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The voice on the other end erupted into laughter, which warmed my insides. “Oh boy, Brian has his hands full. My name’s Brody, and you have my brother all in a twist.” His mirth continued and made me smile.
“How can I help you?”
“Actually, I want to help you.” Brody’s hysterics died down. “I have some information that I think you should know about your old friend Jason.”
“What do you mean? Did Brian put you up to this?” I bristled.
“Hell no, and if he knew I was talkin’ to you now, he’d have my head.”
“Then, why are you?” This man didn’t know me, and my suspicion rose.
“Because my brother likes you and would never tell you the truth. I, on the other hand, want you goin’ into any confrontation you have with this man prepared with his full history.” Brody continued on, and what he revealed to me turned my stomach.
“But that was years ago,” I replied, trying to merge the image this man gave me with the one I remembered of Jason from high school.
“Yes, but it wasn’t the first time. It’s happened three times since, and how he has a badge now, I haven’t figured out. He must have friends higher up who were able to scrub these incidents from his record. It took me longer than usual to unearth them. Genni, be careful. He isn’t fully sane, and his tendencies have been to break the women he is with using any way possible. This man is someone who gives our lifestyle a bad name.”
Brody had given me a quick lesson on the BDSM lifestyle—he’d had to in order to explain what Jason had done and why. I had read about it in my romance novels and had even been curious, but never enough to look into it in real life. It didn’t help that I always lived in small towns far away from a city that might have a BDSM community I could check out. As I let everything sink in, I assessed the situation and recognized in both Brian and Jason the signs of a dominant nature.
“Thank you, Brody.”
“You’re welcome, pet. Now, be careful, and if you need help, you just call, even if it’s help with my brother.” He chuckled and disconnected the call.
Our conversation had lasted the whole trip to the diner. I took a deep breath, dropped my phone in my purse, and opened the diner door. My eyes found Brian immediately, a newfound appreciation for him running through me. Jason stood next to him, brooding and dangerous. I straightened my shoulders and went to join them in the corner booth. Far enough from the main crowd to have a private discussion but still within full view of the patrons and staff. Brian ushered me into his side of the booth before Jason could say a word.
He had our backs to the wall. Both the front door and kitchen entrance were in eyesight. Brian slid in next to me, and Jason plopped down across from us.
“Okay, boys, now, what do you want to discuss with me?”
This diner had been here since I could remember—a local joint with a homey atmosphere. The waitresses still wore the old pink and white uniforms, which reminded me of the old show Alice that Gran used to watch. The booths had recently been recovered in a maroon vinyl; the tables were scarred but still polished to a shine. There was a counter running the length of the diner, which again was polished to a shine, with swivel stools bolted to the floor and covered in the same vinyl and trimmed in silver. Display cases showed pies of the day, and in the morning, it had doughnuts and cinnamon rolls.
When the coffee shop opened, the residents worried it would take business from the diner, but they coexisted well. The diner had their regulars, which kept them afloat. The aroma of a good greasy burger and fries hit your senses when you entered and made your mouth water. Even if you had plans to only order a salad, you ended up ordering something with more substance. Normally, I would have my regular bacon cheeseburger with fries and a shake, but today, a piece of pie and coffee was all my stomach could tolerate.
Jason’s intense gaze made my skin crawl. The knowledge that Brody had imparted to me didn’t help that feeling. Our waitress came over as soon as I sat down.
“What can I get ya, sugar?” She smacked her gum and cocked a hip as she waited for an answer. Her hair was teased high, and she had applied the eyeliner and lipstick a little too thick for a woman her age.
Brian waited for me to order, but as I opened my mouth, Jason spoke for me, “She’ll have the bacon cheeseburger and fries with a chocolate shake.”
“Actually, I’ll just take a cup of coffee and a piece of your apple pie.” I glared at Jason, daring him to contradict me.
“You always get the cheeseburger,” he sputtered, his face turning red. “You need more meat on your bones, Genni. Get the burger.”
“Pie and coffee will be fine. Thank you.” I sat back and crossed my arms.
Jason plastered a winning smile on his face as he placed his order. Brian was next.
“I’ll have what she’s having.” He handed the menu back to our waitress, who made a show of bending over me to take it, giving the whole town a view down her too-tight uniform. Brian didn’t take the bait; instead, he sat back and draped his arm across the bench behind me.
“I’ll have that out in two shakes, honey.”
She sashayed away with an exaggerated swing to her hips. I wanted to smack the smirk off her face when she glanced back as if that display would get Brian between her plump thighs. I turned my attention back to Jason and straightened up.
“So, what did you want to talk to me about?”
“Genni,” Jason started and then glared at Brian. “I hadn’t planned on having company when I talked with you.”
“Tough shit.” Brian stayed relaxed next to me. “I don’t trust what might come out of your mouth or what you might do if left alone. I’m here simply for Genevieve’s protection.”
