And if we’re doing this together, she needs to see exactly what we’re up against.
Outside, Kells is standing near the alley entrance. Filepe has already positioned himself between Kells and the door. Elena appears from around the corner with a folder.
“Two minutes!” Kells shouts as we approach. “Off the record. That’s all I’m asking.”
I keep my voice even. The way I used to talk to line cooks who fucked up. “Written replies only. You know the rules.”
Elena hands a paper to Filepe.
The trespass notice.
Filepe steps forward to serve it.
“And now you’ve got it in writing,” Jess says.
Kells takes the paper but doesn’t look at it. He’s still staring at me.
“Two minutes!” His voice gets desperate. “Please!”
I wave down Jag and Filepe. Walk right up to Kells with Jess at my side.
This close, I can see the desperation in his eyes. The hunger. He needs a story. Needs it the way a junkie needs his next fix.
Too fucking bad.
“You’re lucky I’m too classy to punchyou in the face,” I tell him. My voice is dead calm. “I say again. Written replies only. Now stay the fuck away from my business and my family.”
Kells smirks. Opens his mouth to respond.
Jess steps forward before he can get a word out.
“I’mnot too classy,” she says calmly. “Not at all. So I guess that means I can...”
Pop.
Her right cross lands clean. Catches Kells square on the nose. Blood immediately starts flowing.
Holy shit.
Kells stumbles back, his hand pressed to his face. “What thefuck?”
I stare at Jess. She’s shaking out her hand with a satisfied expression. Like she just plated a perfect dish.
“You have quite the right hook,” I tell her.
“Thanks.” She flexes her fingers.
“Hate to be on your bad side,” I comment.
Kells recovers enough to sputter, “I’ll sue for assault!”
I smile. It’s not a nice smile. “Go ahead. I’d like that, actually.”
Because we’d counter sue for tortious interference, harassment, and trespassing. Maybe throw in defamation for good measure, considering his “lost its beauty along with its face” bullshit. The discovery process alone would bury him. Every documented ambush attempt. Every off-record fishing expedition with my junior staff. Every ghost walk-through he tried to pull. Every boundary he crossed.
Jag interposes and starts walking Kells toward the sidewalk.
I turn to Jess. She’s still flexing her hand.
