somewhere magically, shaking his head the whole while.
Bas was looking around almost frantically now, still getting nowhere, when Cole muttered, “Three o’clock, Bas.”
I whipped my head that way, right along with Bas. I stared at a dark doorway. I squinted and leaned forward. There was…
“Tiki, show yourself,” Joe said loudly. “The poor kid’s about to get fired…or beaten. I’m not sure which.”
A man dressed in all black – scary looking at all get out – stepped through the doorway. Oh heck. I stumbled back into Brent. The guns he was holding were so not legal. Nor was the scowl he wore.
“How did you know I was here?” Nightmare man asked Cole in a hushed voice.
Cole just smiled.
“You were better hidden than the three live ones outside.” Brent shrugged and wrapped his arms around my middle, holding my trembling frame.
Joe smirked. “Three?”
“The fourth was sleeping on the job,” Cole answered calmly, still grinning like a snake catching defenseless prey.
Joe’s smirk vanished. “Which one?”
“To the North, two doors down,” Brent murmured before placing a tender kiss on my temple. I was still staring at Nightmare man. There was something…off about him.
Joe glanced at Nightmare man, who nodded and pulled a cell phone from his pocket. He glided back into the shadows. Oh. I blinked. And stared at Joe.
A little stunned, I whispered, “She’s the scariest looking man I’ve ever seen.”
Joe’s eyes widened, and then he looked faint. He placed a hand on his desk to steady himself. Bas, Cole, and Brent all whipped their heads back to the darkened doorway. Guess they hadn’t noticed.
But, Joe’s pale appearance didn’t last long. Abruptly, he zeroed in on me. This was the real man. This was the man brought up on the streets, trained the b-a-d way to defend his turf. He even took a step toward me.
“No, no.” I held my hands up quickly. “I don’t care who she is. We won’t say anything. She…He was never here,” I babbled on as Cole slid in front of me, even though I couldn’t see him, “We’re just here to help. Help Lou. Remember?”
Quiet moments passed.
“You’re something special, aren’t you?” Joe asked in a whisper from somewhere in front of me.
“Yes, she is,” Cole answered swiftly.
Brent specified, “And she’s going to stay that way.”
I heard the sound of a rustling bag a second later and Joe stated, “Come with me. Lou’s going to love you guys.”
Goodness. How hard was it to help the needy?