Marc (Bowen Boys, #4)(47)



“I didn’t say she was moving in, I said she wanted to talk about it. She won’t get within ten feet of me again. Not so long as I can be armed. She’s only going to be alive so her daddy can take care of her, and then I’m f*cking out of here.”

Good luck with that, she wanted to tell him. “We’ll be there around five so we can arrive before she does. All we want to do is get her to back off like we asked you to do.”

His laughter sounded strained, and she smiled. “You’re f*cking right I’m backing off. I would like to keep all my parts just where they are. Who the f*ck knew there were more panthers in the area than you? I thought for sure you were a freak of nature. Turns out there are a shit-ton of you f*ckers.”

“Who knew you f*ckers were so easy to scare piss-assed stupid.” She looked over at Marc when he laughed. She felt a smile creep across her mouth, too, but she needed to stay hard-assed.

“I’m on medications, and some of the side effects are bladder control. I’m in a great deal pain all the time. You should see what she did to me.”

There was desperation there, and she wanted to tell him she was sorry, but she wasn’t going to lie to him no matter how badly she felt for that one second. Snorting, she decided to go for the throat, so to speak.

“I wonder how long it will take them to get that smell out of those leather seats. Or do you suppose they just tossed them out like you probably did your suit. I, of course, would be wearing adult diapers if I knew the meds I was taking made me piss myself when I was a scared little boy.”

“You f*cking cunt.” She laughed at him. “I wish to Christ I would have let Anita kill you when she wanted to. Then you’d be dead and I’d be a happier man.”

“No, you wouldn’t, Roy. Men like you are never happy. There is always something there that you have to have, no matter who owns it or how much it costs. Mark my words, in a few weeks after this is over, you’ll be into another scam, thinking it’s going to make you a millionaire.”

He hung up on her, and she looked at Marc. “Damn,” Marc said, “remind me to never piss you off. You’re good.”

He pulled her into his arms and told her that he was at the house and that Caitlynne’s men were on their way. And the trace on the phone would let them know what he said when he called Kidd.

“We’ll leave here around three. That way we can be there by four. Caitlynne says that if this goes down like she hopes it does, there’s a fat reward for you. She said you’ll be known as the woman who brought down Anthony Kidd.”

“I don’t want a reward for that scum bag.” She then thought of something. “How much?”

He laughed. “I don’t know. Greedy are you? All my money isn’t good enough, now you have to have more?”

“No. I was thinking of my mom and dad. They could get it. I mean that would be a good way for them to retire if it’s enough maybe. They don’t have to know it’s from me. Caitlynne can swing that, can’t she?” He nodded. “If nothing else, it will be enough that he could find a job later.”

“It’ll be enough. We’ll make sure of it.” He kissed her. “I love you. Very much. But I have to get to the office. I’ve been putting it off long enough. Want to come with me?”

She wanted to, but his mom had made arrangements for her to help her interview a cook and housekeeper. She told him that, and he smiled. She looked around the room and noticed that it was as messy as the kitchen.

“I’ll work on this room before they get here. I’m sorry I’m such a slob. I told you that I—” He put his hand over her mouth.

“I’m just as sloppy as you. And most of this mess is the stuff we bought yesterday. You pick it up and we’ll get it all washed tomorrow.” He got out of the bed. “Also, I forgot to tell you, I bought you a car. It’s in the garage with mine.”

She sat there for several seconds before she got up to run and see what he’d gotten her. She had to come back twice. Once because she was naked, and the second time to find her shoes. It was pouring rain.

The car was a bright cherry red. And it was beautiful. She couldn’t believe he’d gotten her one, and when she ran her fingers along the hood, she fell in love with it. She knew less about cars than she did about cooking, but had a feeling she would have to learn to curb the immediate desire to drive it really fast all the time. She was still looking at it when he came out with his briefcase and coat.

“I thought you’d be long gone out, trying to race unsuspecting cops on the road.” She giggled at him. “You like it?”

“I love it. Oh my, it’s so pretty, isn’t it?” He nodded and rolled his eyes. “I know you think I should be impressed with the horse power or some such nonsense, but it’s so red.”

“Red. You like it because it’s red? Okay then, you enjoy your red car. I’m going to work. What time is Mom supposed to be here?” She told him ten. “Well, you’d better get to work then or you’ll never be dressed in time.”

She looked at her watch and ran to the house. She came back and threw her wet body against his. He was laughing when she went to the house. She decided to tackle the kitchen first, then the bedroom. It was nearly two hours later when she had the last dish put away. Jonny decided that having someone do this for them would be better. She looked at the mess she’d made when she’d dropped two of the plates. Yes, much better.

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