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“At an inflated interest rate. Oh, and Jade owes you nothing since her mother is dead.”
“All debt transfers.”
“Maybe in your world.” I smashed another case. Now I was just having fun.
“I’m gonna call the police!”
I gave him a look, grinning like a kid. “Go ahead. That will make my day.” After cruising behind the counter, smashing several of the prized items he kept in locked cases, I noticed he managed to slide his hand under the counter holding the cash register. Somehow, I doubted he had the police on speed dial.
“Just get out of here before it’s too late.”
I was surprised how quickly a door leading to the back room opened, two goons coming inside.
“Tsk. Tsk. Eddie. Now, you’ve pissed me off.” As the bruisers came closer, one even managing to jump over the counter, I noticed a smirk on Eddie’s face. My guess was he’d try to make a clean getaway.
I cracked the bat against the first guy, shifting to the other side and repeating the move. Then I tossed it away, preferring to handle this like grown men. Both men recovered, taking swings, but as I issued punch after punch, one of them dropped to his knees.
The other lunged for me, able to get off two hard cracks to my jaw. I’d had enough dicking around. I rolled, avoiding his hard kick, yanking my weapon from the holster at the same time. By all rights, I should shoot both between the eyes, but I wasn’t here to increase a body count. I cold cocked him as the other lunged toward me. With a single hard smack to the head, he went down like a rock.
Exhaling, I raked my hand through my hair, noticing the little shit had escaped. As I walked outside the front door, scanning the streets, I realized why I hated dealing with certain aspects of the business. It left me with the need to take a very long, hot shower. My sister had used the term ‘smarmy’ far too often, which always made me cringe. Now I could provide the word with a solid definition as well as a damn good representation.
Eddie had already started the engine ready to gun it when I approached, pointing the weapon at his head through the windshield. He slammed on the brakes, taking several gasping breaths. I used my Glock to motion him out, my eyes never leaving him. He was flustered this go-round, his chest heaving from his exerted breathing.
I walked closer, furious that it had taken this much time to deal with the asshole. “Do you know who I am, Eddie?”
He shook his head several times and I believed him. “My name is Constantine Thorn, the Don of the Thorn Syndicate. And you made the mistake of getting in my crosshairs.” At least he had the good sense to open his eyes wide in recognition. I’d give him a B minus for that.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Thorn. If I’d known it was you…” His words trailed off. When his left eye twitched toward the building, I sighed and swung around, taking a single shot.
One of the goons had decided to use me for target practice. Shame on him.
I immediately faced Eddie again, walking closer and pressing the barrel against his throat. “Now, I’m not a big fan of leaving baggage wherever I go, but if you do one more thing to piss me off, I won’t give it a second thought. You got it?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Then hear me. As of today, the debt owed by Ms. Rollins is off the books. Period. If I so much as hear your name in any context, I will return and I assure you that I won’t be so generous. Do you understand?”
“Yes, sir. Oh, yes, sir, I do.”
It still pissed me off that he’d threatened her so egregiously. “You’re a lucky man, Eddie. Threatening to kill a woman, sending one of your fucking goons after her, calling her on the phone. That’s low.”
He seemed shocked, his eyes opening wide. “Mr. Thorn, that’s not my style. Well, I did tell her what would happen if she didn’t pay, but I never sent anyone to rough her up. Not my style.”
“What a fucking pity I don’t believe you.”
“Please, sir. I swear to God. I didn’t touch her. I don’t do that shit. It’ll get you killed!”
Most loan sharks were lying sons of bitches, but he appeared to be telling the truth. Why did I have a feeling the lovely Jade had an enemy of her own tracking her?
My thoughts drifted to the fact she’d disappeared immediately after the trial. Something didn’t feel right.
“That’s good to hear. And Eddie? Stop being a goddamn shyster. You might live longer.” As I headed for my car, the second bruiser lumbered out of the store. All I had to go was give him a hard look and he backed away.
As I eased onto the seat, I took a deep breath. Maybe I’d woken up on the wrong side of the bed, but this shit was getting old.
Additional changes were required in the organization. The level of violence needed to lessen. At least for the most part.
Soon I’d be a family man.
