Oh, so I’m Reed now, not sir or dude or fucker, all of which I approve. I’m on a first-name basis with Tammy’s coworker, so that’s points for me.
“Good morning, Reed,” Tammy says as she walks by me and goes behind the counter to slip a piece of paper to the cook in the back. She proceeds to pour coffee and drinks and refill condiments, all with her back to me.
Naturally, I approach the counter and whistle.
She lifts her head and turns. “Did you whistle at me?”
“Yeah, I did. What’s going on?”
“Nothing. I’m working. Have a seat anywhere you like.”
“Anywhere?”
“Mm-hm.” She nods, all cheer and cupcakes and shit, not having the slightest clue that the way she’s ignoring me won’t do. I didn’t come here to be treated like everyone else. The least she could’ve done was kissed me and led me by my hand to the table where she’d proceed to wait only on me for the rest of her day.
“Kitten, you don’t wanna play games with me.”
“Have a seat, and I’ll bring you coffee.”
“You don’t want to tell me what to do either.” Okay, so I’m in a mood.
She sighs and hands me a menu. “I’ll be right over.”
Fine. I grab the menu and slide into the Suit’s booth, lifting the menu so he can’t see my face.
“Excuse me,” he says.
“Not by a mile until you hand me the keys to the house I bought from you.” I pretend to keep reading the menu I already read and memorized yesterday. I know what I want. Same as yesterday because it’s a sure thing, and I need a sure thing right now or I’ll blow this dude’s head off.
“Do I know you?” he asks.
“You sound like my seven-year-old…” I trail off because I don’t know what to call the girls. I don’t want to be the stepdad. Uncle Reed sounds best, especially because I’m gonna marry their aunt.
The Suit rips the menu out of my hands and puts it on the side of the table. “I don’t appreciate anyone disturbing my morning routine,” he says.
“Reed.” Tammy shows up at the table. “What are you doing?”
“You said I can sit anywhere I like, so I sat.”
“But a customer is already sitting here.”
“So?”
“Reed, please.”
The Suit lifts a hand. “I’ll handle this, Tammy. It’ll be okay.”
I think my brain exploded just now when he said her name. From the corner of my eye, I see my men entering the front parking lot. “Keys to the house, and I’m gonna leave you alone, buddy.”
“Who are you?”
“Reed MacLoyd.” Tammy’s still standing there. “This is my girl you’re hitting on, and I’m about to put a bullet between your eyes. So think fast while you still got a brain in your head.”
My team enters the diner, and I lift my arm and give a series of hand signals so they know what’s going down and can take positions.
The Suit sizes up my men as they disperse though the diner, with Dawson outside and Senator going to the back room in case the Suit tries to bail that way. I don’t have to turn to see Senator doing that. I know he’s doing it because that’s how we secure a place when we have a prisoner we need to “negotiate” with.
“You seem to think I should know you or the house you speak of but I don’t. And I am not hitting on your girl. I’m simply being pleasant to the woman who waits on me and doesn’t disturb my morning routine.”
