AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Exhaling, I walked closer, crowding the dude’s space.
The girl paled as she lifted her gaze. “I’m really sorry, Mr. Esposito, but the part needed for your engine hasn’t come in.”
“Are you fucking out of your mind?” As he started threatening the poor girl with lawsuits and bodily harm to her boss, she shrank back, tears forming in her eyes.
I wasn’t a chivalrous man, but this shit didn’t fly. Without hesitation, I slammed him against the wall, my fingers digging into his neck. “I think you owe the girl an apology.”
“Fuck you!”
With one hard punch to his gut, he sputtered then was foolish enough to try to throw one himself. I wrapped my hand around his fist, squeezing until he yelped. “I’m going to give you one more chance to do the right thing. If you don’t, you’ll have trouble using your hand for a few weeks. Do you understand what I’m saying to you?”
This time, he was the one who paled, nodding several times. “I’m sorry. Call me when it’s done.”
I continued holding him for a full minute before backing away, growling for effect.
He scampered out the door, cursing under his breath.
She exhaled, the sound rattled. “Thank you.”
“No thanks needed. I hate assholes.”
“What can I do for you?”
After taking a deep breath, waiting as he jumped into a goddamn Porsche, I approached the counter. “I need a favor. My brother brought in a vehicle to be serviced. I need the name of the mechanic who serviced it and I want to talk to him or her.”
She nodded, still timid. As I gave her the particulars, a look of recognition crossed her face. I noticed she’d printed the record, her hand shaking as she grabbed it off the printer. “Sir. Let me speak with the owner. He’s in back. Okay? It’ll just be a minute.”
The girl didn’t wait for me to acknowledge the comment, rushing through a door behind the counter. Barely three minutes later, an older gentlemen walked through the door, the girl following.
“I understand you have some questions about a car we serviced,” he said as he approached, the paperwork in his hands. “You also took care of an asshole, which is why I’m talking to you.”
Even that pissed me off.
“You serviced the entire car from what I understand,” I told him.
“Yes, a normal maintenance check including all fluids and lines. We did an oil change and tire rotation as well. Is there a problem?”
“Why don’t we talk outside.” I didn’t give him an option because I’d seen a different reflection in his eyes. He knew the reason why I was here.
“The car was in perfect running order when it left our shop.”
“Except the brakes failed after losing fluid the very next day. That resulted in my brother’s death.” I watched his facial expressions carefully.
“Look, I don’t want any trouble. I told the police officers the same thing. The vehicle was in perfect working condition when it was driven out of here.”
“Did you service it?”
“No, one of my technicians did.”
“Is he working today?” I asked, trying to keep anger from increasing in my tone.
He narrowed his eyes, acting as if he was squinting from the sun, but I knew better. “Are you trying to insinuate that we had anything to do with your brother’s accident?”
“I’m not insinuating anything. I’m trying to find the truth. Is the man who serviced my brother’s Lexus working?”
“No.”
“Take a fucking look at the papers in your hand.”
