So Far Gone in You(Primal Heat 2)(9)

“You’ve got to be shitting me,” Coop said. The guy had to be in his seventies. “But I helped you out.” What was the world coming to when you couldn’t trust the elderly?

“And I thank you,” the guy replied. “Those machines really do confuse me.”

Coop’s gaze dropped to the gun still concealed in the man’s jacket, but the muzzle was pointed right at his gut. Should he chance it? Of course, you freaking moron.

Coop swiveled to the side and snatched the gun from the guy’s hand. At the same time, he removed the clip and shoved it into his pocket before emptying the chamber and tossing the gun into the trashcan not a foot away.

“Stick to checkers,” he warned the guy. “I’m not into smacking the elderly around, but I’ll smack you if you pull a stunt like that again.”

The man shrugged. “For forty grand, I had to try.”

Forty grand? Coop was tempted to turn himself in for that kind of money. He was astonished at the price on his head. “Who is paying the contract?”

“Not sure, but that money would have helped me take Ethel to the Bahamas.”

Coop shook his head in disgust.

“But since I couldn’t take you in, maybe my grandson will.”

Coop turned his head to find a behemoth behind him, and then he felt something solid press into his back. This just wasn’t his fucking day.

“Now, do as Gramps says and get into the car,” the newcomer said.

Coop glanced Karidon’s way. His best friend was oblivious to what was going on two islands over. Unless Coop had another trick up his sleeve, he’d be forced to get into the car. He turned back to the old man and tried to think of a way out of this.

“Excuse me.”

Coop grinned when he heard Karidon’s voice behind him. Coop and the behemoth turned just as Karidon swung his tire iron over the man’s head.

“You bastards! Don’t kill my grandson,” the elderly men cried out. His eyes were wide, a lot of the white showing. He curled his liver-spotted hands into loose fists and looked on the verge of crying. Coop almost felt sorry for the elderly man. He would have had the guy not shoved a gun at him.

No good deed goes unpunished.

“Yeah, like he was inviting me to a tea party.” Coop snarled his words. He felt guilty for talking to the old man in that manner. God, he had to have a few screws loose for the compassion he felt toward the guy.

“We done here?” Coop asked Karidon as the behemoth lay at their feet, lights out.

“Done.”

The two raced to the Jeep and jumped in, taking off as quickly as they could. Coop rubbed a hand over his face, his head pounding. “I just had a grandfather pull a gun on me.” He chuckled humorlessly. “I thought elderly people were supposed to be nice and adorable!” he shouted angrily. “He told me we have forty grand on our heads.”

“Each?” Karidon glanced at Coop.

“Sorry, didn’t bother to ask. I was too busy dodging Ben-Gay and his grandson.” Coop slumped in his seat. “Unreal.”

Karidon started laughing. Coop didn’t find the situation humorous.

“Come on.” He nudged Coop with his arm. “Tell me you don’t find getting held up by gramps just a tad funny.”

“You need your head examined,” Coop groused and then smiled.

They both chuckled as they headed toward Talyn’s. The situation was too bizarre not to.



* * * *



Jake Holliman glanced around the BP station. They had taken a shortcut to shave off some time, and it was obvious he and Zach had missed them. He didn’t see Karidon Wade’s Jeep anywhere, but he did spot a lumbering man getting off the ground, wincing as he rubbed his blond head. There was an older man standing next to him. Jake slowed enough to listen to what the two were saying.

“If we leave now, we should be able to catch up to them,” the elderly man said as he jabbed his finger into the other guy’s chest. “Now get in and don’t fail me this time.”

“You think that’s a bit strange?” Jake asked Zach as the other Enforcer stepped out of the truck.

Zach eyed the two and nodded. “Unless it was grandpa who put that large guy on his ass.”

Jake gave Zach a doubtful expression. “I’m going to see if I can find out what happened.”

Zach pulled the toothpick he’d been chewing from his mouth. “I’ll get us some gas.”

Jake walked two islands over and stopped short of the tan Ford Focus. He noticed a tiny trickle of blood seeping from the side of the blond’s head. “Need any help?”

The elderly man narrowed his sky-blue eyes. “What’s with this friendly little town?” he snapped at Jake. “No, I don’t need help from a guy whose hair is longer than a girl’s.”