Page 35 of Stone Cold Bad
“Yeah, and not just with her mom.”
He glanced down at me.“What do you mean?”
“What the heck is the deal with Hunter?”
“Oh, that.Not sure.I never really know what’s going on in my brother’s head, but I can tell you, if Amy found someone else, he’d feel it like a kick in the gut.”He hammered down some of the black material.“Speaking of Hunter— he texted that he needs some help at the boat.He’s been working on the engine, and he needs another pair of hands.”He looked over the edge.“I was hoping Amy was sticking around a little longer.Do you think you’ll be all right alone for a few hours?”
“I’m sure I can manage.I was going to look through some of those old dusty boxes.Noddy had some cool stuff.”
“Good idea.And when I come back, I’ll start a fire.”He lifted a brow.“I’m looking for a complete repeat of last night.”
“A repeat?”
“Well, maybe I’ll mix it up a little to surprise you.”
TWENTY-THREE
COLT
Hunter’s motorcycle wasn’t parked in its usual spot by the docks, which was not completely unusual, especially since his bike had been having problems.Still, I couldn’t remember the last time Hunter had made the trek to the boat on foot.He’d ride his damn bike down the hallway to his room if the handlebars weren’t too wide.I checked my phone.He hadn’t texted me since the last message asking me to meet him on theDurangoat noon.
I decided to check and see if Jade was keeping her phone near her.I sent her a quick text.“Miss you already.Everything all right?”Most of the boats were still out fishing, the only other signs of life were a few pelicans waiting for the fishing boats to return.Aside from theDurango, only a few other vessels bobbed up and down in the water.
There was no sign of Hunter as I neared the boat.Jade texted back.I stopped to read it.
“Everything is good.I guess no gas means no hot water either.I took a speedy shower, but now I’m in desperate need of body heat.Only yours will do.”
“Damn, I better get back quick then.”A call from Slade came through, and I answered it.“What’s up and where’s Hunter?”
“His lazy ass is still in bed.Think he spent the evening fucking that new drink server up north.”
“That idiot.He texted me an hour ago to meet him at theDurango.”
“Nah, couldn’t be.He came home last night complaining that someone had jacked his phone out of his coat pocket while he was playing a round of pool.But I was calling to tell you that this black car keeps driving by the house.”
“Wait.”I scrolled through to the text.It was from Hunter’s phone.“He must have found it because the text came from him.What car?”Footsteps pounded the wood planks behind me.Before I could turn around, the hard end of gun barrel pressed against my back.I sensed there were at least three men standing behind me, including the one with the gun jammed into my kidney.
“Fuck.”
“What’s wrong?”Slade asked.
A hand reached forward and grabbed the phone away.The guy patted me down, but I wasn’t carrying a gun.I hadn’t needed one for helping Hunter with the boat.
“We’re just going to walk real slow to the boat at the end of the dock,” the unfamiliar voice said.
I turned my head and glimpsed his two partners.I didn’t recognize any of them, but something told me they were part of Ward’s new security team.One of the guys had a skull tattooed on the side of his neck.He looked like the kind that finished his beer by chewing up the can.One looked as if he ate steroids for breakfast.He’d stretched an extremely small black shirt over his shoulders to accentuate his arms.
I shot him an amused smile.
“You’re on the wrong end of a gun to be grinning like that, boy,” he snarled.
Whenever I was in trouble, I always managed to dig myself deeper with my big mouth, and I figured I might as well keep the tradition going.“No, man, you’re right.I was just wondering though— do you need an extension on your comb to be able to reach your head with those big, beefy arms?In fact, how the hell do manage to wipe your ass?Or maybe you don’t.”
His thick fingers pinched my skin as he grabbed my shirt.He brought his ugly horse face right up to mine.“You smart ass, I’m going to have fun messing up that face of yours.”
“Never mind,” I said.“You answered my second question.Your breath smells like shit.”
The guy with the gun in my back shoved it hard into my muscle, and I stumbled forward.Muscleman took the opportunity to throw his fist into my stomach.I coughed and sucked in the salty air hovering over the dock.
