“Let’s get to know each other.” His eyes turned dark and he licked his lips. “I’ll bet you tastegood.”
* * *
When Crockett turneddownAlexandra’s residential street, he sensed something was wrong. Besides the fact that Alex hadn’t responded to his calls or texts, the lights were on in her home. Just because he’d told her to wait, didn’t mean she’d listened. He slammed on the brakes, double-parked out front, grabbed the duffel bags and jumped out of the truck. As he strode toward the front door, Danny jogged down thesidewalk.
“She went in without us,” Crockettsaid.
Though Crockett wanted to believe Ben wouldn’t be there, he anticipated the worst-case scenario, hence his armed cousin. It wasn’t like he couldn’t take on the thug himself, but he knew his limits. Firearms being at the top of thelist.
As they reached the front door, Danny said, “I’ve got a secondweapon—”
“NO!”Alexandra shouted.“Let mego!”
Her scream sent Crockett throwing open the door and bolting up thestairs.
“Wait!” Danny yelled, but Crockett was already at thetop.
“Well, lookie who’s here,” Ben said as Crockett sprang into the room. “Now it’s my turn to kick your ass.” Charging Crockett, he took aswing.
While ducking Ben’s right hook, Crockett thrust his head into Ben’s torso, yanked Ben’s feet up, sending them both crashing to the floor. Crockett wrapped his hands around Ben’s throat and pressed his thumbs against his Adam’sapple.
“Crockett!” yelled Danny. “Stop.” Crockett tightened his hold. Ben’s face turned tomato red. “Let him go!” Dannyexclaimed.
Releasing his grip, Crockett pushed off Ben and rose. “Lucky for you, I brought back up. If I hadn’t, I would have fucking killedyou.”
Danny aimed his Glock at Ben. “Roll over, face down. Clasp your hands behind yourhead.”
Ben flattened on the hardwood and did as he was told. “Jesus, don’t shootme.”
After holstering his weapon, Danny cuffed Ben’s wrists behind his back and frisked him. In addition to a wallet, Danny pulled out a vial of crack and a baggie ofmarijuana.
“Get on your knees, then sit with your back against the wall,” Dannycommanded.
As Ben got into place, Crockett knelt next to Alexandra who’d scampered into the corner, her eyes big as full moons, her mouth agape. She threw her arms around him. Though she was safe, his heart beat a frenetic rhythm while she trembled in his grip. “I’ve gotyou.”
“Hey, man,” said Ben. “This is my girlfriend’s roommate. We were just catchingup.”
Alexandra scrambled to her feet. “Catching up?” Her eyes narrowed. “You held me against my will, forstarters.”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa, we was just talkin’,” Bensaid.
“You want to press charges?” Danny askedher.
“You bet Ido.”
“Press charges?” Ben asked. “Forwhat?”
“Ms. Mitus said you held her against her will,” Danny said. “That’s a federal charge ofkidnapping.”
“Fuck me,” Ben said, his shoulderssagging.
As Danny phoned for back up, he flipped open Ben’s wallet. “Run a check on a Benjamin Jenkins.” He read the driver’s license number to the FBI analyst. “And send a cagecar.”
Crockett needed to put his fist through a fucking wall. “You got this?” he asked hiscousin.
“Yeah, time to get Alexandra out,” Dannyreplied.
Without making eye contact, she entered her closet. He followed. They worked in a chilling silence, focused on the task at hand. He’d deal with her reckless behavior later. For now, he needed to get her the hell out before he killed thatmotherfucker.
