Promises Part 1 (Bounty Hunters 1)

“No one can mistake Quick’s big ass, with that long fuckin’ hair and tattoos, man.”

Very true. “Well, how would Austin know who Vaughan is?” Maybe Quick was there with someone else.

“I showed Austin the pictures I took at Charlie’s retirement party and Austin specifically pointed out Vaughan asking who he was and I told him that he was Quick’s son, recently back from school. And Austin never forgets a face.”

“This isn’t possible,” Duke whispered to himself. Why would Vaughan lie? Or maybe he just got home and was checking on… Hell, Duke couldn’t come up with anything right then. Vaughan was at work. In Miami. Judge was still talking and Duke had to stop his internal monologue and listen.

“You know, man. I was skeptical when I saw him all over you at Charlie’s party. I really thought you were trying to get back at me or something… for… you know… and him being younger.”

Duke scrunched his entire face up at the absurdity. ‘Getting back at him.’ Is he fuckin’ serious? “Why the hell would you think some bullshit like that?”

“Chill. Chill. I know. It was dumb, okay. But it seemed weird for Quick’s son to be all over you, dude. You have to admit. But man. Anyone that would donate a kidney to someone else… That’s real dedication, man. The kid is all right in my book. Why didn’t you tell me it was him?”

“WHAT!” Duke screamed, immediately clutching his side in pain. He hadn’t realized that he’d been walking without thinking and was already back in his truck. He turned over the ignition since he was sweating from the heat that had filled the cab in the last couple hours. If he was going to think clearly, he had to cool off and breathe. His ears rang and his heart felt like it would beat right out of his chest and fall onto the floorboards.

“You don’t know,” Judge said timidly.

“WAIT! WAIT A FUCKIN’ MINUTE!”

“Duke, whoa. Calm down, please. I thought you knew.”

Duke could hear Judge cussing and swearing under his breath.

“Are you telling me that Vaughan is the donor?” Duke’s voice was so tinged with emotion and pain that he hoped his words were comprehensible. “Are you sure?”

Judge was saying something, but his voice was muffled like he had his palm over the mouth of the receiver and Duke assumed he was talking to his lover. Trying to clarify some of the information. Then Duke heard, “Just give me the phone,” and the next voice he heard was deep and melodic.

“Hi, Duke. It’s Austin. I’m glad you’re okay, man. Judge was real upset when he thought you wouldn’t make it.”

Duke wanted to tell Austin to get to the damn point, but he listened, trying control his breathing.

“Anyway. Judge told you why I was at the hospital. My witness gets dialysis at the hospital five days a week and I was there talking to him when I saw Quick and his son standing at the nurse’s desk with a couple doctors. I was gonna head over and introduce myself but I thought I’d let them finish flirting with the ladies, because the nurses were going on and on. I mean really gushing over them both. But when the doctor turned and told Vaughan that everyone on that floor loves a living donor and how brave and generous everyone believes them to be, Vaughan was actually blushing. So I knew it was him and not Quick. Especially since his walk was slow and measured when he left, like he’d… like he’d had surgery.”

Okay, Duke thought. That was a lot of good evidence, but still not concrete. Austin’s next words shattered that delusion. “The doctor also walked with them to the elevators and as they passed me, the doctor said Vaughan was healing well and would see him in a couple weeks. So I put two and two together and figured; how much of coincidence could this really be? I told Judge, since he’d been skeptical of the guy’s intentions. No one would donate a kidney to just anyone… not unless there was some serious love there.”

Shit. Shit. Shit. How is this possible? Vaughan was the anonymous donor. No one had told him. Why? What the hell kind of friend was Quick? What the hell kind of man was Vaughan? Why did he lie? Why was he still lying? Duke needed answers now, right now. He thanked Austin tiredly and was getting ready to hang up when he heard Judge again.

“Oh man. Me and my big fuckin’ mouth. Don’t go crazy, Duke. I’m sure he has his reasons for not telling you… yet,” Judge added hurriedly, but Duke wasn’t in the mood. He only had two people in the world that he needed to talk to right now. Actually three.

Duke was still sitting in his truck in his parking lot. Thinking. His head pounding, sweat pouring down his temples into his collar. His body ached dully, but he was fueled by adrenaline. Surely he’d feel it all when his body calmed down. He finally looked back at his phone and pulled up his internet browser. He retrieved the phone number he needed and pressed the send button.