Page 30 of Nixon’s Promise

“We—”

“There is no, we. There is a teenage girl and a pervert. You wanna know how many times I beat this clown’s ass in high school? At least once a month. Wanna know why that was? Because he was a sex offender then, too. Only, the girls were his own age then. You see, he’d get them alone and when they told him no, he didn’t stop. I suspect the dating pool of women his own age is slim considering they all remember him. So, you have to ask yourself, Mandy, what in the actual fuck is wrong with this thirty-something-year-old grown man that he’d want to hang out with a teenage girl.”

“Shut the fuck up, Swagger!” Dillinger shouted. “Me and Mandy aren’t your business.”

Nixon was going to snap, and he needed Mandy and Zack gone when he did.

“Zack, get your sister in the car.”

“I’m not—”

“Get your ass in that car, Mandy,” Nixon roared.

The teenager jerked back like he’d struck her.

“I don’t—”

“Shut the hell up.” That came from Zack, surprising the hell out of Nixon. He’d never heard the boy angry. “I’m so sick of you. You’re nothing but a nasty, spoiled bitch. Mom and Dad would be so ashamed of you. I’m glad they’re dead, so they don’t have to see this. I can’t wait for you to turn eighteen and leave. I hate your guts. Now, get in the fucking car and just shut up.”

Shit.

Nixon was going to have to talk to both McKenna and Zack when they got back to McKenna’s. It wasn’t that Mandy didn’t deserve every bit of Zack’s anger, but the kid wasn’t in a good place and before it got worse, Nix needed to have a word with him about controlling his temper. Which was comical considering the second the Altima’s taillights were out of sight, Nixon was teaching Dick Dillinger a lesson he hoped he wouldn’t forget.

Wisely Mandy followed Zack to the car and got in. As soon as Mandy started to drive away, Dick all but ran to his truck. Nixon easily caught up to the man. Not knowing, and not caring if Deputy Dickhead carried off-duty, Nix shoved him against the Ram.

“You and me got problems,” he told Dick.

Dick Dillinger didn’t have a response. Mainly because he was bent double holding his broken nose as blood poured down his chin.

It had been a long time since Nixon had enjoyed meting out an ass-whooping. But the three minutes it had taken for Dick to curl up in the fetal position and beg for Nix to stop, was the best three minutes he’d had in years. Sex with McKenna notwithstanding. And anyway, that hadn’t been three minutes, it had been a whole lot longer.

And if Nixon was being honest with himself, those minutes with McKenna had been the best of his life.

13

By the time I got back to my house, Mandy had already locked herself in her room. Zack looked like someone had kicked his puppy and was seething mad. I’d never seen my little brother so upset. I’d asked him repeatedly what had happened and each time he told me to wait for Nix.

I didn’t want to wait for Nixon, I wanted to know what had happened and why Zack was so upset. However, the last time I asked him, he growled his answer. Yes, the fifteen-year-old growled at me. I thought it important at that moment to respect his need to gather himself.

On my way home I’d called Becky and told her the search was off, that Nix had found Mandy. All she said was, “Girl, watch yourself with that man.” I didn’t need the warning. I’d learned my lesson, not that I’d shared what he’d taught me, with Becky. I was embarrassed enough I’d allowed myself to go there with him. I should’ve known better than to think someone like Nixon would slum it for long. He was hot as hell, and I was, well, me. Then there was the whole drama that surrounded my life. I didn’t think a man like him, who seemed to have his shit together, would appreciate or want the baggage that came with me.

Thankfully I didn’t have to wait long, Nixon’s truck pulled in and I ran out the back door to greet him. Duke following me out with a woof. He stepped out of his truck and there was blood down the front of his gray tee. Without remembering I was trying to keep my distance, I rushed to him.

“Are you okay?” I looked him over and couldn’t find any injuries.

“It’s not mine.” He pulled the shirt off and tossed it in the bed of the truck, opened the back door, rummaged around, then slammed the door while pulling on a clean shirt.

Duke was still circling, wagging his tail, waiting for some doggy love. “Go lay down,” I told him.

Nixon reached out to pet Duke and I gasped and caught his hand. “What happened?” I asked, looking at his bloodied knuckles.

“Where’s Zack and Mandy?” he inquired but didn’t pull his hand away.

“Mandy’s in her room and won’t come out and Zack’s in the house pissed as all hell.”

He looked down at me and didn’t make me wait. “We found Mandy with Deputy Dirt Dog Dillinger.”

My eyes widened in shock. Holy fuck, that man was older than me. “Was he—”