Before he could get into that thought he started the car and drove down the street. He was almost to the edge of town when he found a small diner along the side of the road.
Pulling into the parking lot, he entered the diner and looked around. It had a homey feeling to it. Several of the people turned to see him enter. When they turned and looked away, Iosif didn’t think too much about it. He walked over to a booth area and sat down.
A small woman hurried over with a glass of water and smiled at him. “Hello, my name is Jaden and I’ll be your server today.” She handed him a menu. “I’ll give you a minute or so and then I’ll be back to get your order. Would you like something to drink while you wait?”
“Da, how about black coffee.” Iosif smiled at her.
“Black coffee coming up.” She smiled again.
Iosif felt something stir inside him. He watched carefully as she moved away. He liked her look, while she was small woman… she was all woman. Her breasts were full and round, and her hips were broad and full. Her ass was round and firm too. He enjoyed watching her walk away from him and Iosif could feel his body respond to the appeal of hers. Even in her work uniform she looked good. And she wore no jewelry except for a wide, leather band around her left wrist. The leather looked as if she’d worn it for some time but it was neat and well cared for. Iosif wondered if she wore it for a reason or she just liked it. There seemed to be a pattern on the front and when she came back he would have to check it.
While he was watching her, he saw another pair of eyes watching her. He frowned as he watched the other man stare at her. He could read clearly what was in the other man’s eyes and it was no way to look at a woman.
Iosif sat back and watched the other man for a moment. He sat at a table with three others and none of the men were acting quite right. Iosif knew body language as it had been ingrained into him while he trained at Bratva and these three men meant trouble.
When Jaden brought his coffee over to the table she smiled at him. He could read the tension in her body and on her face as they both had to hear rude comments from the other table. She asked him what he wanted to eat and Iosif decided to try a hamburger. It was only when she reached for the menu in his hand that their fingers touched. Iosif’s eyes went wide as the simple brush of her fingers on his sent an electric spark through his skin. He watched as her eyes got huge and he knew she felt it too. The touch only lasted a few seconds but they both were stunned by it.
The rest of the noise from the busy diner seemed to fade away for just those few seconds.
Then the voices from the other table interrupted their moment and real life came back.
Jaden turned and giving the other table a wide berth, she put his order in. When she returned, on of the men at the table held up an empty cup and demanded a refill. Jaden grabbed the coffee pot and slowly made her way over to the table. She filled their cups while standing far enough away to avoid their hands but as she turned the man who had demanded coffee wrapped his arm around her back and pulled her closer.
Jaden struggled, and her lips tightened but she didn’t call out.
Iosif read the panic in her stance and felt the need to step in. “Could I have more coffee Miss?” He held out his half empty cup.
Jaden flashed him a grateful look and pried the other man’s hands off her.
He reluctantly let her go while glaring at Iosif.
Jaden walked on unsteady legs toward him.
At the last minute, another man sitting at their table held out his foot and tripped Jaden.
Iosif stood up and reached for her about the same time she tipped the coffee pot. Iosif was drenched in hot coffee. He hissed as the brew scorched his skin. Not only that but some of the hot brew splashed back and burned her wrist. Jaden quickly put the almost empty pot down on the table and grabbed her right wrist. Iosif could see the skin was reddened under her finger.
The men at the table burst into laughter.
Iosif raised to his full height and suddenly—the diner grew quiet. People began digging into their wallets and leaving their food to get out of the way.
The four men sitting at the table sneered at Iosif.
He had helped Jaden to her feet and made sure she was all right before he approached the table.
When he was only two steps away, the main man leaned back and made sure his weapon was in full sight. Iosif saw it but didn’t comment on it. He flicked his gaze to all four men. His fingers so wanted to curl into a fist and he wanted to beat these men to within an inch of their lives but that wasn’t what he was here for.
“I think you owe the lady an apology,” he told them quietly.
“I don’t owe that bitch anything but maybe the back of my hand.” The man who seemed to be in charge of them growled.
“And what has she done to deserve that?” Iosif asked.
“That ain’t none of your damn business. Maybe she deserves it for simply existing.”
Iosif sneered. “So you are nothing more than a bully in the guise of a man.” Then he nodded. “I understand now.” Then he turned and walked back to his own table.
“What did you just say?” the man called out.
Iosif ignored him and sat down again smiling up at Jaden.
Now, she looked even more nervous as she poured what was left in the pot of the coffee. Biting her lips, she peeked over her shoulder at the other table. Catching the man’s eyes, she could see he was working up to a bad kind of mad. Bad for her anyway and the stranger.
“You shouldn’t have pissed him off,” she whispered to Iosif.
He shrugged. “He’s nothing.”
Jaden scoffed at his assumption. “He’s a big deal around here.”
Iosif did snort now. “Well, he thinks he is. Tell me something, why does he not like you?”
Jaden shook her head. “It isn’t that he doesn’t like me, he asked me out and I refused him. He doesn’t handle rejection well. I mean I’m a nobody and he thinks he’s the best thing since sliced cheese. I should have been grateful, but I wasn’t. Now he’s making me his scapegoat.”
Iosif looked her up and down. “You look nothing like a goat to me.”
Jaden frowned as she studied him for a moment. “You aren’t from around here are you?”
Iosif smiled gently. “No, I am not.”
“Then you wouldn’t know not to piss off Billy Jo Walker,” she warned under her breath.
Iosif swung his gaze back over to the table holding the four men. “Is that his name? Billy Jo Walker? Huh?”
“That’s his name and around here everyone knows who and what he is.” Jaden admitted.
“And just who is he?” Iosif asked.
“Well, if you can believe his bragging, he’s running numbers for the Cubans. He’s always got his friends around and I don’t know which one is worse, him alone or all three of his friends.” Jaden shook her head.
“The Cubans huh?’ Iosif narrowed his eyes as he stared at Billy Jo. Roman had told him about the other factions in the city. He wasn’t worried so much about them. The Bratva were a strong influence in New Orleans and Iosif knew how to protect himself. He also knew his brother didn’t want to bring a war to the streets of his city.
CHAPTER FOUR
Iosif sat there and ate his lunch as he kept his eye on the Billy Jo’s table. They were rude and getting meaner the longer they sat there. Jaden kept mostly to the kitchen as she wanted to stay out of Billy Jo’s way and Iosif didn’t blame her.
He lingered as long as he could. He didn’t trust Billy Jo to leave her alone after he left. When she came with the check he had to ask, “Are you going to be all right?”
Jaden glanced over at Billy Jo’s table, then turned back to Iosif. She shrugged but he could see the panic on her face. “I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about me.”
Iosif watched her for a moment then asked. “What time do you get done here?”
Jaden’s smile was strained as more and more rude comments came from Billy J
o’s table. She didn’t dare look over there as if she knew from past experience that only encouraged them. “I’m done in about an hour but I think I’ll stick around for a while longer. I’m sure there’s something that needs doing.”
Iosif nodded as he stood up. He handed her some bills and turned to leave the diner. Once outside, he glanced back and saw Billy Jo grab her by the arm and twist it behind her. Iosif could read the pain on her face and his fingers curled into fists. He really wanted to march right back in there and pound the little pissant to powder but he knew he couldn’t do that.
When he got into his brother’s car, he called Roman. When Roman answered he asked, “What do you know of a man by the name of Billy Jo Walker?”
“Well, hello to you too brother.” Roman chuckled. “Billy Jo huh? Where on earth did you run into him?”
“I stopped at this diner near the edge of town for lunch and he was sitting there.”
“Well, it’s rumored he runs for the Cubans but that might not be true.”
“What makes you think that?” Iosif frowned.
“The Cubans don’t like their business known all over town and Billy Jo likes to brag.” Roman’s voice held a lot of contempt. “The man thinks he’s a big shot but he has no fucking clue. One of these days, the Cubans are going to catch up with him and teach him how to keep his mouth shut about them.” Roman chuckled again. “He might not appreciate the lesson but the rest of us will.”
“He’s harassing the waitress at the diner and I don’t think I helped her at all.”
Roman grunted. “He probably thinks he could take you on and win.”
Iosif scoffed. “Nyet not fuckin likely. I could take him and his three buddies’ on without breaking a sweat.”
“No, you couldn’t.” Roman cautioned his brother. “They won’t fight fair and you can’t see what’s coming up in back of you.”
“So they would cheat to win?” Iosif asked.
“They are street thugs with no sense of honor.”
“I can’t leave her defenseless against them,” He finally admitted.
“You cannot interfere.” Roman growled. “You may not like it, but you cannot interfere. This is something she has to work out.”
“He’s going to hurt her and that is something I cannot allow,” Iosif countered.
“Wait to make your move until I get there then. I’m leaving right away. What’s the name of the diner?”
Iosif looked at the sigh above the door. “The Blue Door.”
“Be there in twenty minutes.” Roman hesitated then added. “Wait for me before you make your move.”
“Yes mother.” Iosif growled as he hung up the phone. He watched through the window. He saw Billy Jo and his friends get up to leave but before they left, Billy Jo swept his arm over the table clearing it of dirty dishes. Dishes, cups, silverware crashed to the floor breaking the ceramic plates and cups spilling coffee and water all over.
Jaden just stood there looking at the mess then raising her head and staring at man responsible.
Billy Jo and his friends just laughed and walked to the front door. When they reached the parking lot, Billy Jo stopped and glared at Iosif sitting there glaring back at him.
Iosif watched.
Billy Jo reached for the knife on his belt. It was on the other side of the hand gun he had on his right side. Then he flipped the small tab and releasing the blade. Pulling it from the sheath he twisted and turned the blade. The steel sparkled in the late afternoon sunshine.
Iosif wasn’t worried and Billy Jo knew it. He could see the rage building in the other man and he shook his head.
Billy Jo was almost to his car when Roman drove up alongside him. Roman stepped out of his vehicle and just stood there. He met Billy Jo’s glare with one of his own. “Walker, I would really think twice before you damage my car. I happen to like it just the way it is.” Roman’s words were low enough but they carried a threat even Billy Jo could recognize.
Slowly and with great reluctance Billy Jo returned the blade to the leather sheath on his belt. He then turned and walked over to his own vehicle. He gave Iosif one last glare then tore out of the parking lot. As he turned, he threw gravel in the direction of where both men were standing. But neither of them shielded their bodies against the spray of rocks that pelted them.
When they turned at the corner, Roman and Iosif could hear the motor screaming as they raced down the street.
Roman turned his face to stare at his brother. “That boy needs a wakeup call.”
Iosif snorted. “Da, that boy needs my boot up his ass.” He turned to glance through the window at the mess inside Billy Jo left Jaden to clean up.
“What happened in there?” Roman asked.
“When he didn’t get what he wanted he threw a fit and cleared the table.” Iosif nodded at the woman cleaning up the broken dishes and spoiled food on the floor.
“I’ll give the Cubans a heads up on his behavior. They don’t want their business bragged about all over the city,” Roman suggested with a smirk. “If he does work for them they won’t like it much that he calls attention to himself like this. It would be best for them if he remained low key.”
Iosif shrugged. “Don’t do that on my account.”
“I’m not.” Roman shook his head. “Billy Jo Walker has been talking out of turn for a while now. He’s been warned about this in the past but I’m thinking he might need another reminder.” He shrugged again. “It’s not really my business but I would hate for Bratva business to be known across the city. The Cubans are working several areas that nobody else needs to know about. I seriously don’t think anyone else needs to know who works for them and who doesn’t.”
Iosif nodded. “Da, that would work. Walker is nothing more than a bully in the guise of a man. Maybe he needs to be knocked down a peg or two.”
Roman nodded toward the building and mentioned, “I think your girl is done with her shift.”
Iosif turned and saw Jaden walking out the back of the building. He smiled and waved as he walked around behind the diner to catch up to her. “Jaden wait,” he called out.
Jaden turned and through teary eyes, saw his coming toward her. Brushing the wetness away she saw Iosif frown.
“What’s wrong? Why are you crying?” he asked as he reached her.
“Why am I crying?” Jaden asked astonished. “You want to know what’s wrong?”
Iosif nodded.
“I got my ass fired that’s why.” She hissed. “Between you and Billy Jo Walker I lost my job. My boss can’t afford to have drama like this in her establishment. I can’t stand the fact that he even comes here anymore, but I needed this job. Now I have no job and I just lost my apartment.”
“How did you lose your apartment?” Iosif was stunned by this turn of events.
“The apartment isn’t much but Maude knew I didn’t have a place to stay when I got this job, so she let me stay there as long as I worked for her. Well guess what genius, I don’t work for her anymore and now I have to vacate her place as well.” Jaden shook her head. “I’m out of a job and now I’m homeless as well. Not only that but Billy Jo isn’t going to let this go.”
“What does that mean?” Iosif growled.
Jaden shook the hair out of her face and stared at him for a moment. “Before he left the diner, he told me he’d see me later. He said he would make it so I crawled on my hands and knees to him and that I would beg him to take me back.”
“What did he mean take him back?”
Jaden shook her head. “I have no clue. I’ve never been with him.” She shivered. “Nor do I ever want to be with him.” Then her shoulders sagged. “I don’t know what I’m gonna do now though. No matter where I go, Billy Jo will find me.”
“How can that be?”
Fresh tears rolled down her cheeks. When he gazed into her eyes, they looked haunted and he could almost smell her fear.
Rather than answer, she just turned and walked away.
Iosif
went after her. He grabbed her arm and turned her around gently. Brushing her tears away with his thumbs he asked, “What will you do now?”
Jaden looked up at him. “I don’t know and at the moment I don’t fucking care anymore. Hell, I’ve been running from something all my life, hiding out and just getting by. I can do it again. It doesn’t get any easier but it’s something you just have to do.”
“I’m sorry.”
Jaden gave him half a smile. It was all she had in her at the moment. “Not your fault.” Shaking her head, “This would have happened anyway. Billy Jo was making it impossible for it not to happen. It’s just crappy timing that’s all.”
“Making what impossible?” Iosif frowned. He hated a bully and that’s what it seemed Billy Jo was, a bully.
Jaden turned and began walking away. “I have to get going. I’ll be dark soon and I still have to find a place to stay.”
“Let me give you a ride, at least,” he called out.
Jaden shook her head. “It’s not that far.”
“Then I’ll walk with you,” he insisted. They walked the two blocks in silence. When they turned the last corner, Jaden stopped and gasped. A door of her apartment had been smashed in and even from where they were standing you could see the chaos inside.
Walking closer, Iosif could see the apartment wasn’t very big at all. The furniture was overturned and slashed, probably with the same knife he wore on his waist. Stuffing and feathers covered everything. Lamps were overturned and smashed on the floor. Glass was all over. The refrigerator door was open, as all the food and shelves had been dragged out of it and now laid on the floor as well.
Iosif noted there wasn’t much in her refrigerator if the contents were laying on the floor. Just some yogurt, half a stick of butter and three eggs.
Jaden entered and looked around in a daze. Everything she owned was gone. Her clothing was laying on the bed and the floor, ripped to pieces. Someone had dumped bleach all over everything.
She looked over at Iosif with blank eyes. “Why? Why would he do this?” she barely whispered. Snapping out of her funk, she rushed into the kitchen and began opening cupboard doors, looking for something. Then she reached for a cereal box. As soon as she picked it up and shook it she knew it was empty. Closing her eyes, she sank against the counter. “Damn him. Damn him to hell.” She swore. She was trying so hard not to start crying again.
Iosif -To load Page 3
