Page 36 of Old Flame

The man snapped his cold gaze back to him. “Oh, so you doknow where it is? And here I thought, you were telling me that you didn’t steal from me.” He nodded his head at the man to his right. “Bring her to me.”

My blood ran cold as the other man began taking long strides in our direction. The twisted grin on his face had me pressing my back against the bar behind me, trying to put distance that I didn’t have between us. Kendrix’s hand shot out to grab my arm. The man moved so quickly that I barely had time to react as the end of his gun was pressed against Kendrix’s forehead, shoving him backward.

The fingers that wrapped around my upper arm bit into my skin. I let out a cry from the pain as he jerked me up hard from the stool I had been sitting on to make me stand to my feet. If he tightened his hold on me any more, I was sure he’d snap my humerus in two. Tears stung my eyes from the pain, and I wobbled slightly on my heels before he began pulling me with him toward the honey-eyed man.

“Jesus, easy with her, Fly. I didn’t tell you to break her. She’s too pretty to be roughed up.”

The ironlike grip eased immediately, and I gasped in relief. He shoved me forward until I was in the man’s face. His eyes drifted over my face as he studied me, and then he reached out a finger and ran it along my jawline.

“I’m sorry, precious,” he apologized. “Fly is a brute. I should have sent Hatter to handle you.” He cut his eyes to his left. “Protect this, brother.”

If I could grow any stiffer, I would as another one of them came up behind me. My heart was hammering so loudly that it was almost all I could hear.

“It’s all right, love.” His voice was gentle, but that only seemed to make him more terrifying.

“Let her go, please. I’ll go with you to the gallery. It’s there.” Kendrix’s voice sounded panicked.

The honey-eyed man lifted his gaze from my lips, which he’d been studying, to my eyes and the evil gleam that lit his made me tremble. A pair of hands grabbed my upper arms, but not like the man he’d called Fly had. These were large, firm, and meant to move me, not manhandle me.

“Step over here with me,” the voice said.

With the sight of the other five men and their guns pointed at the bar, I went with him, not wanting to provoke anyone to shoot. He walked me over a few steps, then turned me to face Kendrix, Pepper, the two customers sitting at the opposite end of the bar—a couple who had been laughing and holding hands earlier—and the bartender, Regina, who had come in moments before these men did.

It was the calm yet almost-pissed expression on Pepper’s face that got my attention. The others were pale, and Regina was visibly shaking as tears rolled down her face. However, Pepper appeared ready to stalk over here and jerk their guns out of their hands, then hit them on the heads with their weapons.

The man released my arms, only to wrap one of his around my neck, pressing my back against his chest as he pointed his gun back at Kendrix.

What had Kendrix done? Why did he know these people?

This was a gang. They had all the signs of one. The matching tattoos on their arms, for starters. I hadn’t realized they all had the same one until I was so close to them. It was the grinning mouth of a skull with a cigarette in its teeth, which had smoke curling up from the tip, and two rifles behind it, crossing to make an X.

“You see, Jett,” the honey-eyed man continued, “I shouldn’t have to come looking for you.” He paused and flashed his sadistic smile over at me. “Although that part might be forgiven, seeing as what lovely company you keep.” Then he turned back to Kendrix. “But it’s respect, yeah. The respect that is due. Youdo your job. You get to live. You get to keep the little art gallery you have. Rent-free. But you disrespected me. Did you think I wouldn’t notice the candy missing?” He shook his head, as if disappointed with a child. “I didn’t get the title of Lord because I was a stupid fuck.”

My breathing came in small, rattling gasps as I watched Kendrix. His eyes swung to me, and he did look very sorry. That didn’t get me released, but he appeared to be upset about this. Well, maybe more like petrified, which didn’t ease my mind. There was literal sweat beading on his brow.

“I had some bills,” Kendrix began, turning his eyes back to the man. “It was a mistake. I was going to pay you for it.”

A deep, amused laugh rang out, and I jumped, startled. The man’s hold on me tightened, but when he realized I wasn’t trying to get free, it loosened.

“You smell fucking delicious,” his voice said close to my ear.

Bile rose in my throat, and for the first time, I started considering what they might be planning to do to me. What if they didn’t give me back? What if they took me with them?

“You had bills that cost more than half a mil? You were gonna pay that back? When, Jett? Please tell me when you were gonna have cash like that? Hmm? Because last I checked, that gallery don’t make that kinda cash.”

Half a million dollars? What candy cost half a million…oh. Wait. Holy shit.

My eyes widened as I stared at my boss, the guy I’d thought was a divorced dad of two, who went to bed before ten, liked to watch baseball, and was an avid collector of vinyl records. Had he been involved with drugs? That had to be it. The candy that was worth more money than I’d ever make in a lifetime.

Pepper moved then, sauntering out from behind the bar like a supermodel on a runway. I held my breath.

“As fascinating as this entire situation is,” she said in her thickSouthern drawl, “can I ask you gentlemen to perhaps take it outside? I got to make a living myself, and this ain’t helping my business.” She stopped, placing a hand on her hip and glaring at the honey-eyed man who had called himself Lord, as if he didn’t have two of his men pointing their guns directly at her. Although, by the way she was acting, you’d never know it.

“You’ll have to forgive me,” the man replied. “I intend to take this elsewhere.” He glanced at his men. “Not that one. She’s Micah Abe’s sister.” Then he turned his gaze back to her. “I’m not here to piss off your brother or The Judgment. Fuck’s sake, the last thing I need is the damn Mafia on my ass.”

She nodded her head at me. “I’d like my friend back.”

He sighed. “That I can’t do. She’s not Micah Abe’s or The Judgment’s. She was here with Jett. I’m taking her as my insurance in case this one tries to run.”

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