2. Booker

Chapter 2

Booker

" I 'd much rather have the booth," Austin mumbled as we followed the waitress through the run-down diner.

The blonde gestured to the small table in the center of the restaurant, her high ponytail swinging over her shoulder as she faced us. "Here you are."

"Thank you, ma'am," I said, ignoring Austin's complaint and taking the seat facing the kitchens. The table gave us a clear view of the entire diner, including the front doors.

He sat across from me as she asked, "Can I get you two started with anything?"

"Waters, please." We wouldn't be eating, but the last thing I needed was her complaining we didn't order anything to her coworkers and bringing us unnecessary attention.

She set the menus in front of us. "I'll be right back with those. "

Austin noticeably watched her ass sway in her tiny skirt, his head turned her way until she disappeared into the kitchen. Once she was gone, he faced me. "What's the plan?"

"Not fucking the entire waitstaff," I said, surveying the diner. It wasn't in the best shape, but not much in Whiskey Ridge was. Most of the cushioned seats were torn, scratches etched into the wobbly tables, and the windows looked like they hadn't been cleaned in years. I didn't want to guess what the state of the kitchen was, and it made me all the more thankful we'd eaten before we came.

"I wasn't going to bang her," Austin defended.

I arched a suspecting brow.

"Alright. I thought about it," he admitted.

I shook my head. He was like a kid in a candy store in these places, and the short skirts were teasing him like samples of taffy. "We're going to wait until this guy's girlfriend shows her face, then wait to see if he comes by for a visit."

Henley had brought us up to speed before we'd left this morning. He'd shown us pictures of the girlfriend off Chase's social media, as well as what he looked like so we'd know who to keep an eye out for. He'd mentioned he had a knife on his belt during the match, which meant he knew trouble could present itself at any turn. We just had to hope he wasn't prepared for it today.

"I know that," he said, leaning back in his chair. The metal creaked under the shift in his weight. "But after. Say he does show up. Then what?"

I shrugged. I hadn't thought that far ahead, but whatever ended up happening, if he wouldn't hand the deed back, I had no doubt it'd turn ugly. I wasn't afraid to get my hands dirty if it meant keeping us above water. We had to stick out for our own out here, and I had no ties to Chase to give a damn what happened to him in the fallout.

I folded my hands in my lap, leaning back against the uncomfortable metal posts of the chair, and kept an eye on both the door and the kitchen. "We'll do what Henley suggested."

As Austin shook his head despite the devilish glint in his gaze, the blonde waitress came back with our waters. "Ready to order?"

"We need a minute," I answered, not glancing her way.

Austin, on the other hand, was practically drooling as he looked up at her. "Thanks, McKenna."

After she walked away, I shook my head and said, "Typical name move."

"Her name tag is right out in the open." Austin surveyed out the windows behind me, watching the street. "Not my fault women are suckers for when a guy says their name."

"I'm not sure they mean like that," I stated.

"Oh, yeah? Then what do they mean?"

"When they're not around you, for starters," I said as the door to the kitchen swung outwards, blocking the worker from my view.

"Bullshit." Austin folded his arms, defensive. He was too easy to rile up. He was also too good at getting girls' attention with his sharp jaw, signature five o'clock shadow, and just-long-enough-to-look-messy hair.

The door swung shut, revealing a familiar brunette with blonde tips. "Brynne."

"Don't go testing the name out on your tongue, now," Austin grumbled.

"No, dumbass." I nodded in the direction of the mostly empty bar as Brynne took the order of an old, wiry-haired man. "Chase's girlfriend is right there."

Austin twisted in his seat, and I slapped a palm to my face. Way to be fucking discreet.

"Oh, shit." He faced me again. "Guess timing worked out in our favor."

The front door flung open, its foggy glass making it hard to see who walked through.As they stormed in, I wasn't sure who I was expecting, but it wasn't Chase. It was almost too easy. Our target just entered like a bat out of hell, and I was almost glad for the mood he seemed to be in. It'd make this a hell of a lot more fun.

Brynne stood there, finishing writing down the order despite Chase's blazing glare. He practically shoved the old man off his seat as he braced his hands on the edge of the bar. "Outside. Now."

She didn't look up from the notepad. "Little busy."

His arms, not quite impressive in their size, bulged slightly as he gripped the counter. "Now ."

She raised her chin, regarding him with a bored gaze. "Is there something I can get you?"

"Brynne's taking her break," Chase shouted toward the back before turning and leaving the diner.

I watched, waiting to see her next move, as Austin mumbled, "That doesn't sound good. "

If she followed, I'd have to do the same. I couldn't risk Chase leaving before I confronted him.

Brynne ripped the paper off her pad, setting it on the shelf for the cook to find, and refilled the elderly man's water glass. She wasn't going to leave.

But then, she untied her waist apron, set it on the counter, walked around the end, and disappeared out the front door.

"Goddamnit," I muttered, the chair scraping along the linoleum floor as I stood.

Austin went to stand as well, but stopped when I held a hand out.

"Stay here. I'll be right back."

I didn't stick around to see if he listened as I beelined it out of the diner, checking both ways down the cracked sidewalk to see where they'd gone. But I didn't have to look for long before a woman said, "Let me go, Chase."

"All your shit is gone," Chase spit back from down in the alley beside the diner. I stayed out of view, listening from the corner.

"Why do you think that is?" Brynne snapped back.

"If you found another man?—"

"If I did? You're the one who's slept with half the damn town since getting with me. I had to find out through McKenna!"

"Maybe if you'd do your job in bed, I wouldn't have to," he spit out.

That wouldn't slide.

Before I could think better of it, I stepped around the corner, and the scene before me nearly made me rip his hand clean off. He had her wrist pinned to the wall, his grip hard as her hand turned the slightest shade of purple.

I prowled toward them, and Chase's head snapped my way. "Little busy here, man."

Brynne's gaze found her shoes.

"Busy ignoring her request?" I asked, my words like knives wanting to find their target. Unfortunately for Chase, he was the blazing red bullseye.

"She's my girlfriend," Chase defended, and I swore, I was going to break his damn hand.

"I'm not your girlfriend," she murmured, refusing to look up.

Chase's eyes snapped to her, his face reddening. "What was that?"

His hand tightened on her wrist, and I snapped. Grabbing his arm, I tore it away from her, my other hand coming up to grip his wrist. I squeezed. Hard, just to see how he fucking liked it. "I think you heard her."

His eyes were frantic now as I backed him away from Brynne. I shouldn't give a damn. I was here to clean up Henley's mess, not whatever petty problems these two were having in their relationship.

"Let me go, man," Chase begged, and satisfaction rolled through me as his voice wobbled.

His back hit the brick wall on the opposite side of the alley, and I tightened my grip on his wrist further. "Did you let her go when she asked?"

His frenzied gaze landed on Brynne behind me. "Call for help!"

I nearly laughed. What a fucking wuss.

A crack echoed through the alley, and Chase yelled out in pain as his wrist snapped under my hand. "You touch another woman without consent, and it won't just be your wrist I'm breaking." I let him go, his body shrinking into a ball as he crouched, cradling his broken bone.

I turned to find Brynne standing there, not a single emotion showing in her eyes. As soon as my back was to him, Chase stood up and darted, exiting the alley in a rush.

I lost my one shot, and now, Henley and I were both on his radar. My fists clenched at my sides before I headed back for the street.

"Thank you," Brynne said, pausing me in my departure.

Did she just thank me for breaking her ex-boyfriend's wrist?

"Not a problem," I replied, turning to look at her. She hadn't moved, her ponytail still draped over her shoulder. "That your ex?" Henley had told us they were still together, but based off what little of their conversation I'd overheard, they seemed to have broken up.

"As of last night, yes." She finally tilted her chin up, looking at me. My eyes dropped to her tiny skirt, far too much of her long legs on display. "He's mad I moved out and didn't tell him."

"I'd suspect any man would be." I didn't need to know their story. I just needed my fucking deed back.

Sticking out of the discreet pocket of her skirt was a chain, and I recognized the logo immediately. It was the only motel in town, and the state of the building was worse than the diner.

Without another word, I left, leaving her standing in the alley. I wasn't going to try to comfort her. Last thing I needed was to get caught up in this bullshit any further.

I shoved open the door to the diner, finding Austin still sitting at the table. He had an elbow propped on the sticky surface, gazing up at McKenna as she popped her bubblegum.

"Time to go," I said, slapping a twenty on the table.

Austin did a double take before standing. "It was lovely speaking with you."

"You, too," McKenna said, shoving her hands in the front of her apron. "See you around."

We left the diner, and I didn't bother checking down the alley to see if Brynne was still standing there.

"I'm going to be busy tonight, so you and Henley need to take care of feeding," I said, rounding the front of my truck where it was parked on the street. We hopped in, and I started the engine.

"Where are you going?" he asked, buckling himself.

Pulling onto the street, I said, "Busy."

He snorted. "Always so open with me. What happened out there?"

"I broke the guy's wrist."

Out of the side of my eye, I saw Austin's brows skyrocket up his forehead. "You what ?"

"He was about to do the same shit to her."

As if that was an excuse.

"Fucking hell, Booker. So not only do we need to clean up Henley's mess, but now yours, too?"

My hand twisted on the steering wheel. "I didn't create a mess. "

"You broke his wrist. That sounds like a mess that needs cleaning."

"He probably pissed himself as he ran away, Austin. He's not going to cause a problem out of it."

He propped an elbow on the door. "You better fucking hope not. Now what are we supposed to do? You fucked up our only chance."

"I have a plan."

He threw his hands up in the air, then slapped them palms down on his jeans. "Lovely. Because that went so well the first time."