Page 8 of When It Reins
“We find who’s here doing the dirty work. They have boots on the ground, and I think I know who it is, but I haven’t confirmed it yet.”
“Need help with that?” I glance up and see Cheat offering his services.
Mick nods seriously and says, “Good idea. Let’s get some proof.”
“Then what?” Dragon, our treasurer asks. “We just take him out?”
“Nah, that won’t do much. We’ll need to find our angle, subtly let them know that this isn’t a community to be fucked with.”
“We’re going to need to watch this on several levels,” Mick says, looking absently at the table. “This isn’t something we can blow up and move on in.”
“Who’s this guy anyway?” Cheat asks, probably itching to go grab his laptop.
“My suspicions? This guy who’s been hanging around Acton. He’s always on the phone, stays at The Lodge, doesn’t seem to work much, but still seems like he’s doing fine. Hell, he’s dating a local girl,” Loki says, anger burning behind his words.
I stiffen as realization hits me.
“His name is David Nelson, and his days are numbered.”
Bottle Grounds is busier than just the normal Saturday night crowd, all thanks to some tourists who are in town for some work retreat. I don’t care about that much. Clocking in and nodding at one of the waitresses, I take up my post beside the front door, watching for any kind of threats.
This job to me is easy. I can stand here all night and make sure everyone is okay. I don’t have to talk to anyone or make polite smiles that are forced. I just protect.
A flash of brown hair catches my attention, and Juniper emerges from the kitchen, flawlessly carrying a large tray with several orders on it.
I watch as her expression morphs from serious and focused to her customer service smile. Even that makes her gorgeous, though I know it’s forced.
She’s got her hair up in a bun that I know she’ll be ripping out before she heads home tonight. Just like she does every night before she clocks out, she’ll reach up and pull the elastic out, letting her long brown hair fall nearly to her waist.
And I, like the very observant person I am, will watch the entire thing.
Thinking back to church, I contemplate how this is going to go. I highly doubt Juniper has any idea what David’s been doing.If I know anything about her, I know that she wouldn’t be with someone who is displacing families.
So why doesn’t she know? Doesn’t she want to know what he does for a living, or why he’s still here, living in a hotel?
Maybe he’s mostly staying with her, anyway.
The thought of that makes my teeth clench. If that’s the case, which it could be, then I am going to have to talk with her about safety. If he is really into bulldozing a neighborhood that’s been here for probably nearing forty years, then he is probably not the man that she thinks he is.
I imagine telling her that and almost smile at the look of anger I am sure would cross her face. I know she would be pissed, but more than likely because I was the one telling her.
She hates me now, and that’s okay. I don’t need or want her to like me.
Liar.
I brush that thought aside and focus on my job, wondering if David will show up tonight. I know Cheat is already doing his thing, tracking the guy down and seeing who he is working for.
Hours pass, and I help load chairs onto tables so the staff can mop floors. It isn’t technically my job, but the faster it is done, the faster I can get everyone safely home.
I walk a few of the girls to their cars before heading back in for Juniper. She is the only sister left, Thea having left when my brother showed up to retrieve her, and Annmarie and Shelly leaving an hour before closing.
I know that was Juniper’s doing. She is selfless and knows that if she could get them home, they could still have some time to be together tonight.
Which meant David must be busy. Why else would he not show up to take her home?
“You don’t need to wait on me, Mitch. I’m fine,” she calls from behind the register where she is doing her final sales count and closeout.
I don’t reply, because she already knows I’m not leaving her behind. I hear her sigh and duck my head to smirk.
