She waited. He didn’t sayanything. “Are you going to tell me why?”
“There is a pimp causingtrouble on the streets. Rumor has it he is trying to take my job.”
“Your job?”
“Yes. He is trying to killme. The guy is a … frequent gambler. He told me he wasn’t bad, but he made abet with Bozo. It was an off-the-cuff kind of bet that he didn’t put muchcredit in. Bozo did, now he owes him tens of thousands of dollars. It wouldseem Bozo went to collect, and instead beat the shit out of the guy’s wife andson. He was going to kill them, but then he made a deal. He would shoot me, andin return, all bets were paid.”
“What did you do?” Winnieasked.
“The wife and son are in asafe location. As for the man, the arm he used to fire his weapon is broken,but it will heal, and he also has a swollen eye.”
“You didn’t kill him?”
“No. I knew this wassomething you would ask me, and you wouldn’t be happy if I killed a man thathad no choice in doing what he was blackmailed to do.”
Even though it hurt, shecouldn’t help but throw her arms around him. “Thank you,” she said.
There was no way she wouldbe able to live with herself knowing that, and if Elias had killed him. Peoplewere put in difficult circumstances.
“What are you going to doabout this Bozo?” she asked, the she frowned. “Why would he call himself Bozo?”
“I have no idea. I guessit’s a way for him to hurt others. Anyone seen laughing at his name, hepunishes.”
“What are you going todo?” she asked.
“I am going to kill himand everyone associated with him.”
“What’s wrong?” she asked,sensing there was more to it.
“Nothing. He will sufferfor what he has done, and seeing as I couldn’t kill the man that pulled thetrigger, he will pay double for it.”
Winnie knew there wassomething else wrong, but she didn’t know what it was. Staring at him, shewaited, but Elias didn’t say anything more. Just then, her stomach interruptedby grumbling.
“I’ll get the food.”
She looked down atherself. “I need to get washed.”
“Do you need my help?”
“No, no, it’s fine. Iwon’t take long, just a quick shower. I’ll cover this so I don’t get it wet. Itwill be fine.”
She just needed a minute.Elias leaned forward and kissed her lips.
Something was off, and sheneeded a few moments to compose herself. Elias left, and she quickly made herway into the bathroom, and sure enough, she looked a mess. Her mascara was notwaterproof, and had left streaks running down her face. Her hair was all overthe place, and she looked terrible. Even worse than when he had first met her.
She turned on the shower,found a shower cap, and taped it across her shoulder to keep the dressing dry. Winniedidn’t take long in showering off the night, and the grogginess. Once that hadfled her body, she came to realize just how hungry she was.
After her shower, shedried her hair and didn’t bother going to her beauty room. She pulled on a pairof lounge pants and an oversized shirt. She was just in time, as Elias hadfinished cooking them breakfast. Today, rather than bacon, he had cookedsausage to go with their eggs, along with what looked like a grilled piece oftomato. Her breakfast looked yummy.
Sitting beside him at thebreakfast table, it was strange as he seemed quieter than usual. Not that Eliashad ever been considered chatty, but there was something different about him.
“You’re angry, aren’tyou?”
“If someone finds out Ilet a guy live, they will think I have gone soft.”
“I won’t tell anyone,” shesaid, hoping that would make it better. All it did wasmake Elias shake his head.
All too soon, he was standingwith his breakfast half finished. “I’ve got to deal with work.”
