Betrayed (Powell Book 4) by Bill Ward Read Free Book Online Page B

warned. “Someone might get hurt.”
    Driven by desperation, Pete threw himself at Powell without warning. Powell turned Steve back to face his friend and pushed him in Pete’s direction, causing them both to fall to the ground. They were both skinny and offered no real threat so Powell did nothing further.
    “Get in the car, Hattie,” he instructed.
    Steve was first back on his feet. “I’ll fucking make you pay for that,” he threatened.
    “Go home before you get hurt,” Powell suggested. “Otherwise, you’ll be leaving here in the back of an ambulance.”
    Pete had joined Steve on his feet. “Perhaps we should go,” Pete said.
    “Not before Hattie gives us what we want,” Steve answered. He was obviously the more desperate of the two.
    Steve took a couple of steps forward while his friend hung back. Powell advanced and in a blur of movement, struck a punch to Steve’s midriff, leaving him bent double and in agony.
    Powell gave Pete a questioning look, which was met with him taking a couple of steps backwards and nodding vigorously. He was definitely more intelligent than his friend.
    Without further ado, Powell joined Hattie in the car and accelerated away. He waited for Hattie to speak.
    “Thanks for your help,” Hattie said after a minute. “I don’t know what they might have done if you hadn’t been there.”
    “Well I was there. Who were they?”
    “Local crackheads. How did you manage to take that knife off him so easily?”
    “As you said, they were just crackheads. I’ve done a bit of kickboxing in the past.”
    “You’re full of surprises, Powell.”
    “You better not go shopping alone in the near future.”
    “I like your style, Powell. You haven’t bothered suggesting we report them to the police. That’s cool. You know I’ve sold them drugs and would get in trouble. Thanks.”
    “What you do or don’t sell is none of my business.”
    “I like you, Powell. If you feel like some company tonight, be sure to let me know.” She smiled very seductively and Powell’s heart missed a beat but he wouldn’t be taking her up on her offer.
    Back at Tintagel, Hattie helped unload the shopping and then went to find Scott. He listened to Hattie retell the events at the supermarket.
    “I’ll speak to Doug and have him sort them out,” he said, when she’d finished. “I’m sorry you had to experience that.” 
    “It would have been very scary if Powell hadn’t been with me.”
    “Powell seems very capable in many ways. I’m hearing good things about his work.”
    “I like him. I hope he stays.”
    “I’ll thank him personally later. Now I have a few things to do before dinner, if you don’t mind?”
    Hattie took the hint and left Scott to his work. She felt like a drink and headed to the kitchen as it was almost time for lunch, which meant the wine would be available for the next hour. She poured a large glass of white wine and not wanting company, headed to the reading room.
    “Didn’t think you used this room,” Powell said as Hattie entered.
    “I wasn’t feeling hungry but I did need a drink,” Hattie explained, holding up her glass before sitting in an armchair.
    “Are you okay?”
    “I’m fine. Especially now I have a drink.”
    “You might be experiencing some of the after effects of shock.”
    Hattie took a large drink of wine. “I’m feeling better already.”
    “I’ll leave,” Powell suggested. “If you want some time alone.”
    “Don’t go. I didn’t want to answer endless questions from everyone else but you’re okay.”
    “Thanks. Let’s talk about something else. Tell me about Hattie. What was life like growing up?”
    “I can’t complain. I had everything I wanted.”
    “You didn’t say that with conviction,” Powell challenged.
    “It’s strange but I never remember being cuddled or kissed as a child. When I have children, I intend to kiss them and let them know I love them, every day.”
    “You mean your parents didn’t easily show