That got everyone’s attention.
“What kind?”Buddy asked.
“The quiet kind.”
The room shifted.Pool balls stopped clacking.Conversations dipped.
“Someone bothering a woman in town,” I continued.“Bakery owner.Guy came in when I was there and told her he needed to talk business with her.I ran him off.”
X’s jaw tightened.“He touch her?”
“No,” I said.“Not yet.It was a good thing I was there when he came in, though.”
Buddy pushed back from the table.“You get this guy’s name?”
“I don’t have it yet,” I said.“But I will.”
X nodded once.“We’ll handle it.”
“Not we,” I said.“Me.I just need you guys to help me get some info.”I wanted to be the one to help Belle.Normally I would let my Wild Chrome brothers help, but there was something tugging at me to handle this myself.I wanted Belle to be all mine, which meant her problem was mine now.
They didn’t argue.That was the thing about brotherhood.Sometimes silence was the loudest agreement.
“Just let us know what you need, and we’ll be there,” X replied.
I didn’t go back to Cookie Haven that day.
That was intentional.
Belle looked like the kind of woman who carried too much already.If I showed up again too soon, she’d read into it, start worrying about things she didn’t need to worry about yet.
Instead, I spent the afternoon making calls with X, throwing his weight when I needed it.Having the President of the Wild Chrome on the other end of the phone helped to get information out of people.
Didn’t take long to get a name.Didn’t take much longer to get a location.
Small-time operator.Bill McClure.Thought he was bigger than he was.They always did.
Turned out Belle’s dad had managed to amass a pretty hefty debt from betting on any and every sporting event.The guy obviously had a problem.
Now Bill was coming after Belle to get the money her dad owed.
Pretty fucking shitty, but it was on par with scummy loan sharks.
I leaned back in my chair as the pieces settled into place.
I didn’t know what Belle’s plan was, but I could tell she had one.She hadn’t been surprised to see Bill, but she wasn't happy to see him either.
Yeah, I was going to help her.
She could handle the gingerbread, and I would take care of Bill.
*
Two days later, I headed to Cookie Haven, armed with coffee.
There were fewer customers this time, but the place was just as busy with Belle and her crew working.Christmas music played softly from somewhere behind the counter.The dogs were both sprawled near the front window and watched snow drift past.
Belle looked up when she saw me, and surprise flickered across her face before she masked it with a smile.
