Chapter Four
“She doesn’t want to see you.”
“You need an alarm system. You didn’t even turn on the porch light,” Hunter chided the older lady.
“You have screwed the cat. Aliana is resting. Seeing you upset her. You here will make her more so. I cannot let you in.” He saw she was leaning heavily on the doorjamb. He hated seeing the strong woman looking so frail.
“Babička, who’s at the―?” She was smiling until she saw him, then she shut down. “Hi, Hunter, what are you doing here?” He winced at the bruising on the side of her face and arm and the bandage on her neck.
He couldn’t very well throw Mrs. J under the bus and say she invited him. “I wanted to know about your conversations with the police.”
“Yes, what about them?” her grandmother asked, looking up at her.
Aliana threw Hunter a frustrated look.
“I’m taking care of everything,” she told both of them.
“Hunter can take care of everything, you’re tired. The doctor said you still need more rest, Láska. He doesn’t want you to go out of the house until Friday.”
“I’m fine, Babička,” she stroked her grandmother’s shoulder. “Why don’t you go inside and sit down. I’ll just have a few words with Hunter before he leaves, okay?”
Mrs. Jankovic frowned. “We should invite him in. I made Marlenka honey cake,” she said stubbornly. He had to admire the woman for sticking to a plan, but he hated how Aliana looked like a trapped kitten. She didn’t know if she should run or try out her sharp little claws.
“That sounds wonderful, Mrs. J.”
“I’ll go get it,” her grandmother said. She was clearly relieved that he had gone along with her efforts.
Aliana smiled at her grandmother. “I’ll serve it. You go to the parlor, I’ll bring it out to both of you.” As soon as her grandmother turned around, Aliana fixed him with a fierce stare. Apparently, she was going with the kitten claws.
He laughed. “I’m going to help Alia,” he called out to the older woman as she slowly started to make her way to another room.
“You’re such a gentleman,” Mrs. Jancovik called out over her shoulder.
He followed Aliana into the kitchen. “So, tell me why you haven’t been forthcoming with the police.”
She stopped in the middle of the kitchen and spun around. She lost her balance, it was clear she wasn’t used to being injured. He put his hand under her elbow to brace her.
“Careful, mi Cariña, you just got out of the hospital.”
“I would take better care of myself if you weren’t making me so confused,” she said weakly.
He guided her towards the kitchen table and had them both sitting down.
“Just think of me like the tide. I’m here to stay and there’s nothing you can do to stop me, so you might as well just go with the flow.”
She pushed her hair out of her face and grimaced as she touched the bruise at her temple. “But that’s the thing, I don’t want you here.”
He winced.
She reached over and touched his hand. Stroked it.
“Please don’t make me beg you. You don’t belong here anymore. You have a life apart from mine. Please live it, for your own sake, I want what’s best for you. I have my mom to take care of, I have a life with Babička and my job. Hunter, my problems are no longer your problems, okay?”
It hurt. Even after thirteen years being told she didn’t want him in her life still felt like a punch in the gut. It would have hurt a hell of a lot more if he hadn’t smelled the bullshit. She wanted him here as much as he needed to be here. Nobody giving someone a brush off would basically hold their hand. He’d had brush-offs, and they didn’t work that way.
But there was something going on. There was part of her that wanted him gone. Was it their past history together? Was it whatever trouble which had her in its sights? He didn’t know, but he intended to find out. He put his hand over hers.
“You’re avoiding the question, Alia. What haven’t you told the cops?”
She looked away and pushed up from the table. “I’ll get the cake.”
“Answer the question.”
Aliana went to the counter and lifted the lid off a cake stand. She slowly pulled out a knife from the butcher block and ran her finger along the side of it. Then she turned to him.
“I’ll tell you what I told them,” she said very calmly. “Somebody I didn’t know saw fit to plant a bomb in my home. I’ve made some enemies at school. Kids have threatened me when I’ve suspended or expelled them. It could have been any one of them. I gave them some names.” She set the knife down beside the cake and pulled three plates out of the cupboard.
“But you don’t think it was one of them, do you?” he asked slowly.
“It could be,” she hedged as she picked up a plate to put a slice of cake on it.
It was a bunch of crap.
“You do realize you’re putting your grandmother at risk by not cooperating, don’t you?”
The dish she had been holding clattered to the counter, but didn’t break. She looked up at him, her face a sick shade of white.
“Fuck, you hadn’t thought of that.” She shook her head. “Why not?”
“Nobody mentioned her, and we have different last names. I’m such an idiot. Sakra! Fuck!” Her eyes filled with tears.
“Hey, hey, hey. You’re not an idiot,” he said. He tried to pull her away from the counter.
“I’ve got to finish, Babička is waiting for us.”
“She can wait a little longer. Tell me who the people were who didn’t mention your grandmother. Somebody threatened your mother?”
She shook her head, refusing to look at him.
“Cariña, you’ve got to tell me.”
She pulled away from him and her gaze swung wildly around the kitchen. “I can fix this. I can fix this.” She mutters.
“No you can’t, not without my help.”
“Dammit, Hunter. I told you to go away. You listened before why not this time?” She looked at him beseechingly.
“Because now I’m thirty-one, not a dumb nineteen-year-old who had my teeth kicked in by the girl who meant everything to him. This time we’re going to resolve this shit. You’re going to let me help, and you’re going to tell me why you sent me away all those years ago.”
“Please, leave, I’m begging you. It’s what’s best.” More tears spilled. She looked wildly around the kitchen. He followed her glance. Her eyes spied the knife. For a second he thought she was going to grab it, but then she turned to face him.
“Best for who? It’s sure as hell not best for me.”
“Then me. Leave so I can still feel good about myself.” She stared past him at the counter. “When I told you to go away before, I was relieving you of a responsibility that would just make you have a crap life.” Her head swung so she could glare at him. “But it got even worse Hunter, far worse. You were so lucky you got away from the crazy girl when you did.”
“What in the world are you talking about. Mamie can’t sing your praises enough. Your grandmother adores you. You’re a Vice Principal, for God’s sake.”
“Are you going to go?” she asked, her voice a hoarse whisper.
He gently placed his hands on her shoulders, not in a million years did he want to cause her physical pain on her bruises.
“Nothing is going to drag me away.”
She closed her eyes and sucked in a deep breath. Then blew out a breath. She did it rhythmically. He recognized the pattern, he’d done it at his friend’s dojo, and also when he was on the rifle range. Finally, she opened her eyes.
“Fine. Just fine.”
“Are you going to tell me why you told me to leave thirteen years ago?”
She shook her head.
He nodded, unsurprised.
“We really need to get the cake out to Babička.”
“Not before you tell me what you haven’t told the police.”
“I told them that I expelled some gang members last month, and it must be retaliation for that.”
He stared at her. He found that pretty fucking hard to believe. Not the fact that she’d told the police the bullshit story, but that was what had caused her home to blow up. He looked at her and saw the telltale blush creeping up her neck.
“You want to pull the other leg?”
She stood up straighter. “What are you talking about?” she asked indignantly. “That is exactly what I told the police.”
“I don’t doubt that, but it’s hardly the full truth. Now, what the hell are you hiding, Alia?”
She just stared at him, her blue eyes shooting fire.
Fuck, he wasn’t going to win. He started to laugh.
She put her hands on her hips. “Why are you laughing?”
“Because I’m screwed.”
“Join the club. I’ve asked you to leave, and you’re being stubborn and staying. You’re annoying the hell out of me.”
“Come on, Alia, admit this is a little fun. You used to laugh.” The blue fire turned into a bit of a sparkle.
“I admit nothing.”
“I can’t even get a smile out of you?”
“Can you not back off?” she asked with exasperation.
“Nope, did that thirteen years ago. I’m planted this time. How about that smile?”
Her lip quirked up at the corner.
“God, you’ve turned into a beautiful woman.”
“Don’t say that. I don’t need your lies.”
Her sparkle left. He stared at her dumbfounded. She was serious. He took his hands away from her cheeks, and she let go of him. Then he stroked his knuckles down her arms.
“I wouldn’t lie to you about this or be glib. We’ve been through too much real shit together. I’ve been in the trenches with you, Alia. You were always pretty, and your hair was gorgeous, that’s why those bitches were always pulling at it. But now, especially when you light up and smile, you’re beautiful.”
“I don’t understand you, Hunter.”
“I see that,” he pushed back a strand of hair behind her ear. “Give it time. Let’s get your grandma her cake.”
***
Aliana’s cell phone rang, it was the school and she had to take it. That left Hunter staring at Mrs. Jankovic.
“She doesn’t look upset. You did good.” The old woman looked pleased. “How are you going to fix things for my granddaughter?”
He liked this woman a lot. No wonder she was friends with his Mamie.
“I thought we might finish the cake before we got into the third degree.”
“Third degree?”
“Interrogation,” he explained as he took another bite of cake.
“Do you like it?”
“It’s fantastic. What kind is it again?”
“Marlenka honey cake. It is my mother’s recipe from the old country. Now, how are you going to make things better?”
He considered what to tell her.
“I’m going to call in a friend of mine,” he started.
“Phhhft. Not that. How are you going to fix it with her emotions?”
“What?” What was she talking about?
“My Aliana has been locked up into herself for many years. She has never worked past what happened the year her father died and you left. Were you her boyfriend?”
He set down his empty plate and gave her his full attention.
“She was my best friend in the world.”
“What were you doing in her bedroom that night?”
“At your son-in-law’s wake, she told me she never wanted to see me again. I had to understand why, so I went to see her.”
The old women peered deeply into his eyes. “I believe you. Now tell me what you are going to do to make her happy.”
“I’m still trying to get a handle on that.”
“A handle?” she asked.
“I’m still trying to figure it out.”
She grabbed both of his big hands in her frail ones. “Well, let us figure it out together.”
“I can’t right now, I have to go out and keep watch.”
“What do you mean?”
“Mrs. J. since someone blew up Aliana’s house, I’m worried about both of your safety. I want somebody watching your house at all times.”
“But you can’t do that. You need to sleep.”
“I’ll have a friend who will be here tonight to take over.”
“Who?”
“His name is Dalton Sullivan. He’s a SEAL too. He’s on my team.”
“A sailor?”
“Yes, a sailor,” he sighed.
“Strong like you?”
“Yes.”
“Big like you?”
Hunter paused.
Mrs. Jankovic laughed. “Nobody is as big as you are.”
Hunter thought about Drake Avery and Zed Zaragoza. “I know two who are the same size,” he said wryly. “But I don’t think they’re available.” But maybe…
She let go of his hands and patted his arm. “I like sailors. You’re good boys. Aliana will see that. You come back tomorrow. I’ll make breakfast.”
He got up, picked up his dish, and held out his hand to take hers back to the kitchen. She stood up as well.
“Now bend down.” She kissed his cheek. “You protect us. Find these ugly guys. I want my granddaughter safe.”
“I promise.”
He left her house and went across the street to Mamie’s car. It was a beige Buick that didn’t look out of place in the neighborhood. But him sitting in it for hours on end would. That was fine with him. He wanted to put people on notice that these women were being watched over. He pulled out his phone and called Zed first.
“It’s been a long time. Why the late call?” Zed asked.
“I’m taking a chance. I’m basically on top of the El Monte busway, close to the 60 Freeway.”
“What the fuck are you doing there at this time of night? That’s not where your grandmother lives.” Zed was pissed.
“An old friend has a problem.”
“I don’t care. Get your ass back to Coronado. Unless you’re visiting your grandmother, you stay out of gang territory. I told you that sixteen years ago. That life has to be dead to you.”
Now Hunter was pissed. Zed might be second-in-command of his unit. He might have been the one who put him on the straight and narrow all those years ago, but he sure as hell didn’t need him talking to him like he was some sort of dimwitted child.
“Zed, I called you for a reason. If you’re going to be an asshole, I’ll hang up.”
The silence was so long, Hunter looked down at his phone to see if his friend had hung up. Nope, they were still connected.
“Just got back from a bad one four days ago. Lost a man.”
Hunter was stunned. A SEAL dead, and he hadn’t heard about it? “Did I know him?”
“He was our liaison. Didn’t pay attention to orders. Still doesn’t matter, it was on my watch.” It wouldn’t matter. Hunter might never have served with Dante ‘Zed’ Zaragoza, but he knew what kind of man, what kind of second-in-command he was. He would see this as a personal failure.
“What’s next for you?”
“We just spent a shit ton of time doing debriefs. We’ve got downtime, and it’s been suggested, strongly, that I take some leave. Apparently, they think I’m close to the edge.”
“Are you?”
“No.” Another long pause. “Yeah, maybe a little. I feel guilty, but you suck it up. This is part of the job. If I thought I couldn’t lead men into battle and handle the consequences, I’d hang up my boots.”
Hunter smiled. Now that was the man he knew. “But it would make command happy if you took leave?”
“What do you have in mind? Because as much as I suggested you stay out of the ’hood, same goes for me.”
“I have an old friend. Went to school with her. She was two years younger than me, and―”
“Aliana Novak,” Zed interrupted. “I looked her up when I approached you. I investigated everything about you, Kid.”
Hunter hadn’t been called a kid, well, except for Zed, he’d never been called a kid.
“Anyway, she’s the Vice Principal of Bertrum High School, and her house just got blown up. By sheer luck, she didn’t die.”
“Who’s targeting her?”
“One of the local gangs. I’ve got to find out which one, but she needs protection. I’m calling in a friend from Black Dawn. We’re between missions, so Gray should give him leave. But it would be really helpful to have another set of eyes who know their way around here.”
“She’s a Vice Principal? Who would have guessed it?”
“Not me. But she doesn’t want me here.”
“But you’re staying, anyway?”
“What do you think?”
Zed chuckled. “Let me straighten some things out. I’ll be there day after tomorrow.”
“Sounds good,” Hunter said, hanging up the phone.
Hunter saw a dark Charger coming down the street, driving very slowly. He got out of his car and leaned against the driver’s side door, his arms crossed over his massive chest, waiting to see who was driving. The car was matte black, and he saw two young Hispanic men in the front seat and two in the back. He stared at them. They slowed down even more, the stupid fucks. The passenger put a Smith and Wesson .38 on the dashboard for him to see. He pushed back one side of his windbreaker and gave them a glance of his Sig Sauer pistol. They stopped the car. Even dumber. Who knew, he might be giving his body armor a work out after all. He walked up to the car and waited for them to speak. It didn’t take long for them to break the silence.
“You don’t belong here,” the driver said belligerently.
Hunter just stared at them. They were young, not even twenty.
“Did you hear me? I said pack it up.”
Hunter still didn’t respond. The driver turned to his three friends. “Dummy can’t even speak,” he said in Spanish. “The bitch has got herself a retard to guard her.”
Everyone in the car started laughing. The driver casually reached for the .38 on the dashboard. Hunter waited, knowing what was next. The driver turned his wrist sideways.
“Do you see what I have for you? Do you?” He jabbed the gun into Hunter’s belly, hitting his body armor. It took a split second for Hunter to disarm him and shove the gun into the young man’s skull.
“Don’t call those ladies bitches. Understand?” he said in Spanish. He gave a quick glance to the two in the backseat and laughed. “Don’t make a move for your little pea-shooters. Really, you’re both sporting .22s?”
Neither one of them looked old enough to shave. Both slunk down in their seats. The one in the passenger seat, tattoos crawling up his neck, glared at Hunter.
“What do you want?” the driver asked, a hint of a stutter in his voice.
“It’s not what I want. I was just standing here minding my own business, when you four ass-clowns show up, deciding to wave your pieces. Why are you here?”
“No reason.”
Hunter dug the tip of the pistol into the guy’s flesh, hard, and he hissed out a breath.
“I can do this all day. As a matter of fact, it’s breaking up the monotony.” Hunter twisted the gun so that the tip dug deeper. This time, the man let out a squeak of pain.
“Mateo told us to see if the bitch’s granddaughter was here,” the driver said.
That was good, they weren’t sure Aliana was here, but who was Mateo?
“You Las Nuevas Espadas?” Hunter asked.
A series of ‘No’ and ‘Fuck No’, resounded through the car.
“Those guys are pussies,” the driver said.
“You need to come up with a new insult,” Hunter admonished. “So you’re Los Demonios?”
“Goddamn right, we are,” the one in the in the passenger seat said. He pulled down his wife-beater tank and pointed proudly at a tattoo of some kind Halloween figure. Hunter figured it was supposed to be a demon. “See. We’re Los Demonios,” he said proudly.
“What do the Los Demonios want with Mrs. Jankovic’s granddaughter?” Hunter asked.
“She’s messing with our family,” the driver said. “Mateo is pissed. She’s causing trouble, stirring things up.”
“How?”
“I don’t know.”
Hunter looked at tattoo boy. “How?”
“It’s above my rank. We’re just supposed to check to see if she’s here. Just Mateo, the other lieutenants, and San Marcos really know what’s going on. We only heard the rumors.”
“Let me get this straight. The leader of the gang called the Demons is St. Mark?”
“Pretty cool, huh?” The tattoo guy smiled. Hunter shook his head. To think he used to be a part of this madness.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw one of the kids in the back fumble with his gun. Hunter, gripped the driver with his left hand by the throat, easily cutting off his air, then aimed his gun at the teen in the back.
“Do you want to die today? Are you straight with God? Been to mass recently? What’s your Mama going to say?”
The kid blanched.
“Put the gun on the floor.” He motioned to the other kid. “You too.” He kept an eye on tattoo boy as well. The driver was trying to break his hold, but it was impossible. He was thrashing and turning purple. “Better hurry before your friend runs out of air.”
“You won’t kill him.”
“Won’t be the first time I killed somebody, not by a long shot. Won’t be the last.”
“Who the fuck are you?” tattoo boy asked.
“I’m a friend of Mrs. Jankovic. I’m also a friend of her granddaughter. I don’t give a shit if she’s messing with your family. I consider them my family. Got it?”
The guns were put on the floor of the car. He released the unconscious driver who slumped onto the steering wheel.
“Guess you’ll be driving,” he said to the guy in the passenger seat. “I want you gone. Tell this guy Mateo to leave these women alone.”
Tattoo boy laughed. “You don’t know who you’re dealing with.”
“No, he doesn’t know who he’s dealing with,” Hunter chuckled. “Just pass the message along. Now you two ass-clowns, pick up your guns by the muzzle and hand them to me.”
“But―”
“Do it,” the guy in the front seat said.
Hunter collected the two small caliber guns, then backed away from the car. He watched as the tattooed guy got out of the car and went to the driver’s side so he could take over driving.
“Mateo is going to be pissed,” he said as he passed Hunter.
“Tell Mateo I’m already pissed, so we’re even. Now get the fuck out of here.”
He watched as the car took off down the street at a much faster speed than when it arrived. Damn, the license plates were missing.
Yep, he definitely needed backup.
He put the three extra guns in the trunk of his grandmother’s Buick. Sitting in the car, he pulled out his phone.
Dalton was number one on his speed dial. They’d been through BUD/S together, but hadn’t ended up on the same team. Hunter was lucky, he’d always been on Black Dawn, Dalton had been assigned to a team which had eventually disbanded. Though they hadn’t been on the same missions together, they’d remained close, even during that miserable final year Dalton spent with Cindy. And the tragic ending that ripped at Hunter’s guts whenever he thought about it.
He blew out a breath through clenched teeth and whispered a quick prayer up to heaven. Then he called Dalton.
“Hey. Wondered when you’d call.”
“Now. I’m calling now.”
Dalton chuckled. “Whatcha need?”
Hunter loved that. No question in his mind, he was going to help Hunter out.
“Did Gray say anything?” Hunter asked.
“You’re kidding, right? Our lieutenant reveal any personal information? Hell, we could waterboard him, and he still wouldn’t tell anyone your favorite fingernail polish. You still like to wear hot pink, right?”
Hunter appreciated Dalton’s teasing. The man knew something was up and was trying to make him relax.
“Fuchsia. They call it fuchsia. We need to work on your metro-sexualness.”
“So, what’s up, Diaz?”
“I’m up in East L.A. Gang territory. There’s a new gang who has its sights set on an old friend.”
“Aliana?”
Hunter didn’t know how to respond.
“You talked a lot about her in BUD/S. I can’t imagine anyone other than your grandmother who would have you going back home.”
“Yeah, it’s her. They blew up her townhome last night. She’s lucky she escaped with her life.” Hunter heard a cabinet closing over the phone.
“How soon do you need me there?”
“How soon can you get here?”
“Just give me the address, I’m already packing.”
“Mamie has a washing machine you can use,” Hunter grinned.
***
Hunter was beginning to get a feel for the neighborhood. It was a good, hard-working, poor community who looked after one another. He’d been approached four times by concerned citizens, usually in groups. But one older lady, who reminded him of Mamie, came bearing a cup of coffee. When he saw her approach, he got out of his car.
“Magda told me what you’re doing. She goes to bed early, but wanted me to make sure you stayed alert.”
“Thank you, ma’am. That’s awfully thoughtful of you.”
He took a sip of the coffee and hid his grimace. This wasn’t coffee, it was ground up coffee beans mixed with a tablespoon of water. He’d never tasted such sludge.
“This isn’t to my taste, but she said you were a sailor and would like it really thick. I brought you some brownies too.” She handed him a Tupperware container. “Do you want me to come and top you off later?”
“I’m good,” he choked out.
“How about some milk to go with the brownies? Magda didn’t say anything about sailors liking milk, but my husband likes milk when he eats my brownies.”
God, yes. Anything to get rid of the taste in his mouth.
“That would be very nice, Ma’am.”
“Call me Beatrice.”
“Thank you, Beatrice.” He continued to look around her so he could keep watch of the Jankovic house.
“I’ll be back.” She gave a small wave. When he saw another car approaching, he leaned into the Buick and grabbed his water bottle and took a quick drink. The police car pulled in behind him, but its lights didn’t come on. The officer got out of the car and came over to him.
“Are you Ernie?” Hunter asked.
“Lottie called me. I assume you’re Hunter Diaz?” Hunter nodded. “Got some I.D.?”
Hunter pulled out his wallet and showed him his driver’s license, military I.D. card, and Concealed Weapons Permit.
“Good to meet you.” Ernie held out his hand.
Hunter stared at it. Ernie scowled. “What’s with the attitude?”
“Why haven’t I seen any cops driving by tonight? You’re the first one in five hours.”
“What are you talking about, there should have been at least one an hour?”
“There hasn’t been.”
“Hold on, let me check on this.” He walked briskly back to his car. He was obviously pissed, which made Hunter happy. Then he spied Beatrice. She had his milk.
“Is something wrong? Is he harassing you? I can go talk to him if you need me to.”
Hunter took the glass of milk and drank down half of it, then swiped his mouth.
“No, he’s a friend.” The last thing he needed was Beatrice going to bat for him with the cop. How had he ended up with a Lady’s Brigade rushing to defend, feed, and investigate things? Mamie, sure, but the rest of them? It was getting kind of spooky. Wait until Zed and Dalton ran up against them.
“You don’t look sure,” she interrupted his musings. “I’m part of the neighborhood watch. I have a badge and everything. Let me go speak with him.”
Hunter put a hand on her shoulder. “Seriously, he’s a good guy. He’s looking over Mrs. Jankovic and Aliana too.”
“Really? Well, he’s not doing a good job of it.” Ernie was walking back. “Shouldn’t you have been here sooner?” Beatrice asked the man. “If you’re watching out for my neighbor, you should do a better job.”
Ernie gave Hunter a questioning look. “I told her that you were here to help.”
“And your name is?” Ernie asked the woman.
“Beatrice Price. I live over there,” she said, indicating the pea green house. “I’m the president of the neighborhood watch. With what happened to poor Aliana, I would have thought there would have been more of a police presence.”
“You’re absolutely right, ma’am.” Ernie looked chagrined. “There was a mistake on the address. From now on there will be a patrol car coming by at least every hour if not more often.”
“That’s good.” She turned to Hunter. “But you’re staying?”
“Yes, until my friend arrives.”
“He is in the Army too?”
“Navy. We’re both in the Navy.” He saw Ernie smirk out of the corner of his eye. Apparently, he had looked up his record.
“Have you ever fought? Because these bastards used a bomb. Aliana needs strong protection.”
“Yes, ma’am, I’ve fought. So has my friend. We know what we’re doing.”
“I’m trusting you.”
“I appreciate that, and I won’t let you down.” It took everything he had not to chuckle. He needed to treat her concerns with the utmost respect, but for real?
“I’ll be watching you. As long as you do a good job, I’ll bring you coffee and treats.”
“What about me?” Ernie asked.
“You screwed up. You didn’t earn it.” With that, she turned and left.
“Be happy, the coffee is godawful,” Hunter said with a grin as soon as she was out of earshot.
“She’s a hoot.”
“God save me from little old ladies.”
“What do you mean?” Ernie asked.
“I mean that I have my grandmother’s book club planning to get information on who is after Aliana.”
“What?” Ernie looked incredulous. “Did you say grandmother?”
“Not just Mamie, but her book club. I think there are ten of them. I’ve been invited to a meeting, they’re serving German chocolate cake. The hell of it is, I think they might have some useful info.”
“No way. They need to stay the fuck out of this,” Ernie said vehemently.
“I’ll try to dissuade them.”
“Invite me. I’ll get the point across.”
“I’m with Beatrice, you screwed up, you didn’t earn it.”
“Watch it. I’m the cop in this neighborhood, don’t think you can come in here and run roughshod over this investigation. You’re out of line.”
“Well, you’re doing a shitty job.”
“Really? Have you gotten her to tell you who assaulted her last week? Because if you did that would sure help us figure out who planted the bomb yesterday.”
“Assault? What assault?”
“Her throat and chest were cut. She required stitches.”
Shit, he’d seen the bandage on her throat and just assumed it was from the bomb.
“When did this happen?”
“Friday. She reluctantly ID’d the car, but she wouldn’t say who cut her. I’m positive she knew who did it.” Ernie rolled back and forth on his feet, clearly frustrated.
“Does the name Mateo mean anything to you?”
“No. Should it?”
“I had a run in with some members of Los Demonios a little earlier. They drove a 2015 Charger, matte black. There were no plates on the car. They said Mateo had a special interest in Aliana. I think he’s a lieutenant.”
“Well the car doesn’t match the one she ID’d on Saturday,” Ernie sighed. “Like I said, never heard the name, but I can check with the gang and narcotics division.”
“Do that.”
“Yes, Sir,” Ernie said sarcastically.
“Look, asshole, we’re on the same team.” Hunter didn’t need a territorial pissing match, not when Aliana’s life was on the line.
Ernie leaned in—he was only an inch shorter than Hunter, probably not used to dealing with anyone bigger than himself—and he was angry.
“We have detectives who are on top of this.”
“I’m the one who’s going to get Aliana to talk. I’m the one who can devote people 24/7 to making sure she and her grandmother are safe. I’m the one who can make sure these fucks back off for good.”
“You do something illegal, and I’ll be forced to put you away.”
“I won’t do anything that will get me put away.” Hell, if he couldn’t handle staying out of the frying pan, he didn’t deserve to be called a SEAL.
Ernie gave him an assessing look. “I heard what you didn’t say. I don’t like it.”
“Sue me.”
“I’m going to have my eye on you.”
“Why don’t you be on the lookout for the bastards who are after Aliana. Wouldn’t that be a better use of your time?”
“I can multi-task.”
“Since you’re so great at multi-tasking, why don’t you see what you can do with these.” Hunter popped the trunk of his car and pulled out the three guns he’d confiscated.
“What the fuck?”
“I’m giving you a gift,” Hunter said with a wry smile. “Los Demonios were kind enough to give up their weapons to me.”
“Kind? You guys have a tea party?”
“Something like that.”
Ernie carefully took the wrapped guns from Hunter.
“Hopefully you can get some usable prints.”
“Why, are you going to file a complaint against them? Seems to me if they were so kind, they might want to file charges against you.”
“Aliana might want to file a complaint.”
“Yeah, sure,” Ernie said derisively. “I’ll hold my breath.”
“So the patrols are going to be more frequent?”
“Yep, and not just because of Los Demonios. Seems to me, we need to keep an eye on you.”
“Yeah, I got that.” Geez, couldn’t the guy go already?
“You staying here tonight?”
“Until a friend of mine shows up. Then I’m going to take a little break.”
“What should I tell the patrol to be on the lookout for?”
Please God, say Dalton wouldn’t be driving his Corvette. “A beat-up, rusted, baby blue, 1990 Chevy truck.”
Ernie wrote it down in his notebook, “I take it being a SEAL doesn’t pay well?”
“Nope.”
“I’ll see you around.”
Not if he saw him first. Hunter got back into his grandmother’s car and watched Ernie pull away from the curb. Now he just had to wait for Dalton to show up.
***
Hunter heard the truck before he saw it. It might look like a piece of shit, but Dalton had put in a cat-back exhaust system and a supercharger. The damn thing was hell on wheels. The only thing that made people realize there was more than meets the eye to the truck were the high-performance tires. Hunter got out of his car, confident in the knowledge Dalton would spot him in the dark. His friend found the one open parking spot on the street half a block back. Hunter watched Dalton’s tall, sleekly muscled frame prowl towards him.
“Nice car. Not as nice as my truck, but nice,” Dalton said, nodding at the Buick.
“Don’t be making fun of my Mamie’s car, you bastardo.”
Dalton chuckled. “So, what’s the scoop with Aliana. Is she finally speaking to you?” he asked kindly.
“Hell, Dalton, I’m not sure, but I think I’m making some headway, but it’s definitely going to be an uphill climb.”
“Well, at least it’s you and not me. You have the ability to play all the angles.”
“You used to,” Hunter reminded his friend.
“That was a century ago, I’m not that man anymore. What you see is what you get.” God, he hoped not. Dalton hadn’t been truly happy in years. “Hunter, we’re not about to have a heart to heart in the middle of the street when we’re supposed to be guarding your high school sweetheart and her grandmother, are we?”
“Huh? What are you talking about? Aliana was never my girlfriend. She was just a friend.” He remembered the last time he had seen Aliana when she’d been sixteen. The moon bathing her face in through her bedroom window as she yelled at him. Even then, there was the hint of the beauty she was going to become.
“Come on Hunter, admit it. You talked about her all the time the first year we served. Then after her father died, I remember what a wreck you were each time you got back an unopened letter.”
Dalton was right, he had been.
“You’ve got it all wrong. I never saw her like that.”
“Fine, she wasn’t your girlfriend. What is she now? Or better yet, what could she be?”
“Damn, man, today was the first time I saw her in thirteen years. You must think I work as fast as Wyatt.”
“I’m not talking about bedding somebody. I’m talking about leading with your heart. I’m saying you were gone over this girl thirteen years ago. I’m saying you swore you were never coming back here except for short little visits to your grandmother, and here you are in the middle of gang business for this woman. I’d say you’re leading with your heart, not your head.”
“So, you are comparing me to Wyatt,” Hunter said.
“Fuck no, he leads with his dick.”
Hunter snorted. It was so true. That boy needed a couple more years of seasoning.
“Okay, Dalton, I don’t know where I stand with Alia. All I know is I can’t handle leaving it where it is now.”
“Where is it?”
“I thought we weren’t going to have a heart to heart out in the middle of the street?”
“Oh, now that we’re not dredging up my shit, I’m fine,” Dalton grinned.
Hunter shook his head. God, he loved this man. “Get your ass into your truck. I’m going to do a little reconnaissance.”
“What kind?” Dalton asked all business.
“Just a quick little jaunt around the old neighborhood.”
“I see you’re armored up and loaded for bear,” Dalton said, pointing to Hunter’s holstered gun and body armor. “I’m betting there’s probably more to it than a little walkabout.”
“You’d win that bet. A car full of gang members showed up about three hours ago. They were small-time. It took me about a minute to disarm them. I highly doubt they’ll be back. They were here to determine if Alia was staying at her grandmother’s house. Then there’s a patrolman who has a hard-on for Alia, who stopped by to check on her. He gave me a bit of a hassle. I gave him the guns I confiscated from the baby gangbangers.”
Dalton chuckled, “So, is the cop competition?”
“Doubt it. Alia basically has the Great Wall of China built up around her. I can’t imagine anyone getting through.”
“Except you.”
“I don’t know, Dalton.”
“Have faith, Brother. What are you hoping to find when you tour your old haunts?”
“Information about somebody named Mateo. Apparently, he has it out for Aliana. Also turns out besides having her townhome blown to smithereens, she was cut up during an assault last week. She needed stitches. She failed to mention that.”
“Down boy.”
“Trying to get any information out of her is like pulling teeth.”
“Well, won’t it be nice to know that your woman won’t be talking out of turn?”
“Jesus, what is with you?” Hunter stared at Dalton who just grinned wider.
“Hunter, you’re not seeing the forest for the trees. But I’m going to my truck now.”
“I’ll be back to spell you in a couple of hours.”
“No need. I napped today, I knew you’d be calling. I’m good. Go get some shut-eye after you’re done doing your recon. You need to figure out how to break down the Great Wall of China.” Dalton started whistling ‘The Way We Were’ as he walked down the street. He had clearly lost his damn mind.