“Wait!” I hurried to catch up with him.
He turned to look at me then, and over his shoulder, I saw something that made my heart nearly stop.
Beyond the Trooper, I spotted the guy I’d dubbed Mr. Carrot, the sandy-haired Outsider who’d threatened to reveal Ed’s operation. He was running around the side of the building toward us, and his eyes lit up as he spotted the tell-tale blue Trooper uniform.
Officer Guileppe’s brow lifted in question.
I felt myself break out in a sweat as I watched Carrot speed up. He was coming right toward us.
“I was just wondering if you, ah, wanted to get a drink with me,” I rasped.
The Trooper hadn’t seen him yet, but he would just as soon as he turned. Or as soon as the orange tourist yelled, whichever came first.
Time seemed to slow as I watched him gallop toward us. Carrot’s eyes were rolling with a crazed expression, he had a black eye, and some red marks around his wrists. Oh, no. They must have given him the tied-to-a-chair treatment, though I was guessing the sandwich Ed made him had been a lot stiffer than the one he made me.
“I’m flattered,” the Trooper said. “But married.”
The carrot-man’s feet landed in the grass in time with the beat of my heart. Thud, thud, thud, thud!
The beat just before he toppled to the ground face-down was particularly loud. In fact, it sounded a bit like a muffled gunshot.
I blinked.
Gary emerged from the woods, slinging his dart rifle over one shoulder. On fast, silent feet, he crossed to the downed man. He grabbed the would-be tattler by his reddened wrists, and dragged him into the brush.
Officer Guileppe followed the direction of my incredulous stare, glancing around just as the heels of the guy’s rubber boots disappeared. “What is it?” he asked.
“Squirrel?” I said.
“Uh-huh.” He was getting tired of this, I could tell. “Listen, I’ve got business in the bar I need to attend to, and I’m on a bit of a time crunch. I can schedule another visit with you if you’ve got further allegations you’d like to make.”
“But…” I lifted my hand, but he was already walking away. Toward the bar. Which sat atop an illegal fight club. Where the cheering was still going on.
With a feeling of impending doom, I followed after him.
Chapter Twenty-Four
My worst fears were realized when we stepped inside. The bar was empty. Not even the bartender was in attendance.
Officer Guileppe looked around, and then glanced back at me.
Just like last time, the door to the downstairs swung open, and a clamor of noise burst forth.
Except this time, the man in the doorway was Ed. He looked just as touchable as ever, wearing a soft green Henley with a radio strapped to his chest.
He stood there holding the door open, his eyes taking in the Trooper with his blue uniform. Then his gaze caught on me, and held.
Did he look betrayed? Accusing?
I shook my head. ‘No’, I mouthed. I hadn’t done it; I hadn’t told. I willed him to understand even as I sort of wished for Gary to charge in from behind and tranquillize the Trooper. What would be the jail time for that, I wonder? It had to be less than killing somebody. But probably more than an illegal dock.
“Ed,” said Guileppe. “Just the person I wanted to see.”
Ed nodded, still standing in the doorway, letting the noise leak out from around him. Why hadn’t he shut the fight down? Why wasn’t he making any effort to conceal his activities? If he couldn’t even put on a pretense of secrecy…
Well, Ed was a shitty criminal.
I was getting ready to intercede, to make a distraction so Ed could escape, to either kiss this Trooper or jump on his back, when Ed spoke.
“Your usual table?” he asked.
I hesitated. Frowned.
“Please.” Guileppe looked like he would have said more, but he glanced at me again, instead.
I was about to launch myself at him. Luckily, Ed’s next words stopped me in my tracks.
“She’s fine,” Ed said. “She knows. Here.” He stepped back, and held the door open for the Trooper.
I watched with disbelief as Guileppe disappeared down the darkened hall. “Wait. He knows?” I demanded.
“Well… yeah,” Ed said. He let the door swing shut, and stepped closer.
“Why the hell were you making a big deal out of me bringing in the Troopers if they already know?” I planted my fists on my hips.
“They don’t all know. Just the ones who can keep their mouths shut,” he said, looking at me. Ed was just in front of me now, and he clasped my hands. “You didn’t tell him,” he said. “You had the perfect opportunity, and you didn’t tell.”
I gazed up at him, my throat working. Had it been a test? I struggled with my emotions, trying to figure out if I was pissed.
The door to the bar opened, and Chastity stepped inside. She was in red today, a tight red top with lips to match. Skinny jeans, and a pair of black spike heels that’d probably sunk into the dirt with every step. For once, it seemed she didn’t have her blond Adonis in tow.
Her eyes found me immediately, narrowed, and she started forward. “There you are,” she said. She stopped a couple feet away and looked down her nose from her several-inch height advantage. “Where’s my nugget?”
She glanced over at Ed. “And you, you bad boy. Was that a Trooper I just saw walk into your fight club?” She didn’t bother waiting for an answer, instead glancing back at me. “I wonder if he might be interested in knowing you stole my $100,000 nugget.”
“I don’t have your nugget,” I told her, again, trying to keep my voice even. “Somebody stole it from me.”
She scoffed. “You had it last. It’s your responsibility, no excuses. One week, Suzanne.”
Ed probably sensed my growing agitation. He started to move between us.
But I needed to settle this, one way or the other. “I’ll fight you for it,” I blurted.
“What?” Ed’s head swung around.
I held Chastity’s gaze. “I win, and you walk away, the gold nugget is mine. You win, and I’ll get you your money.” I didn’t want to do it. I hated fighting, hated blood. But I would do it. I’d beat her bubble-ass into the ground, if that’s what it took to get her off my back.
“What are you doing?” Ed muttered.
Chastity laughed. “Why would I do that? I already have the gold nugget; why would I fight you for it?”
I opened my mouth, but Ed spoke first. “Wait. Say that again,” he said. His eyes had narrowed on his very made-up sister.
Chastity shifted, looking impatient. “The gold nugget is already mine. Why would I risk—?”
“No, you said you ‘already have’ it… You do have it, don’t you?” Ed said.
“What? No. I’ve been trying to get it from this money-grubbing tramp.”
“No.” Ed’s eyes were sharp. “I see your game. You stole it from Suzy, and now you’re trying to extort even more money out of her.” He crossed his arms, his face suddenly hard.
Chastity made a sound of ridicule and disbelief, but she also shifted back a half step. “Of course not. I wasn’t even here!”
“Had it stolen, then,” said Ed.
“Why would I do something like that?” Chastity demanded.
Ed’s head tilted. “Because you’re jealous.”
It actually hurt, the dismissive way she raked her gaze over me. “Jealous of… what?” she asked.
“Of the fact that our dad liked her more than you.”
Chastity flinched, and I could see Ed had hit the mark. She started to turn away. “I don’t have to listen to this—”
“Yes. You do,” Ed said firmly. He gave a little nod, and two fishing guides materialized behind his sister, keeping her from leaving.
I was impressed. And also wished I could summon henchmen from the woodwork.
Chastity’s eyes started to look a little wild. “What—?”
“Stay there a moment,” Ed said. Then he grasped my upper arm, and pulled me several feet away.
“You really think she has it?” I asked.
“I know she does. Just look at her. She’s guilty.”
I supposed I could see it. Maybe.
“Suzy,” Ed said, regaining my attention. “Can you fight?”
I shrugged. “Better than most women, I’d guess.”
He eyed my diminutive frame, looking doubtful. “Chastity came up to visit several summers in her childhood. My dad taught her some.”
“I can take her,” I said, my voice firm. The woman standing on the other side of the room had perfect grooming, perfect nails, and perfect hair. While I’d been slinging three and four hundred pound drums, she hadn’t moved herself to do anything strenuous—or God forbid, dangerous—in years. I’d bet money on it. I’d bet that gold nugget on it.
“But your problem with blood—”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll try to win without making her bleed, but if I do… I’ll handle it.”
He searched my eyes for a long moment. “You’re sure you can do this?”
I wasn’t sure of anything, but I made my voice firm when I said, “Yes.”
Ed probably wasn’t fooled, and his lips stayed in a grim line for long seconds as he considered me. But finally he sighed, and nodded. “All right.”
We crossed back to his sister. “Fight Suzy for the nugget,” he said.
Chastity crossed her arms, managing to look petulant. “Why should I?” she demanded.
“You fight Suzy for the nugget, winner takes all, or I send you to jail for fraud.”
Her lips pulled down at the corners. “You could never prove—”
“I assure you, that Trooper you saw come in is firmly in my pocket.” Ed stepped a little closer to his sister, looking deliciously threatening. “I will make your life hell,” he said, his voice low and dangerous, “if you don’t do this. Fight Suzy for the nugget. If you win, you get to keep it, just like the will says. If she wins, she gets to keep it, just as Ralph intended.”
Chastity hesitated, glancing down at me again.
I did my level best to look small and harmless.
“Believe me when I say, this is your best chance to keep it,” Ed said.
Still, she hesitated.
“What, are you afraid?” I taunted. “Of me?” I flexed my tiny arm.
Chastity blew out a frustrated breath. “Okay, okay, I’ll fight her for it,” she said.
“Good,” Ed said. “Now, where’s the nugget? I’ll be holding it for safekeeping.”
Chastity screwed up her ruby-colored lips, and didn’t answer.
“That’s okay, we can do it the hard way,” Ed said. “You’re staying at Dad’s, right? The cabin he left you?”
He dispatched the two guides to go next door and search Ralph’s cabin for the nugget.
Then he, his bitchy half-sister, and I went downstairs.
“Gentlemen, we have something very special for you tonight.” Ed stood in the middle of the ring, having demanded silence before he made his announcement.
The man at the chain link gate swung it open, and Ed’s sister and I walked into the ring. I looked out over the crowd of familiar faces, and heard sounds of surprise.
“Our first ever,” Ed said, holding out his hand toward us, his voice rising with each word, “female fight!”
The crowd cheered. “Cat fight, cat fight!” some idiot started chanting toward the back.
“These lovely ladies will be fighting for the greatest prize ever offered in this ring,” Ed announced, effectively shushing them. “A gold nugget, whose value is estimated at—” he held the mic to Chastity’s lips.
Chastity scowled.
“How much?” someone cried. “Tell us!” yelled another.
Chastity sighed. “One hundred nineteen thousand, ninety-two dollars—” Her ‘and twenty-eight cents’ was drowned out by the roar of the crowd.
Ed waited for the clamor to die down slightly. “On my right we have Chastity Harsnot of California.”
Booo! went the crowd.
I had my eyes on Ed, fascinated by this new facet of his personality. He might be hesitant and awkward around women, but in his fight club, surrounded by men… he was king.
“And on my left, the sweetheart of the Kuskana, our very own Suzy Ra—”
I couldn’t even hear the rest of my name. They were screaming for me. I grinned and struck a pose for them, enjoying their enthusiastic response.
“You all know the rules,” Ed said, “but I’m going to repeat them for these lovely ladies.”
Ed turned to look at us. “This is a no-holds-barred contest. It’s a fight to the end, until one of you goes limp, taps out, or says ‘stop’. Anything goes.”
His eyes caught on me, and he hesitated, and I could only assume he was realizing how slight I looked next to his sister. I’d lost yet another inch when I’d taken off my boots, and she was a good 5’6” who hadn’t missed a latte a day in her life.
I gave him a determined look, trying to communicate that I could do this, that I wanted to do this. I got this.
He nodded. “The usual rule is no shoes, no shirt—we’re making an exception here.”
The crowd booed and hissed good-naturedly. Ed waved away their objection.
“The fight will go on as long as it needs to to determine a winner.” Ed looked at me again. “Are you ready?”
“Yes,” I said firmly, and heard Chastity echo it.
Ed swung toward the crowd. “And you, are you ready?”
“Yes!”
“I can’t hear you!” Ed called, cupping a hand behind his ear as he paced along the fencing.
I watched him, bemused.
“Yes!!” screamed the crowd.
“Excellent. Make sure to place your bets with Paul.” Ed tossed the mic to one of his henchmen and headed back to me.
He came directly at me, fast and true, and bent me backward into a carnal kiss. He was claiming me in front of everyone, holding me close as his tongue swept into my mouth. The audience roared, the sound overshadowed by the resultant clamor in my body.
I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him back. He was all strength and intensity, swamping my senses. My knee slid up the outside of his thigh, and my bare toes curled. I heard the men laughing only from a distance.
Ed stole my breath, and had made a definite impression on my sanity as well, by the time he set me back on my feet. I steadied myself against his chest as I looked up into his beautiful eyes, no longer much in the mood for fighting. The lights seemed too bright, and his touch, too fleeting.
His thumbs caressed my cheeks. “Don’t get hurt,” he ordered.
I shook my head, trying to shed the cobwebs of desire. “I don’t plan to.”
He nodded, pulled his hands back, and started to turn.
I caught him before he could walk away. “Put some money on me, would you please?”
“Already done.” He grinned, and strode to the cage door. “Ladies,” Ed said, turning to look at us one last time, “the ring’s yours.” He stepped out.
I blinked at him, waiting for the traditional ‘fight!’ or ‘begin!’ or something similarly decisive. It was only seeing Chastity’s mad rush from the corner of my eye that saved me. I scrambled away, and she caught up against the fence behind me with a sound of frustration.
She recovered fast, and charged me like a bull. The crowd roared, and I could definitely see where they might be entertained—her bra was not extremely supportive—but damned if I was gonna let her catch me. If there was one thing us small, fast types know, it’s: For the love of God, don’t get caught.
I spun away. She grabbed a whipping strand of my hair, and yanked me up short. My eyes teared, but I didn’t hesitate. I stepped in close, and delivered a fast, sharp jab to her boob.
Looking affronted, she released me, and stumbled back against the fencing.
No holds barred
, bitch. Yeah, that’s what that means. My adrenaline was pumping now, and I found myself really wanting to kick her ass.
Chastity recovered with another loud, frustrated sound as I considered my approach. I could dance away from her all day, tire her out. But what would that accomplish? She had to go limp, tap out, or tell me to stop. So unless I could evade her for days, she wouldn’t drop from exhaustion.
If I wanted to win this, I had to attack. And I didn’t want to trade blows with her—she’d probably claw my eyes out with those vicious-looking nails. I just wanted to put her down, and be done with this farce. I doubted I could knock her out—I simply didn’t have the strength—so that left pain. I had to do something so painful that she’d tap, and I wanted to do it before she got her hands on me. But of course, if I was close enough to deal her pain, she’d be close enough to return the favor.
Oh well.
On her next charge, I grabbed her as she went by. I jumped, wrapped my legs around her, and rode her to the ground.
The crowd roared.
She went down on her belly with an angry scream. I deflected her hands as she tried to grab me. We grappled a bit as she tried to twist away. I caught her wrist, and put all my strength into wrenching her arm out where I wanted it. She tried to buck me off. I clung, got a leg over her head in the scuffle, and pulled. Her arm extended. Then, as I hung off it, her arm started to hyperextend. She screamed again, and now the crowd was screaming too, as they recognized the maneuver.
But then she bit me. She dug her teeth in right behind my knee, sending a flash of white-hot pain streaking up my thigh. I shrieked, then made the mistake of trying to jerk my leg away. The pain was crippling. My brain short-circuited, and I clung only to the thought that I needed to get her off me. I needed to get her teeth out of my leg, and I needed to break her arm if that’s what it took, and I needed to win.
But first, the teeth. I released one hand to punch her in the side. I did it again, and again, hoping I was scrambling her damn kidney as pain pulsed up my leg. Finally, her teeth loosened, and she tried to curl around the side I was pummeling.
When she did that, I was able to pull her arm back out. I hung all my weight off it, bending it almost backward across my pelvis. She flailed like a fish, clawing at my legs, kicking and cussing.
Two Captains, One Chair: An Alaskan Romantic Comedy Page 30
