Page 28 of Fight
"My name's Nickie, and you'd best remember that I don't take orders."
"Just wait till the Anikitos gets a hold of you."
"I'm not worried about Bill," I said calmly."he doesn't give me orders.He knows he doesn't have to."
He stilled, looking up at me."Who are you, to call our Anikitos by his given name?"His voice full of derision.
I smiled.I knew it wasn't a friendly smile."Someone who has permission."I turned, and went into the clinic, leaving him sprawled on the ground, blood covering his face.Though it looked like his nose had already stopped bleeding."You better have that set, " I called over my shoulder."or it'll heal crooked."
Inside the clinic, I found Alexis easily.She was treating a woman who had what appeared to be a broken arm.Caden, Alexis' enforcer, stood outside the exam room as if he expected trouble.
"Hey, Caden."I greeted."You know there's some thug lurking around outside?"
"Yeah, I made him stay out there, while Alexis treated her."He nodded toward the exam room."He was being an ass, and I didn't want him around."
"After what he tried on me, I don't blame you."
"What did he try on you?"Caden asked, bristling.
"Oh, he thought he was dominant to me.He tried to bully me in to doing whatever he wanted."I said dismissively.
"I take it that didn't work out for him?"
"Not nearly as well as he'd hoped."I grinned, this time the smile reached my eyes."Either he'll be in soon to have his nose set, or he'll have a crooked nose from now on."
Caden grinned, enjoying the idea."He tried to order you around, so you broke his nose?"
"No, he tried to order me around, so I knocked him on his ass.I didn't break his nose until he tried to make me pay for knocking him down."
"And how did he respond to that?"
I rolled my eyes."He threatened me with Bill.He basically said I'll have to follow the Anikitos’ orders.Kinda shocked him when I told him I'm not worried about Bill, and that Bill doesn't order me around.Then I left him lying in the grass, covered in his own blood."
Caden shook his head, still grinning."You sure know how to make an impression, don't you?"
"His fault.I would have left him alone, if he'd left me alone.I didn't pick the fight, I just ended it."
"Sounds like you did."He chuckled.
"Is she gonna be a while?"I asked, changing the subject.
"Probably.She's trying to get the woman to tell her what really happened.She says she tripped and fell down the stairs, but given what brought her in," He nodded in the direction of the man I'd left outside."I suspect something less innocent."
"You think he did it?"I made it a question.
"I suspect it, but I have no proof.Unless she admits it, there's nothing we can do."
I shook my head."I guess even shape-shifters can't avoid human nature."
"Nope."
"All right."I sighed, realizing I didn't have time to wait for her to get done."Will you let her know I came by?"
"Do you really think I wouldn't?You taking out that asshole is going to be too good not to tell."
I laughed."I'm sure, tell her I'll call her later then."I turned and left.
I watched as I walked across the yard, and out the gate, but there was no sign of the man I'd encountered earlier.I was careful getting into my car and leaving, in case he'd decided to attack me there, and get even for what I'd done.But nothing happened.Maybe he'd decided I wasn't worth the trouble, but I wasn't counting on it.I thought it was more likely that he'd try to take me by surprise, to get the best of me.
