Page 48 of Stevie
“I love you t–”
“Brooks,” a voice interrupts. Brooks looks up, and I turn to see a familiar officer, Kevin Garrett, and a female cop I don’t know.
“Yes?” Brooks says slowly.
“Kevin!” Janie calls. “You come to get something added to that piss ant tattoo? Gonna nut up and get a period at the end of that quote?” Kevin gives the redhead a dry look before turning back to us.
“Brooks,” Kevin sighs apologetically.What is going on?“I know you, man, so if you can just walk out with us, we don’t have to make a show of it.”
“Wait, what?” I say loudly as I push myself between the officers and Brooks. “Why? Why are you making him leave? He’s been with me the whole time!” I raise my voice to get the gang’s attention and note Fox and Janie heading over.
“What’s going on, Kevin?” Fox asks, and I notice Brooks is trying to push me towards him.
Kevin shakes his head. “Brooks, you’re under arrest for the kidnapping, assault, and attempted murder of Vincent Landry. You have the–”
“What!?” I scream, and as Kevin moves to grab his cuffs, I shove him away.
“Hey!” the female cop barks. “That is an assault on an officer!” She reaches for her cuffs, and Brooks holds his hand out.
“Leave her alone. I’ll go with you.” He turns to me with an apologetic look. “I love you. Stay with Fox, you hear me?” I nod numbly as I watch Brooks walk out of our booth.
“Brooks!” Janie calls to his retreating figure. “Not a fucking peep until Frank gets there! I fucking mean it.” Janie puts her phone to her ear and walks away, leaving me standing in my booth with Fox, a thousand questions running through my mind and no one to answer them.
* * *
“You eat more!” Baka scolds me while waving her wooden spoon in the air.
“Baka,” I groan through my tears. “I am not hungry! Please! I need to figure this out.”
“Ahh.” She scoffs and looks at my mom and the large group. Everyone is here. The Hel’s gang, Brooks’ mom, sisters, and Greyson. “You see how she treat me? All day I work to give her the Pašticada, and she take two bites!”
“Mama,” my mom says softly, patting my Baka’s hand. “She’s under stress. Let’s all take a breath.”
I shake my head, letting out a sob, “I don’t understand! He didn’t do anything!” I smack the table in frustration before looking up at everyone, my vision blurry with hot tears. I look at Greyson, who is burning a hole into the floor, and ice runs through me.Oh, my god. No.
“Greyson and Janie,” I state firmly, walking behind the counter and into the kitchen. Once they walk in, I lunge at Greyson, beating his chest until Janie wraps her petite body around me to pull me back. I force myself to stop, not wanting to hurt Janie or the baby.
“What did he do?” I grit out as Greyson rubs the back of his neck.
“Stevie.”
“What did he do!?” I scream through my tears. I watch as the kitchen door opens, and Baka walks in.
“Budi tiho!” She hisses, looking from me to Greyson. “You lips loose like a whore,” she snaps before smacking him upside the head.
“I didn’t even say anything!” he growls, and she flicks her wrist dismissively.
“You no have to. You have the sinner’s eyes.”
“Baka,” I sob weakly as I drop to my knees in front of her. “What do I do? They’ll lock him up. This will destroy him and his family. I–”
“Stefa ne,” she grips my face firmly and looks into my eyes. I watch her demeanor soften, and she pulls my head into her chest, hugging me to her. “You listen to your Baka, yes? I take care of it. You no worry so much. You no talk to no one out of this room, yeah?” I nod, not ready to let her go. I want to ask her what she’s going to do. What can a crazy old Croatian woman do to help Brooks’ legal problems? But then again, I would be a fool to underestimate Nika Kovac.
Brooks
CHAPTER NINETEEN
“Iswear to Christ. Brooks, it’s just you and me here, bud.” Richard Franklin, otherwise known as Frank, says. Frank has worked with Janie and the shop in the past, so she sent him over here to help me.
