“No fucking way I’ll surrender to you, Brownstone.”
James shrugged. “Fine. You’re right. It’ll be more fun that way for me.” He nodded toward the door. “How about we take this outside, then?”
“Why? You afraid of all these people seeing your ass get kicked?”
“Nope.” The bounty hunter pointed at the bartender. “If you win, you might want a drink after.”
Come on, asshole. Take the bait.
Eddie chuckled and pushed himself up. “Fine, then, Brownstone, but let me be clear. I’m not saying you’re not gonna die out there. I like your style, but you made the mistake of getting in my face, and I figure you’re also the guy who got in the middle of my business with Schwartz.”
James grunted and headed toward the door. “You should be glad I took care of Schwartz.”
“Come on, boys. Let’s go have a discussion with the fabulous James Brownstone.”
Noah snuggled against his mother. “What’s going on, Mommy? Are those men going after Mr. Brownstone?”
Heather held her phone in front of them. The audio wasn’t great, but she could follow what was being said at the table.
“Yes. Mr. Brownstone is going to take care of them. Then we won’t have to worry about them.”
Noah looked up at her. “Why are they bad men?”
“Because they hurt people, and they might want to hurt you or me.”
Heather had tried to shield her son from this sort of thing, but it was important that he know the truth of what was going on. They’d probably never have a normal life, and the sooner he accepted that, the better.
I know I screwed up, but James can still make this right.
Noah looked back down at the screen and frowned. “Why don’t he just beat them up right away?”
“Because he doesn’t want to cause trouble for anyone else.”
The waiter came up behind them. “Is there… Oh, is this live?”
Heather looked over her shoulder and nodded. “Yes.”
“I’ve seen stuff from news helicopters with Brownstone or drone footage, but never something that close.” The waiter pulled up a chair beside them. “Those guys don’t look that scared, do they? Do you think they recognize him?”
“They recognize him. They just think they can beat him.”
The waiter scoffed. “Idiots.”
James stepped out of the bar. Eddie and his two cronies followed a few seconds later.
“Oh, darn. We don’t get to see it.” The waiter sighed.
Noah stuck out his lip. “I wanna see Mr. Brownstone beat up the bad men.”
Heather smiled at her son. “Don’t worry. I’ve got this.” A few quick swipes and taps brought up a feed from an external camera and a low-flying drone of hers circling on a preprogrammed flight path. She needed to see it, if only to verify the end of the threat.
“Yay!” Noah clapped.
The waiter joined him.
James kept walking away from the building until he stood in the middle of the parking lot, a frown on his face. He cracked his knuckles. Eddie and his men sauntered toward him, chuckling like they were about to have a dance-off and not a fight.
Heather sighed. Eddie had no clue who he was about to fight.
James frowned. He’d convinced the bounties to leave the building, but there were still a lot of cars around. He’d need to make sure that he confined himself to the emptier area of the parking lot. If there was one thing he appreciated, it was a man’s love for his car or truck.
He stepped toward the less populated part of the lot.
“Where the fuck you going, Brownstone?” Eddie called. “Running already? I haven’t even done anything yet.”
His cronies laughed.
The bounty hunter didn’t respond until he reached his destination. “Just wanted somewhere with more room.”
“More room?” Eddie started toward him. His men fell in on either side. “Damn, Brownstone, for an alleged badass, you’re sure a fussy bitch.”
“My girlfriend thinks I have OCD. Maybe she’s right.” James shook his head. “Still doesn’t have to go down like this, Eddie. You can give up right now.”
He didn’t care about hurting Eddie, but there was still a major risk of property damage.
The bounty laughed. “You know what, Brownstone? I think you’re full of shit, and not so tough.” The man punched at the air a few times. “Check it out, Brownstone. Did you know I used to box?” He nodded at his friends in turn. “These guys, well, they didn’t grow up playing Parcheesi. We’re tough fuckers, even without our guns.”
“That mean you’re not gonna try and shoot me?”
“Nah. Not yet, anyway. Where’s the fun in that? You see, I’ve got a theory about you, Brownstone. I’ve read a lot about it on the internet. People agree with my idea.” Eddie jabbed at the air a few more times and grinned. “You know what my theory is?”
“What? That you’re a complete dumbass?”
“Nah.” Eddie laughed. “My theory is you’re nothing. You’re shit. That you’re a big lie. A trick the cops are playing on all us. They help you take down people but give you all the credit, so then you can go around and make people wet their pants and give up right away. Sure, cops have to pay out a bounty, but they have to do it anyway. Fucking actor playing at being a badass.”
“You seriously believe that?”
“I know it’s true.”
James chuckled and shook his head. “You think my rep’s entirely bullshit? You haven’t seen video of me doing takedowns?”
“Video? Fuck video. That shit was easy to fake even before all these elves and shit starting walking all over.” Eddie reached into his pocket and pulled out some brass knuckles to slide onto his hand. His men did the same.
“You’re making a mistake, asshole.”
Eddie tapped his forehead. “Nah, I’m all about the truth and smart. You know I was telling people back in high school about how what most people think is bullshit. I did a report, you know, on pyramids, and how I knew it had to be aliens who built ‘em.”
“It wasn’t aliens. It was Atlanteans.”
James almost laughed. He wasn’t sure if it was the beer or arrogance, but Eddie was a chatty guy. At least he hadn’t opened fire.
Eddie shrugged. “Same fucking difference. The point is Brownstone, I can smell bullshit, and I smell it from you. No one man can be as tough as you. Taking out an entire gang by yourself? Fuck that. It’s bullshit.”
“I had a couple of people helping me with the Harriken toward the end.” The bounty hunter shrugged. “So not just one man.”
“Get a load of this fucker. He thinks he can mindfuck me.” Eddie and his men laughed. “That’s it, Brownstone. I’m done playing around. I’m gonna fucking beat you so badly that it’ll take you six months to heal up, but I’m not gonna kill you. You see, after I fucking beat you down, I’m gonna get my phone out and record your broken-down ass and upload that to the internet for everyone to see so everyone knows that you’re a lie.” He pounded his chest. “I’m gonna be a fucking warrior of truth, you bullshit lie.”
James gestured for them to come at him. “Less talk, more beat-down. Prove it, asshole.”
Eddie snickered. “Stay here, guys. I’ll handle this.” He approached James with his fists raised and a smirk on his face.
The bounty hunter shook his head. This wouldn’t even require the amulet. Pathetic.
The criminal finished his approach and threw a punch. James blocked it, but Eddie followed with a quick jab into his stomach.
James grunted and stumbled back.
Eddie grinned. “Yeah, I thought so. You’re nothing but a name.”
He threw another punch, but James dodged and grabbed his other arm as the criminal came in for the follow-up attack. James backhanded the criminal.
The bounty spun several times before hitting the ground.
“Don’t piss me off, Eddie.”
He hopped to his feet and wip
ed blood off his face, still grinning. “Okay, so you got a hit in. I’ll give you that.” He nodded to his men. “Brownstone wants us to take him seriously, so let’s fucking take him seriously, boys.”
The other two men advanced, and Eddie backed up to join them.
“You guys aren’t even worth a quality beat-down,” James rumbled. He slammed his fist into his palm. “And it’s only because I’m not in a bad mood that I’m not kicking the shit out of you.”
One of the men leaned down and grabbed a loose chunk from the parking lot. He pointed toward the F-350. “That old piece of shit is yours, isn’t it? Everyone talks about how you drive some shit from twenty years ago.”
James growled. “Fuck off.”
All three men laughed. The level two hurled the chunk toward the F-350’s windshield. It slammed into the truck and cracks spiderwebbed out from the point of impact.
James took several deep breaths, his hands clenching into fists. “I was trying to be nice about this shit.” He stomped forward. “But you fuckers had to go and do something you should have never done.”
Eddie snorted. “What the fuck? You mad because we hurt your stupid little piece-of-shit truck? I’ll give you five dollars. That’s how much it’s worth.”
James growled and charged. Eddie tried to get in a body blow, but the bounty hunter slammed a boot into the man’s chest. The criminal’s eyes widened as he traveled several yards before smashing into the ground. He groaned.
Another of the men swung his fist, and James grabbed his arm and yanked him forward. The thud of the savage follow-up headbutt was almost as loud as the crack of the chunk against his windshield. The man’s eyes rolled up, and he fell to the ground.
The chunk-thrower leapt for James in a brave attempt at a tackle. The bounty hunter brought up his knee and the criminal hissed in pain at the contact.
James grabbed the man, not letting him fall to the ground. He smashed his fist into the man’s face three quick times before tossing the battered and bleeding man to the ground.
“That’s for my fucking truck, asshole. You’re lucky I’m not killing your ass.”
Eddie stumbled to his feet, his hand reaching into his coat.
James whipped out his .45 and fired. The bounty screamed as a bullet ripped into his arm. His gun fell to the ground and he followed, dropping to his knees and clutching his wounded arm.
Like an angry Michael ready to kick the Devil out of Heaven James marched toward Eddie, his baleful gale fixed on the man. He holstered his gun before yanking the wounded criminal up by his collar.
“You know, asshole, sometimes reputations are there for a reason, and you’re not the smartest fucker in the room.”
Eddie spat blood in James’ face. “Fuck you, Brownstone. I’m not begging.”
Sirens sang in the distance.
James dropped the bounty to the ground. “Not gonna kill you, Eddie. You wouldn’t be worth any money to me.”
He kicked the man’s chest, ribs cracking under the blow. Eddie’s head bounced against the asphalt and he moaned, his eyes half-closed, and passed out.
James walked until he towered over the fallen man. “But I was sorely, sorely tempted to kill your ass, even with the money. Here’s a tip, Eddie. Never, ever fuck with a man’s truck.”
18
An hour later, James stepped back into the Secret Sauce. Heather’s son was asleep, his head on a table. Peaceful.
Yeah, I helped protect that kid. Made some money doing it, but it’s not a bad night’s work. Wait, where’s my barbeque?
The bounty hunter frowned at the empty table. “I told you to not let them take my tray away. I know getting the bounties processed took a little longer than I would have liked, but I was looking forward to that food.”
His stomach rumbled in protest.
The waiter from before emerged from the back a few seconds later with a fresh tray of barbequed pork. “Didn’t want you eating something that had been sitting out for an hour.” He set the tray on the table. “Don’t worry, Mr. Brownstone. I called my boss and explained the situation, and he’s fine with giving you another tray on the house.”
James shrugged and sat. “Well, as long as I have more barbeque. Kicking those guy’s asses worked up an appetite.”
“Of course, Mr. Brownstone. If you need anything else, just let me know.” The waiter disappeared into the back.
Heather stroked her sleeping son’s hair and offered James a smile. “Sorry about the windshield on your truck.”
“No biggie. The bounty from the guy who broke it was more than what the cost of repair will be. Just wish the fucker hadn’t decided to do that. I tried to give them an out, but they had to keep pushing.”
Heather nodded. “Yeah. I hacked cameras and had a drone up.” She smiled. “Thanks for all this. I know they were bounties, but I also know that you didn’t have to do this. It’s not like anyone makes James Brownstone do anything he doesn’t want to do.”
Well, no one who isn’t named Shay.
James shook his head. “If they were sniffing around you because of shit you did for me it’s my responsibility.” He ripped some delicious pork flesh off a rib and swallowed. “Here’s the thing… This has got me thinking. I know a little something about people hiding from their past.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah. Not something I’ve had to worry about, but I’ve got some close…friends who have. I also know the more you try to hide, the more power people have over you. You need to take back your life, Heather.”
The hacker rolled her eyes. “No offense, James, but you’re a class-six bounty hunter and your soon-to-be adopted daughter is safe behind the walls of a government magic school.”
James stared at her for a moment, surprised she knew that much about Alison.
“Yeah, that’s right. I know your deal. It’s not like I didn’t check you out thoroughly.” Heather shrugged. “The point is, I have to be on the move to be safe, and I’m not able to defend myself like you are. I mean, you just punted a few grown men around like they were ragdolls.”
“No, you don’t have to move all the time.” James shook his head. “You just need to be somewhere that people know it’s not a smart move to attack, or at least a place where it makes them pause and think first. Kind of like Alison and the School of Necessary Magic.”
“Well, my son isn’t magical and neither am I.” Heather sighed. “So I don’t know what to do.”
“I’ve got a solution. I think we should talk about you being properly employed.”
“Properly employed?”
James nodded and swallowed another bite of barbeque. “Yeah, employed by me, as my personal computer assistant or support person or whatever shit you want to call it. Full-time. I can pay you through the Brownstone Agency, or we can arrange something else. You get some steady money that’ll help you and your son, and I can use your help with tough jobs like Schwartz. If I’ve learned anything in this last year, it’s that even I can’t take everyone on by myself, and to get experts to help me with my weak spots.”
“Get help? Like you said about the Harriken?”
The bounty hunter grinned. “Yeah. Had the help of other people, not just the cops.”
Heather sighed. “Not saying I’m not interested, but paying me money doesn’t solve my safety problem.”
“It does if you move to LA. I can have your back right away instead of having to drive six hours to help you.” James set his rib down and glanced between another rib and some brisket. He decided on the brisket.
A few bites later he offered, “Move to my neighborhood. Between the cops and the locals it might not be the nicest-looking place, but it’s safe, and getting safer by the day. Can’t judge it by its appearance.”
“I know. It’s not the most expensive place, despite your money. It’s one of the reasons I like you. You aren’t pretentious.” Heather looked down. “I’m not so sure about that. How do you know there’s a place I can even stay there? A p
lace that would be good for my son and me.”
James grunted. “I know a place. Not only a good place, but a super-fucking-safe place.”
“Where? And why is it safe?”
“Because it’s an apartment owned by cop who is known to be a close personal friend of mine. Sergeant Mack of the LAPD. There’s also a good Magnet school in the area, and I’m sure having a cop vouch for you will help your kid get in when it’s time for him to start school.”
Heather’s expression alternated between hope and confusion. “You want me to live with a cop as my landlord? You do know I’ve done a lot of illegal stuff? Hell, I’ve done illegal stuff for you.”
“Hey, if you’re working for me, Mack will have no problem with you.” James shrugged, not sure what else to say. “Your call. You’re a good asset, and I need someone like you. But I’m not gonna force you. I can only offer you money and some protection.”
“I’ll think about it. That’s all I can promise.”
“Fair enough.” James took another bite of his brisket. “I’m gonna polish off the rest of this barbeque, then I’m gonna find a place to stay for the night.” He shook his head. “Six hours to LA? California is too damned big.”
Heather laughed.
Sergeant Choi tapped on his keyboard behind the front counter and shook his head. “Damn, Trey. You guys went on a tear this time. Keep this up, and there won’t be many bounties left in Vegas.” He chuckled.
Trey leaned against the counter with a smirk on his face. “That’s how the Brownstone Agency rolls, Sergeant. Why waste time and let bounties run around doing what they want?”
“Just surprised at some of these. I mean, I’m glad you brought in Jacob Johns, but I’d heard he hired a witch bodyguard. You guys are good, but I thought that’d be more a Brownstone thing than a Brownstone Agency thing.”
Trey snorted. “Please, Sergeant. The Brownstone Agency ain’t afraid of a few witches. Los Angeles is crawling with that sort of shit. We’re ready to take on whatever we need to get our man, just like our boss.”
Hail To The King: An Urban Fantasy Action Adventure (The Unbelievable Mr. Brownstone Book 8) Page 14
