Taken! Alphabet Series - 26 Original Taken! Tales (Donald Wells' Taken! Series Book 14) by Donald Wells

$25,000.00 he actually owed Vinnie D.
    Jessica gave her brother’s hand a squeeze.
    “Jimmy, why didn’t you tell us before?”
    “I didn’t want you to worry. The five grand should have bought me some time, and I figured that I would think of something else by then.”
    He spoke to Jimmy.
    “Who did this to you, Vinnie D?”
    “He’s got two pet gorillas, huge dudes, and one held me from behind while the other one went to town on me.”
    “This couple you mentioned, where can we find them?”
    “The Dawsons? They own a restaurant called Le Chic , it’s right on Main Street.”
    “Have the cops talked to you?”
    “They left right before you came here, and I told them that I would... press... charges,” Jimmy said, and Jessica saw that the medication he was receiving intravenously was making him drowsy.
    She leaned over and kissed her brother on the cheek.
    “You get some rest and we’ll be back later.”
    Jimmy nodded, as he fought to keep his eyes open.
    “I love you, Sis, Bro,”
    “We love you too, Jimmy,” Jessica said, and watched as he faded off to sleep.
    ***
    B ob Dawson pointed to the front door of his restaurant.
    “Just leave us alone; like we told the cops, we don’t know anything.”
    Although the upscale eatery had yet to open for the day, they had pushed their way inside when Jenna Dawson opened the door.
    Jessica pleaded with Dawson.
    “Please, my brother needs your help.”
    “Lady, I’m sorry about your brother, but we don’t know anything,” Bob Dawson said.
    He sighed, and saw Jessica do the same. There was no point in pushing the couple to come forward. He could see the fear in Bob Dawson’s eyes, while Jenna Dawson wouldn’t even meet his gaze.
    Jessica reached out and gripped Jenna’s arm in an attempt to gain her attention, and the smaller woman winced in pain, before rolling up her sleeve and rubbing the point of contact. When she saw that Jessica had spotted the bruises on her arm, she lowered the sleeve and moved away from her.
    “Do we have to call the cops to get you to leave?” Bob Dawson said.
    Jessica shook her head.
    “We’re leaving, but please reconsider and tell the police what you witnessed. This Vinnie D should be locked up before he hurts anyone else.”
    As they were driving away, Jessica looked over at him.
    “Did you notice?”
    “The bruises on Mrs. Dawson’s arm, yes.”
    “That poor woman, she surrounded by abusive men.”
    He drove faster.
    “It’s time to meet this Vinnie D.”
    ***
    V innie D’s Bar & Grill was in a less fashionable section of town, and stood in the center of a large, gravel parking lot that was bordered by trees on three sides, but like the Dawsons’ establishment, it too had yet to open for the day. However, the front door was unlocked, and so they simply walked in. 
    Vinnie D was behind the bar yelling at his brother, Richie, as he held the smaller man’s face in the grip of his right hand. When he spotted Jessica and her husband, he released Richie and sent them a smile.
    “We don’t open for another half hour, folks.”
    Jessica walked over to the bar.
    “I’m Jimmy White’s sister.”
    “I hope you’re here to pay his debt.”
    “Jimmy has given you all the money he’s going to, and he’s pressing charges against you.”
    Vinnie D smiled his crooked smile.
    “The cops have been here. I gave them my alibi for last night, they’ll check it out, and the case will be at a dead end. Jimmy owes me twenty-five grand, and one way or another, I’ll get it.”
    “As my wife said, you’re not getting another penny. I also want back the money he gave you yesterday.”
    Vinnie laughed as he looked over at his brother.
    “Do you believe the balls on this guy, Richie?”
    Car doors slammed in the parking lot, and soon Vinnie’s enforcers, Andor and Beck entered the bar.
    Vinnie called to them.
    “Boys, say hello to Jimmy’s brother-in-law. Give him a taste of what you gave Jimmy.”
    Remembering what Jimmy had