I got up from the floor, glaring at Bucker as I adjusted my coat. He was serious. No playing. Drunk or not, this guy wanted to hurt me. A lot. I glanced at Scarlet as I turned, gave a look with my eyes that I hope conveyed “get the fucking evidence!” and trudged out of that hellhole.
Chapter Sixteen
9 Days Until Christmas
I STOODin Eatery with my sleeve rolled up, Felix inspecting my black-and-blue elbow. “He pushed me backward and my elbow broke the fall,” I said.
Felix held my arm, gently bending it. “Does this hurt?”
“A bit.”
Stephen pointed at me. “Why was he pushing you to begin with?”
“Ah, well, you know… I pissed him off.”
“You have gum in your hair,” Gideon stated.
“And on my shoe, thanks,” I muttered.
Felix dropped his hands. “I think you’re okay. I can drive you to the hospital, though.”
“No, it’s just a bruise. I’ll live to see another day.” I started rolling my sleeve down.
George was standing near the front door, looking out the window into the dark night. “You should press charges on Bucker.”
“Maybe. Depends on what Scarlet was able to do.”
“Speaking of.” George unlocked the door, and Scarlet rushed inside, face flushed from the cold, a big smile on her face.
“Okay, gentlemen. Gather ’round, gather ’round. And in case anyone is wondering for when you all pamper me later, my preferred drink is margaritas and my favorite chocolate is dark.”
“You got something?” I asked.
Scarlet took a seat at a table, ushering us all to sit. She scrolled on her phone for a moment. “So, I talked tattoos with him, which was easy enough for me. He’s got some shitty homemade ones from like a hundred years ago, but he’s proud of them. Says he got them in the Navy. Whatever. He dug being interviewed.And….” She looked up. “He loved bad-mouthing Bowen and Felix. He totally forgot I had the phone recording.”
“Or didn’t care,” I clarified, leaning in close.
“Oh my God!”Scarlet’s voice said in the recording.“That was intense! That guy really pissed you off!”
“He’s just a wimpy little fairy,”Bucker answered.
“Yeah, but—”
“Those sick fucks are taking over this town,”he continued.“Bright and Hansen….”
Silas and Felix looked at each other.
“And now we got these fuckin’ city boys coming in!”
Gideon held his stomach as he silently laughed at the phone.
“Did that guy do something bad, though?”Scarlet asked, referring to me.
“Not anymore,”Bucker answered.
Scarlet pointed at the phone just then, indicating for us to listen closely.
“What happened?”she’d gently prodded.
