Page 56 of Falling for the Wrong Guy

“What if I’m not? I figure I can grab the coins and be hours away before you two find the courage to step out in the bad weather.” Ice was pulling on his jacket as I spoke. Jack followed his lead. There was still a heavy drizzle, but it was better than the downpour I’d ridden in getting to town.

Some of the tension flowed from my body as the two followed me outside. I glanced inside and spotted Aria racing across the dining room to lock the door. Her brown gaze locked with mine through the window for a brief moment before I pulled mine away.

“So where are we going, and you better be telling the truth, otherwise it’ll be the last lie you ever tell.” There was a chunk of flesh missing from Ice’s jaw.

“Get on your bikes and follow me.” My one and only goal had been to get them out of the restaurant without causing any trouble or damage. I’d achieved that goal, but now I had these two jerks to contend with. A scattered plan came together, but there was no real goal this time. Soon they’d find out I was lying, and neither of them looked like the type who’d say, “Aw shucks, he was just jokin’” and be on their way. I was preparing myself for a brawl. I was outnumbered, but it wouldn’t be the first time.

With no real plan in place, I turned my bike toward the lighthouse. They followed. More relief. I’d lead them far away from the café, so Aria could pull the place together and get safely home and hopefully put the whole incident behind her. Even though all this trouble started in Quinn’s prison cell and had nothing to do with me, I still couldn’t help feeling entirely responsible for what’d happened. I’d been ready to tear them to pieces if they’d laid a hand on Aria.

I could hear the rattling thunder of the choppers behind me. I glanced back over my shoulder. They flanked me on each side about twenty feet back. The road was slick with rain and wet oil. Up ahead I saw the familiar turnoff for the lighthouse. I’d gotten rid of one duo at the lighthouse. Maybe I’d get lucky a second time. These two looked far more serious and lethal than Leo and his sidekick. Plus, I’d had the advantage that Leo was already hurt. I wasn’t so lucky this time. I’d noticed a knife in Jack’s belt, and I had no doubt Ice was armed with something, too. I hoped it was a knife and not a gun.

Bad weather had kept people away from the lighthouse. The clouds hung low and heavy over a churning gunmetal gray ocean. The day couldn’t have been gloomier, which fit my mood just fine. I hadn’t heard from Angie, so I could only assume she hadn’t talked to the doctor yet. It was hard for her to take calls at work, and her boss didn’t seem the least bit sympathetic to her situation.

I parked the bike. I’d walked into the café pumped on adrenaline because I wasn’t sure what I’d find inside. Now that I knew Aria was safe, I had very little urge to throw my fist at these guys. I had too much else on my mind—like actually finding the damn coins.

They both flicked water off their heads as they stomped toward me, arms out slightly from their sides and brows furrowed in concentration. “All right. Let’s go. You lead,” Ice said.

I chuckled. “Oh, that’s cute. You two actually believed all that stuff I said back there in the restaurant?”

Jack smacked Ice on the arm. “Told you he was full of it.”

I pointed at Jack. “Obviously, he’s the brains of the group, ’cuz yeah, I’m full of it. Now I was thinking we could just have a laugh about it, and then go our separate—” Ice stormed toward me with fists curled. “I guess not.”

I dodged the first fist and managed to get in a good blow to the side of his head. While Ice stumbled sideways for a second, Jack, who moved much faster, came at me with his knife. I spun around and kicked his arm. He grunted in pain, and the knife flew free of his hand. I was in the midst of my victory moment when one of Ice’s meaty fists got me straight in the face. My ears rang and my vision blurred as I stumbled backward. I pressed my hand over my mouth to catch dripping blood. Jack rubbed his arm as he searched around for the knife. In the meantime, Ice had pulled back his arm for another go. I blocked it and threw my fist into his stomach. He bent over, but there was enough meat around his middle to lessen the impact. He recovered quickly. I could feel the earth beneath my feet vibrate as he lumbered toward me with heavy, angry steps. My cheek was numb, and my entire head throbbed.

My fist came up under Ice’s chin. He grunted and his teeth snapped together. Blood seeped from the side of his mouth. I’d been focused on Ice and had lost track of his partner. I didn’t see the blade come at me until it was too late. It sliced through the sleeve of my jacket and just deep enough to leave a shallow cut in my arm.

I looked at the gash in my coat. “Now, I’m really mad. This is my only coat.” I drew my fist back, and as Jack turned to dodge my punch, I swung around and kicked him solidly in the back. He made that short, bursting, groaning sound that came with having the wind knocked out of you. Before I could swing around, Ice’s fist came down on my shoulder with enough force to knock me to my knees. While down there I gritted through the pain in my shoulder and used my good arm to hit him hard on the knee. I felt his patella shift to the side. My hand reverberated from the impact. Ice yelled out in pain, and the ground shook again as he dropped to his back. He grabbed his knee to staunch the pain.

I pushed to my feet and stared down at them. “I don’t care where you go from here, but I don’t ever want to see either of you again.”

I walked back to the motorcycle. Jack had recuperated, but he was leaning over, holding his back as he tried to help his much bigger buddy to his feet. Ice’s face was pale as snow. He was still gripping his knee. I now had two very dangerous enemies, who, no doubt, had equally dangerous connections. I was no closer to finding the coins, and Quinn’s health was getting worse. This day just kept getting better.

The rain had slowed to a cold, heavy mist. The coolness felt good on my face. My right eye was starting to close up from the swelling in my cheek. I could still taste blood in my mouth. It seemed to be coming from my nose. I got on the bike and headed back to Whisper Cove. I’d check on Aria and then go collapse in my creaky, cold bunk. I didn’t even have my one friend, Gus, to talk to.

ChapterThirty-Six

Aria

Ididn’t have it in me to clean the kitchen again, so I left the café a mess. I’d have to come in early tomorrow. I checked my phone for the tenth time, hoping I’d hear something from Dex. There was no reason for him to let me know what was going on, but it would have put my mind at ease to know that he was all right. I had no idea if he’d been telling the creeps the truth or not, but either way, he’d be in danger.

I was trying not to overanalyze my decision to text him for help. I knew he was tough, and I figured he would know how to handle the two men. I’d practically broken down in sobs when I saw him walk confidently through the door. I knew instantly that I would be safe, that he would make sure nothing happened to me.

I pulled on a pair of sweats after a long, hot shower and checked my phone again. Still no word from Dex. I sat on the couch with a cup of hot tea. A knock made me sit up with a start. I was still jumpy. At least this time I knew I’d locked the door. I set down my tea and walked to the window to peer out. Dex’s motorcycle was parked out front.

I hurried to the door and opened it. He lifted his swollen face. I gasped. “You’re hurt. Come inside.”

“I just dropped by to make sure you got home all right.” He sounded so defeated and down, my heart broke. “I’ll leave you alone.”

I reached out and took hold of his hand. “I’ve got a bag of peas for your face, and we need to clean off the blood.” I pulled him inside. He stood still as I took off his wet coat. That was when I noticed a big rip in the heavy fabric. It coincided with a cut on his arm that slashed right through the lion tattoo. “Let me guess—the skinny guy’s knife?”

“Something like that.”

“Looks like your lion is going to have a scar across his nose.”

He glanced down at the angry looking cut on his arm. “Hear that, Frankie? You’re gonna have street cred now.” He looked at me. “Aria, I just dropped by to check that you made it home. I’ll head to the marina.”

I waved him off and dug the bag of peas out of the freezer. “Nonna always said peas worked the best as an ice pack, and I just happen to have a bag.” He was still standing in the middle of my front room, filling up most of the spare space, yet looking like a lost little boy. Even with the swollen cheek and eye, he was incredibly handsome. I had to settle down that usual flutter in my chest. I’d been blaming it on caffeine, but it had been him all along.

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