Page 109 of Bound By Blood

“Married! You? I don’t believe it.”

“Well, it’s true. She’ll be here next week.”

“It’s her, isn’t it? That woman I saw you with a couple of times.”

“Yep. Thanks for taking care of things while I was away.”

“No problem. I’ll expect an invite to the wedding, ‘cause I won’t believe it unless I see it with my own eyes.”

“Right.”

Whistling softly, Zack took the elevator to his suite. He didn’t know what it was costing him, but he had no complaints. The sitting room was grand. Two comfortable chairs stood on either side of a round table. There was a desk and a chair, should he feel the need to write a letter, a high-backed sofa and a coffee table in front of an entertainment center. Large windows on either side of the room afforded spectacular views—one of the lake, the other of the Sierra Nevada.

The bedroom was separate from the sitting room and featured a king-sized bed flanked by twin end tables, each of which held a lamp and a phone. His favorite feature was the room-darkening drapes.

There were two bathrooms—one for him, one for her. Both had TVs and phones. One bathroom had a Jacuzzi big enough for two; the other had a walk-in shower, also big enough for two.

He smiled as he imagined himself and Kaitlyn relaxing in the Jacuzzi, making love in the shower.

Ah, Kaitlyn. He missed her already.

She was much on his mind as he left the hotel. His first stop was at a clothing store. When he had more time, he was going to have to buy a whole new wardrobe, since just about everything he owned had been burned in the fire or left behind in Romania. But for now, he only needed a few things—jeans, shirts, underwear, socks, boots. He bought four of everything, then tossed in a long black coat, not because of the weather, but simply because he liked it, and it looked good on him, judging by the admiration in the eyes of the voluptuous saleswoman. He thanked her for her help, paid the bill, and asked her to send his purchases to the hotel.

Leaving the store, he went in search of prey.

It wasn’t easy to find a woman alone. They were either with husbands or boyfriends, or in groups. He strolled down the sidewalk, hands shoved in the pockets of his jeans. There was no hurry. He had three hours until his first appointment.

The sounds of an argument drew him to a restaurant parking lot. Taking cover in the shadows, he saw a man and a woman facing each other. He was a little drunk. She was angry, her arms crossed over her breasts.

“Pay up!” she demanded. “Fifty bucks, right now!”

“I can’t.” He swayed unsteadily. “Sorry.”

“What do you mean, you can’t?”

He smiled ruefully. “I mean I don’t have it.”

Her expression turned ugly. “I suggest you get it while you still can.”

“You threatening me?” he exclaimed.

She pulled a gun from the handbag dangling from her wrist. “What do you think?”

Zack shook his head. He really didn’t want to get involved in this little skirmish, but he couldn’t stand by and watch one of his dealers get plugged by a hooker.

Hands still in his pockets, Zack strolled toward them.

The woman swung the gun in Zack’s direction. “Get out of here!”

“Hold on there,” Zack said, holding up both hands in a gesture of surrender. “That idiot’s a friend of mine.” Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a handful of cash. “Turn Henry loose. I’ll pay his bill.”

She stared at Zack, her expression uncertain.

Henry grinned at him. “Hey, boss.”

“Hey, yourself. I think you’d better go home while you can still walk.”

“Sure, boss, whatever you say,” Henry muttered, and staggered toward the street.

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