by Melody Anne
There were crickets in the diner as Brackish immediately looked at the four remaining men. If they had any brains at all, they’d grab their friend and be gone. But from the glint in their eyes he knew that wasn’t going to be the case. He saw the moment they decided to rush him.
“Sure you don’t want backup?” Green asked, sounding bored as he stood about five feet behind Brackish, creating a wall between the drunks and the diners.
“Shut up,” Brackish said right as two beer bottles came flying at him, which missed by feet and crashed onto the floor. The first guy reached him, swinging a pipe at Brackish, but having no clear trajectory. He went down with a hard punch to the gut that lifted him into the air before slamming him onto the cement floor. His body went limp.
Another bottle flew out and Brackish heard Smoke curse and Erin let out a whimper. He only had a second to see her holding her head while Smoke physically lifted her and moved through the doors of the kitchen. The bottle must’ve gotten past his friend who wouldn’t at all be happy it had happened.
Rage flowed through Brackish and he worked damn hard to tamper it down. These men were idiots, and possibly rapists, but he couldn’t kill them. He could make them disappear from the face of the earth, but this wasn’t a war zone, and he had to leave it to the law to handle them. That didn’t mean they weren’t going to get a spanking, it just meant he couldn’t kill them . . . dammit.
Thoughts flowed through his mind in half second increments as the next man tried to sneak up on him. He grabbed him by the shirt, then lifted him high in the air before body slamming him to the ground, making him twitch for a minute before he went still.
Two left.
One in front, and one to the side. He spun just in time to take a hit from a metal pipe to his shoulder that he didn’t even feel. Before the man could lift and hit again, Brackish dropped to his knee and sent an uppercut to the man’s groin that had him puking as he dropped to the ground and curled up in a fetal position, sobbing.
Before Brackish could turn, he took a blow to the side of his head that he actually felt. Only one man was left, and he was certainly the biggest of the group. He was standing over the top of Brackish and threw another fist down, this one glancing his shoulder as he shifted to the right to avoid the brunt of the hit.
The man attempted to take another shot at Brackish, but he’d had enough fun for the night. He picked up the metal pipe the other drunk had dropped and smashed it forward into the man’s shin. The man dropped to the ground screaming as the crunching sound of bone echoed through the diner. Brackish ended the man’s cry with a left hook to his jaw, instantly silencing him.
“Call the cops,” Brackish coolly said as he stood and straightened his clothes.
“Already on it,” Eyes said, as if he was bored. He and Sleep were currently dragging the knocked-out men, and the whimpering ones who were awake, by their feet, to the corner of the room where they could keep an eye on them until the authorities arrived.
“I could use a shake. This show made me thirsty,” Green said.
“Erin, do you make Oreo milkshakes?” Smoke asked as the two of them stepped back inside the main room from the kitchen.
She looked in shock as she glanced around the diner where, unbelievably the patrons had all gone back to eating their meals, and these giant men were literally cleaning up the mess that Brackish had made of the attackers.
“Got a mop?” Eyes asked as he wiped his hands on his pants, the last man now piled in the corner. “I’ll get this blood and puke off the floor.”
Brackish took a tentative step toward Erin, her eyes wide, her face pale. This was just another day at work for him and his men, and apparently the other diners in there, but Erin didn’t seem to be used to violence. He was worried she was going to go into shock at any second.
“It’s okay, Erin. The danger’s over, and we’re all okay,” Brackish said as he held out a hand in what he hoped was reassurance.
“Yeah, we’re all good. But seriously thirsty. If you have shake stuff, I don’t even mind making it,” Sleep said. Brackish sent him a glare, and Sleep grinned before sitting at the counter and spinning in a circle on the chair. Eyes had found a mop and, true to form, was cleaning up the mess of the floor. Soon, it wouldn’t even look like anything had happened in there.
“Can I check that cut on your head, Erin?” Brackish asked. He took another small step toward her. She lifted her hand and felt her head. It was only a small cut and barely bleeding, but he didn’t like to see any injury on her.
“I’m fine,” she finally said. “I’m fine,” she repeated. Then she looked down and took in a deep breath, then another. When she looked back up, there was a little more color in her cheeks. “What in the hell just happened?”
“Some idiots came in here and tried to mess with the big boys,” Smoke said. He’d joined Sleep at the counter and was doing his own spins. “It didn’t go well for them.”
Police sirens could be heard in the distance and Brackish looked over at Eyes who nodded. He picked up his phone and though the diners wouldn’t hear him, the team all did. “911 at Erin’s diner. Need immediate assistance.” That was all that was needed. The mess would be taken care of by Chad.
“Thank you,” Erin finally said, strength returning to her voice. “Thank you,” she said again. She looked from Brackish to each of the men. “I don’t know what I would’ve done without you guys here.”
“I don’t think they would’ve come honestly. I think Drunk Number One has been spoiling for a fight since we kicked him out. But after this, he won’t be back,” Brackish told her.
“You can’t guarantee that,” she said as her cheeks went from white to red in a hot flush. He was glad to see she was coming out of her shock and getting back to herself.
“Trust me, I don’t make promises I can’t keep. He won’t be back.” Erin might not know he had connections, but Brackish would keep this promise.
“It’s odd, but I do trust you, Ben,” she said. She moved forward and shocked him when she wrapped her arms around him and squeezed. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
He held her tight for several beautiful moments before she wiggled to be let go. She stepped back and gave Brackish a smile that melted his cold heart. Then she turned to his other four team members who were all sitting at the counter.
“I guess it’s milkshakes and homemade pie all around on the house,” Erin said, her smile widening.
“Ah, you truly are a woman after my own heart,” Smoke said as he fluttered his eyes.
Erin laughed. It was beautiful to hear it after what had just happened. Then she pulled out a giant container of ice cream and began making shakes.
“We sure are glad you were here. We’ll tell the police what happened,” a woman said from behind Brackish. He turned to find a young woman holding a toddler in her arms standing behind him. “Thank you for keeping not only Erin safe, but all of us.”
The little boy in her arms reached out and patted Brackish’s arm while giving him a sleepy grin. Brackish felt something inside him he’d never felt before as he looked into the eyes of the innocent child. Holding his siblings, even his nieces and nephews, was different, or at least it had been. Here, he felt warmth for a child he’d never experienced before. Then it hit him. He wouldn’t mind holding a child of his own.
“I’m glad no one got hurt,” he said, his voice a bit scratchy.
“Except those awful men. They deserved to be hurt,” the woman said. “Thank you again.” She stepped away as the first cop car pulled up to the diner, lights flashing, sirens blazing.
“Keep the milkshakes cold,” Eyes said with a wink at Erin as four of them stood. Brackish waited to make sure the drunks didn’t make a dash for the door. The other guys held their hands out front so the officers would see they weren’t a threat. Though even the sight of them side by side, looking like a brick wall was a threat to most people.
After an hour with the police, ambulances, and wit
nesses, it was all over.
I’m ready for ice cream,” Green said. “Watching you get to have all of the fun makes a man hungry.”
“I second that,” Smoke said. “Though I did get to put my hands on your girl. That wasn’t so bad.”
Brackish punched Smoke in the arm hard enough to knock most men down. Smoke laughed as he settled into his seat.
“Asshole,” Brackish muttered, but he was smiling as he said it. He was grateful he’d met these men, grateful they had his back, and grateful for this new journey in his life.
“And hot food for you all, too,” the cook called as he rang the bell, hot plates of all sorts of appetizers waiting on the window between the back and front.
“Hell ya, we haven’t even ordered yet. Let’s get one of everything,” Smoke said as Erin grabbed plates and set them on the counter. The men dug right in.
Brackish laughed and ate, but he didn’t say much more. He had too much on his mind. One thing was certain though, he couldn’t wait to see what came next. He knew that soon he’d be taking Erin out on a real date, not throwing flirty comments at her in the diner or defending her from predators. He’d discovered something that night, and it had nothing to do with missions or other people. It had everything to do with a gorgeous woman and possibly with the rest of his life.
Chapter Four
Joseph Anderson felt like an abandoned puppy on the other side of a fence at an adoption center as it looked through the holes of the cage with big, sad eyes, begging the person to love him.
Not that he was comparing himself to a kicked puppy. But he was getting chewed out — and if he were honest, he might admit he deserved it . . . a little . . . little bit, but still, he did all he did out of love. That should count for something. He sat there as his wife paced in front of him.
“Don’t you dare give me that look, Joseph Anderson,” she said, stopping with her hands on her hips. “You’ve kept me a prisoner in this big, beautiful house. I’ll admit it’s a phenomenal prison built out of love, but I’m making a break for it. You will take me out right now!” The tone she was using was one he rarely heard.
“But my love . . .” Joseph began. He stopped as she glared at him. He’d been trying to convince her for twenty minutes that her safety was more important than going out. He was losing and losing bad.
“Look, I’m done arguing,” Katherine said. “You’re either going with me, or you can sit here and pout. I don’t care.”
With those words Joseph knew he’d lost. He wanted to keep her safe, but he realized he was doing more harm than good by trying to shelter her. He didn’t want her to catch a cold or the flu, or any number of other things that might make her situation worse. He’d continue to worry, but if she wanted to see the outside world, that was exactly what she was going to get.
It was a very pleasant day with a nice warm front pushing through the Northwest. Seattle residents would be out in droves after months of rain. The thought of his wife around that many people made his heart thunder in his chest. She wanted to go to Pike Place Fish Market. A shudder ran through him.
As Katherine left the room, Joseph went to his closet. He thought of being out at the market and about how many people knew him and his family. An outing like this was never easy. There were hazards to being as famous as he and his family were. They couldn’t just run to the market for groceries or to the ice cream shop for a treat. They always had to think about security. It saddened him when his wife simply wanted a piece of normalcy.
While he dressed, a smile formed on his lips, listening to the melodic voice of his beautiful Katherine singing a song about bluebirds while putting on her makeup. When he finished and stepped into the bathroom, his smile grew as she attached delicate butterfly earrings to her ears then swept her hair back with a diamond clip he’d bought her for their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.
“You’re so beautiful,” he said as he stepped up behind her, gently wrapping his giant arms around her petite frame. “I’m a very blessed man. I don’t understand how I got this lucky, but I thank God every day for bringing you into my life.”
“You’re such a charmer, my handsome hubby. And it worked, because I’m no longer mad at you,” she said, a flush in her cheeks and a sparkle in her eyes.
“Ah, Katherine, you never cease to amaze me,” Joseph said, leaning his head against hers as he looked at her expression in the mirror.
“How is that?” she asked. He leaned down and kissed her cheek, then loosened his grasp so she could turn. She lifted her hands, one resting on his heart, the other on his shoulder.
“Because you’re as beautiful today as the day I met you, and because you make me feel like a young man instead of this white-haired person I see looking back at me,” he told her.
She reached up on her toes and kissed him, a gentle kiss that told him without words their love would stand the test of time. Some might say it already had, but not in Joseph’s mind. Each moment he spent with her was another he cherished.
His heart fluttered as he deepened the kiss, careful not to grab her too tight. It didn’t matter how many times she was in his arms; it always felt like the first.
When she pulled back, her cheeks were flushed, and she looked slightly dazed. He smiled, wanting to scrap their day, carry her to their bedroom, and take his time showing her what she meant to him.
“Don’t you give me that look, Joseph Anderson. We are leaving this house, and though you make me feel like a blushing bride, I have more patience than you. Besides, anticipation makes lovemaking that much better,” Katherine said, with a playful slap on Joseph’s chest.
Joseph groaned as she pulled from him. It boggled his mind how much he hungered for his wife. He loved her in all ways possible. He would to his dying breath. When the door closed in his face, he chuckled. He’d been wrapped around Katherine’s finger from the moment they’d met many, many years before.
When Katherine emerged from the bathroom, they both donned hats and sunglasses. They knew it wouldn’t completely disguise them, but it might give them a semblance of peace from other shoppers. Holding Katherine’s hand, they made their way down the large halls of the Anderson mansion, and out the front door. Joseph snuck a few more kisses in the back seat of their car as the driver took them to downtown Seattle, leaving both of them breathless by the time they arrived.
As the vehicle came to a stop on Western Avenue, across the street from Victor Steinbrueck Park, Joseph gave a quick look at his wife and asked, “Are you sure you don’t want to turn around, my love?”
“Not a chance, old man,” she said with a laugh as her door opened. Paul, one of the two members of the security team, was awaiting Katherine’s exit from the vehicle.
One of the few unfortunate parts of the Andersons’ lives was that anytime they went out in public, they had to have security close by. Joseph had insisted years before that their security blend into the crowd. He didn’t want it obvious they were there. He didn’t want to cause a scene. Sometimes one happened no matter what, but there were times they went somewhere and managed not to get noticed. Those were the best trips.
Kevin, Joseph’s longest tenured, and personal favorite of the security team, opened Joseph’s door. As Joseph stepped from the car, Kevin simply reminded his boss, “We’re here if you need us, sir.”
“I appreciate it. We’re just going to wander down the market,” Joseph said.
“I’ll be with you while Paul parks the car, and then he’ll join me. As always, unless needed, we’ll stay out of sight,” Kevin relayed as they walked behind the car and up to the sidewalk.
“Thank you, Kevin. Thank you, Paul,” Katherine said.
Joseph took Katherine’s hand as they crossed Virginia Street onto Pikes Place. Her smile grew wider as they stepped into the already bustling crowds. With the lack of breeze coming off of Elliott Bay and the morning sun shining bright, there were many people already pulling off cardigans, sweaters, light jackets, and other long-sleeved items.
The joy in Katherine’s face as she purchased some knickknacks and walked among other people made the entire trip worth it. Each stop they made, Joseph stepped forward and made sure there was open space for her — he was also a human shield. He’d done it from the day they’d met. It was his way of honoring his wife.
“It smells so heavenly here. I don’t think I ever want to leave,” Katherine told him after they passed the original Starbucks, which was busy pumping roasted coffee scent into the air. Coffee, flowers, and eatery odors circled around them, making Joseph’s stomach growl.
“Today’s all about you. So, my queen, your wish is my command,” Joseph said as he bowed and waved his arm before him, encasing the main market area which was much more crowded.
“You’re earning major points today, Joseph Anderson,” she said with a girlish giggle. And then she was off again, pressing forward into the controlled chaos of Pike Place Market.
Joseph would’ve been more stressed than normal at having Katherine out ever since she’d been attacked. But now that they had their team assembled, he was more at ease. On top of his normal security, he’d placed a call to Chad. Somewhere out of his and Katherine’s sight, a couple of the special ops men were following in the shadows. Actually, from what he knew about all of the men, the ones following were probably holding ice cream and crab cakes in their hands. From what Joseph had read about them, the market probably seemed like a day in the park with a couple kites. Each of the men lived for action, and they didn’t run from a fight.
