The Bounty Hunters: The Marino Bros.: Box Set (33 page)

Gary had been
up early. He awoke from a deep slumber with a start; his first thoughts were of Ronnie and the shit she had almost gotten him in last night. He rubbed his hands over his face to wipe away the sleep that remained, and felt the bristles. He needed a shower and a shave. He also needed to clear his mind. He was still second guessing himself about calling in the Brimeyers. The last time he spoke to them, he reminded himself, they told him to lay low, and not to call them unless it was an emergency. They’d also told him they’d be watching, and to keep his mouth shut. He wondered if they knew about Ronnie. That she fled. That might make them change their minds.

If they didn’t know, who would it hurt, he thought. First things first though, he needed that shower. He got up and made his way to the bathroom. Glancing at the clock he realized he slept through his alarm. It was nearly nine. He hustled. He wanted to get into town and be sure Ronnie and the Bounty Hunter were long gone. Once in the bathroom, he reached over to adjust the water temperature, and then he stripped.

He got in before the water warmed, enjoying the coolness of it. It woke him up.

He shook his head with a snap, and cold water from his shaggy mane went splashing across the walls and tile floor.

Once again he was thinking about the Brimeyers. If they did get wind that Ronnie was in town, they might get pissed he hadn’t told them. What the hell should he do? The water began to warm, and he washed quickly. He could always say he hadn’t called because that’s what they’d told him to do. Play dumb.

Fuck, he just had to hope she was gone. That she’d taken the early flight. He wanted to get the fuck down town, and find out. He flung the shower curtain open and stepped out, not even bothering to dry off. Water pooled on the floor at his feet as he grabbed his razor, and shaving gel from the counter.

If she was still there, he’d have to call. That’s it. Tell them and let them take care of her. Whack her, if they had to. Fuck! What a waste. He began to smooth the gel over his face working it into a lather.

He picked up his razor and made the first stroke.

But what if they whacked her and he was in town? That wouldn’t look fucking good at all for him. He needed to get out of town. If anything went down, he didn’t want to be here when it did. Goddammit it all. He didn’t know what to do. Swish, another stroke, and he nicked himself.

“Fuck,” he grunted at the sharp pain even though it passed quickly. He grabbed some tissue, tore off a tiny piece, and placed it on the cut to stop the bleeding.

Ugh! He was probably panicking for nothing, he thought, as he picked up his razor again and rinsed it before resuming his shave. She was probably in Florida. His paranoia from lying low so long was getting to him. He’d go to town, get some coffee, and then he’d fucking go home to Bangor. He was tired of this shit. Fuck his parents, the Brimeyers. He needed some companionship. He was going nuts. He’d keep his cool, he’d hang with some friends on the down low, put this crap behind him.

He finished shaving, and wiped his face. Buck naked, he crossed to the door, and went out to the room he was staying in and grabbed some fresh jeans and a UMaine t-shirt. He smirked at it. Ronnie had given it to him. Fucking shame. She’d been great in the sack.

*     *     *

Gary made the
drive to Spragueville quickly and was nearing the hotel when something caught his eye. He did a double take driving to the Dunkin on Deerfield Drive. Fucking Ronnie was walking down the block. Alone.

What the hell? His heart pounded in his chest and he had to pull over. He watched her in the rear view mirror, saw her pass the intersection, and head to the abandoned Buddy’s warehouse. She was acting shifty. She kept her head straight and slightly averted from the road. He might not have recognized her with her hood up, but she was twirling a platinum blonde curl with one finger as she walked, and she was wearing the same clothes as last night.

He watched her go around the side of the building, and then she disappeared from view.
What the fuck was she up to? Where was she going? Where was the bounty hunter? What and the hell was she doing walking down the block in broad daylight?

His temples felt like they were going to explode. He didn’t know what to do. Should he go after her? Should he wait here? After a minute, he decided he needed time to process this. Dunkin was just up ahead. He’d get coffee, and watch the place for a bit, maybe go check if no else showed up. He was through the drive thru quickly, and pulled back along the curb with a view of the warehouse.

His cell phone rang, when he was blowing on his coffee to cool it. Glancing at the passenger seat where he had thrown his phone, he saw Ronnie’s number pop up, the same one that had shown up on the caller ID at the servant’s cabin.
She was calling him? Again?

“Fuck,” he garbled as hot coffee spilled on his crotch. “Fuck god damn!” He slapped at his crotch, and moved in his seat as the searing pain took its sweet time to lessen.

On the fourth ring, when it went to voicemail, Ronnie’s heart dropped. She tried the cabin first and hadn’t gotten him. Now he wasn’t answering his cell.

“Just try again, sweetheart, two times is a charm,” Nikko’s out of body voice whispered in her ear. He told her to try the cell when he hadn’t picked up at the cabin and she’d panicked.

She hung up, and hit redial before she lost her nerve. On the second ring, Gary picked up. He wasn’t in a good mood. “What?” he snapped.

“Gary, it’s me Ronnie. Baby, you got to help me. I got away from that ass wipe bounty hunter late last night. Please, please, come help me. At least get me to my bike. I got to get out of town. I can’t go to jail. I’ll go to Canada, somewhere, and you’ll never hear from me. Please,” she begged. She got all the words out in a rush so he wouldn’t hang up.

Gary was confused as hell. She sounded scared. “Where are you?” he winced still dabbing at his crotch although he knew very well where she was. He heard the fear in her voice, as he continued to shift in his seat to ease the throbbing in his dick. He was having trouble concentrating and he needed to.

“I got away last night. I hid in the old abandoned Buddy’s for the night. I think I lost him. I checked around and haven’t seen him,” she pretended to sob softly.

“Why didn’t you call earlier?” he snapped. The burn, plus paranoia, was making him crazy. If she was so afraid to get caught why was she walking right past him fifteen minutes ago?

“I didn’t want to put you in jeopardy, baby, until I knew I lost him. I know we didn’t get to talk much last night. I really don’t want to bring you down with me. So I just hunkered down here until I thought the coast was clear. God, Gary. I am so sorry.” Her stomach rolled having to apologize to him, but she went on anyway.

“The thought of you getting in trouble for helping me, kills me,” she lied. “I am innocent, but I can’t prove it, and I’d rather go down alone then bring you with me and tarnish your name. Your family’s name.”

Ugh, she wanted to puke. But she used all the words Andreas told her to use. ‘Put him at ease. Let him know the most important thing to you is him, and his safety.’ He had to feel at ease before he would even consider meeting her again. When he didn’t respond, appeared to be thinking, she jumped right back in. Don’t give him too much time to think, Andreas cautioned her.

“I love you Gary. I know we have had some rough times, but baby you’re all I’ve got. I’m no good for you, I know.” She cried harder. “But, to keep you safe, I’ll leave the country, and you’ll never have to worry about me again. I just hope you can be happy. Just, please, please, get me to my bike. I can’t risk going to your cabin in day light.”

The thought of her walking to his place got his attention. The Brimeyers opened up the bar around eleven. He didn’t want her walking right past them. “No, don’t do that. Buddy’s you, say?” he added even though he knew that’s exactly where she was.

“Yes, please, please come,” she begged.

“Fuck Ronnie,” he murmured. He needed time. To think. He had to get this girl out of his hair. He fucking owed her that at least. His fucking drugs after all. “Give me . . . oh fuck! Give me about thirty minutes.”

“Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you,” she cried, “I love you so much. I promise, after this I’ll leave you alone. Oh, baby.” She was sobbing now with what she hoped sounded like relief.

“All right, Ronnie,” he breathed heavily into the phone. “If I am going to get there, you’d better let me go.”

“Okay, baby. Please hurry,” she whispered as he clicked off. The sooner the better, she thought. And the sooner this nightmare would be over.

“He said . . .,” she started.

“We got everything.” It was Andreas’ voice now. “You were holding the phone close to the barrette,” he answered her unasked question.

“I’m going to ask for silence from everyone now though,” he added. “In case hockey schmuck comes early. But, we are all in position. Blaze and I are in the little stand of trees. Hidden well. Once puck face gets here, and we’re assured he is alone, we will get closer. Relax everyone, and sit tight.”

“Okay,” Ronnie whispered in the darkness to no one in particular. She felt suddenly very tired. Her fatigue motivated her to lie down, and curl up on the sofa to wait it out. The silence surrounded her, enveloped her like a glove. Even though she knew Nikko was watching, she’d never felt so alone in her life.

*     *     *

Nikko watched her
through the infrared glasses he wore. His heart ached to touch her, to hold her. This would be the longest thirty minutes of his life. He felt his brother’s hand squeeze his shoulder. They squatted on the cat walk, getting comfortable. Waiting. Soon, he told himself. Soon, it would be all over. Then, they could begin . . . To live.

*     *     *

Gary watched the
old decrepit building and sipped on his coffee begrudgingly. He needed the caffeine, or what was left of it. No one approached the building. And no one left.

He had to make a decision. He felt like just stepping on the gas and getting the hell out of Spragueville, and was very tempted to do just that.

Thirty minutes later, he was nursing the last of his lukewarm coffee still trying to figure out what to do. He didn’t have many options. He could go get her and bring her to her bike. Give her a bit of cash. But what if she got caught? What if he got caught helping her? Could he risk that? Fuck, fuck his life.

He slammed the steering wheel of the servant’s Toyota, and then finished the last of the coffee in one swallow. He really didn’t have much choice. He needed to finish this. He’d made up his mind. Opening the glove box, he took out the small derringer. His mother’s. He’d taken it when he went into hiding just in case the Brimeyers showed up. He grabbed it at the last moment before leaving the cabin. He didn’t know what possessed him, but he was glad to have it. Just in case.

Yes, he’d try to help her one last time, but that was it. He’d take her to her bike, and then she needed to split. But, he’d bring the gun just in case.

He started the car, and drove slowly away from the curb and around the empty building. He made a quick tour around the lot to make sure no one else was there. Seeing no cars, he swung around one more time. He saw the door on the back side by the wooded lot, and pulled up to it. Taking one last look around, and again seeing nobody, he got out, slipped the gun in the back of his waistband, and stepped inside.