Scared Part II
“For clarification so that none of us end up accomplices to a murder, not that we wouldn’t kill for you January,” Moc said with a grin, “you are driving him somewhere and leaving him there alive, correct?”
“Oh, yes. We’ll be driving him straight to the federal office in Burlington and turning him into the people who just fired him. A restraining order was put against him to stay away from January and my daughter Kaylee, but he showed up here today and I know he was served it before he even got off the plane from New York. It was why he was taking so long to get here.” He looked at January, “funny story. My grandfather often travels with a man who looks a lot like me. I can bet you ev penny in my account that my grandfather, Thisbe, and my double had breakfast and it got back to this idiot that I was still in Burlington. He didn’t think I was here.”
“Oh, that explains a lot.”
“You have a double?” Moe asked curiously. “That’s kind of badass, Gulliver.”
January found it hilarious that only a couple of days before Moe was pointing a gun at him.
“Why is he so friendly now?”
“I told my contractor to call him and make sure all the things
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needed to build my new house on the piece of land I’m buying goes through local resources, like Moe’s hardware store. We’re friends now.” Gulliver commented, “also, I asked Moe and his friends to help me with security in the town to keep you safe.”
“You’ve been busy,” January snorted.
“I have. I’m making this town my home because it’s where Kaylee wants to grow up. Traveling from Burlington the hour and some to get here each day to be with her isn’t worse than New York City traffic and commute time but if I want to be there for bedtimes and such, I want my place ready sooner rather than later.”
“You’re buying the fucking town,” Davis accused.
“Money talks,” Moe commented. “We’re a small town who needs an influx of cash and support from outside investors. If he comes, then he brings family who need to build here. Those families bring cash to the town. That means upgrades for our schools and our community and our local policing,” Moe waved to his friends. “We have no need to call in the sheriff when we can manage shit on our own. Now I think Mr. Ex–FBI, you need to get a move on out of this place.
“I agree.” January said seriously. “My father, mother and I are done with you, Davis. Don’t contact us again. You violated our trust and our friendship.”
“I did it because I care. I needed to make sure you were safe
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“You were making sure he didn’t find me because you wanted him to hurt. I thought maybe you were hoping to bag a big fish to climb the ranks, but it wasn’t that at all. This was all some personal vendetta, and you used me, you used us, by painting him as this serial killer who would kill me and my daughter for leaving him. I may not be married to Gulliver. I may not trust him very much right now because I know he lied to me. Yet of the two of you, I’d trust him a million times before I trust you because your ulterior motives were selfish.”
“January, don’t do this.”
“Don’t do what?”
“If you let his men take me, they’ll kill me.”
“No. They won’t. They’ll deliver you to the police exactly as they said they would. You are violating your restraining order. My security system,” she waved around, “was upgraded. We have enough details to send to the legal team to make sure you get locked up for violating your order.”
“This isn’t over,” Davis threatened.
“Boss,” one of the guys from Gulliver’s team entered with a serious expression on his face. “I have legal on the line, and I’ve spoken with your grandfather. They will be meeting us. Your grandfather has already called in ahead.”
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“Thank you.” Gulliver lifted his hand and wiggled his fingers at Davis, “by Darius. I hope when you go to jail someone makes you their bitch or better yet just shanks the fuck out of you. Have fun going where I’ll never go.”
The men all pushed Davis out of the room and when he was shoved unceremoniously into the back of an SUV.
Gulliver immediately turned when the shop emptied out and pulled January into his arms and hugged her tight. “Holy fuck, that was scary.”
“You were scared?” she asked pulling her head back and looking at him in surprise.
“Baby, he had a gun and he’s unhinged. The minute I realized who the fuck he was, I was scared as fuck. This is all revenge, January and the kind of people who play this kind of game are sick and deranged. He wanted to hurt me and if it means hurting you, he’ll do it. I want a full team on you all the time until we know he’s locked up or dead. Promise me.”
“You’re really frightened?” she was completely stunned. “I wasn’t scared at all.”
“You weren’t?”
“No.” She wrinkled her nose. “I knew you would keep me safe.”
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He made a face of disbelief at her and then he hugged her to him again, “yeah, well, I would take a bullet for you sweetheart, but I just met my daughter and just got to see you again. I’m not ready to die at the hands of a madman quite yet. Promise me you’ll take your team everywhere until he’s dealt with.”
“Sure. I promise.” She stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek, “thank you for keeping me safe. I’m still not going on a date with you though.”
“Yet.” He grinned suddenly at her.
She shrugged and moved out of his hug. “You can manage the front of the store until Lottie comes back from wherever Moe sent her.”
“Yes ma’am.” He saluted her.
Going back to her workspace, January couldn’t stop thinking of what he’d said. He’d been terrified. She’d not been scared an
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