This book is not only
unfinished, it hasn't got a proper title. I named the file after the
main character, Kai Marcello. He meets a young woman, Paisley, who
comes to teach water aerobics at his family's gym. He finds out that
she's running away from a very bad relationship with a crazy guy who
tried to kill her. She lives just up the street from Brill, who's the
head of a gang and cousin to one of Kai's best friends. Brill agrees
to have his men look after Paisley. Having something to report, they
come up as Kai and Paisley are leaving her apartment.
They hopped in the Jeep and
were just pulling out when a black Ford truck with spinners and a lot
of chrome cut them off. Kai was grateful for good brakes.
Four thugs got out and came
over to the Jeep. Kai recognized Brill, TM's cousin, and some of his
heavies.
"Yo, Kai," Brill
said, flashing a bunch of gold teeth. "This your lady?"
"Yeah. TM talked to
you?"
"Yeah, man. Listen,
reason I'm stopping by, we saw some dude we didn't know, hanging
around. He looked kinda weasely. What's your ex look like, baby?"
He directed at Paisley.
"I've got a picture."
She shrugged. "My mom and dad are in it too," she added.
"Otherwise, I wouldn't have kept it." She flipped through
the pictures on her phone and handed it to Brill.
He slid his sunglasses down
his nose, looking at the screen. He passed it to his men. One of them
pointed to the picture.
"Nope. This wasn't the
guy, but similar build. The guy I saw was a little taller, scrawny,
fidgety, like he's got a snake up his ass. Dark hair—course that
means nothing, hair dye, right? But this guy? No."
"Memorize this face,"
Brill said. "If that other guy comes back, get us a picture,
dig? If they get a shot, we'll send it to you, baby."
"Thank you, Brill. Why
are you being so helpful? I mean, you don't even know me."
He flashed a smile, leaning
on the door of the car. "Cause you're pure, babe. Unspoiled. And
you're a lady. Real men don't beat their women or try to kill them.
My boys know how to treat a woman right. They raise a fist, they
answer to me. I may be a criminal, but I'm not a wife beater."
She smiled, blinking back
tears. "I feel like I've got my own army of knights protecting
me. Thank you. Hey, what's your favorite kind of cookie?"
"You tell me."
"Peanut butter
chocolate chip."
"Damn, you're right!"
"When I've got power
back, I'll make you some."
He fiddled a moment with her
phone, handing it back to her. "Got my digits. You'll really
make me cookies?" He looked like he wanted to laugh, but didn't
want to offend her.
"As many as you can
eat."
"Kai, dude, you got a
lady of quality there. You take care of her."
"Will do, Brill. And
thanks. I feel better knowing you guys have her back."
They exchanged a complicated
handshake and the gang members left. Kai sat a moment, hunched over
the steering wheel, shoulders shaking.
"Kai? Are you okay?"
A stifled snort told her he
was fine. He glanced at her tears of humor in his eyes.
"Babe, that guy's a
bona fide bad ass. He's been in prison for assault and armed robbery,
he's probably killed a few people—and you offered to bake him
cookies." He couldn't contain his laughter.
Paisley crossed her arms,
smirking. "And if more people had offered to do that for him
when he was a kid, he might not be a bona fide criminal. Everyone
likes cookies, even gang leaders, and I have a killer recipe for
peanut butter chocolate chip cookies."
"Baby, I will
personally help you bake them."
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