One Cold Night, page 12
Peering up, he found himself looking at a tall thin man. Didn’t ring a bell in his mind as one who worked for the family but given how many people they paid on the street, he still could be. Beyond him, the store owner was approaching, face drawn in a tight scowl.
“Okay.” John got to his feet and fell into step with the man. “Where is it?”
“Three streets over.”
He tried to pull up a mental map of the section of town, but his mind was shutting down from pain and cold. “Thanks.”
“Don’t mention it. You look like you aren’t used to being on the street. Got your ass kicked already I can see. Someone did a number on you.”
“You have no idea.” They crossed the street and kept going.
“What did you do? Sit in his spot?”
“Not that I was aware of. I don’t think he liked my face.”
“Happens.”
Without anything smart to say, John grunted. Sweat dripped down his skin, making him even colder.
“You sick?”
“No, just hurt.”
They were near a liquor store and John held up his hand. “Hang on. I need to get a drink.”
“You have money?”
“For this I do.” They went inside together and the man behind the counter barely looked up at them. He got a small bottle of Crown Royal and went to the register.
“You look like hell,” the man stated when he looked up. “Anything else?”
“No.”
He made sure to crumple the bill before he handed it over. The man took it, eyed it carefully before making change and handing it over along with the drink in a brown bag. He took both eagerly and headed out the door.
“You sharing?” The man with him posed the question.
“Sure.” He opened the bottle and took a drink. The warmth burned through him and he closed his eyes in bliss. Then he passed it over. The man took a drink and handed it back.
“Thanks. It’s nice to have on these cold nights.”
“Yes.” I’d prefer a warm bed and Leena but I can understand why these guys drink so much.
They made their way across another street and the lights weren’t as prevalent as before. Together they went by people sleeping. He passed two people and a dog on a grate. The shabby looking dog lifted his head as they went by, but he didn’t bark or get up. Then he put his head back down and turned away.
Dismissed just like Argo does me. They moved further down the street and the beams of headlights crossed them. A car door slammed and he turned slightly to look behind him. One guy climbed out of the vehicle and was approaching them.
“Don’t make eye contact,” the man with him said. “It will hurt less.”
“What will?”
“The beating he wants to give you.”
I can’t take another beating. “Does he travel alone?”
“Yes.”
“Oy!” the cry halted them. “Yes, that’s right, you homeless fucks. I’m talking to you. Want to make some money?”
“No.” The guy with him ducked his head and walked faster.
“No? You’re living in shit conditions. I can give you some money. Then you can drink it up.” He laughed. “Hey. Hey! I’m talking to you.”
John faced him fully just in time to see him shoot the man beside him. The soft pop barely discernible over the wind. His companion fell with a cry, grabbing his chest.
“Should have taken the money. Now you’re going to bleed without any money. What about you? Should I shoot you too?”
John had had enough. He recognized the man. Cousin to the main family. Makim. Typically dealt with human trafficking and not the gun side. “No, you want to fight, let’s fight.” He cut a glance to the guy lying beside him. Hang in there.
“I think I just want to shoot you as well.” He lifted the gun and fired. John moved so it lodged in his shoulder.
“Damn it.”
Running at the man, he prayed he got there before he could get another shot off. The man lifted his arm again and went down hard under a large dog attacking from the back. The shot went wild and John skidded to a stop as he stared at the scene before him. The man screamed as the dog continued to hold his arm, the growls meaner than anything he’d ever heard before.
A figure dashed through the light and drew up short. His heart caught in his chest as he locked eyes with the woman staring at him.
“Leena?”
Back to the dog then to the woman. He shook his head; sure he was seeing things.
“John. Oh, thank God, you’re okay.”
“What the fuck are you doing here, woman?”
“Apparently saving your ass once more. I see blood, are you okay?”
“I am but my friend was shot in the chest. We need to get him to a hospital.”
“Vehicle’s running, put him in there. We can leave this fuck here.” She looked down at the man still held in check by the dog. “Shooting people is wrong. Have you learned your lesson?”
“Bitch,” he hissed. “Get this damn dog off me.”
“No. I think he’s staying right there for a bit.” She ran to the SUV and brought it closer.
John hefted the man and put him in the back. He waited while the dog jumped in then the door closed. Leena turned them around and stopped briefly by the grate he’d first seen this dog on. She crouched by the woman and spoke to her then got back inside after pressing something in her hand.
He leaned over her seat and ripped the nasty hat off his head. “Stop the car,” he barked.
“Where’s the hospital?”
“Look at me.” She did and he kissed her, groaning in pleasure as her taste once again coated his taste buds. “We really need to have a talk about this.”
“Sure. Hospital?”
He gave her directions and she pulled out a phone and placed a call, giving what he’d just told her.
The warmth combined with his blood loss, made him lightheaded but he held on, keeping his hands over the bullet hole in the man’s torso. The hospital had someone out there waiting who took the man inside. Leena drove into the parking lot after and shut off the lights. “Come on.”
He got out, weaving, and used the SUV as a support. Not much later a truck pulled up and a sigh of relief streamed from him when the driver hopped out. Davis.
“Shit, he’s been shot. Let’s get going.”
He passed out in the back of the truck, his head on Leena’s lap and the dirty dog up in the front with his brother.
Chapter 10
"He was a silent fury who no torment could tame."
— Jack London (White Fang)
* * *
Leena sat on the couch, wrapped in warm dry clothing. Beside her lay Argo, once again a proud representative of the breed. He was sleeping as well. She flexed her fingers along the mug that she held, full of hot tea.
Davis walked in the room and she got to her feet. “How is he?”
“He’ll be fine. My friend is a nurse and she sewed him up.”
“You have a lot of female friends.”
He grinned impishly and raked a hand through his dark hair. “I suppose so.” He sobered. “How are you doing? You were out on the street for a week.”
“Let’s just say I have a lot more respect for what they go through. I’m okay, still cold in ways I didn’t think I could be. But I’ll be fine.”
“Are you hungry? I could fix you something to eat.”
She lifted the tea. “This is fine for now, thank you. Any ideas on how to proceed from here?”
“Once he wakes up, we’ll figure something out. I’m off for a few days from work, have some vacation time I’m using up.”
“Okay, and you’re sure it’s okay if Argo and I are here?”
“Hell yes. You saved my brother. As far as I’m concerned, you’re family.”
The doorbell chimed and he jerked his head at her. Without a word, she headed to the back bedroom, out of sight. John lay there, still unconscious, his shoulder wrapped in white tape. She frowned at the injuries he’d sustained. Much like the first time she’d found him.
“Leena?”
She turned from John’s sleeping person at Davis’ voice. Heading back up there, she paused when she saw a woman with blonde spiky hair dyed with streaks of pink, purple, and blue standing there. “Yes?”
“This is Terri. She’s my computer hacker friend.”
She smiled and offered her hand. “He says friend, only because he won’t take me up on what I’ve offered. Nice to meet you.”
“And you, thanks for the help.”
“I despise corruption so I’m more than happy to lend my considerable assistance.” She hefted the bag in her hand. “Where can I set up?”
“Pick a spot,” Davis said. “We’re waiting on John to wake then we’ll get to it.”
Leena looked at her watch and frowned. “Can I use your phone? I need to make a call.”
“Sure. Make yourself at home. We’ll be here.”
Tea in hand, she walked to the base and picked it up. Pulling the number up from her memory banks she dialed and waited, hip against the back of the couch she was near. Three rings before it was picked up on the other end.
“Hello?”
“Mitch? Leena.”
“Oh, hi, sorry didn’t recognize the number you were calling from.”
“Visiting a friend. Just wanted to know how we’re doing timewise for the Terv? Can I still pick up him next month?”
“Yes, he’ll be out of quarantine by then. And I’m sorry, I know you wanted to keep him at your kennel and should have been able to but you know how the red tape is.”
“It’s okay, they want to use a place they’re used to dealing with, not a huge problem in my book. Yes, I would have rather had the dog sooner, but this actually works out better in the long run. No one has been bothering him?”
“Nope. He will eat but that’s about it. No playing, no interest, no anything. He’s only accepted two people to come into his run, so they are the two who rotate taking care of him. Like I mentioned before and in the mail, he’s okay once he’s out of the run, he will allow someone to take his leash but he’s just… Well, you’ll see when you get him.”
“And his exercise? Has he been getting any?”
She began pacing, placing the mug down on a coaster.
“Only when one of the guys runs him along the property fence line. Otherwise he is sedentary in his kennel.” He coughed. “He’s not gaining because he’s barely eating. But still, losing muscle.”
“See if we can move up the time I can get him. I’d like him on my place as soon as possible.”
“I’ll see if I can push it along. I knew I called the right person. Thanks so much, Leena.”
“My pleasure, Mitch. Talk to you soon.” She ended the call and sighed. Sooner I get that dog home the sooner I can help him.
“Who’s Mitch?”
She turned to find John standing there, gray shirt hiding the scars and other injuries on his torso but not the power. He wore a pair of navy workout pants and black socks. His gaze locked on hers as he approached, tugging down the hem of his shirt.
“Huh?”
He flicked his eyes to the phone in her hand and back to her face. “Mitch. The person you were talking to. Who is he?”
“A solider in Washington. We’re coordinating to transfer a dog to my kennel so I can work with him to help with his recovery.” She skimmed her lips with her tongue. “How are you feeling?”
“Like I’ve been shot and beaten.”
“You were.”
He approached closer, eyes beginning to burn with an eerie fire. She’d never been nervous around him, not even when she first picked him up but the way he watched her was changing that. His gaze so intense it singed her and she fought the urge to shift beneath it.
“How long have you known him?”
“Known who?”
“Mitch? The guy you were talking to?” He halted before her and reached out a hand to tug lightly on two of her curls.
“Never met him. We’ve just talked on the phone.” Her nipples had pulled taut and they ached for his touch. The throb between her legs grew in insistence.
“You and I need to have a talk.” His words were low, the tone vibrating along her hypersensitive skin.
“I think your brother and his friend are waiting for you to figure out the next step in the plan.”
“Right.” He stepped closer, his chest brushing her breasts. “We need to talk about what the fuck you were doing out on the street, how long you’d been there, and who’s idea was it.”
She gave into the urge to touch him and trailed her fingers along the arm belonging to the hand in her hair. “No, we don’t. It doesn’t matter. All that does is we’ve found you and you’re home now. So you can work on taking down whomever was working with that fucked up cop and get your life back.”
His gaze narrowed and the hair on the back of her neck stood up.
“Wrong answer.”
“No, it’s not.” She moved to touch the scruff along his jaw, biting back her whimper. “I came to help find you. And again, Argo took care of that but now that you are here it’s time for me to get back home.” Head to the side, she removed her touch from his face. “I’m really glad you’re okay.”
Leena stepped out of his reach and moved by him, stopping to grab her cup along the way. Both Davis and Terri watched their exchange. Terri’s lips were curled up and Davis’ expression was blank.
“I’ll be right back in, just want to take Argo out for a few.” She bundled up once she’d put her cup in the sink and called him to her. Then she took him out to Davis’ backyard and let him run for a while. The cold wind not having slowed down, tore into her skin, making her long for a hot tub. Just something to sink into and have the warmth seep into her bones.
“That may have to be an investment I really consider,” she muttered, shoving her hands deeper into the coat she wore.
“What’s that?” Terri popped up beside her.
“A hot tub.”
“I had one of those. Loved it. Would have loved to get Davis in it.”
“I don’t have one, want one but not with Davis in it. I’d take the other brother in it, however.”
Terri laughed. “I’m sure he’d join you. I see the way he looks at you. As if you’re everything to him. As if he can’t live or even breathe without you. Must be nice to be part of a couple like that.”
“We’re not a couple.” The words had to be forced beyond her lips for everything in her rebelled in saying them.
“Really?” Disbelief colored her tone. “Did anyone tell you two that? I mean the looks between you are hot enough to power the city and melt the snow. That’s pure passion from both of you. I’m not buying you’re not together.”
“Nope, we’re not.”
“So, you came all this way to sit out and pretend to be homeless for a guy you’re not in a relationship with? Do that for all your friends?”
Leena didn’t have a response.
“Thought not.”
* * *
αβ
* * *
“What the hell were you thinking bringing her in on something like that? Much less allowing her to be on the streets?” Rage surged through John and he worked extremely hard on not punching his brother through the wall.
“Are we talking about the same woman? Because I sure as hell can’t see her taking orders from me. Pretty sure she doesn’t take them from you and you—for whatever reason—she’s taken with.”
“She’s a civilian. She shouldn’t have been allowed to do that.” He longed to choke his brother. “She’s my woman. What if something happened to her out there?”
“First. All I did was visit her and ask if she’d heard from you since you got back. She volunteered the rest. I tried to stop her but well, she’s not exactly a puppet, John. You can see she’s fine, she’s out there with Terri.”
“You could have arrested her.”
He snorted. “On what charges? Wanting to help find my baby brother who’d been taken by a crime family? Sure, that would have held up.”
“I don’t care. Jaywalking?” His voice rose as his heart accelerated.
“She was helping one way or another. She called me each night. Plus, she had her dog with her.”
Okay, so yes, he knew that logically she had been protected but it didn’t help assuage any of his anger. “On the street, Davis. It’s winter and she was on the street.”
“I know, I know. I told you, I wasn’t a fan of the idea, but she wasn’t listening to me.”
“You could have locked her up in your house.”
“I never would have gotten back in. Her dog would have seen to that. Besides, you were missing. I would take help from anyone to get you back. I’d already lost you once and I’m not about to go tell our mother that you were killed because I wouldn’t accept help that was offered. You may be that stupid but I’m not.”
“Damn it, she could have been hurt.” The thought of her lying there beaten, bleeding, worse, churned his stomach.
“She wasn’t. And let’s face it. If she hadn’t been there, you’d have a lot worse that a shoulder injury.”
“Stop being fucking logical, Davis,” he snarled. “You put my woman in harm’s way.”
“Your woman. That’s the second time you’ve called her that in minutes. Why are you yelling at me when she’s standing outside? If she’s yours, you may want to go tell her that because from what I was hearing she’s going to be leaving soon.”
New pain sliced into him. Pain from the thought of losing Leena. “I’m yelling at you because I can. This is on you for bringing her into this.”
Davis gave him a pointed look. “Fine. You want to blame me, do it. I’m telling you right now, I’d do it again the same way if that’s what it took to get you back. You don’t want to yell at her, that’s fine. Surely you could find some better use to put your anger to. Like, oh, I don’t know, bringing this family down and stopping Tiltman.”
“I have to go to the father. I have to deal with him.”
