Page 32

Chapter Thirty-One

Sawyer

I got to Fitz’s house just before five, which was when Fitz had mentioned he expected to be home. Mrs. Kowalski answered the door with a smile. “Come on in. I’m about to kick Jim’s butt. I need a witness.”

A loud laugh echoed from the kitchen. “Ha! You think so, Tanya, but I’m not so sure. Is that Sawyer?” Jim turned in my direction, his cloudy eyes vacant, but he was wearing a big smile.

“Yes, sir, Jim. How are you?” I walked over and touched his shoulder, and he patted my hand. I really liked the man.

Jim and Tanya, Mrs. K’s first name, were playing chess, so I watched for a minute.

“Pawn to e4,” Tanya said. She moved a stumpy white piece with a round top into a square midway on the board. I didn’t play chess, and I wasn’t looking to learn, but it was interesting to watch the two of them.

Jim chuckled. “Pawn to e5.” Tanya moved an identical black piece in front of hers.

They continued playing that way, with Tanya moving the pieces, first one then the other. Tanya could obviously see the board, but how Jim could remember the moves in his head was a testament to his intelligence. He knew exactly where every piece was on the board at all times. It was astonishing to watch.

“I’m going to go wait for Fitz on the porch. Jim, are you still going to the fight?” He’d said he wanted to be there. I thought it would be best if he wasn’t, but it wasn’t my place to make the decision for him.

“Damn right,” he said as I walked out the front door.

I sat in a rocking chair that hadn’t been there that morning when I’d driven by to pick up Fitz for work. I planned to return Fitz’s truck that evening and ride my bike to the dispensary and the Cowpokes houses until my parents returned my truck. The temperature was in the high sixties, so it was ideal for riding.

I had kept Fitz’s truck in hopes that Mom would call me and want to get together, just the two of us, but she hadn’t answered my texts. When I called, it went straight to voicemail.

Was my father keeping her from returning my messages and calls? If so, why?

A gray truck I didn’t recognize stopped in front of the house, and Fitz hopped out. “We’ll be there to get you at six thirty.”

The guy driving the truck waved and drove off. Fitz jogged into the yard and up on the porch. He rested his hands on the arms of the rocker and leaned forward, brushing his lips over mine. “Sugar, you are a sight for sore eyes.”

He kept that southern drawl under wraps most of the time, but when he let it out, it went straight to my dick. I wanted to fuck him right there on the porch.

“I brought your truck home. Depending on how things go tonight, I’ll get Ders, Hobie, or Spider to give me a ride out to the clubhouse and ride my bike back here if you’ll let me stay.”

Fitz grinned. “If you didn’t need to be out there, I’d pack you up and move you in with me. Now, you wanna go shower with me so we can get ready to do this thing?”

“Shower with you? Fuck yeah. When I got here today, Tanya and Jim were playing chess. It was the most amazing thing I’ve ever witnessed.”

Fitz pulled me up from the chair, and I wrapped my arms around him, kissing his neck. “I missed you, baby.”

“I missed you, too. For future reference, I love hearing from you, even if it’s just a sweet text that you love me like you sent today. I worry about you when you’re not here. I think we have a lot to talk about once we get this shit behind us.”

When we went inside, Jim and Tanya were laughing as she put the chess set away. “Who won?” I asked.

Tanya turned toward us and flashed a huge smile. “For the first time, I did. Best three out of five.”

She picked up her purse and jacket before she hugged Jim. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

It hit me that Jim couldn’t go to live with my parents since it seemed my father was a traitor. I didn’t trust that he wouldn’t turn the man over to the Scorpions to keep TJ under their control.

I needed to discuss a lot of shit with Fitz because I was completely overwhelmed with what the hell was happening with my father and the Scorpions. My life was spiraling out of control, and I needed it to stop right fucking now. In my head and my heart, Fitz could make that happen.

I stripped and helped strip him, and we turned on the shower. Once we were inside, I fell to my knees and took that incredible cock into my mouth. His hands went to my hair, him pulling out the elastic band and running his fingers through it. His touch grounded me in an instant.

“Fuck, yeah. I love you. Please, don’t stop.” His voice was deep and growly, and my cock was straining for friction. I wanted to fuck him, but we had no supplies in his shower, so I was going to suck him dry.

I pulled off. “Come for me, baby.” I took him back inside, feeling him thrust as he fucked my mouth.

“ Ahhh! ” Fitz’s salty release coated my tongue, and I surged forward to take him into my throat, swallowing around his cock and taking everything he had to give.

He touched my cheek as he moved back. “When we get home later, sugar…”

“You don’t have to make any promises. I’m not sure what the fuck is going to happen, but I’ll carry you with me.” I stood, patting my gut. We washed each other quickly and got out to dress. Luckily, I had clean clothes at his house.

When we finished, we went to the living room to find it empty, so I followed Fitz, who was holding my hand, into the kitchen where Jim was sitting at the table with a beer in front of him.

I went to the fridge and grabbed one for myself, offering one to Fitz. “No thanks, Sawyer. I’m our designated driver tonight.”

He grabbed a flavored water out of the fridge and sat down across from Jim. “You and Tanya getting along well?”

Jim picked up his beer and took a sip before speaking. “I don’t let my disability hold me back from anything. Tanya wants me and I know it. I just gotta keep challenging her until she figures it out.”

Hell, if she was interested in Jim and the two of them hit it off, I would be their biggest cheerleader. Jim deserved to be happy like anyone, and if he and Tanya got together, it would be one less worry for TJ… One less worry for me.

“Hey, good for you, Jim. You ready to go?” I asked as I sipped my beer.

“Yep. Let’s go.” Jim unfolded a white mobility cane, finished his beer, and stood from his chair. He tapped his way to the counter where he placed his empty bottle and turned toward the living room.

I gulped mine and walked to the table, taking Fitz’s hand. “Let’s go, babe. Whatever happens, we face it together.” I didn’t know how to say what I felt any better.

The three of us went to the truck, and I helped Jim in the back seat, making sure he was buckled in. His body was tense, and I knew why. His grandson was at stake.

Fitz drove us to a tan stucco, two-story house on South Sorrel. In the driveway was the gray pickup I’d seen earlier, though I didn’t know who lived there. Fitz parked behind it, honking twice.

A tall man with a blond buzz cut walked out of the house, sliding a key into the dead bolt on the front door before pushing against the door to double-check. He waved to Fitz and walked to the door behind the driver, hopping in. “Thanks for picking me up, Fitz.”

“Glad you’re coming along. Jagger Hansen, meet Jim Middleton in the back with you. Sawyer Abbott, my partner, with me. Guys, this is my coworker at Sparks Bail Bonds, Jagger.” Fitz shifted into reverse and backed out of the driveway.

Jim provided most of the conversation as we drove to The Old Strip. Fitz and Jagger answered his questions about where we were and what we were driving past, and I got lost in my thoughts.

There was a possibility that Jim’s only living relative on earth might die that night, and I couldn’t keep those thoughts from my mind. I had the feeling there would be violence, but I wouldn’t start it.

No, I wouldn’t start it.

Correction—I wouldn’t start it unless they came after the people I loved.

“Do you have a gun?” Jim Middleton was holding my arm as we walked through the casino, him using his mobility cane to keep people from walking into him.

I chuckled. “Why do you think I’d have a gun, Jim?”

“Because if I was coming into this situation and could see, I’d have a gun. Give it to me. I can hide it. I’m a blind man. They’ll never search me.”

“How do you know?” I felt stupid asking, but he seemed to have a pretty strong opinion on the matter.

Jim chuckled as Fitz and Jagger walked ahead of us. “Because people are embarrassed when they come across someone suffering from a physical limitation that they don’t share. It’s sort of like survivor’s guilt. Nobody can play the disabled better than me.”

I took a deep breath and stopped Jim and me at a slot machine, putting my gun into his hand. He slid it into the pocket of his jacket. The grin on his face made me laugh.

“You’re killin’ me with your daredevil instincts, Jim, but I’m glad we’re friends. Come on. Let’s go into the theater.”

The fight was going to take place in the King’s Theater, a showroom at the Ace of Spades Casino. Old-school singers and magicians were usually showcased, but when we walked in, there was no singing or magic. They’d set up an octagon cage, and the people in the crowd were there to see the carnage.

Fitz took out his bounty hunter badge, his wallet, and a hand full of change, placing the items in the bowl the guard was holding. He walked through without a problem, and the guard handed him the bowl. Jagger did the same.

When it was my turn, the metal detector buzzed loudly. The security guy stopped me. “Sir, could you step out and come back through? Check your pockets.”

My leather bracelet had a snap I’d forgotten about. I took it off, dropping it and my wallet into the resin bowl the guard offered. I stepped through the machine again, which didn’t alert, thankfully.

“Next,” the guy instructed.

Jim stepped through the machine as the alarms went off while I collected my wallet and bracelet. The guard stopped him. “Sir, what set off the alarm?”

I turned around to see Jim standing outside of the metal detector with his mobility cane in front of him. “I have titanium in my knee and hip, steel in my wrist, and shrapnel from the war in my head. You tell me, sir. Which part of me is setting off your alarms.”

I stood on the other side of the security fence, watching the guard as he patted Jim’s shoulders before he moved to his torso. “Ow! Please. I’m just an old man. I have aches and pains that you won’t understand until you’re my age. Can you be gentle?”

The guard pulled his hands away as if he’d been shocked. “I’m sorry. You’re free to go.”

I stepped closer to Jim and took his hand. I glanced at the guard and nodded. “Thank you.”

We walked to our row behind Fitz and Jagger, who went into our row first. “What was the problem?”

“Jim has metal inside him that set off the alarm.” I wasn’t sure if any of what Jim had told the guard was true, but I was grateful to him for being so damn quick on his feet.

We took our seats, me next to Fitz and Jim next to me. I put my arm around Fitz’s chair and kissed his temple. Jim nudged me and patted his coat pocket to remind me the gun was still there. The man was pretty sly.

I slowly took in the people sitting in the theater. I didn’t recognize anyone until I saw my father sitting with Ricky Marlow and a group of Scorpions who were bold enough to wear their cuts in the casino. Arrogant assholes.

My gaze stayed on my father, who laughed as Ricky handed him a beer that a young man in a prospect cut had just dropped off.

I leaned closer to whisper in Fitz’s ear. “My father is here.” I motioned my head across the theater to where Keller and Ricky were sitting in the front row.

“They look pretty cozy. How long do you think he’s been friendly with the club?”

That was a great question. My father had said he’d worked with the Scorpions when they were holding me, but there was no way he could have known that Dallas St. Michael and Jesse Sparks were working behind the scenes and I was acting as a decoy. I hadn’t told anyone about the plan for that day except Derson and Hobie. I did tell my parents after the fact, but not before.

There was a scuffle behind us, so I glanced over my shoulder to see the members of the Cowboys—Spider, Ders, Hobie, Arlo, Mina and Miri Rey, Tiny, and Hammer. Gilly and Mouse were in the row behind them, along with the folks who worked at the Cowpokes houses.

“I’ll be right back.” I got up from my seat and skirted around Jim. “I’ll be back. Fitz is to your left if you need anything.” Jim nodded.

I stepped up to Spider’s seat and pecked him on the shoulder. “Where’s T-Roy?”

Spider stood and shook my hand, giving me a clap on the shoulder before he leaned in. “He’s on his way to San Diego. Hammer told me that’s where Boyd’s hiding. He shouldn’t miss the party, should he?”

I laughed hard and shook hands down the line. I went to the next row and hugged Bess. “I didn’t realize we were closed on a Friday.” I was joking—mostly.

Bess pulled me down by my jacket. “One, the order to close came from Spider, and two, TJ is one of ours. Of course, we’re going to be here to support him.” Her expression told me to keep my damn mouth shut for once.

Derson stepped behind me and touched my back. “I’ve got the money to make the bet. Odds were 10:1 favoring Garza the last time I checked the board. Any idea how I should bet it?”

“How much do you have?” I’d had my head up my ass when it came to the bet because I had no idea what to do. We still didn’t know whether TJ was going to lose on purpose, though my gut told me he wanted the recognition from the MMA Federation so he could become a professional fighter. We were pretty much acting on faith that TJ would do the right thing.

“We have sixty grand. Each of us kicked in some extra to be able to replenish the shortfall—even the kids from Cowpokes. It’s your call.”

I knew time was running out, so I held onto Derson’s arm and pulled him with me to my row. Fitz was talking to his friend, so I leaned down to Jim’s ear. “I’m going to make the bet. Will you tell Fitz?”

Jim reached into his pocket and handed me an envelope. “Bet on my grandson. I trust he’ll do the right thing.”

I took the envelope and lifted the flap, seeing a lot of twenties inside. “You sure?”

Jim grinned. “Surer than I’ve ever been of anything in my life.”

I kissed his cheek before Derson and I headed to the sportsbook. It was now or never.