Say No To Joe? by Lori Foster

stepped off the curb before the car sped away, kicking up gravel and dust. Well-trained, Joe made note of the car model and memorized the license plate as the car went down the street.
    Zane trotted up behind him. “What the hell’s going on?”
    â€œI need a pen and paper.” Joe turned away and almost ran into Luna. He caught her upper arms to steady her, then said, “ AM 768U.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œRemember that.” He pushed past her and went to the truck to retrieve his cell phone. “Get a pen and paper for me, honey.” He dialed, and got an answer on the second ring. “Hey, it’s Joe. Yeah, run some plates for me, okay?”
    Joe was aware of Zane and Luna standing by him, silent and watchful. He knew they were oblivious to the connections he’d made throughout his career of various jobs, but they were about to witness the advantages of knowing people.
    â€œReady?” Joe accepted the pen and slip of paper that Luna handed to him. As he spoke, he wrote the number down. “Gold Sebring convertible. Ohio plates. Amy-Mary-768-Unicorn. Yeah, you can call me back on my cell phone.” He recited his number, then hung up.
    Luna clutched at his arm. “Joe? What is it?”
    Joe tucked the paper into his pocket. “We were being watched.”
    â€œYou’re sure?” She looked around with new awareness and irritation.
    Joe wanted to curse himself. Alarming her had never been his intent, but at the same time, he knew he’d do whatever was necessary to keep her safe, and it wouldn’t hurt for her to be on guard. “No, but I don’t believe in coincidence.”
    â€œWas it that damn Bruno Caldwell again?”
    She looked ready to do bodily harm on his behalf. Joe shook his head. “I couldn’t see the guy well, but he appeared younger, with longish dark blond hair almost touching his shoulders. Bruno is mostly bald and very dark.”
    She twisted her mouth in thought. Joe wondered if she even knew she still held on to him. “Should we call the police?”
    Slipping his arm around her shoulders and pulling her protectively close to his body, Joe asked, “And tell them what? That some bastard was watching us from across the street? There’s no law against that.” He urged Luna back to the truck and behind the wheel. The sooner they got out of town, the better. “No, I’d rather do this my way.”
    Zane tightened his mouth. “What the hell does that mean?”
    â€œIt means I trust myself and my own capabilities more than anyone else.”
    â€œI don’t like this.” Zane crossed his arms over his chest. At six-two, he stood an inch shorter than Joe and was a good forty pounds lighter, but at the moment he managed to look big enough. He nodded to Joe’s hand. “You intend to use that on him if you catch him?”
    Startled, Joe saw that he had retrieved his balisong knife without even realizing it. He was twitchy enough with the situation to flip it open and shut, open and shut. The blade was long and lethally sharp, and when he held it, it became an extension of his arm. Balisong knives weren’t meant for throwing, but when Joe locked it open, he could propel it with deadly accuracy. He was so used to the knife he could open it faster than a switchblade.
    When the intruder had come into his apartment earlier, he’d deliberately left the knife behind. His night vision was better than good, but with Luna on the couch, or maybe lurking around, he hadn’t wanted to take any chances that she’d get sliced by accident.
    Joe flipped the knife shut and tucked it away. “Yeah, I’ll use it if I need to.” At that moment, he met Luna’s gaze and saw her apprehension. He turned away from her and muttered low to Zane, “Damn it, you’re scaring Luna. Quit worrying and just close the place up tight for me, okay?”
    â€œPromise me you’ll