“I didn’t—”
Max tightened his hand around the liar’s throat.
“You didn’t get her to sneak out of school and meet you then drive her to the mall and try to feel her up? You better not lie to me. I have the surveillance tape from the mall.” Max didn’t feel any compunction about lying to the boy dangling from his hand.
“I drove her to the mall because she asked me to. When I tried to open the door for her, she freaked out on me.”
“You just made your second mistake.” Max released his tight grip, and Fisher fell to the floor, barely managing to keep from falling on his face.
Max gave him enough time to get his balance before slamming his fist into his face. Fisher fell backward into the booth, and Max reached down to jerk him out.
“From now on, you don’t look at my daughter.” Max slammed his head down onto the table, dumping a cup full of coke on his bleeding face when he passed out. The teen was still groggy when Max picked him up again.
“If I see you near her again, I’ll fucking kill you.” Max let the boy go, shoving him toward his friends.
“The cops are coming,” Jackal warned him.
“You all get out of here. I’ll see you when you bail me out.” Max sat down in a chair and waited for the cops.
The brothers scattered like dust in the blink of an eye. They had provided back-up if he needed it, but there was no reason to spend the extra money to bail them all out of jail.
The cops called an ambulance for the punk who had thought he could destroy Max’s daughter. Cuffed and placed in the backseat of the cruiser, Max actually felt like he was in a good mood until he realized Casey was expecting him later tonight. She was going to be pissed he had gone after the boy.
He began whistling as the cop drove him to the police station.
“Why in the hell are you in a good mood? Your ass is going to be locked up for a while.” The cop looked at him in the rearview mirror.
“You ever fucked a woman when she’s mad?”
Chapter 20
Casey picked up her cell phone, muting the ringer.
“Got a minute?” Gianna asked, coming into her office.
“Yes. What can I do for you?” Casey asked, seeing her friend with an unusually serious expression on her face.
Gianna closed her office door before taking the chair in front of her desk. She raised the letter in her hand.
“I received this letter in my mailbox today. You picked me as the new vice president?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t understand. I didn’t apply… Lonnie has been here longer, and he wants the job.”
“You don’t want the promotion?” Casey questioned.
“Of course I do. It’s a large pay raise, and the benefits are better.”
“So, you’ll take the job?” Casey straightened the papers on her desk as she waited for her answer.
“Of course I want the freaking job! Are you crazy? Lonnie’s going to be upset, though.”
“Don’t worry about Lonnie. You deserve the promotion. You’re the most reliable worker the bank has; you remain cool when the clients get angry; and your cash drawer is always spot on. You will make a great vice president. I’ll begin your training this afternoon. In a month, you’ll know as much as I do.”
Gianna stood up, holding her hand out. “Thank you, Casey. I haven’t said anything, and I’d like to keep this personal, but the extra money will come in handy. My mom is getting older and is having a hard time working full-time. With the raise, I can help her out until she retires.”
Casey went around her desk, taking Gianna’s hand and tugging her close for a swift hug. “We’ll all benefit from you taking the job. You’re a valuable employee to the bank.”
Gianna gave her a watery smile as she paused before opening the door. “What about Lonnie? I… don’t want him to find out from the grapevine.”
“Send him in. I’ll break the news to him.”
“Thanks again, Casey.”
She went to get herself a cup of coffee. When she returned, Lonnie was sitting in the chair Gianna had vacated.
“Gianna said you wanted to see me. Have you made a decision about the new vice president?”
Lonnie had told everyone in the bank he had applied for the position when the previous vice president had quit to stay at home with her new child.
Casey closed her door, setting her coffee cup down on the desk. “Yes, I have. I offered the job to Gianna, and she accepted.”
Anger flooded his face as he stared at her in disbelief. “You’ve got to be kidding, right? I’ve worked my ass off for that promotion.”
“Yes you have, and it’s been a waste of time. Not only are you not becoming vice president, but you’re fired. Clean your locker out and leave the bank. Jack will escort you.” Casey motioned her head toward the security guard who stood outside her glass office.