Page 19 of Betting Blind
“The Pound.”
* * *
I hand Juliana my phone so she can send a message to Jack for me, telling him we’re on our way and to meet us out back in the parking lot. A short drive later, I take the exit for Murphy Ave, and guide her car into one of the parking spaces in the back of the building. I lock eyes with Jack through the windshield, and the fear I’m projecting has his stare turning lethal. He’s standing in the doorway with his arms crossed over his chest, and I get out of the car, practically dragging Jules behind me.
“Thank you,” I mumble when we reach where he and Derrick are waiting for us. Before I can get too far past him, I feel the warmth of his palm gently wrap around my arm, turning me around to look at him. His head tilts to the side slightly, and his eyes roam over every square inch of my body, taking inventory of anything amiss. His hand squeezes lightly where he still holds me before absently brushing away the hair that’s caught in my lip gloss.
“What’s wrong?” He lets the pad of his thumb linger against my bottom lip.
Clearing my throat, I step away, putting some space between us so I can think clearly. I shift my gaze to where Juliana stands beside Derrick. “Jules and I just left Margie’s and when we got out to the parking lot, there were two guys outside, waiting for us by her car.” A shiver racks my body, and I shift my weight back and forth, rubbing my hands together. I’m still having trouble processing it.
Jack raises his eyes to Derrick and something dark passes between their gazes—an understanding of sorts that I’m not privy to. “Did they say who they were, or what they wanted?” he asks, ushering us back toward the hallway leading to the locker room.
“No,” Juliana answers him. “One of them was leaning against the car smoking a cigarette, and the other was staring at us. He was quite a bit larger, but it was hard for us to make out many details of their faces.”
“Even weirder, they just… they just nodded and walked away. When they left, I found this note on the front windshield.” I hand him the crumpled-up paper and he scans it twice.
Jack sucks in his cheek, contemplating the warning. “I don’t have an explanation for this,” he says quietly.
“Someone doesn’t like you, Pound Puppy,” Derrick pipes up, and Juliana smacks his chest with the back of her hand. He rubs the spot, scrunching up his face. “Ow!”
She winks at me and I turn back to Jack, who’s glaring at Derrick, unaware that I’m watching him. “Seems like you’ve yet to charm everyone here with your girly wiles.” He slides his eyes back to mine, forcing a smile, and I’m left with more questions than I started with.
There’s something they aren’t cluing me in on, but if we were in any real danger, surely they would tell us. I’d like to think that no one would go out of their way to scare someone out of making a little extra money, but you never know in this town. Stranger things have happened.
Jack rests a hand on my shoulder and lowers his voice so only I can hear him. “Don’t worry, I won’t let anything happen to you.”
I take a deep breath to calm my nerves and search his handsome face for hidden clues, but I come up short. There’s a softness to his features tonight, and I’m not sure what to make of it, but talking with them does make me feel a little better. Something was off about those guys. Way off.
“Big plans tonight?” Derrick asks, eyeballing Juliana. He looks at her from the non-existent neckline of the tight pink dress she’s wearing, all the way down to her do-me pumps. I grab her hand, pulling her away from him.
“Hey!” she remarks with a laugh, and to Derrick, I mouth, “I’ll kill you.”
He chuckles, raising his hands in surrender.
“We were going to go out tonight, but it looks like we’re stuck for the evening.”
“Don’t sound so disappointed.” Jack nudges me with his elbow. “Go get comfortable, and we’ll bring a pitcher out to you guys.”
Jules and I find our way to one of the rickety, old tables. We chat and drink our beers, and I even get the honor of hearing her sing off-key to a song someone plays from the jukebox.
“What’s that guy’s problem?” she asks, narrowing her gaze at someone behind me.
I glance over my shoulder and turn back with a grimace. “That’s Tank. He doesn’t like me, and I have zero clue why.”
Her face is hilariously offended. “Excuse me? He doesn’t like you?” she asks, clipping each of her words. Right before my eyes, her tan complexion turns crimson.
“No, no, no, Juliana. I know that face. Can you please not do the thing? I don’t want to start anything with him tonight, or ever.”
Ignoring my wishes, she stands from the table and points directly at Tank. “Hey! You got a problem, buddy?”
Oh, here we go.
I shield my eyes, embarrassed. Sneaking a peek under my hands toward the bar for help, I find Derrick watching Juliana with his eyebrows taking up real estate in his hairline. As for Jack, well, he looks thoroughly amused.
As I watch Tank move, I understand now why he was given the nickname. He’s a solid three-hundred pounds and broad enough that he has to turn sideways just to get through the doors in this joint. “Juliana, are you drunk? Sit your ass down,” I scold her through clenched teeth, but it’s too late. That behemoth is making his way over here, whether I’m ready or not.
Tank’s steps make our table shake slightly as he brings his ginormous body up to my small-framed best friend. He’s so close that their chests—well, his belly and her chest—touch with each angry breath she takes. Fire blazes in Juliana’s chocolate brown eyes as she tilts her head up to look at him.
