A Real Bad Boy(13)

If not on a two-year-old case, then on one of these newer ones.

"Can you make that happen?" he asked.

"I can."

"I told you before, it doesn't fucking matter how much it costs. I can pay it."

"It's not about the money, it's about the level of trust. These men, a  lot of them aren't exactly what you call stable. And they need to be  able to trust the man they are working for. They'll trust me. But I'm  not sure if I trust you. Not yet."

Leo narrowed his eyes. "What do I need to do?"

"You need to prove to me that you are willing to do what it takes, and  that you are willing to be fair. These men-on the wrong leash they can  be monsters. Hell, I can be a monster." I wished I could look through  souls at that very moment, see into his. Just revenge wasn't going to  work if I was going to bring these men into it. They would eat that up  without a second thought, turn it into something more twisting.

"The people who did this need to be off the streets. Hell, they need to  be in body bags so they can't kill anyone else. They act like this shit  is a game, Zach." He looked disgusted.

"I know that, but do you really understand the consequences of what you  are doing? Everyone else bailed, and it's for good reason. This could  get more people killed. Hell, it could get you killed if you aren't  careful."

"You don't think I know that? I've spent two years spinning my wheels,  going nowhere. They won't touch me, so they have to know who I am. They  have to understand what I'm capable of. But don't think I'm not aware of  the danger. Hell, sometimes I wish they would just find me and end it.  The nightmare of seeing her there, cold on that slab. Of being the one  to tell her parents that I was too busy working to go out with her, to  make sure she was safe. I didn't even know where she was, Zach." He ran  his hands through his hair and sat down on a stool near the table. "I  didn't even know where she was."

He was sincere. I'd been trained in detecting liars, in notice all the  facial expressions, all the moments. All the things other people didn't  see or notice. Hell, I could probably tell if a man was lying better  than a damn polygraph. He wanted nothing more than to get these bastards  off the streets.

I imagined what I would do if I were the one missing my woman. If I'd lost her to these scumbags.

Fuck, I'd be a hell of a lot more to contend with.

"All right, man." I chewed my lip. "I hear you."

"What do you think?" he asked as he looked up at me.

"I think I'm a sucker, and you got yourself a team. Let me give my guys a  call. In the meantime, we need to get this place ready for them. We  need more technology down here. I'll write you a list," I said as I  pulled a pad and paper out of my pocket. I was security. I had to have  that shit lying around.

He pulled out a black card. "Put it on this. Get anything you want. It won't be a problem."

"Fuck, man. You sure?"

He smirked at me. "Money is the one thing I don't have a shortage of."

I already liked this job, but the free flow of cash made it even easier to deal with.

I grabbed my cellphone and dialed. I knew just the guy for this shit.  Name was Glitch. Been working with him since I left the Army and started  farming out my work. Always was the easiest guy to get along with in  the team. Just had to give him the tech and clear orders and you had  exactly what you wanted.

"Hey, man. You got a min?" I asked as I looked at Leo then walked away. I  needed to be able to approach these men on my terms. I needed to be  able to make the everyday decisions I always did.

"Yeah, you looking for some team members?"

"How did you know?"

"Well, you don't fucking call to wish my daughter a happy birthday, so what else would it be?" He chuckled.

"Got a domestic-"

He moaned. "Nah, man. You know I don't want to do that small time shit. I  need to get the fuck out of the country. Make things that blow up, find  spies."

"No, you'll want to get in on this. Billionaire playboy has all the toys  you could possibly want, and money to buy what he doesn't have. I've  got a blank check."                       
       
           



       

"What are we doing?" That got his attention.

"Finding some scum and wiping it out," I said. "Assholes been murdering girls and getting away with it. Must be connected."

"Mob, you think?"

"No, I think they are worse. Rich sons of bitches who don't give a shit about anyone."

Glitch was also a man of the people. Enlisted, not officer, he hated wealth and privilege.

Like I said, I knew exactly who to call.

"When do you need me?" he asked.

"Tonight?"

"Depends, you going to send me on a fancy jet? With alcohol and bitches and all that shit?" he asked.

"I'll fucking pick you up myself."

"You really did find a live one, didn't you?" he asked.

"He's a good man. Good to work for, pay will be top scale."

"All right, I'm in. But you're going to have to get Caleb in on this. I  don't want to work with any of those wet behind the ears kids they have  in the business now."

That was going to be a little harder. Caleb was my other choice, but  he'd retired from the business a year ago without a fucking word as to  where we was going. He could be hard to work with, stubborn as a fucking  mule, but he was a good man. Patriotic, smart, and moral. He'd be a  pain in the ass to manage, but I didn't want anyone else on this.

"You find him, I'll recruit him." If he wanted to be off the grid, no one would find him. Not even Glitch.

"That won't be a problem. He called me a week ago looking for work." I could fucking hear his grin in the phone.

"You're a son of a bitch, do you know that?" I asked.

"Fuck yeah, I do. And you're going to bring me dinner. I want some of  those flying biscuits from that shop down there. You know, you brought  them once and I haven't been able to stop thinking about them since.  That fucking butter, man."

"Do you have any more requirements, you little dick?" I asked.

"You know, as a matter of fact, I could go for one your ATL honeys. Nice big pair of-"

"I'll pick you up at the airport outside of Pittsburgh in three hours. You got it?"

"Yeah, I got it."

I hung up the phone and turned to see Leo standing there, his arms crossed.

"You got them?" he asked.

"I do, but man, if you want this done right, you are going to have to  play by my rules, you understand? I'm not fucking around and getting my  men killed, or worse." I had a feeling these assholes we were messing  with wouldn't just stop at us. There was no way I was putting anyone I  gave a shit about in harm's way over this.

"Yeah. I understand." I could tell by the way his jaw clenched that he didn't fucking like it, but too bad.

I had to run this show if I was going to make it work.

"You need to set up a meeting with those dicks you think are involved. I'll do the rest."

I turned to leave.

"Where are you going?"

"To the airport. Charter me a flight. I have some assholes to pick up." I wanted to hurry up and get home. Find my girl.





Willow



"You're still seeing him, aren't you?" Ruby asked as she stared at me from across the diner table.

She'd invited me out for pie with a single motive in mind. It had  nothing to do with wanting to share pie with me. No, she wanted to know  exactly what was going on between me and her cousin.

"Is that any of your business?" I asked as I took a bite out of my  cherry pie. It was the perfect mix of tart and sweet. If I was going to  get the third degree, I might as well enjoy what I was getting.

"You know that your business is my business. It's what best friends are for." She used her fork to get a bite of my pie.

"Hey!" I said as I reached for hers and took an even bigger piece. It  was apple, not my absolute favorite, but it was the principle.

"Fair," she said then looked at me. "I'm just worried about you, Willow. You don't think it's too soon?"

"I think I deserve to be happy with whatever this is. I don't know if  it's going anywhere, and honestly, I don't know if I care." I shocked  myself with the amount of honesty I'd spewed.

"You have a point. I just worry about you, Willow."

"Do you need to worry about her with me? Really?" I'd know that voice  anywhere. Zach walked up to the booth and slid in with us, wrapping his  arm around me.

"How did you know we were here?" I asked. I hadn't seen him for a few days. It shocked me to hear him.

"I didn't, this is my diner. I take Ruby here. She stole it." He glared  at her. "It's my spot, though it apparently moonlights as a place where  she hangs out and expresses her ‘concern.'"