It’s okay, Lydia, you’re safe now.
She turned the water on, and she watched the tub fill up.
Tucking hair behind her ear, she thought about Henry. Her feelings about the brutish man scared her more than anything. He could have left her there to be used, abused, and killed. He hadn’t. Why?
There was more to Henry than she first thought, and being intrigued by a man who was deadly terrified her.
Chapter Four
“That woman is going to be the death of me, I’m sure of it,” Caleb said, turning toward them. “Let’s talk in my office.”
When Lydia was out of sight, Henry followed his friend, closing the door behind him. He didn’t like not knowing where Lydia was. She’d been so scared during their time together. Seeing her in the large house with the lights shining around them, she’d looked broken.
“What did you have to agree to?” Henry asked, still pissed at himself for putting them all in this position. He shouldn’t have upset Lydia, sending her running, nor should he have gone after her.
“We’re expanding a venture into rural towns along with accepting them as our suppliers for the future.” Caleb sat down behind his desk while Elijah took the sofa.
“I’m pissed off,” Elijah said. “I’ve got a good deal going with the Mexicans. I don’t want to risk my ass because of some two bit townies.”#p#分页标题#e#
“They’re not townies, Elijah. I told you that. Bill and Leon are front men. They’re not the men running the show. Someone else is.”
“Drake Stone? He wouldn’t use those guys. They’re next to useless,” Henry said. Drake was their enemy and tried to fight for the right to run the whole city. They were all powerful men, but Drake was an asshole of the highest order. He got women hooked on drugs, then put the addicts on the books. His operation was sloppy and violent. Henry loved violence, but with him getting older he was seeing the need to keep his fists firmly in his pockets.
“It could be Drake.”
“That little shit would be bragging about having him,” Elijah said, pointing at Henry. “He’s nothing better than a twelve-year-old with a gun. Drake couldn’t keep quiet to save his own ass let alone anyone else. It can’t be Drake.”
“Why not? We know him as being a pain in the ass little shit. This is a competition to him. How do we know he’s not about to take on something else? Let’s face it, he knew we’d rule this out,” Caleb said. “I’m not going to rule him out, not yet.”
“When can I kill them?” Henry asked, more interested in hurting the men who’d hurt Lydia.
“You can’t kill them yet. We need to find out what else they know before we take them out.”
“No, I’m the one who’s going to be taking them out, no one else.” Henry wanted their blood on his hands to know he did the job right.
“Are you okay?” Caleb asked.
“I’m fine. This isn’t the first time I’ve been taken, and I imagine it’s not going to be the last. Don’t worry about me.”
He stood up and started to pace the room. Glancing at the clock on the wall he saw it was a little after seven.
“Lydia can’t be alone,” Elijah said, speaking up.
“What?” Henry paused to look at the other man.
“We don’t know if they’re going to be watching her. Bill didn’t look all that stable,” Caleb said.
“And yet you struck a deal.”
“It was either strike a deal with them or put you and Lydia at risk. From the crazed look on your face I imagine you wouldn’t want me to put her in a situation that will change her.”
Caleb’s knowing words irritated him.
“I’ve not got to listen to this.” Walking toward the door, Henry was ready to leave.
“They’re going to come back. If this isn’t Drake then it’s going to be someone else. You can’t let her be alone.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll be on babysitting duty.” Henry opened the door, walking away.
He needed a drink, and it was too early to get started on alcohol. Stepping into the kitchen he came to a stop as he saw Donna sitting at the table. A cloth was over her shoulder, but the sight of Luke’s legs let Henry know what she was doing.
“Where’s Lydia?” he asked, going to the coffee pot. He saw it was still brewing and cursed.
“She’s taking a shower. I want to thank you for taking care of her. When we realized she’d been taken, we were both so worried.”
He glanced over his shoulder to see Donna looking at him.