Flashpoint

by Barb Shuler

  If he let go, she was dead.

  Son of a bitch!

  14

  Kennedy - Four Hours Earlier

  “I need two Bloody Mary’s and a Coke for table three, please.” I gave Jenn a sly look as she made the drinks. The bartender, Leon, was busting his ass tonight. We all were. It’s one thing to be busy, and another to be overrun, running around like chickens with their heads cut off.

  I grabbed the drinks I needed and smiled as I made my way back to the table. “Here we are. Your meals should be up in about ten minutes. Is there anything else I can get you?”

  “Not right now. Thank you,” the older man said.

  “I’ll be back with you soon.” I turned and moved to another table, checking on the patrons and getting refills when needed. We had two tables empty and I was hoping this meant things were going to calm down soon, but no such luck. Just then, in walked Thurgood Winston and a few of his entourage. My heart stopped when Eric strolled in with his crew. How could he be here. I had a damn restraining order. Max saw fit to help with that, not that I blamed him.

  It felt good to not have ot worry… but here he was.

  I turned quickly and made my way to the bar. My breathing was becoming ragged. I had to get my shit together.

  “What is he doing in here?” Jenna snarled and moved to go around the bar. I grabbed her arm and stopped her.

  “No, don’t make a scene. I’ve got this. I won’t let him rule my life anymore.”

  “Are you sure, babe? You have a restraining order. One call and he is in cuffs...”

  “Yep. I’ve got this.”

  I took a few menus from the bar top and moved to the table where the assholes sat. They would not beat me. I’d not let them. I dropped the menus on the table with a scowl.

  “Well, hello, Ms. Walker,” Thurgood said. I pulled my pad out and looked at the table.

  “What can I get you tonight?”

  “Kennedy, you really should be more courteous.” Eric glared at me, and I met his hard look with one of my own. I clucked my tongue before I looked down at Thurgood and the other five men at the table.

  “Gentleman, I have other tables, if I could get your drink orders, please.” I gave a tight smile.

  “I’ll have you with a side of Jack,” one man responded. I rolled my eyes.

  “I’m not on the menu, thank you. What about the rest of you?”

  “Geoff, she has me, she doesn’t need anyone else,” Eric gloated “Isn’t that right, Kennedy?” I scoffed.

  “Sorry, but no. You’re old news. Now, if you’ll just order something that would be great, if not, I bid you farewell. Don’t let the door hit you on the ass on the way out.” I gave him a look before I brought my attention to the man closest to me.

  I took the orders of the other men at the table, most of whom just wanted a Jack and Coke, or a whiskey sour. Whatever. The faster they drank, the quicker they could leave and take that fucker with them. When I finished placing their drinks, I turned and moved a few feet away from them. I was about to greet another customer when a hand gripped my arm. I turned and met Eric’s furious gaze. I jerked my arm back and hissed.

  “Get your hands off or me!”

  “You will not disrespect me. You may forget this, but you are mine. I’ve been inside of you. I’ve marked you as mine.”

  “As if, asshole. Let me go or so help me-”

  I didn’t see it coming. I should have. The crack of his hand across my cheek echoed in surround sound across the restaurant. I gasped and pulled back from him. What took place next just happened. I can’t say it was the best idea I’d ever had, but it made me feel better. I drew back and slapped his face. I heard Jenn call out to me but I ignored her.

  I shook my hand out as I spoke, my volume just this side of yelling. “You will never put your hands on me again. I’m NOT yours. You mean nothing to me.”

  “Get out of my restaurant!” Jenn pushed me back and got right on up in his face. I saw the moment he went to hit her, but she must have too. One thing about Jenn, she’s unlike me, she was raised by a brother that taught her how to fight. With two ninja moves she had him on his knees with his arm behind him, his hand bent up at a weird angle. I blinked and shook my head.

  “Babe, let him go. He was just leaving.” My voice sounded calm but I was anything but.

  “Ladies, I’m going to have to ask you to stop manhandling my associate,” a warm voice said from behind Eric. I looked up to the see the man. He had a scowl on his face. I patted Jenn’s shoulder.

  “Let the asshole go. He’s just leaving.” I pulled Jenn away from him and pointed to the door. “Out, or I call the cops. Period.”

  “I’m not leaving,” he snarled.

  “Yes, you are.” The man behind him said. Eric went to argue but a single look from the man had him cursing and walking out the door. I sighed and looked to Jenn. “Ladies, if I may, I’d like to apologize for my associate.”

  “Yes, well, you can all leave my restaurant. You have ten minutes before I call the cops.” Jenn walked away, pulling me with her. She slammed her hand into the kitchen door and once we were inside I shook off her hand and hit the counter. My frustration was bubbling. I could feel the panic attack coming. I was trying to stop it, I was, but it was hitting fast and hard.

  “Kennedy, babe, look at me. It’s okay. He’s gone. Deep breaths.” Jenn’s hands cupped my face and I nodded. I took in a deep breath, then another and another. It was working for now. I could feel my muscles relaxing.

  I could hear Guillermo cursing from the other side of the kitchen. It made me smile. He was threatening to cut Eric into pieces and feed him to the fish. I snorted when his thick Spanish-accented voice boomed across the kitchen.

  “He’s no real man!”

  “No shit. Pansy ass mofo. I will break every bone in his body.” Jenn’s voice was hard as she glared at the kitchen door. I gave her arm a squeeze.

  “He’s gone, let’s just regroup and get back out there. We have a business to run. G, keep taking your anger out on the food.”

  “Your face is red.”

  I touched my cheek. I was sure I had a bright red handprint there.

  “Well, I’ll just pretend I put on too much blush.” I shrugged. “Come on, we have tips to make. Mama needs a new pair of shoes.”

  I used my hip to open the dining room and went to the few tables that were empty now. I picked up tickets and cash that was left on the tables before wiping them down. My smile grew as I walked around greeting a few more patrons. Everything was going smoothly now, easy, even, which was great. We only had a few tables of customers left from the afternoon rush when Eric and the man from earlier walked back through the door.

  I heard Jenn curse but held up a hand. I was not going to back down from him. Not again. I moved to where they stood and pointed to the door. “You are not welcome here. Either you leave on your own, or I call the cops and have you removed. First and last warning.” I turned away and moved towards the bar where my cell phone was. I didn’t make it that far, through. I was grabbed from behind and pulled back against a big hard body.

  “Get off of me!”

  I threw my head back. The sound of a nose cracking filled the air moments before the man’s howl of pain. I heard Jenn cry out and saw she was on the floor with a big ass man on top of her. I turned to glare at the man now approaching me.

  “You’re coming with us.”

  “Get off of me!”

  I slammed the heel of my palm into the side of his head and jerked away from him. The kitchen doors flung themselves open and Guerillmo burst through, a look of murder on his face. He spouted off something and another man that had come in charged him. I lost sight of him when my hair was grabbed and snatched back. I cried out in pain and anger.

  “I said now, Kennedy. You are mine!”

  “Go fuck yourself, asshole!” I turned as best as I could and, with my hand curled into a tight ball, I pulled my fist up into an arch and brought i
t back down, hitting him in the nuts as hard as I could. He dropped to his knees, dragging me with him.

  Jenn let out a strangled cry as she was jerked from the floor. She twisted her body and brought the big thug down. I was panting by the time I got my hair free of Eric’s grip. My stomach was rolling. What the actual fuck was going on here? There was a shot fired from behind us as Jenn and I got to our feet.

  I took her hand and together we turned. The patrons had gotten under tables and were cowering away from the chaos. My heart hammered as I met the gaze of the man in the dark suit that had come to my aid earlier. His arms were crossed over his chest, and a deep scowl creased his face. The man behind him still had his gun drawn.

  “Ms. Walker. None of this would have been necessary if you would have simply come with us earlier. This,” he waved around at the destruction. “This is your fault. Now, come along. We have things to discuss.” He walked towards the back of the restaurant and stopped in the hall. “I will not ask again. Luc, Eric, bring the other one as well.”

  The big man that Jenn had brought down grabbed for her but she dodged blindly, bolting right into the Eric’s arms. He had moved so quickly, that I’d almost missed it. He held was a knife to her neck. I froze.. I couldn’t help her if he sliced her neck. There was no coming back from that.

  The big man that Jenn had previously brought down moved toward me, snatching me up by the arm. He moved to follow his boss without a word.

  This was bad, really bad.

  15

  Kennedy - One Hour Earlier

  “Sit,” the man ordered as we came in.

  Jenn and I were shoved into chairs across from the man who leaned back against the desk. I gave him my best, ‘I’m gonna rip your nuts off’ glare, but he paid me no mind. He glanced at Eric and then back to us. After a moment of thought, he looked at Eric again.

  “I’ll take them both as payment. The blonde will fetch a good bit. A few of my men like it rough, so she’ll do. As for Ms. Walker, I’ll gift her to my nephew. He seems to have a hard on for her, though I don’t see why.”

  “That was not what we agreed upon!” Eric’s voice boomed.

  I jumped involuntarily. I knew that angry voice. I took a deep breath. “I agreed to get you in to the safe. You said you would take that and leave her to me!”

  “Plans changed.” A familiar voice came from behind Eric. The man in the dark suit smirked. Thurgood walked in, another goon following him. My heart sank.

  “You disgusting little weasel!” Jenn was up and launching herself at him before anyone could react. The big man went for her and I went for Eric. I’m not sure what happened then, but gunfire rang out across the restaurant. The big man, Thurgood and the other man with him moved out to the hall. There was shouting from a few people and in the chaos I was grabbed. Eric’s snarl of anger in my ear sent a shiver through me.

  “If I can’t have you, no one will.”

  I fought to get free. I was really hoping I would wake up from this nightmare. I shifted my body and slammed him back against the door frame. The grunt he let out made me grin in triumph. Jenn came up and slammed her fist into his face, rocking us both back.

  The fight lasted no more than a few minutes.

  Jenn was on the ground, groaning, and my eyes darted to the knife in his hand. I snarled and charged him as he took a step closer to her. There was no way he was going to kill my best friend. I’d rip his throat out with my bare hands if I had to.

  “No!” I hit him in the neck, since the bastard moved. He dropped the knife, though. That’s where things went from bad to worse. Eric and I tussled, he hit me and I fell. There was a sharp pain across my face, then nothing.

  Jennifer

  “Kennedy! What the hell did you do?!” I snarled as I sat up and somehow managed to get to my feet.

  My breathing was labored, and good God Almighty I hurt, but she needed me. I stumbled over to where she was laying and fell to my knees. The blood pouring from her head made me bite back a sob.

  “Wake up, woman. Please, Kennedy.” I hurried to pull off my shirt, thankful that I had on a T-shirt under it. I tied it around her head, trying to staunch the flow of blood. Head wounds always bleed a lot, even if they weren’t dire. I had to keep telling myself that. She was just unconscious. She was going to be okay. She had to be. I’d accept nothing else.

  I heard scuffling behind me and saw that Eric was being drug from the office. I struggled to get to my feet. I shut the door, latched the security bar and closed the blinds. I had to get us into the safe room. The slice across my side hurt, but it wasn’t anything life threatening. What hurt was the ribs I was sure I broke when I fell.

  I was gonna hunt Eric down and kill him slowly, then move onto the Turd. That no good weasel. I heard my cell ringing and managed to dig it out of my back pocket. Miraculously it was in one piece. The shots outside had me ducking and moving to cover Kennedy with my body. As the phone rang again I managed to answer it, and when the sound of Max’s voice came through it I lost it.

  He would come and save us from these crazy motherfuckers.

  Max was coming. I needed to get us to safety. The rest of the glass in the windows behind me shattered but not before the door to the safe room opened. These assholes were shooting at anything and everything. I ducked down and got my arms under Kennedy’s and tried to move her towards the wall where the secret room was.

  I had just gotten it open and my arms back underneath her when someone came through the window. I dove for the bag Max had left in there for emergencies. I grabbed the Glock and brought it up. I shot three times, making the asshole coming in the room hit the floor. I got up, took aim and shot again. Two more men tried to come through the window and I shot at them again. The minute the clip was empty I was tackled. A scream ripped from me as the pain of something sharp bit into my side.

  “Stupid bitch!”

  I groaned as I curled into myself. A kick to my gut sprawled me out on the floor. My breath rushed in and out as the pain absorbed into my body. I tried to get up. I tried to keep them from taking Kennedy, but I couldn’t. My body wasn’t my own right now. I shook my head slightly, which added to my dizziness. The room went dark until I heard Max. Max had come to save us. I knew he would.

  I blinked again. I must have blacked out, because I came alive when white hot pain shot through me. A man was over me and I tried to fight him off.

  “Jenn, it’s Tony. Dulce chica, no tengas miedo. You’re safe.”

  “Hey, pretty girl. Don’t beat up the old man.” I looked up to see Tony and Kelly crouching over me. Tony was calling out something, but I couldn’t make it out. My ears were ringing. Pain consumed me again, and I knew nothing more.

  Kennedy

  It took me a few tries to actually get my feet under me. I had fought the Turd off by throat punching him. There was no way I was letting that little maggot rape me in the stairwell. I got from under him, minus most of my clothes, but not before I broke his nose when I kicked him in the face. He’d fallen backwards, and I ran, but I didn’t get far.

  Another one of them grabbed me and flung me down the stairs. It took Mr. Dark Sit to call them off. The Turd was furious, but it didn’t matter. The man in charge had spoken. He gave them orders to get me to the roof. And that was what they did.

  So here I stand, partially blinded by the bright light. I blinked, trying to get a look at where I was. I shook with fear as the man holding me, Mr Dark Suit himself, pushed me towards the edge of the building. Panic rolled through me.

  “Please, don’t do this. Let me go!”

  “You brought this on yourself. You and that other stupid bitch.” He shook me slightly. I gripped his wrist as best as I could, yelping in pain and fear. He pulled me closer to his body. “I should just drop you now.”

  “Please, don’t.” I begged. I would beg until I had no breath left. There were so many things I needed to say to my family. To my best friend, who was my sister. To Max. Oh God, Max. If I died now,
he’d never get a chance to know I was carrying his baby. I’d only found out for sure three days ago. I hadn’t told Jenn yet, hell, I hadn’t even wanted to think about it. The thought of telling Max scared me. But with death looking me in the face, I wanted to shout it from the rooftop. Literally!

  “Let her go. You’re surrounded.” I heard his voice then and my heart leapt. Max. Max had come for me, for us.

  “MAX!” I yelped again as Mr. Dark Suit shook me and my right foot left the ledge.

  “Ronson, if you let her fall, you will die.”

  “If you shoot me, she dies. Either way, I win.” The man said, his grip on my hair tightening. I tried to pry his hand free, but had no luck. I was up on my tiptoes now.

  “Please, let me go. Don’t kill my baby,” I pleaded. His head turned and his gaze met mine. An evil, bone chilling grin spread across his face - one that had my heart thundering.

  “Interesting.” He snatched me forward, causing me to stumble. The pain in my head tripled at the movement. I was gonna be sick. His hand came up, ripping the button up uniform shirt I had on open. His nasty feeling hand rubbed across my exposed middle. “If you kill me, you will kill these two. You wouldn’t want that, now would you?”

  “Let her go. Now!” Max’s voice boomed out across the rooftop. I could feel the anger in his words. I could also tell his voice was not in the same place it had been before. Though, I’m not sure Mr. Dark Suit, or Ronson as Max called him, had figured that out.

  “Max! Don’t be a hero, please!”

  “Oh, don’t spoil my fun, girl. He owes me so much. Killing you and your baby might make amends. It would be worth the bullet to know I took something from him as he took from me.”

  “No!”my voice carried out over the rooftop. He snarled my direction.