Promises: The Next Generation (Bounty Hunters 5)

When Dana hooked Memphis under his armpits, he threw his hands straight up in the air and slithered back down Dana’s front and wrapped his narrow arms around his ankles, making Dana stumble and windmill comically to avoid stepping on the small man with his steel-toe boots. Ty looked back at Ford to find him cracking up in his truck.

The teens were laughing loudly while aiming their cameras at their skip, who was now rolling across the freezing asphalt. He was literally rolling like he was on fire. Duke had to hop over him to keep from getting hit in the legs.

A worm. Ty got it.

“They’re taking him to jail, or something! Oh snap! They ain’t even real cops, man, and they’re arresting him.” The kid on the bike said loud enough to make more people stop to see what the commotion was about. “Maybe they’re body snatchers.”

“Streaming live now.” Kell murmured. “They better get him up.”

“Agreed.”

“What would you do if it was me and you picking up this guy and he drops in the street like that.” Kell chuckled. His voice was low, soothing in the dim truck.

“I’d do what Quick’s doing right now and get the hell out of there.” Quick cursed then leaned down to scoop the guy up into a fireman’s hold and hurriedly, but carefully, put him into the back of the transport truck. Memphis’ screams got louder as he banged on the inside bars.

Damn. You’d think Brian was taking him to serve a life sentence at Pelican Bay.

Duke said a few words to the two KFC managers who’d come outside. He showed them the eleven-month-old warrant—that was public record—by way of explanation and said something else Ty couldn’t hear, then turned and walked away from their disappointed faces. When their bosses were in the truck, Ty checked his watch. Six and half minutes, and it was over.

Kell grabbed Memphis’ file from the front seat and began scanning more of the documents. “He was stealing things like diapers, formula, one time he stole a pack of chicken breasts and a can of green beans. Who gets ninety days for that? None of it was over fifty bucks. That guy was probably really trying to get his life back together. He’s working a legit job. Doing the right thing. He said he wasn’t shoplifting anymore,” Kell said more to himself.

Ty reached across the seat and lightly brushed his fingertips across the back of Kell’s hand. It was a touch to ease him. His partner closed his eyes and exhaled, leaving his hand under Ty’s comfort. He could already see Kell’s heart was made of gold. While the rest of the hardened hunters only saw Memphis as a bounty, and Ty only saw him as a sniveling man-child, Kell saw something deeper than any of them. He somehow saw goodness in Memphis.

Maybe it was the things Kell had lived through that made him see people, see life, differently. Ty didn’t know what those things were, but he desperately wanted to. Wanted to know how Kell could have such empathy for a man he’d seen for less than seven minutes. He wanted to know how Kell could stir such powerful emotions within him, and so soon.

“Memphis signed then breached a contract, Kellam. Maybe he is trying harder, and he’ll be able to continue on his righteous path after he’s fulfilled his prior obligations.” Quick looked at Kell with understanding eyes, “He has time to serve first. It’s not our place to acquit or determine who should or shouldn’t have to go back to jail. The judge already decided that by revoking the bond. We carry out the judge’s orders.”

“Can you handle that?” Duke turned to Kell. “I know all about your compassion, Kellam. Can you be impartial? Because each one of these offenders will have a sob story, each one more depressing than the last. Some are even telling the truth.”

“He does have heart. He wouldn’t’ve been my student for so many years otherwise, Duke. He may exhibit a lot of compassion, but he will not disobey. He will follow orders. Always,” Quick said before Kell could answer.

“I can handle it,” Kell answered for himself.

Ty smiled and caressed his hand once more. It’d felt so nice the first time, so he did it again.

Kell

“Did you pass?” Kell asked Ty the moment he stepped out of Duke’s door. He’d been waiting for him to finish the Georgia exam on Brian’s computer. He was sure Ty had passed, since it had taken him less than twenty minutes to complete the one-hour test.

Ty turned in his direction. His smile was full of that ’swagalicious charm when he said, “If it weren’t for your bright eyes, Kell, I wouldn’t be able to see you in the dark.”

Kell stood still as Ty approached him. His golden-brown skin and sweet almond eyes got darker the deeper into the shadows he walked. Kell retreated farther, pulling Ty where he felt the most comfortable. His partner followed. Kell leaned against the side of the building with his hood low and his scarf over his mouth. Ty towered over him, his bulk shielding Kell from the wind.