Cajun Protection (13 page)

“Speak.”

“Hey, dipshit, you comin’ in today?”

“Yeah, should be there in about twenty. Want
me to bring lunch?”

“Nah, we can go out when ya get here.”

“Gottcha.” And he hung up the phone. Gunner
was a pain in the ass, but he was efficient as was Snake. We all
work in pairs for various reasons, but mostly because of safety.
It’s hard to go after people in non-city areas. The swamp is no
joke, and people need to remember that when they step foot into the
bayou. If you aren’t from around here then good luck surviving.

Turning to face the screen in front of me, I
read over all the messages Zoey took this morning and yesterday.
She is extremely efficient at her job and I’m glad we kept her as
an office assistant. Although I don’t think we talked about how
much she makes. I hear the door open and know it’s Wolf.

“Everything okay?”

“Yup, it’s all taken care of. Gunner and
Snake are coming in today. Should be anytime. We will go grab some
food then. Wanna fill them in about Eddy and see what they found
out about their bounty. Since we don’t have them into the system
now, we need to show them what we are doing. Zoey can do that when
we get back.”

“Okay, sounds good.”

“Yup.” I ignore whatever he is doing, but
from the corner of my eye I see him playing with pins on the map
board. We really do need to find out what areas he likes to hide
in. Maybe even go out there. Been a while since we were out on the
water. Might even be fun.

I don’t know how long it’s been but I hear
voices talking outside the door. But as I make to stand, I hear
Zoey yelling out.

“I don’t know who the hell you are, but you
can’t go back there. How did you get inside anyway?”

“Listen, sweet cheeks, why don’t you get your
pretty little ass over there and make me a coffee or
something.”

“Excuse me?” Zoey’s voice takes on a whole
new tone.

“Don’t think I stuttered.” Damn Gunner.

“Come on, suga, he’s not that bad. He’s all
bark and no bite, but me, I’ll bite ya if ya want.”

“I don’t think so, buddy.” I snicker and
listen some more.

“Oh, I’m sure a woman like you could use a
little lovin’ from a man like me.” Okay, so they both are starting
to cross the line.

“Look, dipshit one and two, I don’t give a
flying fuck who you two are, but you will leave and leave now, or
else.”

“Or else what?” Gunner growls.

“Or else, I’ll umm get Wolf and Hawk to um do
something to you?”

“Well, sweet cheeks, that might be kinda hard
to do. You’re replaceable, just a little pet to them.” Fucking
Gunner, Wolf is up and out the door as am I, and find all three of
them standing in the hall way.

“I’m sorry, Hawk, Wolf, but these, I hate to
call them this, but gentlemen seem to lack manners, but they are
here to see you, I think. I don’t know how they got in and they
refuse to tell me their names.”

“New bunny in the play house, boss?” Snake
asks, pointing to Zoey.

“New office girl. Don’t worry about her.
Zoey, this is Gunner and Snake.” I watch as recognition comes
crawling across her face.

“Oh, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know they worked
here. I really didn’t know. I’m sorry, gentlemen. Can I get you
something to drink? Coffee, water?”

“No need, Zoey, we are going out to eat. I
have some papers that need filed on my desk. We should be back in a
bit.” I only have a few, but she nods and heads inside. I nod to
Wolf who turns and follows Gunner and Snake out the backdoor,
locking it tight behind them.

Neither of them say anything as we make our
way to the small diner across the street. I can see the front door
of our office and the blinds are closed. The back is all locked up
so the only way in and out is through the front and I have that
covered.

“So the new office girl. She up for some
playing?” Gunner asks while he orders a Coke.

“No, she works for us right now. She is the
chick I told you about with the stalker we are hunting. Since her
apartment was broken into and her other home set on fire, we
figured we would bring her here.” At least that was the excuse I
was going to use for them.

“So she is crashing at a hotel?” asked
Snake

“Nah, he would find her. We want to get him,
but not before he gets her. She is staying with us right now,” I
responded instantly.

“So you three are fuckin now.” Damn I wish
Gunner would shut his mouth and not fucking talk.

“Nah, she is in Wolf’s room. We are just
using her to help clean and cook, and work in the office,” I say.
Though I know it’s more than that, these idiots don’t need to know
that.

“And for getting your dick wet in some sweet
pussy too, huh.” Damn, now Snake won’t shut up. For the first time
in my life, I want to tell him to fucking leave it alone she is
mine, but it seems I’m acting like a scared little pussy and go
with my rules.

“She’s not like that. You know my rule about
fucking anyone who works for us.” I haven’t broken the rule either,
well yet anyway. But I promised myself, and my cock that will
change, and the sooner the better.

“Sure. Whatever you say, bossman.” Snake
grins and Wolf is glaring at me. What fucking ever.

“Tell me what you got.” And like that, the
subject is dropped.

Office staff, a pet, a damn woman to fetch
coffee like a good little girl. Well fuck him and the broom that’s
stuck up his tight ass. I understand needing to remain
professional, but he kinda hit below the belt with this one. But
whatever I do from now on, I tell myself, I’m not sleeping with
them again. I’ll save what money I can and get the hell out of
dodge, or Louisiana at least. The phone rings, making me jump. I
wait for the recorded message.

“Hey, chicky, go to the back, I got us some
grub and I hate eating alone. Open up.”

I laugh and walk to the back. I knock and she
knocks twice more. I unlock the top two locks and open it for
her.

“Just so ya know, bitch, I should totally
kick your ass for yesterday, but I’m sure Wolf and Hawk probably
chewed your ass out already. But I got food. Figured you wanted
something good, so I even brought some beignets to sweeten you up.”
I giggle and take the bag. Inside she had some yummy po’ boys for
us both, some sweet tea, and dessert. I swear I am in love with
this woman. I thank her and clear a spot at the front desk for us
to eat. With the food put out, I dig in, even though I had
breakfast a few hours ago. Plus, when I’m upset, I eat. However,
with everything going on before, I never had enough food to eat.
And that makes me laugh. Shaylene looks at me and then shakes her
head.

“So how you holding up?”

“As good as can be expected. I mean when you
have a crazy psycho male on your ass who either A) wants to fuck
me, or B) kill me then fuck me, or c) scare the crap out of me so I
can make it easy for him to complete A and B. So yeah, doing
peachy.”

“Oh cut the crap, I know you’re wacked in the
head about that shit, nothing I can do to help you unless I find
the son-of-a-bitch and cut his dick off with a pair of rusty
loppers and feed them to the gators. I’m talking about with the
guys.”

I freeze. Do I tell her, or keep it to
myself. I don’t want to get in trouble and it was only one time.
“Nothing but work stuff. They talk about the cases, I organize
them, that’s about it. Kinda boring really.” I lie.

“Suurree it is. But whatever, it is what it
is. So I’m thinking that if we have enough guys we can go out for a
beer tonight or something.”

“You mean at like a bar?”

“Yup, I need a wing man, or woman.”

“I don’t know, you and I both know the guys
will say no and that will be the end of it.”

“You’re right, okay fine then, how about you
come stay with me tonight and we get smashed and say fuck you to
the world.”

“That I can do.” I giggle and eat my food.
About forty-five minutes have passed and Shay has to go back to
work. I clean up our mess and make a fresh pot of coffee when I
hear the clicking of the locks at the backdoor. Sounds like the
guys are back. Everyone is laughing and joking when they enter.

“So we are gonna go out tonight, heard about
a new place that is amazing. Lots of sexy tourist for us to play
with. You both coming.” I hear, who I now know is Gunner, say.

“Nah, just gonna stay in tonight,” Wolf says,
and smiles at me. “Hey, Zoey, have a good lunch?” I nod and go back
to what I was doing.

“Come on, man, don’t be a fucking stick in
the mud, come out already,” he hounds Hawk now. I ignore them all.
At my desk, Wolf sits on the edge.

“So whatcha doing tonight?” He acts normal to
me, well at least that’s good.

“Actually, Shaylene wants me to come over and
have dinner and a few drinks. I said yes.”

“Say what?” Hawk overhears us and is now
glaring down at me.

“I’m going to Shaylene’s house tonight,” I
say with a little more attitude. Shit, he’s not my dad, or even my
lover; he has no say what I do.

“I don’t think so,” Hawk growls.

“Hawk, lets listen to her,” Wolf says
calmly.

“Look, we both wanted to go out, maybe get a
drink or two, but knew with everything going on it would be a bad
idea, so we came up with this one.”

“No,” Hawk says and starts to walk away.

“Listen, Hawk, I don’t care what you think.
I’m going, I am just being courteous in letting you know.” I smile
sweetly, plastering a I-don’t-give-a-fuck-what-you-think look on my
face.

“Zoey, enough, I said no.” He looked like he
was going to say more, but just shuts his mouth and looks at
everyone in the room. My tempter snaps. I’m tired of acting like I
have to do what he says, or act like he even cares for me. He
doesn’t. I’m just some office pet, something to keep his paperwork
down, someone to keep his dick wet at home. But what about my damn
heart, he doesn’t want it, and right now, I am done. With all of
it. He hit the last of my nerves, and this is my breaking
point.

“You know what, fuck you, Hawk. I quit. If
Andrew finds me, fine then, he can have me. I’m done living in
fear, I’m done hiding. And I’m done with you.” I grab my bag and
before he can say anything, I run down the street to Shaylene’s
shop. I hate being used and I hate being told what I can and can’t
do. Again, Hawk just proved to me that in this world I only have
myself.

Zoey

“
You put the lime in the coconut and then
you drink it all up,
” I giggle.

“Those aren’t the words!” Shay snaps at me. I
giggle some more, nope they’re not.

“Fine then, how about this one:
I get
knocked down, but I get up again, you’re never gonna get me knocked
down,”
I sing, trying to get myself in a happier mood.

“You are such a trip, woman. But at least you
can sing.” Snorting into my glass, I look and see my margarita is
low.

“I demand refills!” bellowing out to, well to
no one, and Shay looks at hers and nods. We somehow make our way to
the kitchen and mix another batch.

“Your turn. Sing for me, wench” I demand and
she laughs.

“Fine, um let’s see. Oh, I got one.
I like
big butts and I cannot lie, them other brothers can’t deny, if a
girl walks in with an itty bitty waist and a round thing in your
face you get sprung
.” I can’t help but laugh so hard I have to
pee. I jump up, well trip over and make my way to the bathroom.
Laughing, I quickly empty my bladder, wash my hands and find Shay
sitting on her couch humming to a song on the radio.

“I love this song.”

“Me too.”

“Sing for me my angel of music.” I smile and
close my eyes and sing.

“
The smile on your face lets me know that you need
me,

There's a truth in your eyes
saying you'll never leave me,

The touch of
your hand says you'll catch me wherever I fall,

You say it best, when you say
nothing at all”

But
as
I sing I can’t help feel the sadness of it all. I wish that someone
would feel that strongly about me, and not in a creepy way either.
What am I gonna do? I look down and Shay is looking at me, well
behind me really. I snap my head around and see both Wolf and Hawk
looking at me. Embarrassed because they caught me singing, and also
because I’m in shorts and a tank top, no bra-again. But really, I
don’t want to see them.

“
What do you want? To yell at
me some more? To tell me I’m not good enough to be seen in public,
or to tell me I can’t have a drink with the only damn friend I
have
. Tell me please why you’re here because
I can’t, I can’t; oh God I’m gonna be sick.” The feeling of my
stomach contents starts to come up and I dash, trip, then make it
to the bathroom to puke the concoction of margaritas and tequila
shots into the toilet. I feel a hand behind me moving my hair out
of the incoming vomit train. Over and over I puke until there is
nothing left. My head is heavy, and I feel like crap, but all I
want to do is sleep. Closing my eyes, I don’t know who is lifting
me, or who even wiped my mouth, but I’m no longer in the bathroom.
I don’t care. For the first time in a long time, I don’t care about
anything.