Alpha Vampire Romance: Vampire’s Mate (Paranormal Shapeshifter Alpha Demon Vampire Romance) (Coming of Age Werewolf BBW Shifter Women’s Fiction Short Stories) (82 page)

“What the hell was that all about?” Terry asked Ajax.

“Hm, that was a little turf dispute. I am sure you could hear it upstairs. They want to use the caves in the Heights and we can’t let them. We had someone else trying to move in up there and we had to evict them. Now the Dragons want them. It is a general principle thing. It has been a part of Dagger turf since before I joined up. Now that I am the leader I can’t let it go, just because,” he told her with a grin.

“And don’t worry Tumbleweed. I really don’t think they will be back. I will leave Red here though and send some other boys around if you want, just to be sure. Or you could call the cops if it would make you feel safer,” he told her. “I want you to be as comfortable as you can be. It’s your place after all.”

Terry wasn’t sure what to think at this point. His eyes were staring directly into hers and she could see a caring in them she had not seen before, but was he right about her being safe? Not to mention she had never heard of a biker advising someone to call the police.

“I hate to be a wimp, but I wouldn’t mind some company around here for a while. I would rather not call the cops if I don’t have to,” she said honestly. He looked pleased that she trusted his guys over the cops.

“That is appreciated. Red can stay for a while and I’ll send a few others along. I will be by tonight to make sure everything is ok, if that is cool?” he asked and she agreed.

In a very short time Ajax took off and Red was drinking a beer on the porch of her store as if he was just enjoying the day. For all she knew, he was. He was normally a jovial, fun guy, but after seeing him so casually shoot at the other biker’s feet she was sure he had another side to him. Then again, we all do, she told herself with a sigh. He was a handsome guy though she could not help herself thinking.

*****

Terry talked to her employees and Charlene was handling it just fine. Her sister Cheryl was a little more nervous.

“Look Cheryl, if you want to take the day off, with pay, feel free to go ahead. You didn’t sign up for this crap,” Terry told her baker.

“I’ll stay Terry, thanks though. But I may cut out early, before it gets dark,” she said. The woman still looked spooked and unsure, not that Terry blamed her. Charlene insisted on staying because she didn’t want to miss anything. For sisters they were not much alike, voluptuous, sexy Charlene and athletic, thin, Cheryl. They had completely different personalities, yet both were smart and capable young ladies.

Everyone went back to work and Red moved his bike around back when an incoming car nearly knocked it over. Cheryl went back to baking the pies they needed and Charlene worked the till. It was a smooth afternoon. Until the cops showed up.

It was the same two police officers who had come out that morning. They smiled and said hello to the couple leaving with three pies and then came over to Terry.

“Miss Tumbleweed, we have reports of shots being fired here,” Officer Jackson said.

“Sorry, what? Shots?” she asked. Terry was surprised.

“Yes ma’am. The caller said several shots were fired in front of the Tumbleweed. He also said it was an automatic weapon being shot by a guy with a motorcycle,” he told her, looking at Red as he came into the store. He was looking curiously at the cops.

“Is there anything wrong?” he asked the police.

“You wouldn’t know anything about weapons fire, would you Red?” Officer Jackson asked. Red snorted and shook his head, appearing to find the idea funny.

“Me? Hell no. I have a reputation to worry about and knowing about that stuff would harm my time with the ladies,” he said. Winking at Terry and Terry held back a smile. He was cute when he was flirty.

“Would you mind if we took a look in your saddlebags?” the other officer, Kalick, asked.

“My bags? Naw, come on, they are around back,” he said gesturing them to follow him.

“You wait here ma’am,” Officer Jackson told her and the two officers followed the biker out and around the building. Terry ran back through her store and peaked out the window. She watched as Red showed the cops his bike and held her breath. She shouldn’t be so worried about a biker getting busted on weapons charges, but he had been defending her place so she felt it would be her fault if he got in trouble.

“What’s up Boss?” Cheryl asked coming over to the window.“Someone called the cops. They are looking for a gun,” she told her.

“We didn’t and the only other people here were the other bikers,” she pointed out logically. Terry nodded and then chuckled slightly when the cops had gone through Red’s bags and there was no weapon. Red was smiling and jovial with the cops, although even from a distance she could see a glint in his eye. He was not happy.

After more discussion with Red they started back around the building to the front so Terry ran back and sat at the desk waiting for them, with her employees. When they came in, Officer Jackson apologized for troubling her and left. It all felt a little strange to Terry. What was going on? She wondered. As soon as the police had pulled out of her parking lot Red pulled his phone out.

“What the hell is going on?” he muttered as he called someone.

“That was weird don’t you think?” Charlene asked.

“Yeah, a little, they harass Red and then leave. You think there would be more investigation than that,” Terry told her.

“I especially did not like the way the other one, Kalick, was looking at Cheryl,” Charlene said concerned.

“What, I must have missed that?” Terry said as Cheryl nodded.

“He was standing off to the side, so you couldn’t see him, but it was a little creepy,” Cheryl admitted.

Red came back.

“Ok ladies I got a new game plan. Ajax is coming back with a few guys and you all will be escorted someplace safe. Something is fishy and we want to get you out of here,” he said and Terry frowned.

“I am not leaving my place Red. No way,” she told him firmly crossing her arms over her chest. It was her whole life here. She would not abandon it.

“We thought you would say that. I hope you two ladies are a little more reasonable. We don’t know for sure what is going on, but if this place is becoming a target for whatever the Dragons are up to, we want you safe. The Daggers do not believe in collateral damage,” he said. Cheryl was all for getting away and Charlene agreed, but looked at Terry a little guiltily.

“Don’t worry girlfriend. I will be fine. I would rather know you two are safe. I have to stay, you don’t,” she told them. She did not look happy about it but Terry could tell Charlene would go. It sure was a weird day, Terry thought.

*****

Terry cooked dinner for her guests after Charlene and Cheryl were escorted home. She made up some burgers on the back deck with Yellow Girl and Kay. They were two biker woman who had come with Ajax and his reinforcements. So she had Ajax, Red, Crowbar with Yellow Girl and Jack Handle with Kay. Then there was a little guy named Mockingbird. She remembered Ajax mentioning him before. They were all rough people yet were as nice as could be. Not to mention apologetic for any trouble the Daggers might have inadvertently got her in. They believed what Red had said before, no collateral damage. Terry felt like she was in safe hands.

They all wolfed down the burgers and corn on the cob she had cooked at the last minute and then sat around with beers. They were enjoying the temperature drop as the desert night came on. Terry had been pretty nervous when the reinforcements had arrived. Now that she knew her friends were safely at home she was able to relax.

“So what is really going on Ajax? That visit from the cops wasn’t an accident, nor was their harassing Red,” she said. She took another pull at her beer as he sighed.

“I was wondering when you were going to get to the questions,” he returned.

“I was hungry so I thought they could wait,” she told him. That got a laugh from the others.

“She’s a keeper Ajax, I like her,” Kay told him. Kay had black hair and was definitely a plus sized woman. It suited her though because Terry thought she looked great in her tank top and shorts. She could put away the food too. Terry grinned at her.

“I thought the Dragons were the ones who called the cops. Your people didn’t and I know damn well ours didn’t. But the way they acted made me suspicious,” Red told her.

“I am thinking those two cops may be a little friendly with someone in the Dragons. It makes no sense for officers to show up, harass Red, ask very few questions and then leave. Without an explanation, a kiss my ass or anything,” Ajax said. Terry chuckled but nodded.

“We thought so too. If that is the case, then could we be on our own out here?” she asked.

“That is why we are here. I have others hovering in the hills too. If the Dragons decide to try anything we are ready. If not, we bought some time to hit them tomorrow. We are ready either way girl, so relax,” Ajax grinned at her, patting her shoulder. His pat ended with a light caress that got her attention, and then it was gone. Hmm, she thought to herself. Is he seriously interested in me? Or maybe she was making too much of a companionable pat of comfort.  Ajax stood up suddenly and pulled out his phone.

“I am glad you have a cell tower near here. I have to make some calls,” he said. He went down the back deck stairs with the other four guys following him. Yellow Girl whistled.

“The boss is interested in you, girl. Just thought you should know,” Yellow Girl said with a giggle. She was a bleach blond bombshell with a deep tan wearing a bikini top and jean shorts. Yellow Girl did like her beer, Terry had noticed, drinking two to each one that Terry had. Terry wondered if she was a little crazy. There was a look in her eyes that seemed a little unhinged.

“You think?” Terry asked accepting the third beer Kay handed her.

“Yeah, Red too, he has been eyeing you more than usual for him. Not surprising, those guys have the same taste. It may be more than their usual interest too,” Kay said sitting down and lighting a cigarette.

“What do you mean?” Terry asked lighting one of her own.

“When these two guys go after women it is a, wham bam thank you ma’am sort of thing. One night stands, ya know. Neither of them go for girlfriends. With you, they are both taking their time. Besides, Yellow here heard them both talk about you weeks ago, so it ain’t a new thing,” Kay finished and Terry looked over to Yellow Girl. She nodded with a grin and a big cigar in her mouth. Terry wasn’t sure what to think about that.

She mentally corrected herself, she did know. She thought they both were smoking hot guys and if it wasn’t for the danger she would have hit on one or the other. With everything going on she did not think it was a good idea now. Maybe after everything was over, she told herself with a sigh and reached for her beer. She talked with the two ladies for a while and then they went to find the guys. Terry enjoyed the time alone. Her back deck had little lights on the corners so you could see just enough to not trip, but keeping the darkness so as not to interrupt star gazing. She had never seen anything as enthralling as the stars in the desert. She took a sip of her beer and sighed as footsteps came up from below.

“Hey darling, are you doing alright?” Red asked taking the chair on her right.

“Fine Red, just fine,” she told him truthfully.

“Good to hear,” said Ajax, taking the seat on her left and lighting a thin cigar.

“So what is up guys?” she asked taking another sip of her beer. She had a little buzz going.

“Everyone is settling in for the night. A couple up front and back with Mockingbird doing an inside perimeter sweep. Hopefully nothing will happen, tonight at any rate,” Ajax said.

“So how did you get so tough Tumbleweed? Most women, or guys for that matter, would be freaking out,” Red asked. She shrugged.

“I don’t know why, I only want to freak out after problems, not during. I got pretty shaky this morning after the robbery attempt. During, I thought it was exciting. Maybe it was my Dad’s influence,” she said thoughtfully.

“Your Dad?” Ajax asked.

“Yeah, Dad liked excitement. This was his store, I inherited it. The Daggers used to come around even then. I mostly just remember the name. Dad would always take me out to the desert and teach me survival stuff, or we would go to the county fairs and ride the wildest rides. It was just the two of us and I think he wanted me to be able to take care of myself. He never said so, but looking back I believe that was his goal,” she told them, not sure why she was opening up to these two bikers but it felt right. 

“What about you two,” she asked the men.

“I have been riding bikes and hanging around mechanics shops my whole life,” Red began. “Engines and motorcycles fascinate me. I started hearing about the clubs and got real interested. I left my foster mom when I was seventeen and became a member of the Daggers. It’s a good life. The brotherhood is my family,” Red finished with a satisfied nod.

Terry looked at Ajax. He shrugged.

“I grew up with my grandma. I got into trouble every now and then, and was in juvie a few times. She was really pissed about that,” he smiled slightly as he said it. “But like Red here I always enjoyed engines and really loved the Harleys. I joined the Daggers and it was not long before I knew I would be leading it someday, and here I am. It’s where I belong,” he said.