Promises Part 1 (Bounty Hunters 1)

“Fuck.” Quick gripped his hair and tucked it behind his ear. He tried to think, but Judge’s rough voice cut into his musing.

“He needs to get this guy. Duke hasn’t been in the field since that day,” Judge stated.

“He had surgery, Judge. He had to recover, man. Are you trying to say—?”

“I know that! He had laparoscopic surgery seven weeks ago. He is healed. Even his cast is off now. He’s back in the office. He’s lifting weights and buffing back up, exercising, fucking….”

Quick all but growled and Judge laughed him off.

“I’m just saying. He’s stalling. He’s passed up two bounty recoveries that would’ve been real easy for him but he’s afraid, Quick. And you know it. We got to get him back out there. Soon!”

“Okay, okay. But first off, how good is this intel? None of us are going back into a gang war zone. No amount of bail is worth what we went through.”

“Agreed. But you know he needs to get back out there. Whether it’s to take down Aaron or any other random bounty. He just can’t stay huddled up in that office. The recon is spot on. My guys are the fuckin’ best. One of them is an ex-SEAL. He knows his shit. Aaron has been there for two days and it doesn’t look like he’s about to run, either. My guy said he looks comfortable, like he might be settled in and staying a while. It’s an old girlfriend’s house. She works at a grocery store all day and he’s there while she’s out. There’s limited in and out traffic and no children living there. It’s as good a time as any to get him.”

Quick knew Judge was right. Duke couldn’t cower in his office. He was a bounty hunter. It’s what he’d done all his life. He wouldn’t be fully healed or whole until he faced his demon again, only this time he’d kick his ass. “I’ll call him in the morning.”

“No!” Judge snapped. “Call him now. We go in the morning. You know how this goes. That guy looks like he’s stable but he could bolt at any minute. We’re not his only enemies, I’m sure.”

“In the morning! Wait… who is we?” Quick asked.

“Yes. You. I’m going, too and so is one of my guys.”

“You haven’t done bounties in months. Duke’s gonna think you’re there to watch over him. He won’t like it.”

“I’m still a hunter. Always will be. And I will be there to provide backup whether Duke likes it or not. I don’t give a damn. Now call him. We go at 0600.” Judge hung up.

Quick huffed a tired sigh. He wasn’t in the mood to make the call, especially after midnight, but it had to be done. If the situation were reversed, Duke would be all over him about getting back on the horse. So he’d do it for his friend.

He dumped the rest of his rum and Coke down the drain, since it appeared he was doing to have an early morning, and pressed the speaker button on his phone. As soon as Duke’s groggy voice answered, Quick jumped right to business.

“Judge just call me.”

“So? This better be good to wake me. I was sleeping peacefully.”

I bet.

“I don’t know how good you think it’ll be but I think it’s great. Judge and his PI guys have got a solid lead on Aaron Williams. Judge wants to go after him in the morning.”

“What the hell do you mean Judge wants to, and what the fuck do you mean in the morning? Why is he even calling you? I run the bounty business!” Duke was certainly wide-awake now, as his thick country accent blasted through his Bluetooth speaker.

“Duke, please. You know this is right. Just think for a second. You’re feeling fine. He’s still our bounty. We got good intel that our guy is in a non-hostile location and we have sufficient back up. There’s no reason not to get this asshole.”

Duke huffed but he didn’t object.

“Time to face your demons man.”

“I could say the same thing to you, Rome. You don’t have to face your demons so why should I?”

“What demons?” Quick barked.

“Don’t play stupid. You know what the hell I mean. You’re not facing your shit, so I don’t have to either.”

Quick balked. “What are we, in grade school, dude?”

“That’s how you’re acting.”

“Fine. We’ll face our demons together. You first… then me.”

“Promise.”

“Promise.”

“Deal. I’ll see you in the morning.” Duke hung up.

That was a little too easy. He’d been expecting an hour-long conversation spent trying to convince his friend to take his revenge, but Duke eagerly agreed after Quick gave him what he wanted. Quick stared at the phone wondering if he’d just been had.

Dr. Cayson Chauncey was by no means a demon but if he rejected Quick half as hard as he’d rejected the doctor, the man could level him. And it’d fuckin’ serve him right.