Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 28259 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 141(@200wpm)___ 113(@250wpm)___ 94(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 28259 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 141(@200wpm)___ 113(@250wpm)___ 94(@300wpm)
“Can I ask you a question?”
She shrugs, “Sure.”
“If I wanted to have a talk with this Roy fella about some items gone missing, where might I find him?”
“If he’s not in his place on Reading Road, the Blackout bar attracts his types better than shit does flies. I wouldn’t go in there with that pretty face of yours, though,” she chuckles and gets back to sweeping the ground.
I find myself laughing too. “Ma’am, my face may be pretty, but my temper is ugly. As long as Havana is living here, I’m gonna be around fixing up whatever she needs. You make sure Roy knows that, and if he has a problem, he should take it up with Hendrix Haven. I’m sure he’ll know how to find me.”
“Will do, Sir.”
“Take care, ma’am.” I leave the woman to her duties and head off to handle my tasks for the day. My last job ends quickly and I’m anxious to get back to Havana, but I find myself driving toward the Blackout bar. It’s like my body and my fists are on their own mission, but I won’t simply accuse a man of being a thief. I just want to size him up a bit.
The bar is full of people, but many move out of my way as I stroll toward the bartender. I’m ready to ask him questions when I spot an all-too-familiar face. Instead of talking to the bartender, I make my way toward the back tables where my brother, Hayden, is sitting alone.
I slide into the booth to his surprise, but to mine, my beloved sister-in-law, Halo, pops up from under the table and sits beside him.
“You two are something else. What are y’all doing here?” I ask with a laugh.
Halo giggles and moves to give me a kiss on my cheek when I stop her, sliding away. “Halo, please no. I don’t want your mouth on me after you’ve probably had it all over him.”
She only laughs and shakes her head.
“Don’t be disrespectful, Jimi,” Hayden says. “She was just picking up something she dropped. What are you doing here? You looked like you were ready to kill somebody the way you parted the crowd like the Red Sea.”
“Roy Jonas.”
“Yuck, that creepy plumber?” Halo asks.
Hayden turns to her. “Now what do you know about a creepy plumber?”
Halo rubs his arm in a gesture to get him to calm down. “He used to do work at Tony’s place before it got raided. I only had to deal with him once and that was enough for me. He was always peddling cheap jewelry to the dancers and stuff.”
“So he’s known for pushing jewelry and things like that?” I ask her.
She nods. “Yeah, I guess so. He and Tony used to have plenty of talks.”
Hayden interjects. “I don’t like the way this sounds. Why are you looking for this guy? Wait a minute…Roy Jonas. Is this the same asshole that got you locked up on that petty burglary charge?”
“I paid Ma and Pop back every dime for that incident, and I’d rather forget about it.”
He huffs and folds his humongous arms across his chest. Hayden’s a bounty hunter and has a rock-solid body to help him with his job. If he wasn’t my brother, I’d be worried if I ever wound up on his target list.
Hayden looks at me and then at the bartender, signaling for a round to the table. “So why are you looking for Roy, now? Seems a bit far out for karma to be in your sights.”
“He muscled his way into someone’s building. He’s got plans to take over plumbing and maintenance, but he stole something from Havana and I intend to get it back.”
Halo’s smile beams. “Ooh, who is Havana?”
I can’t help but match her smile. “Havana’s everything to me.”
“Does she know what that means coming from a Haven boy?” Halo asks, resting her head against Hayden who kisses the top of her head gently.
“She doesn’t,” I admit. “But she will.”
“You know what this Roy guy looks like?” Hayden asks.
I shake my head. “No, nothing recent, but he’s running his plumbing business off a place on the corner of Madden and Reading Road.”
Hayden nods. “Okay, I’ll run a few checks and see what pops up. If I get a picture, maybe I can get my hands on him before you do.”
“What do you think I’m going to do to the guy?” I chuckle.
“The same thing I’d do if someone like that was messing with Halo. Last thing I’d want to do is bail my baby brother out of jail.”
“No need. I just want to have a talk with him. Honest.”
6
HAVANA
While I’d already wiped Hendrix off me, I’m in desperate need of a shower. I decide to take a nice long one with the hope of Hendrix coming by just as I’m getting out. Surely, we’ll have to finish what we’ve started earlier.