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The guy takes the signal and his cocktail to find a seat near the stage while he drinks it.
Her lips twist and she looks at me. “Something’s off. I’m going to talk to the bouncer and security in case that one turns into a stalker or some shit.” Exasperation radiates off of her.
I wiggle my fingers in a gimme motion toward the thick stack of receipts. She plucks the top one from the spike, giving it to me as she scoots past Tallulah.
“I got you covered. Take your time.” I’ve been known to serve a time or two when things get hectic.
The first thing I see on the man’s slip is his name is William Mayer. I’m in immediate agreement with Kimber’s assessment of or some shit. When we were naming Owen, Holly made mention that Bhodi’s father flipped when he wasn’t a junior. William wanted his namesake a Will or a Billy and Holly wouldn’t abide by it after he’d done her dirty. She didn’t even give the kid his father’s last name. So Bhodi it was and the name suits the boy.
I use my camera phone to take a snapshot of the paper and make another hole in the center, putting it back for the sales to be tabbed at closing. Then I punch what information I can into my cell and—
“Viola!” Ballentine’s at my side, his arms held wide like he’s fucking Houdini, and has pulled a reappearing trick.
“Are you drunk?”
“No.” Jake’s shit-eating grin dissolves.
“Stoned?”
“No.” He gets more serious. He actually thought he was going to get out of this showing up and acting coy.
“Good. We’ve got to talk.” I march toward the office. Tallulah follows her leash dragging on the floor. Halfway there, I grab Kimber by the waist and plant one on her. It’s for everyone’s benefit. The customers, William, Jake—who fucking needs the reminder that she’s mine—and me. Since I do too. It bolsters my next move.
I take Jake’s chair, putting my feet up the way he would. My dog makes herself comfortable on the leather couch and I give her the command to stay. Things are about to get heated.
“What’s up?” he tries to knock my shoes down, but I won’t budge.
“What did you do to Stanton?”
Jake’s taken aback. “I didn’t do anything to the man. It was an unfortunate turn of events.”
My feet slam to the floor and I get in Jake’s face. “Rex Stanton had a stroke on the back nine right after you threatened him.”
“Like I said, unfortunate turn. They aren’t related.” He raises his palms. There’s a slight tick in the vein at his throat. Jake’s not sweating. But the bags under his eyes are the assurance I need that he’s examined his own guilt and prove he’s pondered his culpability. He doesn’t want to admit that to me.
Asshole and avoidance start with A.
“The man is basically brain-dead. Have you thought about how this could screw up Holly’s life?”
“Screw it up how? Big deal. Stanton is in a coma.”
“Cass is in charge of the dealerships. You know, the big brother that Bhodi hit it off with. How can you be so damn self-absorbed that you don’t consider, above and beyond Cary Cass being upset that his father is in the hospital, that he might pull out of the mentorship program? Holly is a good mother. She works her ass off for you and she’s trying to give her kid the stability Bhodi needs.” I’ve started poking Jake in the chest. His eyes bug out each time I do because the last thing Jake’s used to is me losing my temper.
“What if Cass doesn’t have time for Bhodi anymore, Jake?”
“There will be someone else.”
“Like Bhodi’s deadbeat dad? Why don’t we go ask him? He’s sitting in the theatre right now. And he was real curious about what Holly is up to.”
“What? How the hell?” Jake turns in a circle. He wants to grab the handle, barge down the hall, and throw that asshat out on his ear. But that’s not keeping the upper hand or how we do business in this office.
“Yeah, what? Like what the hell do you do to protect them now that you’ve fucked with their lives? Was the payout from Stanton worth it in the end? Cause I’m telling you, for me, it wasn’t. I’m finished. You can take a flying leap if you ever ask me to go fishing for you again.”
The information about Cass was a favor to Holly that blew up when Jake saw an opportunity to cash in.
I see the flash of remorse.
“Did you ever make good on it? Do you even know what Stanton is hiding?”
