Page 13 of Mr. Kelly

“Tell him I have to decline, but I’ve given him an extra shot for his troubles.”

I’ve learned quickly that you have to turn down this caliber of men with a counteroffer. A simple ‘no, thank you’ doesn’t work for them. They’re used to buying what they want and bullying their way into the rest.

The night is coming to a close and my tips look pretty good for a Monday night. There are usually more people when there is business to be had, but I guess those dealings aren’t happening tonight.

Donnovan comes back to close out his clients’ tabs and this is the time where he hits me with the latest information he’s heard.

“So, apparently, the Kellys were on rocky ground, but now they’re on a little getaway. Honeymoon style.” He leans in with his hazel eyes sparkling. “Imagine being a fly on that wall.”

I laugh with him like I always do instead of telling him I am that fly and it’s not fun. A getaway would explain his absence. Not that it’s any of my business.

I have most of the bar clean when I realize the trash is backing up. “Have you seen Ian? He's not helping like he usually does.”

Donnovan nods. “I heard he’s sick. Looks like you’re on your own for now. I’ll be able to help once I’m done with this.”

He’s my favorite coworker because he’s so happy to be gainfully employed that he’s always pleasant and doesn’t mind chipping in, even if it’s not his job.

“Thanks, Donny. Since the bar is closed, I’m going to take this trash out so I can continue shutting down.”

“Okay, I should be ready to help you in ten.”

He flashes me a dimpled smile. Donnovan isn’t flirting, but when you’re six-two with waves, dimples, a beautiful smile, and dark brown skin, it always looks like you’re flirting.

I drag out two of the bags and throw one into the dumpster and then the other. When I turn to go back inside, one of the guys who chased me last week pushes me against the wall. My stomach drops as my fear kicks in, making me struggle to get away from him.

“Can’t run now. Can you?” he taunts as he twists my arm.

“What do you want?” I cry out in pain. He frowns, showing his crooked teeth as he slams me against the wall.

“You know what we want, bitch.”

“I’m not Mario. Go find him.”

He punches me in the stomach, knocking the air from my lungs. My urge to run is doused by the way he’s holding me. I’m coughing, trying to catch my breath when he slams my head back against the wall. Tears sting my eyes. I hate being helpless.

“Where is he?”

“I don’t know.” He gets in my face, smelling like cigarettes and cologne and squeezes my jaw until I’m scared he’ll break it.

“You know.”

“Stop messing around, Von. Let’s just take her as collateral like Surly said,” his shorter but more pleasant looking partner says.

“Let her go, now.”

Relief hits me so hard that the sound of Theodore’s voice has me close to tears. Even with the steel in it, it’s the best thing I’ve heard.

Von pulls out a gun and aims it at Theodore. He doesn’t flinch, fear doesn’t register for not even a second, but his anger intensifies. He’s in Von’s space in two steps.

“If you’re going to pull a gun, be a man and use it. He grabs it by the barrel and brings it up to his head. But you better fucking kill me!”

Von turns whiter than he already was but tries to stand his ground. “Surly wants us to take her, so that’s what we’ll do.”

Theodore twists the gun out of Von’s grip and uses the butt to hit the friend who tried to jump him. Von shakes himself out of his stupor and swings at Theodore but misses. Theodore squares his shoulders and something in his demeanor changes. His eyes are darker and the look in them is not anything I’ve seen before. This must beTrunk.

His lips tip up in a partial smirk as he dodges Von’s blows. “Do you know why they called me Trunk?”

“I don’t give a shit, old man.”

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