Page 27 of Keep

“What?”

“The balance due.”

I scoffed. “And what exactly is that for?”

“Let’s just call it theft of valuable merchandise.”

“Let’s be more specific instead.”

He didn’t answer. He exhaled and got to his feet. John Jones was tall but thin, lacking in muscle. I could deal with him easily. That is, unless he had a weapon hidden in his baggy pockets. A few seconds later I was willing to take the chance when he paused, picking up a framed picture of Cami that sat on the corner of my desk.

A smile lit up his reptilian face. “Speaking of valuable merchandise,” he started to say.

I didn’t give him the opportunity to finish. I snatched Cami’s picture out of his slimy hands, leapt across the desk and grabbed him by the collar.

“You’re fucking done here,” I snarled, hauling him across the office and shoving him through the door hard enough to cause him to collide hard with the brick wall opposite my office.

When he straightened up he tossed a murderous glare my way and I braced for a response, even half hoping I’d get the chance to rearrange those smug features. But either he realized this was a battle he couldn’t win right now or he chose not to escalate the matter. He just straightened his collar and smoothed back his hair.

“It’s been good to see you, Dalton,” he said as if we’d just been having a comfortable chat. “Thanks for letting me stop by and talk about Hale. Your brother will be missed. But it’s nice to know you and I have established this connection. Maybe next time I’ll bring a few friends with me.” He started walking away. “Don’t worry, I’ll find my own way out.”

“You do that,” I muttered. Cami’s picture was still in my hand. My office was rather out of the way, around a corner and down the hall from the rest of the admin offices. I hadn’t considered who might be in earshot but now I realized there was at least one spectator.

Curtis was standing ten feet away.

He didn’t move aside when John Jones approached so Jones had to mutter, “Excuse me,” and shoulder past him while Curtis eyed him with suspicion. Curtis with all his tattoos and his powerful build knew how to give off a menacing air when he wanted to and Jones didn’t look up as he hustled past.

When Jones was gone Curtis turned to me.

I tucked Cami’s picture under my arm and tried to sound casual. “Hey, Curtis. I didn’t know you were coming by.”

“Hope I’m not disturbing you,” Curtis responded, obviously puzzled and a little suspicious.

“Come on in,” I said, trying to sound like I hadn’t just pushed some sleazy dipshit out of my office after he uttered some veiled threats.

Curtis followed me into the office and waited until I sat behind my desk before he settled into the seat Jones had occupied. I carefully set Cami’s picture back on the desk. It had been taken on a camping trip last fall. Her hair was all tousled after a long hike and she wore no makeup but the camera had captured her radiance as she smiled at me while I snapped the photo. I loved this picture.

“So what was that all about?” Curtis finally asked.

“Ah, that was nothing,” I lied.

“It didn’t look like nothing.”

I didn’t want to burden Curtis with news of the strange encounter, not when I didn’t even know what to make of it.

“It’s no big deal,” I said. “Really. That guy just shot his mouth off at the wrong moment and I guess I’m feeling a little raw these days so I lost my temper.” I tried to change the subject. “So what brings you down here?”

He was looking at me funny. “I stopped by to say hi since I was dropping Breck off for the afternoon.”

“Brecken’s a good kid. He plays hard.”

Curtis dropped the skeptical look and smiled over the praise of his little brother. “Yeah, he isa good kid.”

“I’m glad you came by,” I told him. “I wanted to thank you for coming to the funeral yesterday. I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to talk to you but I sure appreciated seeing you guys there.”

“Of course,” Curtis said. He cocked his head. “Are you okay, Dalton?”

“Well,” I said, leaning back in my chair and pressing my thumb into the throbbing ache between my brows. “It’s been a damn roller coaster of a week, I can admit.”

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