“Okay, okay,” he let out a sigh. “Listen, sit tight, I’ll call Jameson. I’ll have him send someone over to keep an eye on the place while we sort this out.”
“I don’t need anyone. I just want the protection he promised when I put the shop up as a front.”
“You have it. You always have. I just need to call…”
“Who, Dad? Who are you calling for, exactly?” I asked, suspicion heavy in my tone.
My father was silent again, but I could practically hear him thinking of what his next words to me were going to be. “I’m afraid you know who needs to be there,” he finally responded. His tone was low and gentle, as if he were trying to tame a Tiger. Unfortunately for him, I knew better.
“Dad, please. Don’t you dare request him. I do not want him here,” I growled, already feeling the start of a stress headache coming on.
“He’ll know what to do, and he’s the one I trust around you, Grace.”
“I don’t care! I don’t trust him! Isn’t that enough.”
“He’s always been there for you, for the family. I don’t know why you hate him so much, if it weren’t for him, you wouldn’t be talking to your dad on the phone right now.”
“Oh sure, dangle my family’s existentialism over my head right now.”
“Just let him do his job,” he said, exasperation filling his tone.
I knew exactly who my father wanted to send out, calling Jameson was just a matter of respect to the President, but if he could, he would have called him first. Just the thought of Peter Hellsing stomping around my shop, acting like he owned the place, was enough to make me want to lock the doors and throw the keys into the river.
“Grace, you know he’ll get to the bottom of this. He knows New Orleans inside and out, and more importantly, he’s got experience with the Scorpions. Besides, you’re practically family to him.”
“Family!” I nearly yelled at the phone. Hellsing and I had barely tolerated each other since I could remember. “You’re better off sending me a stray cat and calling it security.”
My dad’s grunt was a low, amused rumble. “I’d pay to see that showdown. You’ll be fine, Grace. I know you don’t like him, but he’ll get the job done.”
“You mean he’ll sit around acting like he’s the one calling all the shots,” I muttered. “I don’t need him sniffing around my shop, getting in my business. I’ve handled things just fine on my own. Just tell me what to do.”
“Look, I trust you, but you’re outnumbered on this one,” my dad said, his tone shifting. “The Scorpions don’t play nice. They’re not the kind you scare off with a broom. Let Hellsing take some of the weight off, just this once.”
I scoffed. “Weight off? Hellsing’s a whole new brand of headache.”
“It’s either that or you call Jameson. Either way, he’ll send out Hellsing.”
“Fine, I’ll call him.”
“Just try not to kill the poor boy when he shows up. For me,” he said, dead serious but with the hint of a smirk that suggested he may actually be enjoying this.
“He’s a grown ass man, Dad. But you’re right, he is a child.”
“Grace…” he warned.
“Fine, you make the call.” I sighed, giving in although every bone in my body told me I’d regret it.
“But if he steps out of line, I’m sending him packing. I may have a deal with Jameson and the club, but I don’t care who Peter Hellsing thinks he is or what history we share. This ismyshop.”
“I’m sure he’s aware of that. I’ll ask Jameson to send Hellsing over as soon as possible. And, Grace? Watch your back. Scorpions have a way of showing up when you least expect it.”
I hung up, feeling the weight of his words settle over me. If the Bloody Scorpions thought I’d roll over and let them have their way, they were in for a hell of a surprise. But dealing with them and Hellsing?Thatwas a different fight entirely.
Peter.Hellsing.
The one man who seemed to show up in my life like some sort of bad omen. He was a storm cloud darkening my doorstep every time I thought I’d found some peace. I’d known him practically since birth, thanks to his connection with my father. And if I was being honest, I’d spend just as long resenting him. From the start, he’d been everything I wasn’t. A reckless risk-taker, a charming devil with that maddening, half-cocked grin, practically dripping in confidence. Not to mention how handsome he was, the way he wore that worn out leather coat, or the easy swagger in his gait, I won’t even mention the wicked glint in his eye that made you think he knew all your secrets before you’d even said hello. I’d spent years trying to ignore that deep southern drawl, and that perpetual bad boy look he walked around with like he was straight out of some brooding, backwoods fantasy. But if he thought I was going to let him march intomyshop and take over, he was sorely mistaken. I wasn’t a little girl anymore, and I didn’t need a hero, especially nothim.I’d cleaned up my own messes and learned how tohandle a gun and throw a punch from the same teachers he had. I was also better at it. Hell, I’d learned to keep this place running, made sure I had eyes on every dark alley in the Quarter, without needing a man to help me. He could watch from a distance if that’s what he needed to feel like he was doing his part for Dad, but he wasn’t about to barge into my life with that cowboy attitude and assume he’d take the reins.
I smirked, grabbing the broom again and sweeping the last of the glass into the dustpan. If he thought he could play the knight in shining armor, riding in to save the day, he’d be sorely disappointed. Because there wasn’t a single part of me that needed saving. And if that meant standing toe-to-toe with Peter Hellsing, trading jabs and staring him down until he got to the point, then that’s exactly what I’d do.
