“Hugo?”
When I turn around, she’s standing in the doorway in her blood-stained dress, backlit by the kitchen lights, looking like she stepped clear out of a horror movie.
“Something is wrong with Chance.”
Chapter6
Bess
“One daily specialand a decaf vanilla latte for table four.”
Today’s special is a hearty black bean, chorizo, and vegetable soup with cheese and jalapeño cornbread.I’m almost out of both already.
Lola is off today, so it’s just Emmet and me handling the lunch crowd.It’s busy, so Emmet is doing all the serving and the coffee machine, while I prep and plate food.At this point, I’m running on automatic pilot, but I did notice Buck Wilson at the small table by the window.I’ve been rehashing last night ever since he sat down.
Sadly, the glass of wine I had with dinner did nothing to help me sleep, nor did the memorable kiss at my door.Unfortunately, I think after Ken’s call my sleepless night was already a given.This time he didn’t even bother with fake pleasantries and dove straight into the threats.
When he initially called, it was a shock he made an effort to seek me out, but even more so that he’d apparently been paroled last month.I don’t even know how he got my number; I meant it when I said I distanced myself from him all those years ago.I wanted nothing to do with him or anybody associated with him, and that included his defense lawyer.There was no one to notify me he’d even went up before the parole board.
But the biggest shock came when he stopped pretending he called to make sure I was okay, and shared the real reason he chased me down.
Money.
When our mother died, almost ten years ago now, I was surprised to find she’d left me some money.Well, according to her will, it was technically money my father had left in trust for me.I never knew my father and didn’t know anything about the money, she’d never mentioned it.She didn’t leave much herself, a few thousand in a savings account, and some family heirlooms she’d divided between Ken and myself.But my father’s money had grown to a little over a hundred thousand over the years.
At the time, I had been fairly recently declared cancer-free, and I was still trying to figure out what I was going to do with the rest of my life.The money gave me the opportunity to fulfill a dream I’d had of starting my own small business, which I finally did eight years ago when I opened Strange Brew.
And that is precisely what is at stake now; my coffee shop.
My brother’s lawyer must’ve received a copy of our mother’s will with his share of her estate to keep in trust, that’s why Ken knew about the money my father left me when he called.It’s what he was after.
He told me he needed to disappear, get out of the country.Apparently, his former gang, the Lotus Squad, had it out for him.He asked if I forgot that I owed him.
The kicker is, I do owe him.Even when he was up to his eyeballs into Lotus Squad business, he still managed to be protective over his little sister.I still have nightmares to this day, so no, I’ll never forget what he did for me.I pay with my guilty silence.
But, like I told him that first time, I don’t have the money anymore; it’s invested in my coffee shop.
I knew it was too much to hope for he’d let it go, so last night he turned the pressure up.This time he tried to blackmail me, threatening to throw me under the bus with the gang.He suggested they probably already know where I am, and all he’d have to do is enlighten them of my involvement.I tell you; it scared the shit out of me.I know all too well how ruthless they can be, it’s what got me in this predicament in the first place.
But I can’t see myself selling Strange Brew, which is what Ken suggested.When Hugo caught me on the phone, I was just trying to tell my brother as much.The phone calls didn’t let up all night after I’d hung up on him, so I finally blocked the number he’d been calling me from.
It was a lot quieter but, unfortunately, it didn’t help me sleep.I spent most of the night trying to think of other ways I might be able to raise some money for him, but there’s no way to do that without involving Strange Brew.Of course, should he decide to point the Lotus Squad in my direction, it’ll all be moot anyway.
I was so tempted to confide in Hugo last night, to just lay it all out in the open and let the cards fall where they may, but I couldn’t.I can’t.There’s no way I could do that to him, lay that kind of burden on him.I’d sooner sell the shop and disappear myself.
I’ll treasure that kiss last night, but I’m afraid it can’t happen again.
No, I’m going to somehow have to resolve this on my own and be careful not to involve anyone else.It’s a terribly lonely feeling.
“Is that for table four?”Emmet asks.
On a whim, I slip around him with the black bean soup and cornbread on a tray.
“I’ve got this.”
I shoot a smile at him before making my way to Buck’s table.He’s reading something on his phone when I walk up.
“Bessie… how did you like the new restaurant?Sorry again for interrupting last night.”
