Hearts and Aces (Kelsey's Burden Series Book 7) by Kaylie Hunter (great books for teens txt) 📗

Beth nodded before turning to Sara. “Go get lunch. I’ll be down in a minute.”

Sara raced from the room. I stood to pick up the larger broken pieces of the chair that was smashed.

Beth glanced at the door before turning to face me. “I don’t want to sound uncaring, but I’m worried about Sara’s safety around Nicholas.”

“Understandable. Wild Card and I will watch him. He won’t be returning to class until we know he’s handling things better.”

“That’s for the best, I think. Nicholas trusts him. Trusts Wild Card, I mean.”

“Wild Card and Pops helped Nicholas get through the worst of his anger after he was rescued. I wasn’t around. I was out hunting the monster who threatened his future. Grady was laid up in bed from a gunshot wound.” I walked over and picked up more broken chair parts. “Wild Card saw Nicholas needed an outlet and taught him how to box. Maybe boxing isn’t the best approach from a parenting standpoint, but it helps Nick. As a person with a few of my own anger issues, I completely understand the need to hit something.”

Beth smirked and looked at the windows. “You can smash the rest of the window. It has to be replaced, anyway.”

“Sounds appealing, but then there’d be more glass to sweep. Let’s get some lunch instead. Maybe I’ll spar with one of the guys this afternoon.”

“Any chance you’d be willing to teach me? I took a self-defense class, but I only learned a few moves.”

“Those few moves usually are the only ones you need. Most of the time, the best defense is hurt your enemy quickly and run like hell. But, yes, if you have an interest in learning, Katie and I can both work with you. You’re in luck, too, because we work out Wednesday nights in the basement gym at the house. I recommend you eat a light dinner tonight so you have less to puke up later.”

“That’s a unique advertising slogan.” Beth held the door for me to carry the chair parts through as she followed with the trash bag.

“Don’t worry. It’s Katie’s night to cook. We usually have to fight over the least burnt scraps of food.”

When we reached the bottom of the stairs, two men met us and took the trash bag and the broken chair from us. Without speaking, they walked away toward the exit. My phone vibrated, and I pulled it out to read the text message. Wild Card was letting me know that Carl had a package. As I texted him back, Wayne walked over, eating a sandwich.

“Quietly warn the guys that something is about to happen in the next ten minutes. Make sure Carl doesn’t hear.”

Wayne nodded and meandered back in the direction he’d just left.

“Beth, can you stay close to Sara? Let her know I’m teaching Carl a lesson?”

Beth raised an eyebrow but walked toward the breakroom. I texted Dave.

~*~*~

Finding Carl, I nibbled on a ham and cheese sandwich as I waited. Ten minutes later, Wild Card entered the gym carrying a silver nitrogen tank. He spotted me and started walking our way. Carl saw him and set his plate on the floor before running over to Wild Card. Carl took the tank and started for the gym doors. Wild Card shook his head and continued to walk toward me.

Carl was almost to the door when ten cops entered, yelling “Freeze!”

Carl planted his feet to the floor, holding the silver tank to his chest with both arms crossed over it tightly. He glanced over his shoulder at me before dashing our way. I expected him to stop when he reached me, but instead he shoved the tank into Wild Card’s arms and continued running toward the back exit, yelling “Ahhhhhhhhh” the entire way.

The cops, still standing near the gym entrance, chuckled for a minute before chasing after Carl. They were halfway across the gym when Carl exited the doors.

“Better hurry!” I called out. “He’s a fast runner.”

Several of the younger cops sped up, closing the distance. I walked toward the doors, still eating my sandwich. When I stepped outside the sight was comical. Four cops stood just outside the doors, panting heavily. The other six continued their pursuit. Carl was in the field zigging and zagging to stay out of their reach. He was almost to the trees by the time one of the cops dove and caught a leg in a firm enough grip to take Carl down. Another cop ran over and placed enough weight on Carl’s shoulders to keep him safely in place while a third cop carefully handcuffed him.

Carl was crying and mumbling words I couldn’t hear.

“He seems really upset,” Wild Card said from beside me. “Think you should call this off, whatever this is?”

I turned to see he was still holding the nitrogen tank. “I was told the chemicals in that tank could be used to make a bomb. How upset do you think he’d be if he accidentally killed everyone?”

Wild Card looked down at the tank before walking over and setting it next to the building. “What’s the plan?”

“Dave and Steve are going to walk Carl through the booking process, then lock him in a cell. I can pick him up in a few hours.”

“You won’t be able to keep a straight face. You should take someone with you.”

“I’ll go,” Beth said from my other side. “This was brilliant.”

Carl wailed like a three-year-old as they escorted him across the field to the front parking lot. I took another bite of my sandwich, not feeling an inkling of guilt.

“Hey, Kel,” Dave said, walking up with Steve to join us. “Are Grady and Bones still coming to poker tonight?”

“No. They won’t be back until tomorrow.”

“Damn. We won’t have enough guys.”

“I’m down for some poker,” Wild