Promises Part 1 (Bounty Hunters #1)(64)

It was time for him to move on with his life. He and Vaughan had an amazing relationship. He still found plenty of time for the old man and it made him feel much better that all of them were getting back to normal again, but he couldn’t expect Vaughan to stay with him until the end of his days and keep him company. Quick needed to find his own company to ease the loneliness of the long nights. That were getting lonelier and lonelier. But his son had his own life to live.

Just call him.

No.

He won’t be mean. He’s too sweet to be mean.

Yes he will. He hates me now. Legitimately so.

You saw how he looked at you. Have you ever seen so much desire in anyone’s eyes?

Well if it was there, it’s damn sure gone now.

Instead of sitting there and listening to the devil and angel on his shoulders argue back and forth, Quick got up to get himself something a little stronger to drown out the noise. He didn’t want to hear it. No matter what, he wasn’t going to pursue the doctor. He wouldn’t know how, anyway. The man deserved so much better than a roughneck with only a high school education. The doctor—surgeon and lifesaver—was out of his league. It didn’t matter either way, because Quick had blown it, and for no good reason.

Standing there propped against his counter, he was lost in the quietness when his business phone rang. He moved as quickly as his inebriated legs would carry him and grabbed his cell from the patio table.

“Quick,” he answered tiredly.

“We got him,” Judge said with no preamble, getting right to the point.

“Who?” Quick said, sitting down before he lost balance. His head was swimming and the floorboards of his deck felt like they were rolling back and forth under his ass. Yeah, he was drunk.

“That bastard that got Duke—Aaron Williams. The bounty that had almost killed him. I’ve had my guys on his last known acquaintances for a while. And you won’t believe it, but the overconfident motherfucker is still in Atlanta.”

“Fuck.” Quick gripped his hair and tucked it behind his ear. He tried to think, but Judge’s rough voice cut into his musing.

“He needs to get this guy. Duke hasn’t been in the field since that day,” Judge stated.

“He had surgery, Judge. He had to recover, man. Are you trying to say—?”

“I know that! He had laparoscopic surgery seven weeks ago. He is healed. Even his cast is off now. He’s back in the office. He’s lifting weights and buffing back up, exercising, fucking….”

Quick all but growled and Judge laughed him off.

“I’m just saying. He’s stalling. He’s passed up two bounty recoveries that would’ve been real easy for him but he’s afraid, Quick. And you know it. We got to get him back out there. Soon!”

“Okay, okay. But first off, how good is this intel? None of us are going back into a gang war zone. No amount of bail is worth what we went through.”

“Agreed. But you know he needs to get back out there. Whether it’s to take down Aaron or any other random bounty. He just can’t stay huddled up in that office. The recon is spot on. My guys are the fuckin’ best. One of them is an ex-SEAL. He knows his shit. Aaron has been there for two days and it doesn’t look like he’s about to run, either. My guy said he looks comfortable, like he might be settled in and staying a while. It’s an old girlfriend’s house. She works at a grocery store all day and he’s there while she’s out. There’s limited in and out traffic and no children living there. It’s as good a time as any to get him.”

Quick knew Judge was right. Duke couldn’t cower in his office. He was a bounty hunter. It’s what he’d done all his life. He wouldn’t be fully healed or whole until he faced his demon again, only this time he’d kick his ass. “I’ll call him in the morning.”

“No!” Judge snapped. “Call him now. We go in the morning. You know how this goes. That guy looks like he’s stable but he could bolt at any minute. We’re not his only enemies, I’m sure.”

“In the morning! Wait… who is we?” Quick asked.

“Yes. You. I’m going, too and so is one of my guys.”

“You haven’t done bounties in months. Duke’s gonna think you’re there to watch over him. He won’t like it.”

“I’m still a hunter. Always will be. And I will be there to provide backup whether Duke likes it or not. I don’t give a damn. Now call him. We go at 0600.” Judge hung up.

Quick huffed a tired sigh. He wasn’t in the mood to make the call, especially after midnight, but it had to be done. If the situation were reversed, Duke would be all over him about getting back on the horse. So he’d do it for his friend.

He dumped the rest of his rum and Coke down the drain, since it appeared he was doing to have an early morning, and pressed the speaker button on his phone. As soon as Duke’s groggy voice answered, Quick jumped right to business.

“Judge just call me.”

“So? This better be good to wake me. I was sleeping peacefully.”

I bet.

“I don’t know how good you think it’ll be but I think it’s great. Judge and his PI guys have got a solid lead on Aaron Williams. Judge wants to go after him in the morning.”

“What the hell do you mean Judge wants to, and what the fuck do you mean in the morning? Why is he even calling you? I run the bounty business!” Duke was certainly wide-awake now, as his thick country accent blasted through his Bluetooth speaker.