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  On the way past she gave Piper a shove, and Piper quickly regained her footing.

  “Is she causing you trouble?” Jack asked.

  “No.”

  “You’re lying.”

  “She’s just a little difficult is all.”

  Jack saw her hand. “What’s that?”

  “A little accident.”

  “Accident?”

  “I was cleaning up some glasses that I dropped, and I slipped.”

  “Piper, you never have accidents.”

  “It seems I have a lot of them now.” Her cheeks started to heat under his scrutiny. “Would you like to order, or would you like me to come back?”

  Jack stared at her for a few more seconds.

  “Please,” she said.

  “What’s going on?”

  “It’s nothing. Louisa doesn’t like me, and I can deal with that. Not everyone is going to like everyone in the world.”

  “You try,” he said.

  She laughed. “Believe me, I don’t like everyone and everything. There’s a lot in the world I don’t like.”

  They finally gave her their order, and she made her way back into the kitchen. This time Leon was waiting for his order.

  “You have to complain to Mark.”

  “Why?”

  “Because he’ll listen to you. Talk to Jack. Louisa will be gone.”

  “It seems so childish.”

  So far none of them had officially complained about Louisa, and Piper wasn’t going to be a snitch either. Telling off an employee wasn’t exactly going to help her in the future with other jobs. Piper didn’t want to be a waitress all of her life. For all of Louisa’s other faults, she was actually good with the customers, and the days that Piper wasn’t there, everything seemed normal, or at least the others told her nothing went wrong. She’d been with them a week. That was all. One week, and in that time it had felt like a total nightmare, even if only when Piper was actually working. The last time Piper had felt like this was back in high school. She didn’t complain to the teachers, and she wasn’t about to complain to the boss now. There were difficult people out there, and Louisa was clearly one of them.

  “Come into my office,” Mark said, coming up behind her.

  “Have I done something wrong?”

  “Just come to my office.”

  Giving Leon a concerned look, she followed Mark into his office. He closed the door, and asked her to sit down.

  “Have I done something wrong? Is it because of all of the broken stuff? You can take it out of my pay.”

  “Piper, stop. Louisa has come to me and complained you’re stealing her tables.”

  “What?” Piper asked, shocked. “I would never—”

  Mark held his hand up. “How did you hurt your hand?”

  “I was picking up broken glass.”

  “I can’t help you if you don’t tell me the truth. I still have to run a business here.”

  “I know. I’m sorry.”

  “Piper, I like you. You’re a hard worker. Tell me the truth.”

  “It’s fine. Honestly, I can do this.”

  He released a sigh. “Okay, go on out, and finish your shift. Don’t worry about the damaged items. I’ll deal with them.”

  She nodded, making her way back out into the restaurant. This was turning into a nightmare.

  ****

  “Do you want me to fire her?” Mark asked.

  Drake had taken Piper home, and the restaurant was completely empty. Jack stared at Louisa’s file. Every instinct inside him was telling him to fire the bitch. She was making Piper’s life a misery. That’s what he did. He removed the problem from Piper so she never had to worry. On another problem of the day, or the week, he’d had to go and speak to Brian’s principal, and make him realize that he’d fucked up. Fortunately, the principal had agreed, so he was going to give Piper a swift apology.

  “Piper didn’t complain?”

  “No. Louisa’s the one been complaining. She told me that Piper is pushing and shoving her. Taking her tables, talking down to her. There is clearly a natural dislike, and it’s all coming from Louisa. I can fire her, but I don’t want Piper to end up hurt because of it.”

  Jack closed the file. “Piper’s miserable, and that’s a first when it comes to her working here. She loves it here.”

  “I spoke to Leon and Luther. Piper won’t complain because she thinks it’s childish. I can fire Louisa, I’d gladly do it. For the time being we’re understaffed. This decision is yours. You wanted Piper to have a protective environment.”

  Jack stood and started to pace the office. The reason he’d pushed Piper to get employed here was because it allowed him the chance to keep an eye on her. He could protect her here, rather than anywhere else. This also gave Piper a stable life, and the chance to work without fear of his own life entering here. He wanted her to have everything her heart desired, and she loved to work.

  If he interfered too much, she may do something else, and he liked the intimacy of being in control of everything.

  “Leave it for the time being. I want you to keep an eye on her though. You got shit to do in the office you do it when she’s not around, understood?”

  “Why don’t I just fire her?”

  “Because I said so. Piper wants to handle this, and as much as I want the bitch gone, I know Piper has her reasons. If Louisa goes too far, fire her. But for now, I’ve got to trust Piper.” Also, he wanted to know more about Louisa, and why the bitch seemed to be targeting his woman. He’d been careful not to draw too much attention to his feelings for Piper. Had he screwed up? He wasn’t going to interfere too much, especially as Piper would start to ask questions. He’d already dodged several over the years concerning his business, and what happened with regards to her mother.

  His cell phone buzzed letting him know that Drake was once again outside.

  “I have to go.”

  Leaving the office, Jack climbed into the car, and gave Drake instructions to take him to his warehouse near the docks. He had a few problems he needed to fix.

  “Has there been any other sighting of the mystery man at the college?”

  “Once but he didn’t stop Piper. I didn’t get a good look at his face, and you told me not to be seen looking at him.”

  “I don’t want anyone to know that we’re onto them.” There hadn’t been any more appearances from Ronald at the restaurant either.

  “Did you get her safely home?”

  “Yes. She was really tired, and I hate to say it, withdrawn.”

  “The new woman at Exquisite is not exactly helping.”

  “Why don’t you just fire her?”

  “This is about her. You don’t think Piper will have some questions?”

  “Speaking of questions, she asked if I’d ever heard from her mother. It would seem her assignment in English is to write a paper about family. In doing so, she’s now asking questions.”

  “What did you say?” Jack asked.

  “Told her that she didn’t want to know about her mother. She didn’t care to know what happened, and that she was pleased to no longer have to deal with her kids.”

  “That’s harsh.”

  “It’s the truth. Her mother was a first class bitch. You’ve got more chance of her believing that. I take it you didn’t want me to tell her that her mother is dead, and buried six feet under in the local graveyard with her honey. Oh, and the men that had been part of her life were also dead.”

  Jack gritted his teeth. “Have I ever told you how much I hate a smartass?”

  “Isn’t that why you hired me?”

  “No. I hired you for protection, but you do have a knack for reading people.”

  “Whatever is going on, she’s getting curious about the situation. It has taken four years, but you knew this was going to happen.”

  Jack rubbed at his eyes.

  He’d known that there would be a point where he could no longer lie or make excuses. The biggest problem
he had was the truth would make life difficult for him, in more ways than he wanted to cope with.

  The way Piper looked at him filled him with so much fucking joy that not having her near him like that killed him. He knew it would destroy him to ever have her scared of him. That was not what he wanted, and he worked hard to make sure it didn’t happen, and would never happen.

  An hour later, Drake pulled up toward the docks. Climbing out of the car, Jack entered the warehouse where he usually stored products that needed to be distributed. He had the means and the ways of getting shit moved. Right now, the warehouse was empty apart from some crates, and his men. They were stood in a circle a good distance from a man who was strapped to a chair.

  “David,” Jack said.

  The man in the chair whimpered and pissed himself. “I’m so sorry, Mr. Sosa. I tried to help—”

  “Yourself? You stole my money, and then gave it to my sworn enemy. Tell me, David, how do you think I should deal with that?” Jack grabbed a chair, and pulled it in front of David. Taking a seat, he folded his arms, staring at the other man.

  David Smith was his accountant, and once a trusted employee. A little gambling problem had made him steal, and then go to Ronald, Jack’s enemy.

  “I’m sorry, please, I will do anything. Anything.”

  “Look around you, David. You stole from me, and you stole from each of these men. You took money that didn’t belong to you. You took their wages, and you gambled it away on numbers and horses.”

  Jack looked at the men. He was able to pay them, but it didn’t excuse David’s behavior.

  David cried.

  “What did you promise Ronald?” Jack asked.

  “I didn’t promise him anything. He just wanted answers.”

  “In return?”

  “He’d give me enough money to clear all my debts, but I’d have to keep on finding out new information.”

  Jack stood. The first punch came out of nowhere as his fist landed against David’s nose, breaking it instantly.

  “What did you tell him?”

  “He wanted to know about your personal life,” David said, howling.

  Jack landed two more blows and stepped away. His knuckles tingled from the impact, but he was nowhere near done.

  Moving toward the far table, he stared at several weapons, knives, hammers, screwdrivers, and plenty more. Picking up the hammer, he gave it a twirl, and moved toward the man.

  David screamed. “Please don’t kill me. I’m begging you.”

  Lifting the hammer in the air, Jack was about to bring it down when David finally started to talk.

  “He wanted to know about the girl.”

  “What girl?” Jack asked.

  “Piper Johnson. He wanted to know about her, and why she was living in an apartment owned by you, paying a small rent, and working in one of your restaurants. He knew a lot about her already.”

  “And instead of coming to me, you told him everything.”

  “Yes.”

  The man had just signed his death sentence.

  Chapter Four

  Piper read through her final paper, aware of Marshall staring at her. He didn’t like his students to call him Mr. Rivers. She’d failed two papers in the past three weeks, and she had no choice but to accept his tutoring. Drake was supposed to collect her this afternoon, but she’d called him to let him know she had to stay behind.

  Once she was sure everything was fine, she leaned back in her chair. Marshall was sitting opposite her. “Here it is,” she said.

  “Don’t look so worried.”

  “It’s easy for you to say. You’re not the one failing, and you can’t say that you failed either. You wouldn’t be teaching if you did.”

  “I’ve failed at other things, believe me.”

  She nibbled her lip, waiting as he looked through the paper. The door to the classroom opened, and she turned to see the same man that she’d bumped into a month ago. Offering a smile, she turned back toward Marshall.

  “I’m just helping a student right now, Ro—”

  “Robert,” the man said, finishing his name.

  “Hi, I’m Piper.”

  “Pleasure to meet you.”

  “Better circumstances this time. I’m not bumping into you or anything.”

  “Very true. So tell me is Marshall here a good teacher?”

  “I think so for the most part,” she said.

  Piper didn’t like being left alone with the two men, and she glanced at the time.

  “Do you need to be somewhere?” Marshall asked.

  “My ride will be here soon.”

  “I’m only trying to help you.”

  Guilt swamped her. “I’m sorry.”

  “This piece is much better, but you don’t seem to capture emotion. The art of writing is being able to take the reader on the journey with you.”

  “It’s just a piece about my past.”

  “But it’s still got no emotion. You simply tell the story. You let us know facts, nothing more. Have you spoken to your mom since your emancipation?”

  “No.”

  “How does that feel? Aren’t you curious about that? And how she’s been coping without you?”

  Piper didn’t like these questions. Jack had come and taken her away. Her life had been simpler, better, nicer.

  “I really need to go, Mr. Rivers, Marshall, I mean.” She packed up her stuff and stood. “I will work on another paper, and have it to you by the end of the week.”

  “We really need to discuss this.”

  “I know, but I have to go.”

  She wanted to no longer be alone in a room with two men. Every instinct inside her was begging for her to leave.

  “Certainly. Next time I hope to spend more time.”

  “No problem.” She took the paper he held out to her, and she quickly left the room, aware of them staring after her.

  Leaving the grounds, she let out a sigh of relief when she spotted Drake’s car.

  Her hands were shaking as she climbed into the car.

  “Are you okay?” he asked.

  “Yeah, I’m fine. Can you take me home?”

  “Sure.”

  He pulled away from the college, and she let out a breath, happy to be driving away from it. Drake didn’t talk, giving her the time she needed.

  When she was back to feeling safe, and normal, she turned toward him with a smile.

  “I don’t have to work tonight. A rare day off, and Brian was invited ‘round for a sleepover. Even though it’s a school night, I said yes. Dean and Barbra are really nice.”

  “You’re alone?”

  “Yeah. It’s going to be weird. I’ve not been alone in eight years.” She smiled. “I’ll probably have a bath, study, watch some television. Maybe even do myself some spicy food. I can’t eat it because Brian complains.”

  Talking about normal stuff helped her to get over whatever her problem was. She probably looked stupid reacting the way she did.

  Why did she always feel in danger when that man was close by? She didn’t get it, nor did she understand it.

  “Drake, can I ask you something?”

  “Sure, you can ask me anything.”

  “Do you think our minds, or our subconscious knows something that we don’t know yet?” She frowned at her own question. “I mean, say there’s a poisonous spider in your shoe, and every part of you is telling you not to put your foot in that shoe.”

  “Survival instinct. I do believe in it. It helped save me a few times in my line of work. Never doubt yourself, Piper. You’ve got less chance of ending up dead.”

  “And I don’t want that to happen.”

  “You don’t. Do you mind me asking what made you ask that question?”

  “Oh, something stupid I guess. Mr. Rivers had his friend drop by while he was helping me study, and I got nervous. I was alone with two men, and I guess I got a little freaked.”

  “It’s only natural.”

  “Yeah, I know, bu
t shouldn’t I feel that way with you and Jack?”

  “You don’t?”

  “No. I always feel protected with you guys.”

  “We’ve proven we’re not going to hurt you. It’s different.”

  She nodded, resting against the chair. “You’re right. It is different. Thank you.”

  “What’s the man’s name, the friend?”

  “Robert, why?”

  She saw him relax.

  “Nothing, it’s fine.”

  ****

  “She senses danger, so that’s good,” Marshall said, grabbing his bag.

  Ronald burst out laughing. “She looked ready to shit herself.”

  Marshall didn’t find it in the least funny. If he could be doing anything but potentially luring that poor woman, he would. He was lying about her paper as well. She had a power of telling a story with so much emotion that it made him ache for the girl she’d been.

  “Is your need for power really going to make you hurt her?”

  “Remember, brother, she’s a means to an end.”

  That was his secret. Ronald was his older brother. Piper was an innocent, but Ronald was family. And Ronald had the evidence of Marshall’s “indiscretion”. It was the only reason Marshall had taken this job.

  “I’m heading home. Try not to kill anyone,” Marshall said.

  “The night is still young. You should spend the night with me, and I’ll show you how good it can be to be a Rivers.”

  “No, thank you. I remember you killing our parents, and I don’t wish to relive any of that.”

  Leaving the classroom, he made his way out toward his car, needing a stiff drink, and a firm reminder of what he was doing. He’d tried to stay away from his father and brother’s business, fighting and breaking the law. All of his life he’d wanted to be a teacher, and if it wasn’t for him having a relationship with a student, he’d have been fine. Of course, Ronald knew all about his mistake, and held it over his head. There was no out for Marshall, not now, not ever.

  ****

  Jack knocked on the door at exactly seven that night. Drake had let him know that she’d be alone, and he didn’t like the thought of her being scared.

  “Just a minute,” she said, calling through the door.

  Music was playing in the background, something upbeat and country.