“Be quiet, Jimbo,” Brad muttered. “I can handle this.”
Mac glanced dismissively at Jimbo before speaking again to Brad. “Looks to me like your buddy here is just itching to get you in trouble, Brad. Maybe you need to ask yourself if he’s really a pal.”
Brad straightened his shoulders. “I pick my own friends.”
“Yeah—so do yourself a favor and choose wisely.”
“You going to take advice from the player who’s been doing your sister, Brad?” Jimbo jeered.
“Shut up, Jimbo!”
Even as Brad rounded on his companion, Mac was moving. A moment later, Jimbo was pinned against the brick wall behind him, Mac’s hands fisted in the boy’s designer-label shirt. Caught completely by surprise, Jimbo had gone pale, his eyes wide, his mouth hanging open. He was perhaps an inch taller than Mac, but there was no doubt who was the dominant male in this confrontation.
“One more word out of your mouth about Brad’s sister, and you’ll be sorry you were ever born,” Mac said very quietly, his nose only inches from the kid’s. “Is that very clear?”
“Let him go.” Brad sounded both furious and terrified. “He didn’t mean anything.”
Keeping his eyes on Jimbo, Mac asked, “You let your friends talk about your sister that way, Brad? Does she really deserve that?”
“He was just trying to make you mad.”
“It worked.” Mac tightened his hands on Jimbo’s shirt. He wouldn’t really hurt the kid, of course—but he’d make him think he would.
“Hey! Let him go, Cordero.” The order came from just behind them.
Maintaining his grip, Mac glanced over his shoulder. Officer Dodson was approaching at a half run, his gloomy face creased with a frown. “What’s going on here?”
“Just having a chat with the boys, Officer,” Mac replied affably.
“He’s—he’s crazy, Dodson. Arrest him or something,” Jimbo stuttered.
“I think we’ve heard enough of your opinions, Jimbo,” Mac suggested.
“Okay, Cordero, let him go. You can’t go around town assaulting our kids—not unless you want to end up in jail.”
“Okay, Jimbo, I’m letting you go,” Mac said. “I’m assuming you’ve gotten my message. Watch your mouth from now on.”
The boy stumbled when Mac abruptly released him. “Well?” he demanded, turning to the hovering officer. “Aren’t you going to cuff him?”
Mac smiled faintly. “I think Officer Dodson understands that I wasn’t assaulting you. Just giving you a little demonstration. If you’re going to act like a tough guy, you better be tough enough to deal with the trouble you stir up.”
Dodson didn’t look as if he knew what to do. His first choice would probably be to lock Mac up just for causing trouble. Another part of him seemed to want to just walk on and have his dinner, forgetting he’d seen anything at all.
Taking pity on the guy, Mac stuck his hands in his pockets and stepped away from the boys. “Trouble’s over, Officer. I’ll behave.”
Looking relieved, Dodson nodded curtly. “Good. Don’t you boys have somewhere to go? Brad, ain’t your sister waiting for you at her shop?”
Shaken, and keeping his gaze averted from Mac, Brad nodded and took a few steps away.
Jimbo was still staring at Dodson in disbelief. “You’re not going to do anything? You’re just going to let him strut away like he’s some kind of big shot or something?”
“Give it a rest, Jimbo,” Dodson said wearily. “Quit while you’re ahead.”
The boy gritted out a curse that was even uglier because of his age, and spun on one heel. “C’mon, Brad.”
“Brad,” Mac said as the boy scuttled past him.
Brad gave him a nervous, angry look. “What?”