Page 61 of Demon
“Your bounty hunter’s father has been picked up.”
Demon grunted, but didn’t argue with the your bounty hunter comment, he wasn’t about to deny that she was his, he just hoped he could talk her into feeling the same way before someone said it to her.
“Ok, I knew that was going to happen.The brother told us it was in the works before I crashed for the day.Anything else?”
“Not yet.I didn’t know if you were aware of the father.”
“I am.We’re hopeful that he can be flipped and will have enough info to put Switchblade in prison.”
“Wouldn’t that be nice?”Tuck didn’t sound hopeful.“I just wanted to touch base and see what you knew.Keep us updated and let us know if there’s anything we can help with.”
“Will do.”He disconnected the call and wished Ronnie was still here beside him, but knew Gavin wasn’t going to let her get hurt, and that odds were good she was less than fifty feet away in the other room.
His stomach rumbled.If he wasn’t going back to sleep, he’d need coffee, and maybe some food too if whatever he was smelling was ready to eat.After checking the time, he found he’d been sleeping for a little over four hours.Not ideal, but he could make it work, as long as he didn’t have to do this for weeks, he’d manage.
Demon rolled out of bed and headed for the bathroom first.As he pissed, he considered taking a shower before he went out to see what Ronnie and her brother were up to, but decided against it.He liked the way every now and then, when he moved just right, he’d catch her scent on his skin.He wasn’t ready to wash it off yet.Instead, he pulled on his jeans, grabbed a clean t-shirt from the bag he’d brought in from the other room before going to bed, and went in search of Ronnie.
“Where have you been hiding, huh?”Ronnie’s tone told him she was likely talking to the cat.
Demon padded barefoot into the living room where he leaned against the doorframe, t-shirt still in his hand as he watched her hug the cat, then let him down in her lap, where he curled up and closed his eyes, while she ran her hand along his back over and over.
“If I lay down in your lap will you pet me like that?”Demon couldn’t resist asking.
Ronnie twisted around to look at him.“Why don’t you come try and find out?”
“Please don’t,” came Gavin’s voice from somewhere out of sight.
“Hey, glad to see you’re still here.You making whatever smells so good?”Demon stepped into the room and spotted Gavin on the other side of the bar.
“I tossed it in the crockpot, but it’s got another couple of hours before it’s ready.”
“I can fry you up a couple eggs if you’re hungry,” Ronnie offered.
“Coffee is fine for now.”He unrolled his shirt and pulled it on as he headed for the kitchen.“What happened while I slept?”
“Not much that I know of,” Gavin said.“I haven’t heard anything since then.”
Demon nodded as he put a fresh pod in the coffee maker, set his cup underneath and hit start.
“What’s the plan for this afternoon?”
Gavin shook his head.“I’d like to go talk to a few people, see if they’re making any progress with getting Dad to talk.”
“Maybe give them a little information to use as leverage on him?”Demon glanced at the other man, one brow lifted.Gavin gave a non-committal shrug.
“When do you work at the bar again?”Ronnie asked from where she still sat on the couch, petting the cat.
“I’m off until we get this figured out and I can be sure you’re safe.”He took the full cup from the coffee maker and carried it with him as he went to stand near the bar so he could see her.“Looking to get rid of me already?”
“Not at all.I was thinking I could go along.”
He watched her for a moment, trying to figure out what she was up to.
“Why?”he asked after a few seconds.
She looked away.“I just thought I could go with you.I’d hate for you to miss shifts you need because you’re stuck here with me.”
“First of all, firecracker, I’m not stuck here with you.I want to be here.I want to be sure you’re safe, and I’ll do whatever I need to in order to make that happen.Second, why would you want to go hang out in a bar for six to eight hours?I don’t want to do it, and I’m being paid to be there.Third, missing a few shifts isn’t going to put me on the streets.”He watched her for a moment, trying to decide if there was something else driving her suggestion or if she really didn’t want him to have to miss his shift.
