Page 27 of Pitbull
“What do you mean?”
“What I mean is, you cops are all the same!” Claudia sat back and folded her arms. “I begged them for help. But instead, they sent people after me.”
“You’re not making much sense. And I don’t appreciate you accusing me of being dirty. Even when we were poison to each other I never gave you any reason to think you couldn’t trust me. And now because you have issues you’re going to put that on me? Claudia, this is why I walked away ten years ago.” Pitbull rose and turned for the steps. “And it’s why I’m walking away again.”
“Where are you going?”
He stopped and turned to look at her. “I’m leaving. You obviously don’t need my help. I have better things I could be doing tonight than being here, with you, doing this. You’re on your own.”
Anke stopped him as he reached her by holding his arm. “You can’t mean that.”
“You haven’t known me long enough to learn but let me teach you a small lesson right now.” He bowed his head so he would have her full attention. “I don’t speak to hear myself. I say what I mean.”
“Daniel.”
“I’ve offered my assistance and she still thinks I’m out to get her. I can’t help those who refuse to accept it. Now, I’m tired, horny, dirty and hungry. Let me take you back to my place to gather your things. Tomorrow, I’ll have one of the guys drive you home.”
“Danny…” Claudia called.
“More accusations, Slim?”
“Daniel.” Anke drew his attention back to her. “We can’t leave her here. If Deniz was right, she could die—we both know they won’t stop until she is or they get what they want.”
“Me, I don’t care about.” Pitbull looked over at his sister before continuing. “But if you’re going to put a target on my family’s back, I need to know why.”
“You still consider me family?” Claudia asked.
“Don’t flatter yourself. I meant CIRO. Those guys have been more of a family to me than you have been. So, I refuse to get into this with you, Claudia. I will find you a cop I trust and you can go from there.”
Claudia sighed but Pitbull merely took Anke’s hand and started for the door once more. By the time he exited, Claudia was with them. He stopped at the truck to open the passenger door for Anke.
“You know your brother is right?” Anke asked. “You’ve disrupted my life, Ruby’s life. I stupidly cut his vacation short so he could find you because I thought you needed help. Even if you couldn’t trust the others, this is your brother. If you can’t let go of whatever it is you have against him to save your own life, think of me and Ruby. What happens when these guys can’t find you and decide to go after those you care about? Or am I wrong, and you don’t care at all?”
Anke climbed into the truck and Pitbull closed the door.
“I’m sorry.” Claudia whispered.
“Do you want a ride somewhere?” Pitbull asked.
Claudia dragged her fingers through her hair. She didn’t have a chance to reply before a bullet ricocheted off the side of Pitbull’s truck. He shoved his body before hers while pulling his gun.
“Get in the truck!” He ordered.
He tossed the keys in through the passenger window to Anke who was already scrambling across the middle and into the driver’s seat. Pitbull searched the darkness. When he found a glint, he ducked around the truck and slammed his palm into the side. The engine roared and after he rushed off into the darkness, the truck sped away. The man who had been shooting at the truck rushed out into the road and kept on firing.
Pitbull snuck up behind him and slammed a large fist into the side of his head. Without so much as a whimper, the assailant hit the ground hard. He quickly hunched down to pick up the man’s gun and tucked it into the back of his waste then rolled the fool over. Pitbull recognized him as one of the men in the house with Deniz when he’d carried the girl out. Pitbull frowned, wondering what he had to do with anything.
The sound of an engine caught his attention and he lifted his weapon toward it. But he recognized the truck as his own and holstered the gun. Anke and Claudia scrambled out and hurried over.
“Hey! I know him!” Anke exclaimed.
“Yeah, and he’s about to get to know me personally.” Pitbull growled. He walked over to the truck and pushed back the covering on the bed. He then carried the man to it and tossed him in. Glancing over at the girls, he pulled the covering back in place and locked it. He was beginning to lose his patience.
“Like I said,” Pitbull said to Claudia. “A target is on our backs because of you. You can either tell me what you know, or you can tell it to CIRO. Those are you choices.”
“And if I don’t?” Claudia asked.
“For Christ’s sakes, Claudia!” Anke thundered. “What in the hell is wrong with you? Don’t you see how bad this can get? Pitbull could get hurt, or worse—he’s your brother and no matter how pissed off he had been at you, he came foryou!So, stop being a stubborn little bitch and start talking!”
