THE BRAVO BOYS - SNAKE EATER [book three]

Chapter SIX

Shelby Quinn

... one week later ...

I stare numbly at the stone cold cup of coffee on the cafe table, my mind nothing but a mess of misery and a million buzzing questions, hounding me like hungry mosquitoes.. It's been months since I last saw my father's weathered face and I grow more hopeless each day that passes with no news of his whereabouts..

The worst part of it all is not knowing..
Is Hendrix safe?
Is he suffering?
It's the mystery of it that hurts the most..
I keep hitting dead ends as if brick walls had been put up around the man and his life and confidential red tape ties me up at every turn.. It seems nobody wants to help me in my quest for answers and I am fast running out of money to continue funding the fruitless search..

Just as I had anticipated, Tyler Bennings, the CEO of Blackstar had once again cancelled our scheduled meeting, this time he had cited an important international business trip as his excuse and his secretary apologised via voicemail for the inconvenience..

An 'inconvenience', she'd fucking called it.. As if my father's absence were nothing more than unpleasantness, a nuisance..
Her snobby, inconsiderate and insensitive tone had grated against my every nerve.. Her lack of compassion was apparent..

Nobody fucking cares..

Dropping my head into my hands I swallow down all the bitterness and rage that festers inside me, biting back on a scream that desires to drive its way from my tightly clenched teeth.. When an oversized shadow slinks across the cafe table, blocking out the radiating warmth of the sunshine that I had been basking in, I groan in frustration.. "Do you fucking mind?" As I lift my gaze towards the sun I raise a hand to shield my eyes from the brightness to find the most unexpected sight.. Framed by a halo of golden light burning all around him, he glows as if he were some kind of saviour.. An angel.. "Oh, it's you!"

But saviours don't scowl the way Logan Nash does..

Dark, dreamy and downright devilish, I can hardly believe my eyes..

How did he find me?

"Let's get one one thing straight, Beauty Queen--" The Cyber-genius stands before me all six foot something of masculine swagger and unsuspecting muscle.. His earthy brindle hair shines glossy in the sunlight and his olive complexion is accentuated by his distressed black jeans and grey sweatshirt.. His titan's shoulders are broad and squared with confidence and his concrete jaw is set to stern as Logan pulls out the chair opposite me and flops his heavy frame down into the seat with a grunt.. "I don't give a fuck about Specter or any of your Federal friends, you got me? If I'm gonna help you, it's not gonna be for Iris.. I don't work for her.."

"Who do you work for?" Stunned by his seemingly miraculous appearance I sit up straighter.. A new spark of hopeful optimism flickering to life within me for the first time in weeks as he lifts the dark shades from his eyes to assess me under the honeyed gleam of his Teutonic-gold gaze..

"Does it matter?" Answering my question with an evasive question of his own, he leans back comfortably and motions to the waitress to pour him a cup of coffee with the wave of a hand..

"I guess not.." I shrug.. "I just prefer to know who I'm doing business with.."

He narrows his sharp hawkish eyes on me.. "The only thing you need to know is that I'm the only one who can get you what you want.." Soon enough a steaming mug is set before him and he smiles sweetly at the pretty waitress who swoons as if intoxicated by his southern manner and devilish charm.. "Thank-ya kindly, Little Darlin'."

I watch as our sporty young server blushes bright pink, a self conscious hand lifting to the tip of her ponytail as she twists it around her fingers with a coy smile.. "You're so welcome, Handsome.. Let me know if I can get anything else for you.."