“Want company?” He offered his arm.
She took it. “I’d love some.”
Chapter Twenty
Patch broke the news of his decision upon arriving in the law office. “I’m gonna fight this tooth and nail. No settlement.” As expected Guy put up a fight. They’d gone three rounds of negotiation, lawyers shuffling between the two rooms as go-betweens. Guy wanted the money to make a point. That was his official line. But now that Patch was being difficult he also wanted an apology thrown in, a public one.
That’s when Patch set down his mug of stale office coffee and snapped, “Fuck this, I’m taking a piss.”
As he walked back out of the bathroom, he nearly plowed into the man himself.
And from how Footscray was standing, positioned next to a potted plant, arms crossed, it didn’t seem like a chance encounter.
“This isn’t going to end well for you. I’m going to win. It’s what I do,” Guy had slicked-back Don Draper hair, but without the husky build. He was thin, his skin a pasty grey from too much time spent indoors. But his eyes were what chilled Patch’s blood. They reminded him of the men that used to come to Ma’s apartment. Blank. Devoid of emotion.
“You want an apology? How’s this. I’m sorry I didn’t remove your creepy arm from your body.”
“What a temper.” Guy’s cold smile vanished. “Don’t jerk my dick, Donnelly. I ain’t wearing skates. When I attack, I hit hard.”
“I heard you like to fight for fun,” Patch said evenly. “And get trained by a creep named Stefan. Didn’t know Denver had an Asshole Club. I could build you a treehouse if you promise never to come down.”
“You think you’re such hot shit. That night... you liked hurting me, I saw it.”
“I did. You know what? It feels good to bring pain to a sick prick who wants to prey on young girls. You do that a lot? Drug women? Shit. What a prize you are.”
“I was getting somewhere before you moved in. I got money. I drive a nice car. Have a place in Breckenridge. But does any of that matter to women these days? I tell you, nothing is enough anymore. You can’t even tell one to smile without her getting her thong in a wad. Feminazis won’t be satisfied until the entire male sex is nothing but a bunch of nutless cucks. And you know who’s the worst?” He was spitting bullets now. “Little bitches like those two chicks that night. They flaunt their honey, but if you try to move in for a taste, they act like you’re the one in the wrong. What I did was level the playing field. Take back some of the power. But I don’t expect you to understand. You’re a cuck too, and it’s my word against yours. And even if I don’t get the money. Even if you fight this. I still win. Because no one will ever know for sure about you. You’ll be under suspicion forever. And every day when you wake up under that little grey rain cloud, you’re going to feel it.”
A warning growl rumbled through his chest. “What?”
“Me. Fucking you.” Guy grabbed his cock and shook his hips in a vile gesture.
“Sorry.” A familiar voice rang out. “Looks like somebody just got neutered.”
Patch walked around the corner and there was Margot kneeling on one leg in a waiting room chair, holding out her smartphone. “Check it out! I managed to get almost the whole convo on my record app.”
Sully stood beside her. “And I was able to get a clear visual ID on the speakers.”
Guy backed up.
“Not so fast,” Margot said. “You have a big mouth, Mr. Footscray.”
“And made a big mistake,” Sully answered. “Actually a series of big mistakes, ranging from attempted drugging of a minor to trying to frame an innocent man. You a Catholic?”
“No,” Guy spit.
“Pity, because I’d love to select your penance.”
“Shit.” Guy fled and Patch stared at them.
“We were reading magazines, waiting for you to finish,” Margot said, holding up a copy ofPopular Mechanics. “And heard everything. He had no idea we were here.”
“I didn’t either.”
“Guess we’re your lucky charms.”
Sully gestured the opposite direction from where Guy had just fled. A door slammed. “Shall we go put an end to this circus? What I just witnessed will no doubt influence the outcome of the suit.”
“A bad man did more bad things. Shocking, I know, but they tend to do that,” Margot said. “You two go in and talk to the lawyers. I’m going out front.”
