Part 8 (2/2)
”I'm at the beer store near my apartment, and that Spook guy from the restaurant is here. What should I do?” Zach's entire body shook with excitement.
”Nothing. Leave him alone and let him leave,” Bull said. ”No, wait.... Walk up to him and tell him Bull wants to talk to him now. Then pay for your stuff and leave. That ought to shake him up enough that he'll contact me.”
”Okay,” Zach said, his heart thumping. ”Should I tell him to meet you at the club?”
”That won't be necessary. He'll already know how to get in touch with me.” Bull paused. ”I want you to call me when you get home.”
”I will, and you need to call me later,” Zach said, and Bull promised he would. Zach hung up and walked through the store and up to the counter. He set the case down and told the clerk he'd be just a minute. Jeremy stayed by the counter, and Zach wandered back down the other aisle and up to the smaller man. For a second he wasn't sure, but then he saw the tattoo. With his heart pounding, he walked up to the man. ”Bull said he wants to talk to you.”
Spook whipped his head around to him and his mouth dropped open for a second before he said, ”You're the guy from the restaurant-”
”Bull wants to talk to you, Spook,” Zach interrupted and then turned and walked back up to the counter. He paid for the beer, then he and Jeremy left the store and walked briskly back toward the apartment. No cars followed them and no one tried to stop or talk to them. His phone rang when they were a little more than halfway home. Zach handed the beer to Jeremy and answered the call.
”Where are you?” Bull asked.
”Jeremy and I are on our way home. No one is following us or anything. That Spook guy was sure shocked. He recognized me from the restaurant, but I caught him by complete surprise.”
”Okay.” Bull sounded nervous. ”Go home and stay there.” He swore under his breath. ”Having you approach him was probably the dumbest thing I've ever done. Make sure there are people around, and I'll be there as soon as I can. Promise me,” Bull added before Zach could say anything.
”Okay, we're almost there. The guys and I are watching movies and stuff, so we'll keep the door locked and wait for you,” Zach said. He started walking faster, his heart racing.
”Good. I'm already on my way to my car,” Bull said. Zach hung up but kept his phone in his hand. They entered the building and climbed the stairs, then let themselves into the apartment. The other two guys barely looked up from the television. Zach closed and locked the door behind them. Then he placed some beer in the refrigerator to chill and filled a pan with ice for the rest. He sat with them to wait, ignoring the television while Jeremy told the others what had happened at the store. Once Jeremy was done, the guys peppered Zach with questions he couldn't answer and went instantly silent when a brisk knock sounded on the door.
”Is that him?” Jeremy asked. Zach checked the peephole and unlocked the door. Before he could say anything, Bull surged inside, closed the door, and engulfed him in his strong arms.
”Are you okay?” Bull whispered into his ear. ”Telling you to do that was the stupidest thing I have ever done in my life.” Bull squeezed him and Zach held him back. ”I should have had you just go home.”
”Umm, guys,” Tristan said from behind him. Zach groaned because he didn't want this to stop.
”Bull,” Zach said, and he released him, but stood close. ”These are my friends-Jeremy, Tristan, and Kevin. They were with me at the club.” Bull nodded to all three but didn't say anything.
”Maybe we should be leaving,” Tristan said, but none of them made any sort of move. Bull growled and they all stood up.
”Do you think it's safe?” Kevin whispered.
”It should be fine,” Bull told them, and they all grabbed their things and filed out.
”You certainly know how to clear a room,” Zach said.
”They're safest if they're at home,” Bull told him and then started wandering around the apartment. ”Go on and pack a bag. I don't want to leave you alone.”
”Why not stay here?” Zach asked.
”Because that bed is way too small for the both of us, and I intend to keep you extremely close,” Bull told him. Zach swallowed. ”I know you probably think I'm overreacting, and maybe I am, but....”
”Just say it,” Zach said as he pulled out his bag and put a few things in it.
”I was scared half to death as soon as I hung up the phone,” Bull admitted, and Zach figured that was as close to a declaration of Bull's feelings as he was going to get. Zach finished packing his things and turned around. Nervous energy radiated off him.
”Is there something you aren't telling me?” Zach asked.
”No. I....” Bull paused. ”I was just... concerned.” The nerves seemed to slip away, replaced by the in-charge guy Zach was used to seeing.
”Because you care or because you felt responsible?” Zach asked. He set the bag on the bed and crossed his arms over his chest.
”f.u.c.k,” Bull said.
”Maybe, but only if you answer my question,” Zach pressed. This was fun. A small vein on Bull's forehead throbbed.
”You're a...,” Bull started. ”Because I care, all right? I was worried because I care about you, and as soon as you hung up I went crazy worrying I might have put you in harm's way.”
Zach moved closer. ”Was that really so hard? I care about you too.” He reached up and threaded his arms around Bull's neck. ”There's nothing weak about telling someone they mean something to you.”
”There is if they use it against you,” Bull corrected, and Zach gasped.
”Did this Junior person you mentioned do that?” Zach tightened his arms. Bull didn't answer, but he didn't need to. Zach could already see the answer in the swirl of conflict in Bull's eyes. ”If he wasn't already dead, I'd kill him.”
”Okay, tiger,” Bull said, pulling him close. ”Let's not get all wound up. Have you got your stuff for work?”
”Yes. I just need my sketchbook and then we can go.” No way would he leave that behind. If everything worked out, he hoped he would get a chance to draw Bull a few times. Zach rested his head on Bull's chest. ”I'm glad you came over. I missed you.” They shared another hug, and then Zach got his things. As he was leaving, he remembered the beer sitting in ice in the sink. He ran back and took care of that before he locked the door and followed Bull out to his car.
THE MAN MAN drove like a bat out of h.e.l.l, weaving around cars on the road and racing through traffic signals. Zach held on the entire way and kept quiet, hoping they arrived in one piece. At the house, Bull parked in the driveway and got out of the car. Zach waited while Bull checked the backyard and then around the house before unlocking the door and walking inside. drove like a bat out of h.e.l.l, weaving around cars on the road and racing through traffic signals. Zach held on the entire way and kept quiet, hoping they arrived in one piece. At the house, Bull parked in the driveway and got out of the car. Zach waited while Bull checked the backyard and then around the house before unlocking the door and walking inside.
The man Zach had seen in the beer store sat at Bull's kitchen table.
”I got your message that you wanted to speak to me,” Spook said evenly, watching Zach the entire time. ”I guess I thought you'd be alone.” He got up from the table and walked toward the door. ”Maybe another time.”
”No, you'll talk now, or leave and not come back,” Bull growled.
”Not in front of him,” Spook said. ”He's not part of this.”
”You made him part of it when you did such a sloppy job watching us at the restaurant,” Bull said in a low, threatening tone. ”Just so we're clear, since we've never actually met, I'm Bull, and I know you're Spook. Your reputation precedes you, although I'm a little surprised Zach, here, was able to make you at the restaurant.” Bull put his arm protectively around Zach, and Zach moved closer. ”I hadn't noticed you until I caught a glance of you in the parking lot, but Zach saw that you'd ordered but weren't eating.” Spook's gaze s.h.i.+fted to him, and Zach thought he saw a touch of respectful surprise. ”So do you want to tell me what you were contracted to tell me?”
Spook sat back down at the table, but said nothing. ”The client is very secretive, and we have specific instructions to speak only to you.”
”Then you can tell the client my answer is no and be on your way. I've been out of the business for the past four years, and I'm not particularly interested in taking any new jobs. I have a good life and I don't want to take a step backwards into the life,” Bull answered forcefully.
Spook met Bull's gaze. ”You know it's never that easy. This particular client has an affinity for your work, and he doesn't take no for an answer.” Zach looked from Spook to Bull and instantly knew that Bull knew who Spook was talking about. ”He also has a very long reach and a very delicate job that needs to be done.”
Zach swallowed hard and waited for Bull's response. ”Tell the client,” Bull began slowly, ”that I will not be bullied and that things have changed. I have not been in his employ for some time. I always keep my word, but if threatened, certain information will find its way to people your client will not be pleased about. Some of this information could prove lethal for your client.” Bull remained calm, but Zach was getting more and more nervous. He tried to follow this conversation, but too many details had been left out.
”That would be a violation of all agreements,” Spook said.
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