Witness Pursuit (Bodyguards #1)

“Maybe.” He chewed his gum, his gaze sparkling. “But since we’re in town, you could hop on the back of my bike now. Park the truck in the lot and we’ll drive Main Street.”


Slade and Tate cheered him on, and she winked at them. Slade was Colt’s younger brother and visually his lookalike, while Tate was Slade’s cousin. They were all family, and now hers too. “Next time, okay.”

“I’ll hold you to that.” He grinned. “By the way, you look much hotter without those chunky glasses.”

Oh no. She patted her eyes and found she’d left the damn things in the truck. “Ah, right. Could you fill the tank for me while I grab them?” She scrambled across the front seat and snatched them, his chuckles loud and clear as she did.

Setting her glasses in place, she peered at him while he refueled for her. “You’re too smart for your own good.”

“And you look sad. You like Ronson’s place, don’t you, Red?”

“I’m getting there.” Like her, he had his own issues having spent six months in juvie. “What about you?”

“It’s all good now.” He ran his thumb over the nozzle while it filled. “I came from a crappy family, but this new one of Ronson’s is the best.”

“Really? Crappy?”

He looked at her and tipped up his chin. “Most of my dad’s family is in the slammer, or just out, or just going back in. My mother and her family are in the money, but they don’t know nothin’ about me ’cause I’m a Hyena. I don’t fit nowhere and never have. Ya get my drift?”

“I’m real sorry, Drake.”

“Yeah, my mother shuffled me off as quick as she could to the old man. I was only a day old when she got me out of the way. I’ve only met her a handful of times, that’s when she’s had to come by and see Dad. But like I said, I’m in a good place now, and I’ll make something of myself here.”

“Ronson’s definitely the best.”

“His niece is hot too.” He smiled mischievously.

“You’re three years younger than me.”

“I’ll catch up.”

“I don’t think so, unless you can bend time.”

His grin got wider. “We’ll see.” He finished pumping her gas and hung up the nozzle. “Take it easy. I won’t forget I owe you a ride.” He sauntered to his bike and revved it. “Later, Red.”

She tossed him a wave as she headed to the counter and paid. That done, she started the truck and further along Main Street, parked outside the optometrist’s.

Inside, she waited as the assistant adjusted her lenses and fit them nice and tight. Perfect, if one wanted glasses.

After leaving, she wandered to Gift-Giver, a novelty shop next door. With Nico’s birthday so close, it was now or never if she wanted to send him something. Oooh, and right there on the center shelf, a gorgeous sandy patterned conch shell, one of the large varieties that when you blew in, made that distinctive island horn sound.

A saleslady joined her, a woman in a slim-line black skirt and white blouse. “I take it you like this?” she asked.

“Yes, although I thought it was illegal to remove these kinds of shells from the islands?” Nico had found one at the cove, but she’d said it had to stay.

“That’s right, but this is a manufactured lookalike. They sound as good as the originals, and they are your only option if you’re after a shell of this size.”

“Then I’ll take it.” She handed it to her.

“Wonderful. Let me gift wrap it for you.”

“Thanks. Do you courier as well?”

“We sure do. Come to the counter and fill out an address tag. What wrapping paper would you like?” She pointed toward a selection behind the counter.

Ahh, the perfect print sat in a roller at the top. “The blue one with the sailing ships. Thank you.”

Nico would love it, only she wasn’t allowed this kind of contact with anyone. But too bad. She’d send it to Gilchrist, and hope he’d pass it along, and if he didn’t, well, at least she’d tried. It was the thought that counted, and right now, she needed that thought.

The saleslady smiled and wrapped the gift while she filled in the address tag. She passed it across, and the lady tied it to the winding ribbon she’d wrapped around it.

“When will it go?” She pulled out her new card to pay.

“The courier stops in at five. It’ll be delivered late tomorrow.”

“Perfect.”

She left the shop with a bouncy step, and passed a red phone booth on the sidewalk. A man in scuffed black jeans and a green muscle tee crowded the small space. On his bicep was a large tat, one of a sharp-toothed hyena with a raised claw. She slowed, having seen that tat somewhere before. Hmm, but where?

“The brat was at the pumps,” the man hissed into the phone. “He just drove down Main Street. No one ignores Kern, lady. About time you came through for me. I’ve been looking for your kid for six months.” He slammed the phone into its cradle as he hung up, and the springy black cord tangled in on itself.

She ducked out of his way as he stormed past and glared at her.

Creepy.

Still, nothing and no one would alter her mood now.





11