by Piper Stone
I walked closer to the bar, studying the wooden surface. Oddly enough, I hadn’t noticed that it appeared to be mahogany, the majority of the carvings done on the thick plexiglass surface covering every inch of it. Jasper had been smart, at least about some things. As I headed to the stage, curling my fingers around the thick wire protecting the band, I thought about what Caroline had told me. Even as I lifted my head, studying the massive and truly beautiful beams crossing the ceiling, I had a fleeting thought that maybe the place could be something special.
Yeah, as if I could get rid of the rowdy clientele.
Sighing, I shifted toward the hallway behind the bar, going in through the closest swinging door, shocked to find an actual kitchen with all stainless steel, professional appliances. What the fuck? I hadn’t seen a menu or a single plate of food, other than bowls of peanuts, half of which had converged with the glass shards.
I wasn’t a man who could be easily surprised, and I definitely was. What was even more shocking? Everything was clean, the appliances sparkling as if brand new. Maybe they were. Sighing, I moved back into the hallway. There were two doors, one indicating the manager’s office. The second had no notation whatsoever. I would guess that had been Jasper’s office. After three tries, I found the right key, hesitating before walking inside.
The office was much larger than I would have imagined, the massive desk ornate in design, the wood carved. Even the leather chair was befitting of a business owner. I walked closer, turning on the desk lamp. The thick layer of dust indicated no one had been inside since Jasper’s death. I ran my finger through it, a sudden chill racing down my back. I felt like an intruder. Damn it. This was more awkward than I would have imagined.
I studied the rest of the office and couldn’t help but smile. The man had eclectic tastes in art, the combination of contemporary mixing with rustic cowboy odd, just like the man himself. When one picture drew my attention, I narrowed my eyes as I walked toward it.
“Jesus.”
My hands were shaking as I reached out, touching the glass. Where in the hell had Jasper gotten a picture of the six of us? Six Marines. Six bad boys. Six best buddies. We were all in our uniforms, prepared to leave for various parts of the world, our arms wrapped around each other’s shoulders as we grinned for the camera. I remembered everything about the day the photograph had been taken. Everything. We were all bright-eyed and eager to perform our duties.
As if we’d be able to change the world.
Damn.
I fisted my hand, pushing it against my mouth as I stared from one to the other. I still looked boyish, as if the weight of the war had yet to take a toll. Only Snake seemed older, his eyes already telling a story as he bore into me. A brief moment in time rushed into my mind.
“You ready for this gig, Cooper?” Snake whispered hoarsely.
The sound of gunfire could be heard from every direction. I cringed, uncertain I had the nerve to even answer my buddy’s question. “I’m ready.”
Boom!
The explosion brought a wave of dirt and debris over our foxhole. While we dove for cover, my breathing became ragged, my vision blurred as sweat rolled into my eyes.
“You okay, kid?” he asked, checking his ammunition for the fifth time before rolling onto his stomach and peering over the edge of the mounded dirt.
He hadn’t called me ‘kid’ since my arrival, although the moniker had stuck from the time I’d joined the ragtag group of bad boy wannabes years before. I almost laughed given he was only a couple of years older, forced to place his life on hold in order to help out his parents. Which he’d done without question.
We were surrounded, the rest of the team positioned in other strategic locations, the firepower intense. Our chances of survival were fucking slim, but my buddies weren’t going to die on my watch. No fucking way.
Movement caught my eye and I reacted instantly, getting off several rounds before Snake reacted. Together, we peppered the surrounding area with gunshots, our night vision goggles allowing us to see through some of the smoky haze as enemy soldiers began to drop. A sudden silence allowed us to catch our breath.
Yet the fuckers were regrouping, no doubt intending on closing in.
“Fuck. You’re one hell of a shot and you didn’t hesitate,” Snake said in a strangled voice.
“Just doing my job.” I refused to take my eye off the dense terrain. Now that the assholes knew where we were, they would attempt to pick us off one at a time.
“I think I’m going to call you Scorpion. Yeah, that suits you, kid, since you never hesitate on killing someone in the dark,” Snake said, half laughing under his breath. “Those fuckers will learn to be afraid of your poisonous sting.”
And so, the nickname had stuck. From that time, I only heard my real name by my superiors. I was forced to turn away, so many questions racing through my mind. Jasper had been proud of me, something neither he nor my father had ever told me.
A chuckle bubbled to my lips as I stepped away. Maybe there was a hell of a lot more to my uncle than what I’d been told. As I walked back toward the desk, I heard a noise. I’d forgotten to lock the damn door. It was only ten-thirty in the morning. What the hell? I headed out of the room, anticipating finding customers.
When I noticed a man behind the bar, hunkered down behind what appeared to be a safe, I remained silent. I wanted to see just how far the fucker would go. The second he managed to open the door, I realized this was an employee and if I had to guess, I’d say it was the fucking manager.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I demanded as I took long strides closer, prepared to grab my gun if necessary.
The man jerked to a standing position, a packet of cash in his hand. He looked flustered at first then his expression moved to anger. “And who the hell are you?”
“I’m the owner.”
He swallowed visibly but dared to shove the money in his jacket pocket. “Cooper Fucking McKenzie. Yeah, I heard about you. Something you need to understand, boy. I run this place.”
The asshole had no idea how much his words pissed me off, but I remained cool. I might not want to keep the bar, but I refused to allow some jerk off to steal from me blindly. Not now.
Not ever.
I lifted a single eyebrow and inched closer, cocking my head. “You must be Billy.”
“How the hell do you know my name?”
“Well, let’s put it this way. When I asked where the fuck the manager was, I was told he only dropped by to take cash or liquor.”
“That fucking Brant. He deserves to be fired.”
I pointed toward the bar, giving him a stern look. “Here’s how this is going to play out, Billy. You’re going to place the cash and your keys on top of the bar. Then you’re going to walk out of here. Then you never come back.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?” he huffed, his face turning a bright crimson.
“That means you’re the one who’s getting fired. I will not tolerate thieves in my bar. My. Bar. Is that clear enough for you?”
He shifted closer, an evil grin on his face. “You can’t tell me what to do. I had a contract with Jasper.”
“Yeah? Well, all the contracts became null and void with his death. Now, you can be a good boy and do as you were told, or I have no issue tossing you out of here.”
Billy bristled, his body stiffening, but to his credit, he removed the cash, placing it on the bar. I damn well knew he’d skimmed plenty, especially during the last couple of weeks. When he pulled out a set of keys, he seemed to second guess his decision, gripping them fiercely.
I kept my eyes locked on him, making certain he could see that I meant what I said.
“Fucker,” he barked then slammed the keys on the surface.
I nodded then shifted my gaze toward the door.
“You can’t do this. You don’t know who I am,” he growled under his breath.
“Yeah? Well, I don’t give a fuck. Just get out.” I took two steps
back, giving him a wide berth in order to get the hell out of my sight.
After glancing around the joint, he walked forward.
I anticipated exactly what he was going to do. As soon as he grabbed a bottle, slamming it against the bar, the bottom falling to the floor, he lunged forward. Grinning, I slapped my hand around his arm, twisting. When he refused to drop the bottle, I whipped him around, wrapping my arm around his neck and squeezing.
“I suggest you drop the bottle, Billy. If you don’t, I have no problem snapping your neck.”
“You... ass... fucking...” He gasped for air as he struggled, swinging the bottle in an effort to slice my face. All I had to do was squeeze and twist slightly, the single crack likely terrifying him.
He dropped the bottle, his arms flailing.
I dragged him from around the bar and all the way to the door, giving him a hard shove.
The fucker should have let things alone. Instead, he chose to take a swing at me. While I didn’t want to kill the asshole, he needed to understand that his kind of behavior wouldn’t be tolerated.
I gave him several hard punches, catching him in the gut and kidney, the final landing against his jaw. His body was blown backward from the force, hitting the wooden door with a hard thud. As he slumped down, I moved closer, standing over him. “I don’t give a fuck who you think you are. Just stay out. I’m back in town and I’m here to stay. You got it, Billy?”
He managed to nod twice and when he did, I moved back away, folding my arms and waiting until he scrambled to his feet. He stumbled as he slapped his hand on the door, looking back only once.
And in his eyes was the need for revenge.
Perfect. In town less than two days and already I’d created several enemies.
I shook my hand, glaring at my bruised knuckles. Damn it. I was getting too old for this shit.
Exhaling, I moved toward the bar, kneeling down and staring at the volume of cash. One thing was for certain, all codes and locks would be changed, and this kind of cash would not remain inside the building. I slammed the door and rose to my feet, walking back to Jasper’s office. Time to check for those drawings, as well as his business information. Maybe there was more to the place, much more.
Including secrets.
There had to be a reason Jasper would hire a son of a bitch like Billy and I was determined to find it out.
I spent the next hour searching through everything. While it would appear that Jasper was a far better businessman than he was at running a bar, there were no designs.
They had to be in the envelope or at Jasper’s house if they existed. As I closed up, moving toward the door, I realized the place had kind of grown on me.
Shit.
What the hell was I supposed to do now?
When I walked outside, all I could do was laugh. Purchasing several old tires had indeed been in my best interest. Two of them had already been slashed. I had a feeling a war was about to start.
What the fuck? I’d never shied away from trouble and I wasn’t going to start now, although I might need some reinforcements. As I moved toward the back of the truck, yanking on the tarp, I knew exactly where I was headed next. Time to have a little fun.
* * *
Hawk.
The man was larger than life in several regards, a take no shit kind of man. I’d heard all about how he’d taken over the Big Meadow Ranch, doing everything he could to take it to a new level. He was also one of the most dangerous men I’d ever met, someone I could count on. He was posse.
I pulled the truck I’d purchased onto the gravel road leading to Hawk’s cabin. The aging truck was only meant for working at the bar, with good reason. I found it difficult to remember the old times. I’d thought leaving Missoula had been the best decision of my life. Now I wasn’t so certain.
As I eased the Ram adjacent to a series of trucks, I remained inside for a full two minutes, barely able to glance out the windshield. There were flowers in huge pots on the front porch, even a hanging swing positioned on one side. Hawk had certainly made a home. I felt more like an intruder than anything else.
I shoved aside the memories before jumping out. I hadn’t told a single person that I’d arrived in Missoula, perhaps because I had no idea what the hell I wanted to do.
Hell, that wasn’t the only reason.
A wave of guilt trickled into my gut, forcing me to take a deep breath.
As the sound of whinnying horses drew my attention to the corral, the beautiful beasts enjoying the cool air and bright sun, I couldn’t help smiling. Shaking my head, I walked toward the door, easing onto the porch and finding it difficult to breathe. There was no real reason for my angst, other than a feeling that I no longer belonged in the very town I’d grown up in. What the fuck did it matter?
After knocking on the door, I took a step back, uncertain of the reception I’d receive.
Then I heard boots thumping against the interior floor and plastered on a grin. When the door opened, Hawk could only shake his head.
“I’m not sure whether to say a sight for sore eyes or what the fuck are you doing here,” Hawk stated with amusement in his voice.
“Don’t feel bad. I’m not entirely certain either.”
“You scruffy mutt.”
“You raging asshole.” We both chuckled, the bullshit lines ones we’d used since we were kids. “Now, I feel at home.”
He studied my eyes for a full minute before opening the door wider. “Come in, brother. Been a long few months since I’ve seen you. You look tired.”
“I have my reasons.”
“So I heard,” Hawk said quietly.
It figured he already knew I was in town. I followed him into a beautiful living room, the windows highlighting yet another beautiful view of the mountains. It was funny how he remained standing, his body almost as tense as mine. Our last conversation had been one of anger, both at each other’s throats. I hadn’t been able to understand why he’d left Afghanistan in the first place. The guy had always been close-mouthed, rarely sharing anything about his emotions or why he’d made certain decisions.
That had always pissed me off.
I’d known his brother had died, but he hadn’t been forthcoming with any details. I had a feeling Drake’s death had changed him significantly.
“You’re doing well,” I managed, finding it difficult to make small conversation. I studied the room, noticing a bookshelf full of pictures.
Hawk exhaled, following my gaze. “This is home for me. I have to say, I’m happier than I’ve ever been.”
“I’m glad. You getting married?” I grinned. News traveled fast, even overseas. I was happy for him, even though the open wound remained.
He snorted. “Not yet. One day.”
“Time isn’t necessarily our friend, Hawk. You should know that better than anyone.” I hadn’t intended that my tone sound so angry, but his entire expression changed, becoming colder.
“Is there something you want to say to me, Scorpion? Did you come all this way to fuck with me about why I left or why I engaged in the mission in the first place?”
He harbored the same anger as I’d remembered, the very same rage that had nearly consumed me.
I could see the resignation riding his expression, the calm yet tumultuous feelings that remained within all of us.
“That’s not it,” I finally said. “Look, I know we should talk about what happened between us. I just don’t know what to say.” Before I had a chance to say anything else, I heard the sound of little feet then noticed a blur as a ball of energy rushed into the room.
“Daddy!”
Daddy? What the fuck?
As Hawk crouched down, scooping the little girl into his arms, his entire expression softened. “Whatcha doing, baby girl?”
“Can we pway ball?”
Hawk hugged her tightly, his eyes closing. “Maybe in a little while. Okay? I have a visitor. Would you like to meet my friend Scorpion?”
She jerked bac
k, twisting her little head over her shoulder, her eyes opening wide. Pushing away from Hawk, she walked over to me slowly, reaching out, a single finger barely tracing the tattoo on my arm. “You’re just like Daddy. Aren’t you?”
I had no idea what to say. As I darted a glance in Hawk’s direction, he rose to his feet, studying my face intently. “I am. What’s your name?”
“Ash-ley,” she said, giggling.
I held out my hand, surprised when she not only placed hers in mine, but did a little curtsey. “It’s nice to meet you, Ashley. Don’t worry. I won’t take much of your daddy’s time. You can play ball soon.”
Her smile was as bright as the Montana sun, her beaming face exactly out of a Hallmark movie. “Sqwarpian. I like that name.”
“Go and play, baby girl. Okay?” Hawk instructed in the kind of tone I’d certainly never heard.
“O-tay, Daddy.” She waved at me before running off, her long hair flying behind her.
To say I was floored was an understatement.
Sighing, Hawk walked closer. “That’s Drake’s daughter.”
“That’s why you came back.”
“I didn’t know she existed until I was here. I came back because I was determined to sell the ranch, although that’s not what Drake wanted. When I found out about Ashley, everything changed. She’s the light of my life. Well, Bryce might have something to do with it.”
There was a distinct change in the man, a softening none of his team could ever imagine. I honestly wondered how it felt, finding two people who were more important than anything else. “She’s beautiful.”
“Maybe if you stick around long enough then you’ll get to meet Bryce.”
“I’d like that.”
The tension remained. Maybe the words that needed to be said were far too difficult for either one of us to face.
