“Alex and I will take David the money,” I said.
“You’re nuts,” Bella said.
We were still on the beach and Jackson had passed out on a towel next to us. I’d grabbed a couple more chairs and the three of us were sitting there, discussing our options. Or rather, I was throwing out options and Bella was discouraging them.
“He’ll freak,” she said. “Absolutely freak. And come after me.”
“No, he won’t,” I said.
“How do you know?”
“Because I’m going to tell him not to.”
Alex chuckled, but Bella just shook her head, her mouth set in a line of agitation.
“I’m not going to let him hurt you, Bella,” I said. “You need to trust me if you want my help. Remember?”
The line softened, but didn’t disappear completely. “I remember. I do trust you. But he isn’t some neighborhood dealer and I think that’s how you’re looking at him.”
“He’s capable of more?” Alex asked.
She nodded.
“Like?” Alex prodded.
“Like a lot more, okay?” she said. “He’s killed people. He’s just like Evan was.”
“Who’s Evan?” Alex asked.
I waved him off.
“They are so much alike,” she continued. “I know him. And it won’t be about losing the deal. It’s going to be someone telling him what to do. That’s the stuff he can’t take. The stuff that will piss him off.”
Which I already knew. Guys like David got off on the control far more than the money or deals. But I could understand why she was scared.
“Fair enough,” I said. “But there are two of us here now. Alex is going to help. You won’t be left alone until it’s settled.”
She glanced at Alex and he smiled at her. She looked away. “What exactly does ’settled’ mean?”
“It means that until I’m comfortable knowing David will leave you alone, one of us will be with you and Jackson.”
“But you just said the two of you were going to take the money to David.”
“I changed my mind,” I said. “Alex will stay with you and I’ll take the money.”
She turned her gaze to me. “You didn’t fare so well with him last time.”
I smiled. “I wasn’t ready for a fight. I will be this time.”
She chewed on her lip for a moment. “I don’t want you getting the crap beat out of you for me.”
“He gets the crap beat out of him for a lot of people,” Alex said.
Her eyes flitted to him and she tried to suppress a smile, then looked back at me. “I mean it.”
“I know you do,” I said. “But I’ll be fine.”
She sighed, shook her head, still unsure. She touched Jackson’s hair lightly. “So, when is this going to happen?”
“Soon as we’re done here,” I said. “I’ll put the equipment away and Alex will go with you guys.” I looked at him and he nodded. “And I’ll go to David’s.”
“And that’s it?” she said. “Just like that?”
“What exactly should I wait for?”
She looked away.
“You got anything with you?” I said to Alex.
He nodded. “I’m covered.”
“Anybody comes, they’ll be gunned up.”
“I’m covered,” he repeated.
It was almost four o'clock. The chairs were nearly empty now and the tourists were streaming back to their condos in preparation for dinner. I shook the sand from my feet and stood.
“I’ll need an address for him,” I said.
She hugged her knees to her chest and watched the water. “You promise you’ll come back? In one piece?”
“Yes.”
She laughed and shook her head. “You can’t make that kind of promise.”
“You asked me to.”
She squeezed her knees and she tilted her head to look up at me. “Just come back.”