“Aw, she’s a keeper, Jack. She seems to have a thing for you,” Jimmy chuckled, shaking his head before turning serious once more. “We know where you live and we know where she lives, so don’t try anything stupid like calling the cops because we’re watching you – both of you. Be smart about this Jack, and no one gets hurt.”
Jack blinked away the haze he was looking through, his heart pounding in his chest.
“Why did he send you?” he questioned, struggling to keep his head in the game. “Why didn’t he just come get me himself?”
“That would be none of your business,” Jimmy said coldly. “But let’s just say that if it gets out that he let you get away with ripping him off, it’s over for him – so you can bet your ass he’s taking this little situation very seriously. You know me, Jack. I know you do. Don’t push me.”
Jack blinked, blood seeping down into his eye from the stinging cut to his head. Jimmy scrutinized him, pushing him away, sending Jack stumbling backwards.
“Ten grand, forty-eight hours,” Jimmy repeated. “I’ll let you know where.”
With one final soulless glance in Ally’s direction, both men walked away, leaving Jack teetering on his feet. Ally sniffed and he turned to look at her, his head throbbing.
“Are you alright?” she whimpered.
“I’m fine.”
The dim lighting in the parking lot made her look pale and small.
“You don’t look fine,” she said, her chin trembling. She reached out a hand to him, grimacing.
“Never mind me – are you alright? Did he hurt you?” He stumbled the few steps to her side, falling to his knees awkwardly as he grabbed her chair to keep himself from falling forward.
Tears stained her cheeks but she shook her head. “I’m okay. Who were those guys?”
His heart sank and he silently begged her not to do this to him now, not while his head still spun and he could barely string two thoughts together.
“Come on,” she said, wiping tears from her cheeks. “Let’s get out of here.”
He tried to find the words to tell her how sorry he was but he came up grossly inadequate. She helped him stand slowly.
“I’m taking you to the hospital.”
“I don’t need to see a doctor, I’ll be okay,” he insisted, even as his head felt like it was going to split in two.
“For once, please just do as you’re told?”
He stared down at his shirt, his body aching, his head throbbing. Blood was spattered down the front of it. Too tired and too sore to argue, he followed her slowly to her car.
CHAPTER 21
“You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it.”
- Margaret Thatcher
Ally drove slowly. The muscles in her shoulders burned and the thought of Jimmy’s huge hands on her made her skin crawl. She glanced briefly over at Jack, but his gaze was firmly fixed on the road ahead.
What the hell is going on here?
It felt like something out of a movie – heavies turn up, demanding cash or else. Ten thousand dollars was a lot of money – how had he racked up that much of a debt? What had he done?
She stole another glance at him, her gaze lingering briefly on the blood clotting on the side of his head. Where would he find that kind of money in forty-eight hours? She replayed what she had seen and heard, trying in vain to fit the puzzle pieces together as they approached her street.
They’re watching my house.
She peered at every parked car and up every side street, slowing down to a near-crawl. Nothing looked out of place. They could be anywhere. Goosebumps pricked her skin.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Jack run a hand over his mouth, scrutinizing his hand briefly.
She pulled into her driveway slowly, turning off the ignition. Leaning back against the head rest, she closed her eyes. She felt branded – like Jimmy’s fingers had burned her skin, seeping into the muscles. Wincing, she tried to wipe the image from her mind.
“I still think you should see a doctor,” she said, turning to Jack.
He sighed, deep and long, as if the weight of the world were resting on his shoulders. “I’m fine.”
She heeded the silent caution and waited. He didn’t move for several moments and she shivered as the night air began to leach into the car.
“I’m sorry,” he said finally, turning to her. “I never wanted you to get involved in any of this.”
Angry red marks shone just above his collar and his eyes seemed hollow, somehow. He looked like a man with a death sentence hanging over his head and the analogy made her uncomfortable.
“I’ll figure out a way to fix this,” he promised huskily. “Please – just trust me.”
She desperately needed answers but she didn’t dare ask him anything because he literally looked like he was hanging onto sanity by his fingertips.
“Let’s go inside,” she said.
The air of fatality that surrounded them was palpable. Jack eased out of the car as she unpacked her wheelchair, reassembling it slowly, her shoulders aching.
Transferring into the chair, they made their way up to the house. Glancing behind her as she unlocked the door, she got her first decent look at his battered face in the porch light and froze, her hand on the key in the lock.