by Autumn Dawn
Funny, he hadn’t thought that anyone as feisty as Gem would give in to a little bullet scratch. Must be more fragile than she looked.
Nobody could say that about her sister. Many heads swung around as the trio entered the bar and dining room, and a buzz started up as people speculated on what was going on, but nobody offered useful help until Brandy ran up.
“What did you do to her?” the redhead demanded. She reached for Gem as if she could take her out of Blue’s arms.
He looked at her doubtfully. “She was hurt. Unless you’ve got more muscle than it looks like, sweetcakes, you’d better let me carry her to the office.”
She shot him a look of pure venom but led the way, unlocking the door for him. The family had been more careful about security since the fire, a move he approved of.
He looked around as he set Gem down. It was the first time he’d been in here. The lace and floral tapestry chairs made it seem more like a girlie living room than an office, and it gave a man shivers to think about trying to relax here.
“Gem, are you all right? Do you need a doctor?” Brandy was asking.
Gem blinked and reached for her head. “No. I think.”
Brandy batted her hand out of the way. “Let me look.” She looked around and spied Zsak. “You. Tell them to bring the first-aid kit out of the kitchen.”
“Yes, Your Highness,” Zsak muttered, heading for the door.
Blue crossed his arms and watched Brandy work, fighting annoyance. It wasn’t as if her sister were dying.
“What happened?” Brandy demanded.
“She was shot,” Blue said.
She ignored him like she would the devil’s kin. “Gem?”
“I was shot,” her sister repeated.
“What do you know?” Blue drawled.
“Shut up!” Brandy glared at him and then looked at Gem. “Why?”
“I don’t know. I dropped Xera off and walked out to get a ride home. I thought someone threw a rock at my head; then Blue tackled me.” She frowned. “I think he saved me.” She glanced at him as if searching for confirmation.
He looked lazily at her. “Was that a thank-you?”
She frowned. “Thank you.”
Zsak came in with the emergency kit, a bottle of booze and two glasses. He tossed the kit to Brandy, who caught it awkwardly. He filled two glasses with generous helpings of liquor and handed one to Gem. “You look like you need this.” He took a healthy swallow of the other and sighed happily. “Good stuff.”
“You could have brought me a glass,” Blue grouched.
“Get your own. Clearly the little woman needed it more.”
“How chivalrous of you,” Brandy said between gritted teeth. No doubt the reference to the little woman was too much for her.
She started cleaning Gem’s head. “Why would anyone shoot you? What are we going to tell the police?”
“Why bother with them? They haven’t been any help so far,” Blue noted. “Assuming this is connected to the fire.”
“They’ve probably seen the spaceport surveillance cameras and are on their way. For myself, I’m glad. Unlike you, we don’t have anything to hide.”
Zsak belched. “I love good brandy. Goes down like honey.” He leered playfully at Gem’s sister.
“Give me that!” Brandy snapped. “You’re wasting it. Do you have any idea how much a bottle of that stuff costs?” She snatched the container and put it out of his reach behind the couch.
“What do you mean? Don’t you distill that stuff right here?” Blue asked, surprised.
“We don’t make that kind. It’s imported. Certain guests are willing to pay a fortune for a glass and so…”
“That good, eh?” Blue took the barely touched glass that had been poured for Gem and tossed the contents back like water. “Nice,” he admitted.
Brandy looked at both men and bared her teeth in a fierce smile. “If you two are done celebrating your male splendor, kindly get out. We don’t need you underfoot.”
“ ‘Male splendor.’ I like that,” Zsak mused. “Okay, Toots. I’ll see you around.”
Blue followed his friend, then hesitated. He glanced back at Gem. “Seriously, girls, I wouldn’t stand around in front of your windows if I were you. And if you make enough to hire a good bodyguard, do it.”
Brandy looked sharply at Gem as Hyna Blue walked out.
“Wait and see what the police have to say,” Gem said slowly. “Maybe they will have caught the man who did this.”
But they hadn’t, as she and her sister would soon learn. The police came and left, imparting very little of use regarding the shooting except the advice to “take care.” They’d made headway in the arson case, however. It turned out that the neighbor kids who’d been harassing Gem were to blame. The boys had agreed to community service to avoid going to trial and were supposed to pay back the money from the cash box. If they didn’t, they’d serve time in jail.
But the cops had no leads on the shooting. The surveillance tapes Brandy had mentioned were a dead end. They showed a transport that turned out to be stolen. It had been discovered in a warehouse parking lot, still smoldering. There were no witnesses. They promised to let Gem know if they came up with any suspects. Other than Blue and Zsak, of course. It was clear by the way the detective looked when Gem said they’d rescued her that he considered the two men to be prime suspects. He also offered to patrol Gem’s neighborhood more often.
Which was peachy, except that in the meantime she was still in danger.
“Maybe we should consider a bodyguard for you,” Brandy said slowly. It was dark and they were again sitting in the office, blinds drawn, self-conscious of the windows at their back.
Gem considered morbidly that snipers had devices that could see through walls. They certainly had bullets that could punch through them. “Why just me?” she muttered. “Why do you assume you’re not targeted, too? Maybe we should hire a whole platoon to guard us. I can see them now, filling the inn, making all our guests feel right at home.”
“You’re not funny,” Brandy said broodingly. The fact that she didn’t argue further said a lot.
Gem lifted her shoulders. “I will be as careful as I can be, but I can’t live in fear. I have a life to live, an inn to run. People depend on me. The best I can do is be careful and pray.”
“Pray,” Brandy repeated, poker-faced. She’d had an ongoing argument with God since their father had died. “Pray for what?”
Gem heard her sister’s disdain, but she never argued theology. Brandy was free to think what she would. The three sisters all had the same knowledge, but the difference was how they thought and felt. Their father had been old. He’d been ready. Even Xera had taken it fairly well. The only one not ready for his death had been Brandy; she’d loved him too deeply.
Gem shrugged and took a sip of calming libation. “Since you’re been nagging me for years, let’s kill two birds with one stone. Let’s pray he sends a man to take care of me. How’s that for a leap of faith?”
Brandy snorted and muttered something into her tea.
Unperturbed, Gem leaned back and closed her eyes. “Stranger things have happened.”
Chapter Three
“I’ll be your bodyguard, but I don’t come cheap.”
Gem looked up from her list, her mind blanked by surprise. They were hosting a wake in the bar that night and she wanted to make certain everything was ready. “Excuse me?”
Blue stood in front of her with an expression she’d never seen on him. He was stern and businesslike. “You heard me.”
She shook her head. “I don’t need a bodyguard. I know that yesterday was scary, but it was probably some random thing. There’s no reason for someone to be stalking me. Besides, the police are looking into the case. Give them some credit.”
“You were shot at last night. Did the police save you?”
“No, but…” She couldn’t think of a good response to his implication.
“That guy was seri
ous about killing you. It was a freak of luck that you got away. If we hadn’t been there, you’d be dead. If he comes back, you don’t have a chance.”
She’d been bent over her desk but his words made her straighten and face the thought she’d been avoiding all night. “You’re saying that someone hates me enough to hire someone to kill me. Why? And the police didn’t say anything about that.” She knew she was grasping at straws.
“The police here are used to dealing with misdemeanors and small crimes. Whatever you’re involved in is bigger than transport violations.”
She fought back annoyance. “I’m not ‘involved’ in anything!”
He waved that away. “Whatever. He was bold enough to come after you in broad daylight, so I doubt this was his first kill. If I’m right, he has some experience at evading cops. He’s not likely to be caught. Not by the cops around here, at any rate.” He met Gem’s gaze straight on. “I can keep you safe.”
“Can you?” Angry and unsettled, she stared back in challenge. “Why should I trust you, anyway? What do I know about you other than that you were in the military? Ah, yes—that you’re a convict. That’s likely to inspire confidence.” She cringed a bit at her tone. She was starting to sound like Brandy. Apparently she had reserves of anger and spite she didn’t know about.
Blue’s smile was slow and sure. “I was special ops.”
“An ex-thief was given that sort of expensive training?”
“I was bright and willing to take risks.”
She looked hard at him. “You can prove that? Until five minutes ago, you were a drifter I took pity on.”
“Until five minutes ago, that’s all you needed me to be.”
He had the best poker face she’d ever seen: she couldn’t read a thing in it except determination. “Why are you doing this?”
“I like money,” he said. “You have it.”
Well, Gem decided, Blue was being honest about that, at least. “How much of my money are you wanting?”
He named a figure.
Her eyes bugged out, and she sat on the corner of her desk. People just didn’t walk up and ask for that kind of cash. Not from her, at any rate.
A humorless laugh escaped her. “Get out of my office.”
“You know where to find me.” He turned and walked out.
Gem shook her head in disbelief. She’d never heard such arrogance! The man was a fool. The number he’d named might not beggar her and her family, but it would come close. She had plans for that money, plans to improve The Spark and secure their future. She wasn’t about to hand it over to some virtual stranger just because a drunken miner had taken a potshot at her.
No, she decided, she was on her own.
She worked a bit longer before going to look for food. In the kitchen, she was surprised to be openly glared at by the head chef. For a moment she wondered if the fruit in her hand had been destined for a cook pot, and she asked, “What?”
“Your man has eaten the cheese tarts for the wake! All of them! I want his head.” Jamir slammed his cleaver down, burying it in his chopping block.
Gem glanced at the empty serving tray and frowned. If Blue didn’t stop his raiding, he really was going to get a cleaver in the back. “I’ll speak to him,” she promised. She ignored the reference to Blue being “her man.” Jamir had called him that for some time, but he only meant her “hired man.” Since nobody else gave Blue orders, she supposed it was a logical conclusion.
Ignoring the grumbling behind her, she entered the garden and searched for Blue. Past the garden was the shed, and she could see a man with a bare chest out there, working. As she got closer she could see he was hitting a punching bag that had been strung from a stout post and beam. It hadn’t been there the last time she’d walked out that way.
He ignored her as she approached, sweat making his body gleam. While she was no judge of martial arts, she was glad she wasn’t the bag. It didn’t take an expert to realize one blow from him could kill.
Which made her consider the cops’ suspicions. But if Blue had been behind the shooting at the spaceport, why not just kill her outright? Had he been staging it to get money later through an offer of protection? Could that shooting have been an elaborate hoax?
Gem touched the side of her head and shivered. It was doubtful. That bullet had come too close to be a ruse. Another inch or two and it would have been buried in her brain. It would have been easier to shoot at her feet or something if the intent had been to frighten. And, badly as she wanted to believe that the incident was random, she couldn’t. Somebody wanted her dead.
She sat on a bench and watched Blue work out, unwillingly mesmerized. He was a beautiful man. When she saw him like this, the urge to touch him was stronger than she liked to admit. Instinct made her want to lean on him, made her want to let him hold her. Maybe he really could make it better.
Yeah, right.
Blinking at where her mind was going, she changed the track of her thoughts. “You have to stop raiding Jamir’s special trays. One of these days he’s going to fricassee you.”
Blue snorted. “He can try.”
“You like to annoy him,” Gem pointed out.
“He’s a righteous little prig.”
“I’m asking,” she clarified.
That made him turn. “What’s my incentive?”
“I won’t have to fire you.”
Blue grinned. “I’m not on your payroll anymore.”
“What?”
Hyna Blue slowly shook his head. “I’ve given up being your errand boy. That’s not what you need from me.”
She let that dangerous comment simmer, then said slowly, “This is an inn, not a flophouse for ex-cons. I won’t have a loose cannon on my property. You can’t stay here unless you’re working or being served, Blue.”
“Then it’s time to get serving.” He moved toward her, his eyes full of hot intent.
Gem stood up in a hurry, ready to ward him off, but he only reached for the towel beside her. She noticed it was one of her good towels, and he was using it as a sweat sop. Her blood burned with both adrenaline and anger. At least now she had a good reason to tremble. “You’re going to ruin that! We’ll never get the smell out.”
He smiled, his eyes glowing as he stared at her. “Do you really care?”
She gritted her teeth, hating his arrogance. “I care. I care that you’re mocking me. And if you won’t work, you can’t stay.”
“I plan to work—hard,” he corrected, a gleam of humor entering his gaze.
“Not the way I want you to,” she ground out. “I’m not paying you to be my bodyguard.”
“You’ll realize I’m worth it,” he promised, and took a swallow of water from a bottle near his feet. “Your security system is archaic. With all these miners running amok, I’m surprised you haven’t been robbed blind already. The way you take risks, you’d think your address was Pleasantville, Nirvana. I’ve got a list of surveillance equipment that needs to be set up to make you current. If you can open your wallet wide enough to buy it, I’ll save you the installation fee and set everything up myself. I know just the place to pick it all up. I figure I’ll go this afternoon…”
Bright fury rose in Gem, making her fingers shake. He was assuming power that wasn’t his, taking liberties he wasn’t due. Since her father had died, she’d answered to only one authority—her own. She’d compromise with her sisters, because this was a family establishment, but the final say was hers. Now, here Blue was, offering advice, making criticisms, trying to take over and pushing too hard.
As she opened her mouth, he placed a finger over it. “Before you say something nasty, consider. I’m trying to help you. Who else is doing that?”
She jerked away. “You’re an ass!”
“I saved you.” That serious look was back.
Gem calmed a degree. “I don’t want your help.”
“You have someone else lined up?” he asked. “Show him to me and I’ll back off.”
&
nbsp; Scary, how that reasonable response shook her. “You know I don’t.”
Blue remained calm. “Then let me show you what I can do. You have nothing to lose but your life.”
“Fine.” She was caving and couldn’t stop it. “Fine, but you’re not installing anything in the guest rooms or bathrooms. No surveillance equipment anywhere like that. Not in my room, either!”
He smirked. “Something interesting going on in there?”
“No!” Color stained her cheeks. “You’re just not going to invade our privacy.”
Blue rested his weight on one leg. “I don’t need to. The cameras are for the grounds and the public areas. I don’t need to see you strutting around naked. I have a good imagination.” His smile was sly.
Gem’s eyes narrowed. “That’s the only place you’ll ever see me like that.”
His light touch on her arm stopped her as she turned to go. “I’ll come to you with the list later. Then I’ll head to the store.”
“Fine.” She forced herself to walk away. She stumbled on a rock, cursed, and kept going.
Forget the sniper. Blue is the dangerous one.
Chapter Four
The wake started at six that evening. While Gem’s presence wasn’t required, she liked to look in and make sure things were progressing smoothly. The band—a bunch of moonlighting miners—had already arrived and arranged themselves. She could hear them warming up, and they weren’t half bad. Maybe she’d talk to them about doing some work for her. She could envision a small corner stage in the bar. If they brought in enough business, she might even be able to expand the taproom. Maybe they could even try having an open mike some evenings, host a dance…
Her head full of ideas, she showered quickly and threw on some clean pants and a slinky, sparkly shirt. A touch of makeup and a sparkly clip later and she was done. She hadn’t known the dead miner, but this wasn’t the first wake they’d hosted at The Spark. Mine accidents were common enough, and the inn made a good place for both celebrating and mourning. They were hosting enough events recently that she was thinking of adding a complete banquet room. Maybe she’d see about getting some estimates in the morning.