Page 13 of Knife in the Back (New Orleans #4)

Carrollton, New Orleans, Louisiana

Everett Haywood was a tall, gangly boy with dark hair and brown eyes, just like his mother. But unlike Naomi’s, the boy’s eyes were filled with rude defiance.

Although his attitude might be residual fear. The kid had been through an ordeal that afternoon.

Jimmy Haywood and his father James had accompanied Burke to the girl’s home, where Everett still waited on the front porch with Harrison.

Their location wasn’t ideal. Anyone could come by and take a shot at Everett, but Burke understood that that had been the best option. Harrison hadn’t been introduced to the boy as his bodyguard, and it wouldn’t have been appropriate for Harrison to accompany the boy inside.

Although why Everett himself wasn’t in the house was something Burke would ask Harrison later.

“The girl didn’t want her parents to know Everett had been in the house,” Harrison murmured when Burke got to the front porch.

Harrison was direct, with a no-nonsense demeanor. He’d been an excellent cop, one of the few Burke had fully trusted when he was on the force.

“What’s this about, Dad?” Everett blustered. “Who are all these people? Why was this guy”—he gestured to Harrison—“even here to get me away from that…whatever he was?”

Jimmy frowned. “It’s your mother’s fault.”

“Oh.” Everett folded his arms over his chest. “I should have known.”

This kid was a piece of work. Although he didn’t know what his mother had sacrificed for his safety. Didn’t know what she’d been willing to sacrifice once again.

Burke pursed his lips to keep his words to himself, but the eldest Haywood had no such compunction.

“You watch your attitude, Everett,” James snapped. “This is not your mother’s fault. She hired these two men to protect you. Someone has threatened her, has tried to use you to force her to do something illegal. They threatened to hurt you if she didn’t comply. She’s protecting you.”

Everett sneered. “No surprise that they asked her to do illegal shit. She’s an ex-con.”

Burke drew a breath. Don’t yell at the kid. But he couldn’t let Everett’s words slide.

Harrison beat him to it. “Your grandfather said to watch your attitude. You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Everett lifted his chin. “And you do?”

Harrison remained calm. “Yeah. I do. Tell your father and grandfather what happened. And show some respect.”

Everett’s expression was sulky. “I’d just parked my car at the curb—”

“Why here, son?” Jimmy broke in. “Why are you here?”

Everett looked down. “I came to see Ariana.”

“And she is?” Jimmy demanded.

“My girlfriend.”

Jimmy clenched his jaw, his hands fisted at his sides. “You skipped school and came to a girl’s house without her parents here?”

Everett looked up, his expression going from sulky to mocking. “Yeah, Dad. I have a life. And I don’t need your permission.”

Jimmy opened his mouth but James Senior gripped his arm. “Just let the boy tell you what happened, Jimmy. We can sort out the rest later.”

Jimmy nodded, his anger still evident. “Speak.”

“Woof,” Everett drawled. “I’m not a damn dog.”

Jimmy took a step forward, one of his fists lifting threateningly.

Harrison moved between Jimmy and Everett. “Just let him tell you what happened, sir. Then we can all get off this porch and go somewhere safer.”

Jimmy directed his anger at Harrison. “Who the fucking hell are you?”

“My name is Harrison Banks. I’m a bodyguard. I work for that guy.” He pointed to Burke. “I think you met him earlier today.”

Jimmy glowered at Burke. “I told you I didn’t want anyone guarding my kid.”

Burke shoved his own anger aside. “If Harrison hadn’t been here, Everett might be dead. Everett, can you tell us exactly what happened?”

Harrison moved aside, revealing an uncertain Everett. “You didn’t want me to have a bodyguard, Dad? Why?”

“We can get into that,” Burke promised. “But later. Tell your father what happened.”

Everett suddenly looked very young. “I was getting out of my car. I guess I wasn’t paying attention to the other cars because I never saw him following me.

” He pointed to Harrison. “I didn’t see the SUV, either.

It came up beside me.” He schooled his expression to be stoic and brave, and Burke saw more resemblance to Naomi.

“It pulled so close to my car that I was trapped. I didn’t even have a chance to panic before this guy jumped out.

He was dressed in black, with a ski mask and everything.

” He laughed nervously. “It was like a really bad movie.”

“Did he touch you?” Jimmy asked, his voice not quite a snarl.

“He grabbed my arm and started to pull me into the van. And then this guy came.” He thumbed at Harrison. “He grabbed the guy’s arm and…” He looked at Harrison. “Dude. You have to teach me how to do that.”

“Teach you to do what ?” Jimmy snapped.

“I’m not even sure,” Everett said, forgetting to be stoic for a moment. He sounded awestruck. “There was a crack , like bone. The guy immediately let me go and made this sound. Like a kicked dog.” His eyes widened. “Not that I’ve ever kicked a dog.”

“That’s good, at least.” Harrison turned to Jimmy.

“I shoved Everett out of their path so that he could run, and then I grabbed the guy’s ski mask and yanked it off.

I saw his face. He was young, about twenty maybe.

Latino. Five-ten, one seventy-five. Dark hair, brown eyes, and a tattoo of an eagle on his neck. ”

“You let them get away?” Jimmy demanded. “What the hell kind of bodyguard are you, anyway?”

The kind who saved your son’s ass , Burke wanted to say, but bit the words back. What had Naomi seen in this man to begin with?

Harrison met Burke’s gaze, ignoring Jimmy’s accusation.

“The SUV had to have been here waiting for Everett. I didn’t see them on the way here from the high school.

The driver was armed. Female. Young, or so she sounded.

She had on dark glasses, a big hat, and a surgical mask.

So I can’t describe her face, but I’d remember her voice if I heard it again.

She had a Bersa Thunder .380 with a suppressor.

Aimed at my head and told me to let the guy go or she’d shoot me, then the boy. I let the guy go.”

“Some fucking bodyguard,” Jimmy grumbled again.

“Jimmy!” James’s face was pale, but his eyes were livid. “This man saved your son’s life. It’s evident where Everett is getting his attitude. Thank the man, for God’s sake.”

Jimmy gave his father a dirty look before baring his teeth in a parody of a smile. “Thank you, Mr.Banks.”

“You’re welcome, Mr.Haywood. I didn’t call the cops yet, Burke. I figured you’d want to do that. Maybe call André first.”

“I will.” Burke really liked Harrison. And I really hate Jimmy Haywood. “Did you get their license plate?”

“Yeah, and I already ran it. Stolen plates, which is what I’d figured.”

“When did you do that?” Everett asked, looking intrigued in spite of himself.

“While we were sitting waiting for your father to come. I tossed a tracker in their car before they could shut the door. Antoine tracked the SUV to a few blocks from here, then the signal disappeared. They must have found the tracker and smashed it.”

“Good try, though,” Burke said. “And quick thinking.”

“Why did you have a tracker?” Everett asked. “And where were you keeping it?”

Harrison regarded Everett evenly. “I always carry a few. You never know when you’ll have to track a teenager who doesn’t want to be guarded.”

“Whatever.” Everett’s interest became a scowl once again. “I wouldn’t have run.” Then he sighed when Harrison continued to regard him. “Fine. I probably would have. But I don’t think I will now.”

“Good,” Harrison said. “Your mother cared enough to try to save your hide. It would be rude to let the bad guys get you too easily.”

At the mention of his mother, Everett rolled his eyes again. “Like she cares.”

“She does,” Burke said, managing to keep his tone calm when he really wanted to shake the brat.

“Look, you should hear this from her, but I don’t think you’d listen.

Someone approached her on Friday demanding she deliver drugs for them in her employer’s van.

She said no and they threatened her with harm to you. ”

“If she does it, she’ll go back to jail,” Everett said, and Burke couldn’t tell what the boy thought of that.

“I think that’s the point,” Burke said. “So if anyone tries to give you anything, don’t take it. If it’s contraband of any kind, you could go to jail and that would devastate her. She’d rather go back herself than see you hurt.”

Everett said nothing, but he shrugged noncommittally, and Burke figured that was as good as he’d get. He turned to James. “Did you think about my proposal?”

“No,” Jimmy snapped. He’d been in the back seat when Burke had suggested they hide Everett in his house in the Quarter and that James accompany them. “My son is not going with you.”

“Yes,” James said, ignoring his son. “I’ll do that.”

“I said no ,” Jimmy snarled. “Everett will come home with me.”

“Going where?” Everett asked.

“I have a very secure house in the Quarter,” Burke said. “You’d be safe there. Your grandfather would stay with you, as would Harrison.”

And so would Naomi, but he wasn’t going to mention that yet.

Everett frowned. “What about school?”

James put a hand on Everett’s shoulder. “We’ll tell them that we’ve had a family emergency and we’ll get your assignments. It’s almost time for spring break anyway.”

“I’ll miss the Mardi Gras parties,” Everett said, true disappointment on his face. “Dammit.”

“No, you won’t, because you’re coming home with me,” Jimmy insisted.

Everett met his father’s gaze. “And if they come back? If they get in the house? What about Tina and Joey? And McKenzie? If she gets scared, it could hurt the baby. You remember what happened last time she got agitated, back when Naomi got out. McKenzie was so upset that she nearly lost Tina.”

Jimmy’s insistence disappeared, but he said nothing.