Page 51 of I Want Crazy (Loco, Texas 3)

Red watched him with unease and took out his earbuds.

“Hey, you wouldn’t happen to know where Jessie’s Bar and Grill is, would you?”

Kelsey, the barista and owner, gave him a hard look. “It doesn’t open until ten.”

“I know, it’s just I heard good things about it and wanted to check it out.”

“It’s just outside of town on your left. Big wood building.”

“Thanks, and can I get a large four-drip soy Americano?”

Red snorted at the drink, and the guy turned around to look at him. “You got a problem, man?”

Red stood up and saw the minute the little prick backed down. “Nope, no problem.”

He started packing up his laptop, and the guy turned back around. After paying for his coffee, the guy walked outside and climbed into a sedan.

“You going to check on Jessie?” Kelsey asked.

“Yeah, I’m going to call her first.”

“Good. I don’t like the look of that guy.”

Red walked out of the coffee shop and dialed Jessie’s cell, but it went straight to voice mail.

“Shit,” he said as he hurried to his Charger. He would only be a minute or two behind the little prick, but whoever he was, Red had a feeling he was part of the past she didn’t want to talk about.

* * *

Jessie was unlocking the door to the bar when a car pulled up and parked next to hers. She held her hand above her eyes and squinted against the sun.

And then the driver’s door opened, and Will climbed out.

“Hey baby,” he said, shutting the sedan’s door hard. “Did you miss me?”

Jessie couldn’t breathe as he came around the back of his car and started toward her. Above the pounding in her ears, she heard the familiar roar of Red’s Charger and sighed when Red pulled in behind Will.

Will stopped, and as Red climbed out of his car, said, “What’s your problem, man?”

Jessie wanted to run to Red and jump into his arms, but she wasn’t going to give Will the satisfaction of knowing he’d riled her.

“Like I said, no problem,” Red said as he passed him, climbing the ramp and handing her a coffee cup. “For you.”

“Thanks,” she said, afraid to take it and let him see her nerves, but it was too late. He saw the slight tremor in her hand and his eyes narrowed. But instead of saying anything, he just laced his fingers with hers.

“Well, isn’t this sweet? Making nice with the locals, Jess?”

Red’s grip tightened on her hand, and she felt the tension radiating from him. She squeezed his hand, silently hoping he would stay out of it. There was no question Red could take out Will with one punch, but the ass clown wasn’t worth it.

“Aren’t you supposed to be in California? You know how those pesky parole officers are about you not leaving the state.”

“Yeah, you know, I didn’t tell him because I figured I’ll be back before he misses me.”

“What do you want?”

“Baby, I want my money.”

Red bristled next to her at the endearment, while she felt ill. “It’s not your money, Will. Are you going to go after everyone who got a settlement from you?”

---