Page 1 of Furious Protector (Ruthless Guardians #4)

Beckett

I slide into one of the wooden seats at Wild Deuces, scanning the crowd as some clap for a dancer coming out onto the stage, while a few keep their eyes and minds focused on the game of poker they’re playing on a machine, and still others remain engrossed in conversation over dinner and a beer.

The patrons of this fine establishment don’t have a clue in the world that two competing mafia families both want this town for their own, and neither of them like to lose.

A woman with kind, gentle eyes and slightly graying hair taps me on the shoulder, holding her pen and pad at the ready. “What’ll you have tonight?” she asks.

The laminated menu glares from the overhead light as I pick it up and point to the illustrated image.

“That burger right there, it looks good. A friend of mine and a couple of guys from town said it was the best they’ve ever eaten.

I’ll order one of those, well-done with all the toppings with a big order of fries. ”

She smiles widely. “Any chance I know these guys?” she asks, writing down my burger choice.

I give her a grin, because I’ve already been warned about the grandmotherly Lettie with a heart of gold and life’s goal of finding everyone in town their perfect match, and by their description this has to be her.

“I’m sure you know the guys. Cole, Garrett, and Mason.

I’m Beckett. I came to help them with Kenny’s expansion next week here at Wild Deuces. You’re Lettie?”

Lettie’s eyes light up. “I sure am. And, good lord, if you are anything like those boys, then we’re happy to have you in Deadwood. I know why you’re really here. And consider your burger on the house. Any friend of those three is a friend to Kenny and his Wild Deuces.”

She leans down and whispers in my ear. “And soon to be casino, hotel, restaurant and expanded dance hall with room for more live bands and dancing.” She straightens, bubbling with excitement. “It’s going to be the best expansion yet. Wait and see.”

It’s hard not to share in her enthusiasm, even with my limited knowledge of the entire plan.

“How about if I have a cold beer to go with that burger while I wait for the guys? When they get here would you put a round of beers for them on my tab? Pretty sure they’ll fill me in on all the work going on at Wild Deuces. ”

She beams. “I sure will. Don’t forget to enjoy the late show tonight.

Marla is doing a special number. People come from miles around to see that.

” She gives me a wink. “You know, Marla’s single, and very, very pretty, and so nice.

She works all day long as a florist and then dances here at night a couple times a week for the extra money. ”

I smile, but the last thing I’m looking for is a relationship. I’ve tried the settling down thing, and right before she said I do, she said I don’t. That’s not something any self-respecting man wants to hear again.

These days, it’s no strings, just a few good laughs, maybe a drink and dinner before sex, but never, ever, let them get close enough to stay the night or invite them to breakfast. That’s how you keep that shit from happening again.

Lettie returns balancing a humongous tray full of plates laden with burgers and fries. I grin up at her. “Do I look hungry?”

She laughs. “I have it on good authority that a crew of young men who’ve been working all day long are about ready to walk through that door. We treat our help well, Beckett.”

I glance toward the front and true to her word, Cole, and two guys who must be Garrett and Mason stride through the entrance, quickly scan the tables, and make a beeline toward me.

Lettie doesn’t miss a thing. “You pass out those plates and keep your fingers out of everyone else’s fries.

I’ll be back shortly with some drinks.” She starts to leave, but then turns.

“Oh, that extra plate, that’s for Kenny.

His wife Eileen called and said he was on his way, but was still probably about five minutes out. ”

“You know a lot, Lettie.”

She grins and gives me a wink before making her way back to the bar, stopping to chat with the guys before they finish making their way to me.

I stand, shaking hands with each of them as Cole introduces us all.

“This is an old and close friend of mine, Beckett,” he says to the others.

“He’s worked with me on some jobs around the country after he got out of the service and before I came back to town. ”

Cole turns to me. “This is Garrett and Mason. The three of us work together keeping Deadwood safe, but let’s sit, have something to eat and a cold beer while we talk shop.

It’s been a hell of a day all the way round.

Kenny should be here in a minute. He wanted to meet you too.

Everyone is a little on edge right now with the expansion so close. ”

We’ve barely been seated a couple minutes when a hefty man strides in through the front door.

He gives a nod to Lettie who’s back behind the bar, and she bustles out with a pitcher of beer and hands it to him.

He gets a big grin on his face and brings it over to us.

He pulls up a seat, folds himself into it, and turns his attention to me.

“You must be Beckett. Cole’s told us all a lot of good things about you. Thanks for coming.”

“You’re more than welcome. Any problem of Cole’s is a problem of mine.”

Cole pours each of us a glass of beer from the pitcher on the table, but I cover my half empty glass with a hand. “One’s good tonight. Lots of recon and catching up to do later tonight.”

Kenny swallows half his beer in one long continuous gulp before jumping right into the business side of our meet.

“We had some bad news today. We’re really glad you’re here because we need more manpower than we originally thought.

” Cole looks to Kenny while the others dive into the burgers. “You want to bring him up to speed?”

“No, you and Beckett go back a ways. You tell him what’s going on, we’ll jump in if you miss something.”

Cole nods and takes a drink of his beer first. “The last few years we’ve had trouble with the Chicago Crime Family trying to get a stronghold into the town, threatening and extorting money from local shopkeepers, and even shooting Kenny as an example to the people of the town to do as they’re told.

The Larussio family, who Garrett, Mason and I work for, hired us to keep the town safe from the Chicago Crime Family while protecting their interests. ”

Aside from keeping this town safe, they obviously want to keep the territory for themselves with revenues from tourism being so lucrative. What people don’t know is that the Chicago Crime Family are longtime rivals of the Larussios and are not done trying to stake their claim.

Kenny and the Larussios, in a joint venture, are expanding Wild Deuces.

Cole gestures to the large black tarp that just looks like a wall at the back of the stage with the dim lighting.

“Behind that is the parking lot. They’re expanding to almost double the size, putting in more slots, bars, sports area and a large stage. ”

Cole doesn’t get any farther. Garrett leans over.

“The ladies just arrived.” We glance up to where he’s looking and watch as a group of five sexy women walk through the door, scan the lounge before spotting us, and make their way to our table.

Mason laughs. “Now that’s a whole lot of trouble heading our way. ”