Page 3 of Furious Protector
Patti giggles from her seat next to me.“And, that highly skilled bodyguard in those tight-fitting jeans is walking straight over to you.”
3
Beckett
My eyes don’t leave the ass of the blonde until she slides onto that bar seat, and even then, I have a hard time getting my mind back to the business at hand.Mason nudges me.“If you’re going to have a chance with Jules, you better have some pretty thick skin.That little lady says what’s on her mind and means what she says.”
I grin.“I’m pretty sure it won’t be a problem.”Garrett and Cole exchange a look that I don’t miss nor have time to try to figure out right now.“Alright, you guys, let’s jump out of my personal business and back into the reason you hired me two months post military assignment to jump into this gig.I had visions of dancing girls, bikinis, and the cool breeze of the ocean on my face for at least a few more months.”
Cole clears his throat.“It was probably good the ladies stopped by.Now, you have a good idea why we want more men on the ground this time.Those ladies mean the world to us, and we’re spread too thin next week if we’re going to keep our eyes open at the expansion and on them.”
Kenny nods.“I couldn’t agree more.I don’t want the expansion to turn into a bloodbath.”
My eyebrows go up.“I may have misjudged the severity of the situation then when Cole called last week.”
Cole knows exactly what I’m thinking.“Things escalated since we spoke.You were on the road, so I didn’t want to bother you.Figured I’d bring you up to speed once you arrived.It sounds like the Eldridge crew, the ones who work for the Chicago Crime Family, have been quietly intimidating the townspeople again.We’re just getting wind of it, and it’s way more than one.”
I don’t like the sound of that.Cole’s told me all about the rivalry between the Chicago and Larussio Crime Families and it’s about ready to get pretty ugly from the way things sound.“The Chicago Crime Family just doesn’t quit, do they?”
Garrett shakes his head.“They sure as hell don’t.My wife, Lacy, and Eldridge Jr.have a rocky history.They were dating before I came into the picture.He and his father were trying to intimidate her into selling her family home so they could put in more casinos.She broke it off and the situation got worse.”
Now I’m getting the picture.Same MO different town and different revenue stream.The Chicago Crime Family will try to take over anything for an easy buck and a cash flow they can control.
Mason’s face is grim.“Last year, Jake Eldridge and his son had Jules kidnapped and tried to kidnap Lacy from her bachelorette party.We got damn lucky that neither of them were hurt, but Jules, she’ll probably never get over the reality of that night.”
My chest tightens at the thought of the petite little blonde at the mercy of anyone trying to do her harm.I glance over at the bar, and see her friend put a protective arm around her and coax a little smile.
“Let me guess.Everything’s been quiet, but now plans for the expansion are announced, and they start the same stuff all over again, because the Chicago Crime Family doesn’t like to hear the word no.”
Cole points a finger at me.“Exactly.They stayed pretty low after Bobby Ray got locked up, but Sheriff Cates said people have been coming forward with minor complaints of intimidation, and this time, all of the impacted folks have businesses adjacent to Wild Deuces.They’re trying to buy up the surrounding property again.”
Kenny’s face turns red.“They just don’t stop.The neighbors have agreements with the Larussios but apparently, they were too scared to tell Cole, Garrett and Mason.They could have gotten word back to the Larussios and nipped this in the bud before it became a thing again.Now, the sheriff is involved, and it’s more than a mess.”
Cole turns to his friend Kenny.“There’s always going to be a bully in every neighborhood who wants to take what’s yours.And look what you’ve done to this place.It’s the biggest and most sought-after place in town, the casino and restaurant is par none.Expand the hotel, add that dance hall and sound stage you’ve been envisioning and it’s going to be even more spectacular than it already is.We’re going to get this resolved.”
“I’m just nervous about the grand opening, and my family being there, all the community members who will show up.I don’t want anyone hurt and the Chicago Crime family is notorious for doing just that.”
Cole puts his beer glass down.“The Larussios, they’re not going to let them.That’s one of the things we want to talk about; the men on the ground we bring in to help, where we locate the Eldridges and their men, and the strategic details of keeping everyone safe.”
I glance toward the entrance as a flurry of chaos catches my eye.“I think they just found us.I’ll take the right, the rest of you fan out and cover the middle and left.”My feet start moving with the training that’s been ingrained in them with eight years of active-duty service in combat situations far trickier than this.Those boys should do themselves a favor and get the hell out of town, but of course they don’t.
Instead, one walks right up to the very blonde I’ve had my eye on all night and starts to pick a fight.Her blue eyes flare indignantly and the minute his hand comes up to grab her shoulder I intervene, grabbing his hand in mine, bending his arm all the way back to the point right before it snaps in two.“Tell the lady good night.”
The asshole’s mouth clenches and his eyes fill with hatred, but we don’t put up with that behavior here and if he doesn’t do what I say, he’s gonna learn that lesson tonight.“Tell Jules good night,” I growl.
He spits it out reluctantly because he wants to be able to use that hand and arm tomorrow.No doubt for more trouble that we’ll have to deal with then, but for now, I march him to the door and make sure he leaves.
Garrett’s got another guy well under control, and before too long, the others are marching their guys to the door and we’re all watching them leave while the crowd erupts in applause.We head back to the bar as the crowd simmers down.
Lettie sighs heavily, fawning over the ladies.“I was so scared my mouth wouldn’t even open.I swear that never happens to me.Usually, I would have had something smart to say.”
Cole turns to me.“They’re getting braver.I’m going to call the Larussios.We’re going to have to get Tommy and his boys, and maybe even some of the bike clubs they affiliate with in this area to help.”
I nod.Not a bad idea.Not a bad idea at all.
The guys partner up with their women while Jules and Patti talk quietly with each other.I walk up to the two of them.“Lettie, how about another round for the ladies, and a Dr.Pepper for me.”
Jules looks up at me with those blue eyes swirling with emotion.“So, it begins huh?Those thugs are never going to stop, they’re just going to keep coming and coming until they drive us right out of town.”
