Authors: W. Lynn Chantale
“I’m sorry,” the other woman sputtered.
Bonnie came around the desk. “You tell whoever is sending those orchids to me to stop. I don’t want them,” she said her voice rising.
“Bonnie? Everything okay?” Cal stood at the door of his office.
The delivery girl looked from one to the other. “She has a delivery?”
“I don’t want it.”
“You heard her. Take the flower back to your shop or send it else where.” He reached in his pocket, pulled out a couple of bills and handed them to the girl. “For your trouble.” Once the driver left Cal wrapped an arm around Bonnie’s shoulders and steered her to a nearby chair. “What is it?”
Bonnie forced air into her lungs fighting off the panic robbing her of oxygen and sanity. Her attacker was toying with her and she couldn’t remember who it was.
“Should I call your brother? I’d hate for you to have one of those female hysteric moments and I didn’t call.”
Despite her discomfort she laughed. “No. Just give me a moment. If I could remember who this guy was, then it wouldn’t be such a problem.”
“Do the police know you’re receiving a form of correspondence from your attacker.”
She nodded.
He patted her hand. “I’m going to have a dedicated security guard keep an eye out.” When she shook her head he waved a hand. “No. Listen to me. I feel a bit responsible, because I left you here alone.”
She offered a small smile. “I don’t blame you, Cal.”
“You should. You’re more than just an employee, you’re like a daughter to me and I should take better care of both. Until that piece of scum is apprehended I’ll have a guard posted around the site and he’ll vet the deliveries.”
She lowered her head and swallowed hard. Her boss had never said anything like that to her before. This was her first legitimate job and she hadn’t looked back. Looking back she enjoyed the challenge of being bookkeeper and office manager to this gruff man who knew how to run a business and working with various suppliers helped make the company a success.
“You seem much calmer now. I’ll make that phone call and let you get back to work.”
She nodded. Maybe it was time she went back over her notes, there had to be something there that could jog her memory.
***
“Some how I don’t think Bonnie would approve of us being here,” Dexter said as they stepped out the aged vehicle.
“Let me deal with Bonnie.” Buck surveyed the neighborhood. At one time he knew everything and everyone. He’d been pretty well insulated, but that didn’t rule out a rival or even someone from his former crew who wanted him out the way.
“Who or what are we looking for?” Dexter fell in step beside him.
“I’m looking for Red.” Buck glanced at the younger man from the corner of his eye. “When we find him. Be cool. I don’t want to explain any un-necessary injuries to your sister.”
“I can handle myself.”
“Yeah, I know, but cool head, young blood.”
Dexter shrugged. “You won’t even know I’m there.”
Buck nodded and they continued up the sidewalk. More houses were boarded up, including the one Bonnie and Dexter had lived in, they paused in front of it.
“Wow.” Dexter jammed his hands in his pockets. “She made things so normal for me after mom and dad left. Even you. I never missed out on the fun things.”
“You’re the little brother I never had and pretty cool in your own right.”
He inclined his head. “I remember Red. He used to give me jerky whenever he saw me.”
They resumed walking past abandoned tires, skirted shards of broken glass on the concrete and scattered trash. Apparently blight and poverty were winning the war in this place and Buck was glad they’d gotten out when they did.
“Well. Well. Well. Look who decided to come down from his lofty tower and slum with us peasants.”
Buck slowly turned on his heel and faced the speaker. The years had not been kind to the man standing in front of him. Where he’d been somewhat on the thin side, he now appeared emaciated. The jeans and bright shirt he wore draped around his frame. If it hadn’t been for the packet of drink mix fastened to the bill of his ball cap, Buck may not have recognized him.
“Is this your babysitter old man?” That earned a chuckle from the two thugs on either side of him.
Buck shifted his weight, moving in front of Dexter. “I’m looking for Red.”
“Red’s outta town. I’m in charge.” His chest puffed out when he said that.
“Of what? Running a lemonade stand?” Buck scoffed.
The thin man’s beady eyes narrowed. “All I gotta do is say the word and my boys’ll drop you where you stand old man.”
He shrugged and tapped an index finger to the weapon at his waist. “You remember the last time we had a private conversation Cool-Ade?” He watched those tiny eyes roll around and sweat pop out on his brow. Yeah, he remembered. “I don’t need anyone to do my dirty work for me.” Buck stepped in the smaller man’s space, noted how the other two backed off. “We can continue that conversation.”
Cool-Ade paled visibly, but a sneer twisted his mouth. “She sure is pretty. No wonder you wanted her all to yourself.”
For a heartbeat, Buck entertained the notion of emptying a clip in Cool-Ade’s worthless hide, but Buck wanted something more satisfying, like the sharp snap of his knuckles against Cool-Ade’s face. Buck glanced at Dexter, he wouldn’t do this with Bonnie’s little brother in tow. “Tell Red I’m looking for him.”
“You lookin’ to come back? Ain’t no room for you here old man.”
Buck flashed a mirthless smile. “C’mon young blood, we’ve got business elsewhere.” As he turned, something niggled at his memory. Something he’d seen recently.
“At night. When it’s quiet, I stand outside her house and wonder if it’s the right night to visit her. Her and I are about the same age? Do you think she’ll go for someone like me? I can be very persuasive.” He nudged his friends and they laughed. “Unlike you, I can share. Something that fine has to be shared.”
Dexter grabbed his sleeve and Buck shook him off, wrapped a hand around Cool-Ade’s throat and lifted him to his toes.
“You never did learn to shut your mouth.”
The two friends scrambled, but one hit the ground at his feet and the other lifted his hands. Buck glanced to his right to find Dexter holding a pistol on the other men Admiration warred with the pressing need to pound this insolent punk’s face into the pavement. Cool-Ade clawed at the back of his hand and Buck tightened his grip, until the man’s eyes bulged.
“This old man doesn’t have a problem taking you out here or somewhere else. Say another derogatory word and you will not be found.” Buck leaned close. “I know it was you. Stay away.”
“Cops. End of the block,” Dexter said, shifting so the gun wouldn’t be as visible.
“Yeah. Run back to your ivory tower,” Cool-Ade sputtered. “I’ll still kill her.”
Buck let him drop to the pavement and knelt next to him. “You said that last time” One quick jab to the solar plexus left the man gasping for air. “Come near her again and you’re a dead man.” He straightened and grabbed Dexter. “Get rid of that.”
Dexter nodded, breaking the weapon apart and wiping it clean with speed that surprised Buck. One piece went into the storm drain while the clip made its way into a nearby dumpster.
“Where did you learn to do that?”
“This neighborhood was a wealth of information,” he grinned, jerking on the handle of the car door. ”So when are we going to get this fool?”
Buck maneuvered his vehicle into the early evening traffic. “Not we. Me.”
“She’s my sister.”
“This isn’t your fight.”
“How can you say that. I’m the one who found her. Not you. You came after she was all bandaged and stable.”
Buck jerked the wheel to cut across a lane of traffic, pulled into a vacant lot and slammed on the brakes. “Just cause you held off a coupla wannabes with a pistol does not make you a thug. I started this mess and I will finish it.”
“He beat up my sister and I’m just supposed to sit and let you have all the fun?”
“Yes. I’ve walked the road you’re trying to take and look where it got me? Your future is bright and you can do anything you want to trade places for a cell, ‘cause I guarantee if you go after Cool-Ade.”
Dexter stared out the window.
“Your sister means the world to me, but I can’t propose to her while my past is running rampant. My past. Not yours. What I did, my lifestyle is what harmed her. And I’m not going to let it hurt you as well.”
“She doesn’t even know what he looks like.”
“We do and if he comes near her.”
“If you’re not around, I’m taking him out.”
Chapter Five
Bonnie smoothed her black mini-skirt down her thighs and crossed her legs. She picked her wine glass up by the stem and brought the goblet to her lips. The first few fruity sips exploded over her tongue and trickled down her throat. She’d been nursing the same glass despite numerous drinks being sent to her.
She’d only been at the bar for ten minutes before the first few drinks arrived. A quick glance at her watch showed Buck was a little late. She reached for her phone as a hand clasped her shoulder. Not another guy trying to hit on her and his fingernails weren’t even clean. Buck really needed to get here.
“Do you mind?” Bonnie banked mild annoyance as said hand stroked her bare arm. How dare he take such liberties. Ready to give the owner of that hand a piece of her mind she turned and met a set of small brown eyes. All coherent thought fled. She sat frozen as the night of her assault came flooding back.
The corners of his mouth lifted in a sneer, baring rotted crooked teeth. “Aren’t you pretty?”
“Keep your hands off me.” She jerked away from him.
“Ah don’t be like that sweetheart. After all we got along so well the first time.”
He grabbed her wrist and she picked up her wine and tossed the contents in his face then shoved him away. He stumbled backward into a group of people standing just behind him. Bonnie slid from her stool and fought her way through the throng of people. She had to get out of here. Her gaze bounced around the crowded club, looking for escape, a bouncer or both. She glanced over her shoulder.
“So that’s how you want to play?” He straightened his clothes and surged forward.
She cried out as he seized her arm.
A light brown hand clamped over the man’s wrist and she looked up. Relief washed through her. “Dexter.”
Dexter pried the other man’s hand from her arm.
“What’s the matter, the old man let you off your leash?”
“You need a muzzle,” Dexter snapped. “Keep your hands of my sister.”
“Leave it alone Dexter,” she said pushing him back. The last thing she needed was for him to get into a fight on her behalf, especially with someone dangerous.
“You’d do well to listen to her young blood.” Cool-Ade wiped his face on his sleeve. “We could start this over. You give me what Buck gave you and we can all walk away without getting hurt.”
Bonnie gaped. “What did he give me that you want?”
“Don’t engage this fool.” Dexter tugged on her arm.
She shrugged him off and stepped between the two. If she could put an end to this now, then she would. “What do you think I have?”
Cool-Ade grinned. “Money. I want his money.”
“Enough.” Dexter stepped forward and she shoved him back.
This was all about money? And how did he know about the card? No one knew about that except, she, Buck and Dexter. She met Dexter’s glare with one of her own. “Not the place or the time.” She held his gaze a moment. “I’m okay. Let’s just go.”
“Yeah. Just listen to her. God forbid you should think for yourself.”
“I know who he is. We can call the cops.” She tugged on her brother’s arm, but he was slow in moving.
“Well, in that case, let’s make it worth my while.” Cool-Ade surged forward.
“Watch out!” Bonnie screamed.
Dexter shoved her aside as he blocked the left hook thrown at him, then countered with a jab. Bonnie fell against a hard body and was jerked out of harm’s way when the two combatants sailed her way and crashed into a vacant table full of glassware. The furniture and beer mugs fell to the floor shattering, but it did not stop the two men from trying to kill one another.
She surged forward intent on breaking them up and a strong arm, grasped her by the waist and pulled her back. “Get your...” She met a set of piercing blue eyes. “Don’t just stand there, do something.”
“I am.”
“No, you’re standing there while my brother is beating the daylights out of the guy who attacked me.”
By now several beefy looking men with Security emblazoned on their shirts muscled their way through the crowd, pulled the fighters apart and escorted them to the door where the police were waiting. Before Cool-Ade was ushered from the club, a shot rang out.
Buck grabbed her and pulled her to the floor, while others screamed and did the same. By the time calmness reigned again Cool-Ade was gone.
***
Bonnie dragged a hand through her hair. This was bad on so many levels. Her heels clicked on the faded linoleum as she paced back and forth. A bar fight. Of all the things that could happen, her brother is arrested for a bar fight and the one who instigated it escapes.
“Have a seat.” Buck said.
She shook her head.
“Wearing a foot pattern into the floor isn’t going to help Dexter.”
She planted her hands on her hips. “What was that?” she demanded. “Do something is not allowing my brother to get arrested.”
“He got there before I did. What did you want me to do?”
“Stop him from screwing up his life.”
Buck studied her a moment. “And how would you suggest I go about that? Your brother loves you and he’s felt helpless through this whole thing. Punching that punk was his way of defending you.”
“I’m the one who’s supposed to take care of him.” Bonnie huffed, spun on her heel and resumed pacing. She couldn’t argue or be angry with Buck’s logic especially when Dexter was just doing his best to protect her. Her brother was her only family and she couldn’t let anything happen to him because of her past.