Page 52 of Under Fire

Malik nodded, then kept walking.

***

“You’re still upset, Hollis?”

She glanced at the man behind the wheel, who was driving her to his home. Her arguments and protests with Malik that she would be okay had fallen on deaf ears. Granted, she couldn’t stay in her own home and understood that. However, she could have stayed at his house while he was away, but he didn’t want her to. So, he had flexed his muscles, expecting her to obey. And as usual, she had. Only because she had promised Derek that she would.

But still, that didn’t mean she had to like it, especially when it included Locke. Malik had asked him if she could crash over at his place while he was gone, without talking to her about it first. Like she didn’t have a say and couldn’t make decisions for herself. At least Malik had given her time to take a shower and pack a few things after law enforcement left with two men in handcuffs and the third on his way to the hospital.

“Malik knows better, Locke. He, of all people, knows I don’t like anyone thinking I can’t take care of myself.” She didn’t like anyone bossing her around, but with Malik, that couldn’t be helped.

“Trust me, Hollis, I doubt anyone there tonight, especially those three men hired to rough you up, thinks you can’t take care of yourself. I’m sure they realize they messed with the wrong woman.”

“Serve them right. They had the nerve to invade my home, a place I’ve always felt safe. They were waiting for me. The moment I opened that door, it was on.”

“Yeah, three against one. The odds were in their favor, but you kicked their asses anyway. Even shot one in the ass,” he pointed out.

She scoffed. “I could have shot all three, but I only use deadly force when necessary. I only grazed that other guy’s butt when he tried getting away. Had I wanted to, I could have blown it completely off.”

“I’m sure he appreciated that you didn’t.”

“I hope so. I also hope they give the police a good description of the person who hired them.”

Locke glanced over at her when they came to a traffic light. “So, who did you piss off?”

She shrugged. “If I were to guess, I would say those two FBI agents.”

Hollis then told Locke about Agents Wells and Harris, what she thought she might have discovered at the warehouse, and how they might not have liked that she hadn’t told them anything.

“Why didn’t you tell those detectives that tonight when they asked if you knew anyone who wanted to teach you a lesson?”

“Because I might be wrong, and the last thing I want to do is ruin anyone’s career with false accusations. Besides, they don’t know what I found, and I will handle my business accordingly.”

What she wouldn’t say was that Agents Wells and Harris hiring those guys would have made them automatic suspects. As seasoned agents, they would have known that. For that reason, she wasn’t sure they had anything to do with what happened tonight.

“Make plans to leave for Atlanta on Thursday. Orin Jeffries’ birthday party is Saturday.”

“I didn’t say I was going with you, Locke.”

“After tonight, do you think I’ll leave you behind?”

“I can take care of myself.”

“I know you can, but I need you to help me deal with my mom.”

“Your mom?”

“Yes. She expects me to bring a woman as my plus-one. Terrence all but promised her that I would.”

“Whoa, wait a minute. I refuse to go to Atlanta pretending there’s something going on between us.”

“What makes you think we’ll be pretending?”

His question stomped her, and Hollis honestly didn’t know how to answer. When they reached the next traffic light, she thought he needed to explain what he meant.

They didn’t come to a traffic light. It was a train crossing. As the train was rolling by, he slid the gear into park and turned to face her. “I guess we need to discuss a few things, Hollis.”

“That would make sense, Locke.”