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“Did you encourage folks to talk?” I shot him a look, doing my best to keep my voice down.
He held up his hand, highlighting his bruised knuckles. “Yes, sir. Just like I usually do. No one faltered at all. They might be scared from what happened. I don’t know.”
I thought about Michael’s statement and had a sense of what I needed to do, drumming my fingers on the table. “Set up a meeting with Liam tomorrow. Make it a public location.”
The shock and awe were apparent by my Capos’ lack of verbal agreement.
“Is there a problem, gentlemen?” I drifted my angry gaze from one to the other just as the waitress approached.
“Yes, sir. What can I get you? A to-go box?” She was far too eager until she really got a good look at my face. Now she was terrified.
“Just take this away but we’ll have a round of scotch. Neat. The best liquor you have.”
She frowned, her face paling.
I leaned forward and she almost jumped out of her skin. “Don’t worry, Jodie,” I said after reading her nametag. “I really don’t bite. All I want are the drinks. Understood?”
Christ. I’d been painted as a bloodthirsty monster. I’d seen the looks on faces as I walked the street, heading for the diner. I’d seen the updated news report, linking me to two other crimes that I couldn’t have had any involvement with. The near hysteria was getting ridiculous. The worst part was that I doubted there was a way to clear my name. I knew no one of influence other than the lovely Sedona Beckett, although now I was forced to question her credibility. That pained me. Fortunately, there was a single exception.
Liam.
Michael leaned forward, scanning the perimeter while he shook his head. “Are you sure about that, boss?”
“Do not…” Hissing, I had to tamp down the rage so as to not make a scene. “Do not ever question my authority again. Is that clear?” What I also couldn’t erase from my mind was that my arrival in Louisville had been used against me and against the O’Connors. Was it possible Liam had broken protocol, used the meeting to take out his own brother? Sedona’s idea had been well thought out. Enough so a meeting with Liam would flush out his intentions, or so I hoped.
“Never again, sir,” Michael said quietly. “Just a slight reminder that you have two soldiers with you. He has dozens, many of who are chomping at the bit to spill the blood of their enemy.”
The girl approached, the arm holding the tray shaking so badly the drink glasses were clicking together as she walked. She could no longer look me in the eyes as she placed the drinks in front of me. Then she slipped the bill down as well, backing away almost instantly.
“I’m sorry, sir. My boss said you could finish your drinks but after that you need to leave. And he doesn’t want you to come back.” She cringed after issuing the words, as if I’d lay the blame on her.
I drifted my gaze over my shoulder, noticing a big fat guy staring at our table, his arms folded. Exhaling, I grabbed my wallet, yanking out three hundred-dollar bills. “Keep the change, Jodie. Tell your boss we will be happy to comply.”
“Oh. Thank you, sir. I appreciate it.” She grabbed the money, scuttling away before I could say anything else.
“You want me to handle that asshole, boss?” Zephyr asked, cracking his knuckles in the process.
“Zephyr, there are times when brutality is the only way of dealing with thugs because that’s all they listen to. However, he’s nothing more than a diner owner trying to make a living in a sea of wolves.”
“Not sure what that means, boss, but I won’t touch him.” Zephyr wasn’t the brightest man I’d ever employed but his loyalty was without question.
“Make the meeting happen tomorrow. Allow Liam to know that I can and will make it worth his while.”
Michael studied me intently. “Yes, boss. Is there anything else you need?”
“I may need to find somewhere else to go for a short duration. Find me a location that’s secure and without prying eyes. I don’t care about the price.”
“House? Condo? Another hotel room? What?”
“I don’t care. Just find something. And have the pilot standing by in case I change my mind.”
“Whoa.” He glanced at Zephyr. “You’re thinking about leaving with the charges you have against you?”
“It may become necessary. Either way, I will have someone as my guest. I need to protect her as I do with Christian.”
Neither man made a single sound, but Michael nodded. They knew better than to question my personal life, period. Plus, he understood my responsibilities, what had become most important in my life almost two years before. Granted, I wasn’t the kind of man to run away from any situation, but I’d learned a long time ago that when you didn’t have a support system surrounding you, often it was best to retreat and regroup.
I thought about the lovely woman, realizing I’d need to get her away from the actions and influences of her peers. Plus, if what she’d told me about the threats was true, they would soon escalate until she fully embraced the case, pushing hard to have me incarcerated.
