“I would like to know why they asked who my pimp was. If you’re a pimp, I’m out of here.” And I’d be taking the girls with me.
He filled his plate with eggs, the spoon dinging against the bowl as he scooped. “After all my help last night, is that what you think?” He mashed his lips into a thin line as he salted his eggs.
I ground my teeth together. “I don’t know. What’re two teenaged girls doing with you? Are they your sisters?” Dillon didn’t give me the impression he was a guy who took advantage of girls.
He grabbed a fork and shoveled a pile of eggs into his mouth. He watched me while he chewed. “They’re two girls who needed help. They were living on the streets with no chance of surviving.”
“Where are their parents?”
“Allie ran away from a foster home. I found her pimp beating her. Bee is also a runaway, but not from a foster home. Her mother died when she was young, and she was left with a father who’s a drunk. She couldn’t take his shit anymore. I found her among the homeless crowd one night. They’re both eighteen and make their own decisions. I’ve offered to help them reconnect with family, but they’re not ready.”
“Do you troll for girls or something?” I thought it was admirable that he rescued girls, but a part of me found it odd that he would.
He set his fork down with a smirk. “Elizabeth.”
“It’s Lizzie.” Elizabeth reminded me too much of my parents.
“Lizzie, I try to help girls in bad situations. I don’t expect you to believe me, and I’m glad you don’t. That tells me you’re cautious. Women should be more cautious and question things. I’ve been trying to teach Allie and Bee that very thing.”
“Do you kiss all the girls you help?” A large part of me knew he was a good guy, but doubt niggled in the back of my mind.
“I told you I didn’t plan that.”
Yeah, but the effort he’d put behind the kiss and the way his body had responded told me he’d liked it. I couldn’t blame him. I enjoyed his kiss. As badass and sexy as Dillon was, I was there on business. Although seeing Kelton again had kick-started my emotions for him.
“I’m not in Boston to get involved with anyone. Can we agree to get to know each other as just friends? Or business partners?” I wanted to complete our deal.
“You like that Maxwell guy?” His gaze roamed over my face.
I shrugged. “Does it matter? Don’t answer that. Look, are you going to sell me a gun or not?” My stomach growled.
“Eat, then we’ll talk.” He started spreading jelly on his toast.
I dove in and filled my plate with eggs, pancakes, and bacon. I had a feeling my body and my brain were going to need all the fuel they could get.
* * *
After breakfast and a trip to the bathroom, I went in search of Dillon. I was on the second floor landing when Baldy’s and Dillon’s voices carried upward. I stopped.
“That Maxwell dude is here,” Baldy said. “You want me to get rid of him?”
Kelton sure hadn’t changed. He was as persistent as ever.
“No, Josh. The guy won’t let up until he gets answers, and I don’t want any trouble. We can’t afford to have the cops sniffing around here.”
Considering he sold guns, I didn’t doubt the cops could be trouble. But the law wasn’t an issue at the moment. I thought about telling Dillon I’d handle Kelton, but I wasn’t prepared to face Kelton. Maybe after my mission was completed, I’d talk to him. That way my head would be clear, and he wouldn’t distract me from my goal.
Josh’s and Dillon’s voices died when the door closed with a resounding thud. I flinched then sprinted down one flight before ducking into a living room at the bottom of the stairs. I had to at least hear what Kelton wanted.
Two tall windows anchored the sides of the wide window in the middle. Luckily the curtains were drawn, but the men had to be on the porch because their voices were loud but not exactly clear.
Footsteps and giggles broke me away from dialing in on Kelton and Dillon’s conversation.
“What are you doing?” Allie asked.
I put my finger to my mouth.
“Oooh, you’re eavesdropping,” Bee said excitedly as she bounced in, her ponytail swaying back and forth. “Over here.” She pointed to a door adjacent to the stairs.
I followed her and Allie into a room that had a pool table and stank of cigarettes.
Allie hopped up and sat on the pool table, watching me. I went to the window. This room had the same style windows as the living room, and the curtains were drawn.
Bee touched her lips with her forefinger. “Dillon sometimes leaves the window cracked in this room when they’re playing pool,” she whispered. “And the guys were in here after dinner last night.”
I swiped my hand down one end of the curtains, feeling for a draft. Sure enough, cold air seeped in. I squatted and angled my ear at the opening in the window.
“I want to talk to Lizzie,” Kelton said. His voice was clear and crisp. “Is she here?”
“How did you find out where I lived?” Dillon asked.