When we walked in, everyone stared at us.

Eddie and I stopped.

I did a store sweep.

Then I did a vague hand wave.

Then I said, “Hey.”

No one moved.

I sighed. “I’m perfectly fine,” I told them.

This prompted action, but only from Duke.

He walked from behind the espresso counter, grabbed a broom that was against the wal and stormed outside. He swung the broom like it was a basebal bat against a telephone pole. He did this with such force, it split in half, the broom portion flying out into Broadway, where luckily the cars were stopped across the intersection at a light.

Then he did an under arm toss, throwing the remaining portion into the street and stormed back in.

Everyone watched this, therefore, everyone was watching Duke when he came back. He pointed to me, brows drawn under his trademark rol ed, red bandana that was tied around his forehead.

“You’re done,” he said, his gravel y voice low and barely control ed.

I nodded. I was too scared to do anything else.

Then he pointed to Eddie.

“You got two days to sort this shit out. You don’t, Jet and her Mom are disappearing. Got boys everywhere who owe me favors. She stays in this kind of danger, I’m putting her on the back of a hog and she’s gone. Got me?” This outburst took me by surprise.

First, I didn’t know Duke liked me so much. Duke was kinda surly so I figured mostly he put up with me, not that he liked me. Not enough to break a broom and definitely not enough to go head-to-head with Eddie. Second, I was flipping out because Duke was going head-to-head with Eddie. I didn’t think Eddie would like that.

“Calm down, hombre,” Eddie said in a warning tone.

I was right, Eddie didn’t like that.

“I’l calm down when I don’t hafta jump on my bike in the middle of the night to make sure one of my girls didn’t get her head blown off.”

“Duke, it’s just a graze,” I put in, feeling the words “one of my girls” slide through me like silk.

His eyes cut to me. “I don’t f**kin’ give a shit, do you see where it is? An inch and half your head would have been gone. Jesus f**king Christ!” he exploded.

I had no chance to defuse the situation I felt hands on me then. I was shifted outside of Eddie’s arm and then engulfed in a hug. I felt Tex’s flannel shirt against my cheek and then I felt his beard press against my forehead.

“Fuckin’ A, Loopy Loo,” he said, absolutely no boom to his voice.

I couldn’t withstand it. Tex always had a boom to his voice. Tears hit my eyes and I couldn’t control them.

“I’m okay,” I whispered.

“World would be a poorer place, without you in it,” he whispered back, actual y whispered.

“I’m okay,” I repeated, putting my arms around his waist, or trying to, he was a big guy they didn’t fit al the way around.

If you told me two weeks ago I’d be hugging Tex, I would have laughed in your face. But there you go.

His arms loosened and he turned me towards Mom who was standing there. She pul ed me to her, one-armed and this started the rounds of hugs, cheek-kisses (except for Blanca, who laid one right on my lips) and a lot of me saying, “I’m okay.”

I had to admit, this brought it al home to me. You get caught up in your chaos, you don’t realize just how much you’re dragging everyone along with you.

In the end, I was slouched, exhausted, on a couch between Mom and Trixie, my head on Mom’s shoulder, her head resting against mine. Ada’s handkerchief with most of my mascara on it was clutched in my hand.

“I’m sorry,” I told Mom, “I just wanted to fix things.” Her head came up and she looked down at me.

“Can you do me a favor, dol face?”

I nodded.

“This time, can you let someone else fix things?” I looked to Eddie, who was the someone else who was going to fix things. He was talking low-voiced to Mace. They broke off and stepped outside.

Damn.

I sighed.

As Eddie would say, one thing at a time.

“Sure,” I said to Mom.

Mom relaxed into me. “That makes me feel a whole lot better.”

Blanca, sitting across from us, said something in Spanish. I looked at her.

“Pardon?” I asked.

She shook her head but Gloria answered.

“She said you were worth the wait.”

I clutched the handkerchief tighter.

Yeesh.

Was I in trouble or what?

“Thank you,” was al I could think to say.

It was then Ada shuffled up, her eyes gleaming and she pointed to Vance.

“That boy over there is a bounty hunter and he’s got a motorcycle and he said he’d take me for a ride.” Dear Lord.

I visualized Ada on the back of Vance’s Harley and I couldn’t help it, I burst out laughing.

Mace disappeared, but Eddie came back and I wasn’t certain I could read his face, except for the fact that whatever he was thinking was not good.

I got up and went to him. The minute I came within reach, he grabbed my hand and pul ed me closer, sliding an arm low around my waist, he drew me into his body and touched his lips to mine.

“Gotta get to work,” he said when he was done.

“Gotta get to work,” he said when he was done.

Hmm. He was trying an avoidance tactic.

“How’d it go with Mace?” I asked, not letting him get away with it.

His eyes flickered, not a good sign.

“He’s clear where I stand.”

This wasn’t a lot of information.

“Eddie…”

The hand not around my waist went to my neck and his eyes locked on mine.

“Stay away from Mace,” he said.

Uh-oh.

“What’s that mean?” I asked.

“It means stay away from Mace,” he said.

“Eddie.”

He pul ed me deeper.

“Mace knows where I stand, I know where Mace stands.

Now that I know, I’m asking you, stay away from Mace.” My eyes bugged out.

What did that mean?

No, I didn’t want to know.

I tried for assurance.

“I never see Mace, he’s a night time person.”

“Good.” He did another lip touch, so I guess he was assured, then he said, “I talked to Lee, you got protection anytime you aren’t with me. First up is Matt.” No.

No, no, no.

“Eddie! I can’t…”

“I’m not arguing about this Chiquita. I’ve been a party to scenes like we just had when we walked in here, but I’ve always been the man removed. Don’t like bein’ part of the scene or people I respect breaking brooms and gettin’ in my face. You’re not with me, you got a bodyguard. End of discussion.”