“Are you carrying?” Brent asked Cole quietly and seriously.
I heard the cabby’s quick intake of breath.
“Of course,” Cole murmured, sounding offended.
“Good, so am I.” As Brent opened the cab door, he muttered, “We may need it.”
After Cole paid the cab driver, we watched him peel away from the curb, burning rubber in the process. He wasn’t running from the area. He was running from the two brutes standing guard in front and behind me. Good grief!
I pushed Brent’s shoulder, but he wouldn’t budge, so I pointed at the old building across the street and down a bit. It was one of those old movie theatres that were all the rage back in the sixties, but now it was a shelter for battered families and the homeless. I had looked it up online when Cole had deigned to let me use his beloved laptop a few days ago. I had been trying to find something worthwhile to do while I was here and this option had really struck a chord with me. Now, Brent and Cole were going to come along for the ride since they had been ornery.
“The Safe Home Away From Home?” Cole asked absently, still scanning the area after following my pointed finger.
“Yep. Now let’s get a move on. We’re gonna be late.” I grunted, pushing at Brent again.
They –finally– started moving, keeping me between them.
Brent questioned quietly while eyeing moving shadows in an alley, “What exactly have you gotten us in to?”
“You’ll see.” I grinned. Paybacks are so amusing.
We entered the run down, but very clean establishment. The lighting was bright and showed every crack in the wall and some of the tiles were chipped or missing on the floor. There were a few dark offices on the left and right that were open, but obviously unoccupied. All in all, pretty much what I expected for the entry to look like.
A rough man of undetermined years stood up from behind the reception desk a few feet in front of us. He was bald with tribal tattoos all down his arms that disappeared beneath his tee and peeked out above his neckline, curling along his throat. He had on a white shirt and faded jeans that stretched over every muscle that hadn’t lost any definition with age.
I cocked my head. I bet this is how Mr. Clean would look if he were a biker.
“Ms. Lerrus?” he asked me, but studied Brent and Cole instead. On his journey of their persons, his focus caught at Cole’s right ankle. He raised an eyebrow, while he conveniently placed his hand under his desk. It didn’t take a brain surgeon to see that he had street smarts and had noticed where Cole’s gun was. I’m sure he was gripping his own now, too.
Brent and Cole deceptively relaxed poses didn’t bode well, either.
Time to defuse the situation.
“Please, call me Ember. This is Cole Donovan and Brent Terrance,” I stated calmly, placing a hand on each of their elbows. “Their harmless and we’re not here to make trouble. Wehave an appointment with Lou.” I nodded to his still unseen hand. “There’s no need to worry.”
He grinned, showing glowing white teeth. It wasn’t a comforting smile. “Pleased to meet you. I’m Joe. I’ll take you to Lou as soon as your friends hand over their weapons.” His smile broadened. “All of them.”
“Of course.” I nodded and shoved Brent and Cole forward.
They glared at me and I glared right back, but they did as told.
Joe, and his still unseen hand, and I watched unblinking as Brent and Cole unhappily unloaded their “goods”.
Both of Joe’s eyebrows lifted this time as Brent laid not one, not two, but three knifes down and reached behind his back for more and Cole lay down his second gun. I said hurriedly, “They’re in security.” I waved a fluttering hand. “It’s what they do.”
“Sure it is,” he murmured softly, his eyes finally taking me in. He was a man that saw way too much for my liking. He glanced back at Cole and Brent. “She’ll be safe while she’s here, so make sure you get rid of it all.” He smirked. “I’m going to search you, so don’t think you can get anything by me.”
Brent and Cole paused at his statement that I would be safe. Little by little, they peered up at Joe without moving their heads. They smiled. The Jaws theme song echoed in my mind.
“Yes, we know,” Cole stated quietly, icicles hanging off every word.
The phone rang.Thank goodness.
Joe picked it up slowly, watching them closely, he answered, “Joe here.” He uh-huh’ed a few times and then asked Brent, “I only want a yes or no. Did you have a loner tailing you?”
Brent hesitated, then stated, “Yes.” He glanced at Cole. “We need to work with him more, dammit.”
Joe chuckled, the tense moment floating away in the breeze, and Cole stated, “Tell whoever that is to blow his cover. And tell him Cole said to come inside.”
