Chapter 6 - The Waitress and the Boss
Kayla walked down the porch steps, stepping right past the kneeling Marco and the trembling Gwen. She reached down, took young Maya by her hands, and gently lifted her out of the mud.
"Come inside, child," Kayla said, brushing a wet strand of hair away from Maya’s bruised cheek. "Let's clean that lip."
Maya looked at her with wide, terrified, yet deeply grateful eyes. "Miss Kayla... who are you?"
"Just a woman who likes quiet streets," Kayla said softly, leading the girl up the steps.
Before stepping inside, Kayla turned back to face the lawn.
Gwen was shivering in the mud, her expensive fur coat ruined, her eyes filled with tears of pure terror. She looked up at Kayla, waiting for the order that would end her life.
"Gwen," Kayla said.
Gwen flinched. "Y-yes, Ma'am?"
"You kicked a child who was only trying to show kindness," Kayla said, her voice dropping into an icy register that made every man on the lawn shiver. "You think having power means you can stomp on those beneath you. You are mistaken. Power is the ability to protect those who cannot protect themselves."
Kayla looked at Marco. "Take her home. Tell Arthur Vane that he has twenty-four hours to turn himself in to the federal prosecutor's office in Chicago. If he hesitates by one minute... I will come out of retirement."
"Yes, Ma'am! Immediately, Ma'am!" Marco scrambled to his feet, grabbing the sobbing Gwen by her arm and dragging her toward the black SUVs like a ragdoll. Within thirty seconds, the gang members had piled into their vehicles, tires screeching as they sped away from Ashgrove Street as if the road itself were on fire.
Inside the kitchen of Number 42, the kettle whistled softly on the stove.
Maya sat at the formica table, a warm towel pressed against her face, a fresh mug of sweet tea in her hands. Milo sat right beside her chair, resting his large, heavy head on her knee, letting the young girl stroke his soft gray ears.
Leo stood by the back door, holding a secure satellite phone, while Wilton worked quietly in the corner, setting up a encrypted laptop terminal.
"Her mother’s medical bills are paid, Boss," Leo reported quietly to Kayla. "I spoke with the chief of endocrinology at St. Jude’s. Maya's mother will be admitted to a private suite this afternoon. Full care, fully covered."
Maya dropped the towel, her eyes brimming with fresh tears. "Miss Kayla... I... I can't accept that! That costs tens of thousands of dollars!"
May you like
Kayla sat down across from her, reaching out to cover Maya’s small hand with her own.
"You stood between a cruel woman and an old dog you didn't even know, Maya," Kayla said softly. "In a world full of people who look the other way, you chose to care. That makes you family on this street."
