The minute I got the message that Jake went crying home to his daddy, I knew it wouldn’t be long until we came face to face with his old man ourselves. And it didn’t take that long at all.
The moment Eldridge Sr got picked up by his cronies, the message from Jay and the team came through on my phone. The hardest part of this job is waiting to see exactly what your adversaries will do. And this one is far more determined to get that land than we thought, leading me to believe the Larussios are right, and someone far more Mafia connected than Eldridge Sr. is orchestrating the efforts to get their land.
The message from Jay letting me know that the rest of the men were in position on the roofs, at all the entrances and exits, and would wait for my cue put my mind at ease. But Lacy in danger was never part of the equation, the lunatic drawing a gun in a crowded bar was never the plan, and the very reason we always have a backup plan in case shit happens.
I take his gun and hand it off to Damian. “I think you wanted to discuss something with the man, Lacy.”
Her chest heaves, and it takes effort not to want to put something around her barely there top to keep what I’ve come to think of as mine from everyone else’s eyes. But Lacy has one thing on her mind, and it’s certainly not how she’s dressed. She looks him dead in the eye. “I’m not selling. I told Jake that, time and time again. What do I have to do to get it through your thick skulls. My home means more to me than the money that you’re offering. Can’t you find another way to do what you want without putting a highway straight through my gramma’s living room?”
He scowls. “You are a persistent thing, I’ll fucking give you that, but it’s a done deal whether you sell to me or not. One way or another, we’re going to get what we want. Wouldn’t it be in your best interest to sell now before the purchase offer gets lower and lower?”
He grins, and if the fucker leers at her breasts one more time I’m going to pummel him right into the ground, but I have my orders too. Let this play out, while getting the information we need for the bosses back home who want to know who this territorial war is really with. Not that we all don’t have our suspicions, but confirmation is what the bosses want and what they’ll get.
My jaw tightens with the effort it takes not to throw my fist into this man’s face. “The lady doesn’t want to sell her home, and she’s made that perfectly clear. Tell the Chicago boys to find another town; this one is taken.”
His eyebrows raise, not denying a word I say. “They’re not going to like the update they get after tonight. I can tell you that,” he says, confirming for me that the Bernatellis haven’t learned a damn thing after the last time. Still as stubborn and determined as ever to take what’s not theirs to take. They’ve just found another avenue to extort. The Larussios don’t take well to having to tell people twice, When they didn’t heed their last warning, the Bernatellis are going to wish they had stayed far, far away from this town.
I won’t threaten them with what the Larussio’s will or won’t do. That storm’s coming to town no matter what, but they’ll let these Bernatellis know when they want them to know and not until. “I’d find another source of income and make a clean break from the Chicago boys. That’s the only warning you deserve or will get from me.”
He has the audacity to laugh right in my face, and I have the sheer will power to allow it without putting him in the ground. “We’ll see who comes out of this with the land, and it won’t be you,” he says to Lacy, as Cole rejoins us and stands by my side.
She doesn’t take his bait, just watches as he turns and walks toward the truck they have parked just a block and a half away. Cole turns to me. “The guys are going to follow them out of town, and they’ll make sure Eldridge Sr and his boys stay home for the night and don’t cause any more trouble.”
“Good. Thanks for the help tonight.”
He grins. “Thank you for coming out like you did. I’m glad the others could make it on such short notice too. Jay and the guys moved things around so they would have enough people to keep the family protected and to come out here to help. The Larussios were appreciative to get a heads-up on what was going on. They like having us out here, for just that reason,” Cole says.
I guide Lacy back to the club, and Cole walks beside us. A message hits my cell just as we enter The Wild Deuces. “Damian said they’ll meet us for breakfast at the restaurant here in the morning,” I tell Cole.
Kenny slides a few freshly poured beers our way over the top of the bar as we approach. “Those sons of bitches never stop, do they?” he asks as we slide in between some other customers and take a seat on the three vacant stools.
Lacy lets out a huge sigh. “They sure do not. I’m sorry for all the trouble. I see the ladies went on without me?” she says, glancing up at the stage as Marla struts her stuff.
Kenny smiles. “They said to give you the rest of the night off; they would take your spots.”
She takes a drink of the beer. “I am so sorry you are all dealing with this. Maybe the ladies are right, and it is time to sell, but I can’t imagine how I would part with the place. It holds every special memory I ever had growing up and spending time at my grandparents. I just can’t do it.”
I put my arm around Lacy, and Kenny’s eyes widen. He covers his smile with a drink of his own, and PJ gives me a wink from farther down the bar as she slides some money into the cash register and makes change for a customer. “You don’t have to worry about it. You’re not selling. Things have a way of working themselves out.”
She raises her glass. “A toast. To all the small-town heroes who come to our rescue.”
Cole and I grin. He drinks some of his beer and then puts it down and looks at his watch. “I’ll meet you for breakfast in the morning. If I hurry, I can spend some time with Krissy before she falls asleep. If you haven’t heard, she’s expecting with baby number two,” he says, beaming from ear to ear.
Lacy smiles sheepishly. “Congratulations!! I did hear that. Krissy told me and PJ a couple weeks ago when she first found out.”
PJ walks down to our end of the bar. “I heard my name; what did I do?”
Lacy laughs. “Nothing, Cole was just telling Kenny and Garrett that he and Krissy are expecting baby number two. Isn’t that exciting? More baby showers and birthday parties to go to.”
PJ gives Cole a wink. “Krissy is absolutely ecstatic. She’s such a great mom and has become a good friend to all of us. You better wait on her hand on foot, Cole. Being pregnant is no picnic when you’re running around trying to keep up to another one who just started walking. You didn’t give her much time between babies.”
Cole grins good naturedly. “All right, ladies. Time to say goodnight,” he says, heading for the door. I drink a little of my beer but not much. Jake and Eldridge Sr. are just a little too hotheaded for me to let my guard down for a minute. I know men like them both, and we haven’t stopped them yet. If anything, we’ve just stirred up a hornet’s nest of trouble.