Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 126823 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 634(@200wpm)___ 507(@250wpm)___ 423(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126823 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 634(@200wpm)___ 507(@250wpm)___ 423(@300wpm)
Rainier didn’t respond. He simply opened his wallet and showed something to the sheriff. Paling visibly, Rafferty stepped back and shook his head. Then he took a careful sweep of the long stretch of windows.
“Pay the bill, Bale, and get the hell out of here,” he snapped and moved away. “Do it now. You’re going to be very, very lucky if you walk out of here unscathed.”
Cursing, Bale threw money at the table and stomped out, lifting his middle finger in a rude gesture toward Shabina as he left. The customers in the café broke into applause as he went out the door. Sean, Maurice and Oliver put cash on the table and, heads down, without looking at anyone, followed Bale out.
Patsy and Tyrone hurried to the table with a broom and dustpan to clean the floor. Rainier went straight to Shabina, wrapped his arm around her and led her into the kitchen out of sight of the customers in the café.
“You’re shaking, baby. It’s over. He’s gone, and you’re going to file a restraining order. Raine’s been gathering evidence against him for some time. It’s irrefutable. You’ll have a lawyer representing you as well. Bale is going to find he won’t be able to frequent all the places he’s been able to in the past. If you’re at the Grill, he won’t be allowed in.”
“He’s only going to get angrier, Rainier.” Shabina didn’t understand how a man as astute as Rainier wouldn’t see that Bale was spiraling out of control. A restraining order preventing him from entering businesses he’d patronized for most of his life would only increase his behavior.
“I believe Landry will prove to be a reasonable man given the right incentive.” His thumb brushed over her lips very gently. “Trust me to deal with this man, Qadri.”
Shabina glanced around the kitchen to ensure they were alone. “You can’t kill him, Rainier. Everyone saw you with him, including two members of the FBI, as well as Rafferty. If he died, even in an accident, they’d look at you.”
He bent his head to feather kisses along her lips. When he lifted his head, his smile made him look more like a wolf than ever. “Bale will be given a clear choice. I can make him disappear in a not-so-easy way, or he will make certain there is never so much as a scratch on you, your dogs or the café. I’m very clear when I state my conditions. He’ll understand.”
She knew there was no way she could dissuade him from visiting Bale. Fortunately, Rainier was a “ghost” when he wanted to be. No one would see or hear him.
“Boucher and Cormier are in the café. They saw you, Rainier. And you passed your identification to Rafferty. It was plain to everyone that what he saw in your wallet scared him into backing off.”
Rainier gave her his wolfish smile again. “I am aware of them. And just to point out the obvious, Deadly Storms wouldn’t have an ID card.”
Of course he’d noticed the two men in the café. He saw everything. That was his job, what kept him alive, and admittedly, he was extremely good at what he did.
“I would prefer that you didn’t work the floor for the next half hour. Raine has information for you that you’re going to be interested in. I’ll have Patsy bring you tea with honey. You’ve had a shock, and you need to give yourself a break.”
“I’m okay now. I can get the job done.”
“I have no doubt that you can, Shabina. You have more courage in your little finger than I’ve seen in most people. I’m asking for me, for my peace of mind, that you take a break for at least half an hour. If necessary, I’ll break down tables, although more of your beautiful dishes could get broken, and it would be excruciatingly painful to be out there among all those customers. One or two are bound to congratulate me.”
Despite everything, Rainier made her laugh. He could be sent out alone in any environment, never flinching from the task of hunting a dangerous criminal, but a few customers wishing him well made him pretend to shiver. She wasn’t buying it for a second. He didn’t break things either. He could turn on the charm when he chose. He just didn’t bother to do so very often.
“I don’t think that will be necessary. Where would I get another dishwasher? You’re fast and efficient and the dishes are very clean. You pay attention to detail. I appreciate that quality in you. I’ll let Vaughn know he’ll have to help with clearing tables for a short while. He’s going to give me a hard time about being the manager now reduced to busboy, breaking down tables.”
Rainier quirked an eyebrow. He looked less than amused.