Mercenary Wolf

Ch 4

I debated telling the guys. Then I just had to. He didn't say not to. Everyone was relieved to know he was alive and relatively well. I set up security around my place. Not close, blocks away and again out from that. If nothing else I'd get an idea of what direction he would go.

I waited, almost afraid to leave my house for fear I would miss him. The guys took to hanging around with me. I think they were worried about me. I swear I got the best crew anywhere! Even the new kid was coming around, pushing his physical skills.

Next time Jimbo showed up he actually came in the house. Some of the guys were there. Eddie greeted him like nothing had happened and just kept playing solitaire. Jimbo just stood there, started shaking again. When he walked out of the house I followed him.

"Told you the guys are here for us. They won't leave me be since I told them you showed up."

He didn't say anything. It looked like it was taking all his effort not to bolt away. His shakes were visible.

"Let me help you."

He just shook his head. It ticked me off to be honest.

"Look, you stupid shit, it's obvious you're fighting a battle. You're shaking like a leaf. Tell me what's going on with you."

"I can't, and it ain't drugs. Don't worry. I'm good."

I hadda laugh.

"I can see the shakes from here brother."

"I'm good. I need a grand. Need you to find me a simple bounty to go get, simple as possible. Throw in a couple hundred extra spending cash."

I gave him a measured look and nodded. He knew where my cash was, could have walked in and gotten it himself. It was like he couldn't bring himself to face the guys.

I went back in, pulled two grand and an emergency pack I had prepared for him. New ID, credit card with the standard ten grand on it, two phones, one smart phone and one cheap burner. I took it all back out to him.

He looked through the pack, and for the first time I saw a real smile on him.

"Thanks brother."

"You need more just say so, or come in anytime take what you need. You know what's mine is yours."

He took a step forward before stepping back again. "I gotta go. Get me a paper file on the bounty info." He paused. "How's Lucy?"

See? That's how I know he was seriously screwed up. Third visit and only now he asked about his sis.

"Safe. Moved. Glad to know you're alive. She was worried that creep had somehow gotten you."

"He ain't nothing. There are worse in the world."

Then just like before he just walked away.

He came a week later, some kid on the back of the bike. The kid stayed on the bike. Jimbo  acting all business like he barely knew us. So, he was being watched, and the kid was a spy. Jimbo stayed outside. I brought him some money and info on the bounty he requested. Then he was gone.

I wished I knew what game he was playing, cause he was definitely playing one with the kid and whoever the kid reported to. I didn't get why he didn't let me help. Each time he left in a different direction.

We spied on the bounty we set up for him. It was a simple nab. The kid with him was beyond green. If we hadn't prepped the scene odds are the young twit mighta gotten them both killed. As it was the guns in the place had blanks now. The bigger one we jammed.

I watched the tape of the cap, again and again. I only shared it with Eddie. Our new hacker saw, I'm sure. I threatened him within an inch of his life if he said anything. There wasn't sound, only visual. I both wished I had sound and was grateful there wasn't.

I didn't like the way Jimbo acted around the kid. I could tell when Jimbo tried to keep the kid back and the kid came anyway. I saw when the kid almost got them killed and Jimbo pushed him against a wall. I saw Jimbo knock the perp out.

The kid drew himself up, acting like he had the right to command. Jimbo bowed his head, literally. The kid put his hand on Jimbo's face, brought his head up, only to strike him across the cheek.

I about jumped out of my seat then and there! Jimbo did nothing. I can't figure why he would just let the kid hit him like that. He had to know we were watching. They spoke intently. Finally the kid nodded. Jimbo pulled out his phone, hauled the perp out. Cops came for him. Jimbo and the kid left on the bike.

It burned me every time I thought about it. I mean, what the hell? None of it made sense; not Jimbo's request for an easy catch, not his bringing the kid around, not taking a greenhorn on any kind of mission no matter how simple...

and definitely not taking a bitch slap from some punk kid.