One guy started to clap, then another. As the room erupted into a standing ovation with whistles and shouts of encouragement, Jess turned her head to the door marked OFFICE, still grappling with the bouncer.
“You’re comin’ with me.”
She kicked at the door and waited for someone to answer. When it opened a crack, she shoved the cowboy through it, using him as a shield as she walked in with gun drawn. Beef Boy sprawled to the floor in a huff—all under the wary eye of his boss.
“What the hell?” Baker jumped to his feet and pulled his weapon.
Jess yelled, “Hey now, hold your water, Lucas. Let’s not get crazy.”
She aimed her weapon between Baker’s eyes but kept her voice calm, trying to defuse the situation.
“I came here to trade, but you’re the one who left that bulldog outside,” she persisted.
Two men stood near the desk with guns drawn. Their eyes shifted between her and Baker, waiting for orders. Although she was clearly outnumbered, she gripped her weapon and held firm. In an instant things could have gone very wrong. Someone had to make the first move.
Jess decided it should be her.
She raised her weapon toward the ceiling and relaxed her grip, both hands in the air. After a very long minute, Baker followed suit. He ordered his men to stand down with a nod and a disgusted look meant for the cowboy at her feet.
“Shut that door. And get off the damned floor, Gary,” he demanded. “You’re making me look bad.”
“And that you can do on your own,” she said, holstering her weapon as one of Baker’s men shut the door behind her. “Where’s Seth?”
Still standing, Baker tightened his jaw and glared at her. After a long beat, intended to intimidate her, he finally nodded to one of his goons, who went to a side door and opened it.
In a dark closet, Seth had been bound to a chair with duct tape.
He squinted into the sudden light, his face swollen and bloody. His shirt was drenched in sweat and his skin looked mottled and bruised under the fluorescent light. And Baker had cut his lip. But when the kid’s vision cleared, he found her in the crowded room and his eyes filled with relief, tinged by fear from his time with Baker.
Innocence destroyed, the look on his face broke her heart.
He’d been beaten because of her vendetta. And she’d been careless, leading Baker to him. She wanted to rip away his restraints and help him out of this rat hole, but she knew these men would never allow it, not until they concluded their business.
Before she could speak to Seth, Baker intruded. “I noticed you came here a little light. I don’t see my property.”
“There’s nothing wrong with your eyesight, Lucas,” she replied with her gaze still glued on Seth.
“Well, your boy ain’t leavin’ here without that laptop, so what’s it gonna be?” He cocked his head.
“That’s fair.” She shrugged and turned. “I came to trade, but I’ve got a new deal.”
Slowly, she stepped toward Baker. “This time we’re playin’ it my way.”
CHAPTER 10
“You’re a real pain in the ass, Beckett.” Lucas Baker shook his head, royally pissed. “But I’m sure you’ve heard that before.”
“Coming from you, I consider that a compliment.” Jess forced a faint smile. “I thought you had the market cornered.”
One of Baker’s boys smirked, a flinch behind the man’s back. She reached into her pants pocket and pulled out something to hold in front of Baker’s nose. He narrowed his eyes.
“A key? What the hell am I supposed to do with that?”
“Generally, keys open locks. And if you hurry, you can use this key to retrieve your property tonight.” She handed him a note that she’d prepared beforehand after making a stop on her way to Sam’s place. “Here’s an address and locker number. It’s a nearby skating rink off Greenwood.” She gave him the cross streets. “The place closes at midnight. Your laptop’s there.”
“How do I know you’re not just blowin’ smoke?”
“’Cause you know where I live and I’m not going anywhere.” She fought to keep her expression unreadable. “I don’t want any more trouble. You’ve made your point. I’m done.”
She had to convince him that she’d rolled over and he had won. The bastard glared at her, trying to decide if she was telling the truth.
“The locker could be empty,” he pressed. “Hell, there might not even be a skate rink at this address.”
“Look it up,” she challenged with arms folded.
Baker snapped his fingers and held out her note. Cowboy Gary made himself useful and took the paper. He started pulling open the drawers to the desk. In short order he had a phone book spread on the desktop and was flipping through the yellow pages to confirm the address.
“It’s here, boss. Just like she wrote.”
“Clock’s ticking, Lucas. They close at midnight.” Jess stood in front of his desk with hands on her hips.
“Then you better have a seat and pray Gary don’t get lost, ’cause you ain’t leavin’ here until he gets back.” Baker handed her note and key to the wannabe cowboy, then continued, “Go on. Sit. That ain’t exactly a request.”
Jess clenched her jaw and plopped into a seat, her arms folded. Now she had a dilemma. First off, Gary looked to be one bronco shy of a rodeo. It wouldn’t be a stretch to imagine him getting lost on the painted pony of a merry-go-round. Second, Sam would be getting impatient about now.
Jess hadn’t counted on Baker holding her and Seth until he got his laptop back.
Even expecting it, the knock on the door jolted her heart. Jess shut her eyes tight.
Baker grimaced and shot her a nasty look.
“If this brings trouble down on me, you and your friend here won’t like how fast shit trickles downhill.” He snapped his fingers at Gary. “Open the damned door.”
As she figured, Sam wasn’t a patient soul. Her friend stood in the doorway, not saying a word, at first. She shifted her eyes around the room, trying to puzzle out what was going on. Jess had seen the look before, and she held her breath, waiting for Sam to open her mouth.
“Well, I’m not selling Girl Scout cookies. And this doesn’t look like a Kiwanis Club meeting. Are you all right, Jess?”
“Yeah, everything’s fine.” She nodded. “We were about to head out.”
“We?”
“Yeah, he’s coming.” Jess pointed to Seth. “Introductions will have to wait.”
Seth waved a finger, trying to look casual in duct tape. “Hey.”
Sam grimaced at the kid, but before she got a good look at him, Jess stood and blocked her view, turning to Baker.
“Lucas has an appointment to get to, but we’re all done here, right?”
The man took a slow breath and narrowed his eyes—more intimidation—but after a long moment, he flinched. That’s when she knew she had him.
“Yeah, I gotta go. Cut the kid loose. But our business better be done and over, Jess. Neither of us wants a repeat.” Then he pointed a finger. “Do I make myself clear?”
“Crystal.” Jess headed for Seth and helped him to stand once he got free. She wedged a shoulder under his arm. “Oh…and Lucas? I’d like my gun returned. You know, the one you borrowed from my place?”
He smirked, his eyes shifting from Jess to Sam. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Sorry.”
Jess clenched her jaw. Her Glock 21 would be a casualty, but at least she had Seth back.
