Edge of Instinct: Rabids Book 1 (22 page)

“I don’t have your number.”

“Don’t worry, my boy’ll be lookin’ out for ya from now on. Y’all can get it from him.” He winked. “Lock up tight after me, honey.”

“Sure thing, Biker Man.” With one last fond gaze, he turned and left. The once warm and inviting apartment now seem cold and lonely. She immediately walked to the TV, switching it on to a comfortable hum. Her hand froze on the knob, Tandy’s farewell finally making it into her self-conscious. His son would be looking out for her? When had that happened? And, even more daunting of a thought,
which
son? Why hadn’t he mentioned it earlier? How was she supposed to know where to find him, or what he even looked like? She hoped the son had been let in on this plan of action, or this was likely the last time she’d ever speak to Tandy. And maybe that was how Tandy wanted it. He’d done his job bringing her here. He didn’t need the crazy girl clogging up his life any more than she already had. The idea left a hollow feeling in her gut. She sat on her new bed, knees pulled up to her chest, eyes blankly staring at the TV as hot tears slipped down her cheeks.

Tandy

At the knock on the door, Tandy blew out a heavy breath. Now he’d find out just how much the boy loved his old man. Harley stood on the other side, leaning against the door, aviators still firmly in place. His jaw ticked up and down as he bit down on a piece of gum, taking his frustration out on it. Tandy had taught him that trick as a kid when he was having a hard time dealing with his turbulent emotions. Watching the muscles in his son’s jaw clenching now, he wondered if it had been an altogether good idea. Boy would probably bust a few teeth with that age old habit.

“Harley,” he greeted with a nonchalant smile. Harley grunted, not moving.

“What happened with the bar? Needed a chaperone for your date?”

“Date?” Tandy coughed uncomfortably. “Hells Bells, boy, she’s not even half my age!” Harley smirked lightly, but said nothing more. Tandy sighed. Confound the boy and his straight faced humor. “I just decided it’d be best if we met in a more private settin’, that’s all.”               

“Uh huh.” He suddenly stood ramrod straight, yanking the glasses from his eyes.

“What’s that smell?”

“Smell?” Tandy sniffed the air in confusion, smelling nothing.

“Who’s in there with ya?” He slipped the glasses back on, leaning through the door.

“Ain’t nobody here but me.” Tandy stepped aside as Harley slipped inside, muscles taut, movement sleek as any predator’s. His son stopped a few feet in, head cocking to one side, then the other as he listened. With a heavy sigh Tandy shut the door and followed his son on the fruitless manhunt. Harley stepped cautiously into what had been Amiel’s room the night before. Harley scrabbled back out, nearly thudding into Tandy in his rush to escape her empty room. Shoving the door closed, he kept his back turned, shoulders stiff, head bowed and breathing ragged. Tandy knew his son well enough to recognize that he was fighting for self-control over something that had gotten his inner beast’s dander up.

“Problem?”

“Who was the girl?” His voice was rough, strained, and Tandy sighed again. This wasn’t going at all how he’d planned.

“The client I brought over from WV.”

“
Who
was she, Pops.”

“How ‘bout we sit down…” There was a jaunty little knock at the door, and Tandy could have smacked himself. Of all the timing in the world. He went to the door, already knowing who he’d see on the other side. He was greeted with the sight of the broad back of a tall brown haired, well-muscled guy. Said guy turned around, brilliant smile putting a sparkle in his hazel eyes. He immediately grasped hands with Tandy, pulling him close for the typical man hug.

“Tandy, you great bear you!” His strong Aussie accent brought a smile to Tandy’s face. Hearing it always brought back memories of his wife.

“Damn it all, Cajun, y’all are early.” Cajun pulled away, the bright charismatic smile that also came from his mother beaming off his face, and Tandy’s heart ached a little for the memory of his Alana.

“You know me, Dad, never was one for showing up when expected.” With a roguish wink, he patted Tandy on the shoulder and waited to be allowed inside. Moving to the side, Tandy motioned him inside with a resigned smile. He would just have to have the conversation with Harley in front of an audience. Cajun reached behind him, grabbing the hand of a pretty little blonde girl, pulling her along behind him. He paused just inside the door, suddenly sniffing the air in a pronounced fashion. Pulling back a step, he stared at the room in confusion, an unseen field of intensity surrounding him.

“What’s that scent?” he asked, eyes wary. Now it was Cajun’s inner beast’s turn to meet with something it was cautious of, apparently. Yet Cajun’s eyes, while wary, didn’t hold the entirely feral depth that currently resided in Harley’s eyes as he strode toward them, nostrils flaring on another intake of breath. He let out a low growl as a barrage of emotions immediately swept across his features. He almost looked pained.

“It’s the girl. Her smell is everywhere.”

“Girl?” Cajun looked to Tandy, confused by both Harley’s behavior and answer.

“My latest client,” Tandy supplied vaguely, motioning again for Cajun to enter. After a moment’s pause the girl pressed Cajun forward enough to shut the door, gracing him with an encouraging smile, though she was obviously just as tense as him.

“She’s gone now, yeah?” Cajun asked, pulling his fiancé tighter to his side. Tandy smiled at the instinctual sense of protection his boy held for the girl. Tandy nodded, but Harley answered for him.

“She’s been gone most of the day by the scent. But it’s still lingerin’.” He took a step away from Tandy, eyes narrowed. “Especially on you, Pops.” Tandy blushed, remembering the big bear hug the girl had given him not half an hour past. He waited for Harley to make another poke at his ‘relationship’ with the girl. Harley, however, paced away, stance edgy. Tandy and Cajun shared a concerned look as Harley sat in a chair, then flew out of it to continue pacing the floor like a caged tiger. Harley had always been one to keep his emotions in check, since he was just a runt. So the fact that he was throwing emotion off in nearly palpable waves was new, and neither of them knew how to handle it.  While Cajun still stood warily, there was nothing about his stance that screamed anything beyond caution for his mate in an unfamiliar situation. Whatever it was about Amiel’s scent, it seemed to be affecting Harley on a different level. Of course it was entirely possible that a big portion of this came from the fact that Harley was practically terrified of women.

“Alright, Pops. Spill,” Harley grunted, running an agitated hand through his messy blond hair. Perhaps that outdoor bar would have been a better idea after all. Tandy was about to ask Harley a whopper of a favor, and this wasn’t exactly the kind of mood he’d wanted him to be in while asking. Tandy’s eyes drew back to the girl in the room, and smiled brightly.

“First things first, boy. Introductions!” Cajun’s trademark grin was like the sun breaking through clouds as he grabbed the girl in a bear hug.

“Dad, I’d like you to meet the love of my life, Charleen.” Tandy smiled, eying Charleen with interest as he shook her small hand. He wasn’t sure what he had expected, but this little thing was not it. He expected her hand to be calloused, given her occupation, yet was surprised to find it soft as a babe’s.

“Well, she’s gorgeous, boy! From what I hear, y’all’s Mama would be proud of ya.” He winked at Charleen, and she blushed, shifting nervously but offering a soft smile. “‘Bout time someone snagged the trouble maker. I was beginnin’ to wonder.”

“Wonder about me? Harley’s the one that had a penchant for talking to rocks as a kid.” Harley cast a dark glower his brother’s way, rolling his eyes as he continued to pace.

“Besides, you can’t just settle for the first bird you find, Dad. It’s got to be about love. Mum taught us all that.” Tandy smiled sadly, nodding. “I needed a special one who stole my breath, heart, and soul.” Cajun gazed deep into Charleen’s eyes. “She’s my everything, Dad.” Tandy smiled at Cajun’s obvious devotion, and based on Charleen’s expression, it was a common sentiment to hear from him. Good, a man should tell his woman how much he loved her and often. If it was one thing he’d tried hard to instill in his boys, it was a healthy respect for women. Based on this, they’d raised the boy well enough. Alana would be proud. Harley was another story. He held a healthy dose of respect for women alright. A healthy dose of fear, too.

“Poetic mush. He must be in love,” Harley said with a groan. “Alright, Pops. The mush is outta the way, so let’s move on. Thumbelina’s obviously tucked away nice and neat somewhere else. So, what devilry are ya plannin’?”

“Always were the blunt one weren’t ya.” Tandy laughed quietly.

“Who’s Thumbelina?” Cajun asked in confusion.

“The kid,” Harley replied distractedly, eyes never leaving Tandy’s. “I ain’t never had the time to waste on pretty words, Pops,” Harley replied factually. It was true. Harley was most like his father in that respect. He wasn’t much on the flowery part of life, though Harley took it so far to extremes that more often than not he came off as hard and mean. He may be rough around the edges and a bit hardened by life, but Tandy knew his son was anything but mean. An old soul, Tandy’s mama had often called Harley when he was a toddler. Tandy worried it would mean his son being alone for the rest of his life. Granted there was a time Tandy himself had thought he would be alright with that kind of lifestyle. Until he met his wife. And then everything had changed. Life without her was the most desolating, lonely existence he’d ever known.

Tandy sunk into one of the chairs, while Cajun and Charleen moved to make themselves comfortable on the love seat. Tandy had always thought of himself as being young and strong in heart and body. Yet suddenly, if but for a brief moment, he felt the depth of his old age settle fully on his shoulders.

“Harley, I know y’all got a lot on your plate. But I’m afraid I gotta add one more thing to it. I need ya to keep an eye on Amiel.”

“A meal?” Cajun butted in, Harley looking just as confused as his brother.

“Amiel, as in the girl’s name,” Tandy clarified. Harley’s confusion quickly melted into a low burning frustration as he stopped pacing, body rock hard with tension.

“Y’all mean that girl at the café? The one with the smell?”

“I don’t know ‘bout no smell, but yeah, that’d be her.”

“I ain’t no baby sittin’ service, Pops.” Harley didn’t even try to hide the exasperation in his voice.

“I’m not askin’ y’all to babysit. She ain’t a lil girl.” At Harley’s raised brow, Tandy rephrased. “Alright, she’s a tiny thing, but she ain’t much younger than you, Harley.”

“I got too much to do to be wipin’ her nose and readin’ her beddy time stories, Pops.” Tandy noticed Harley’s twang started showing through, a clear indication that he was floundering out of his element, and he knew it.

“Stop fluffin’ your feathers, boy. It don’t do ya no justice! She’s a sweet girl, deservin’ of your common courtesy. Show it, or I’ll tan your hide and blow my nose on it for good measure!” Jaw clenching but making no effort to argue the point, Harley fumed silently, waiting for Tandy to finish. Sighing heavily, Tandy rubbed his tired eyes

“Sorry, boy, your old man’s tired.” He fought to keep his tone even and mild. “She don’t need no babysitter. She needs a friend.” Cajun snorted out a loud laugh, Charleen looked doubtful, and Harley looked down right flummoxed.

“A
friend
. You been makin’ that moonshine again?” At his father’s stern gaze, Harley ran a hand through his hair. “Pops, what gives y’all any indication that I of all people would be considered ‘good friend’ material to anybody?” He looked over at Cajun. “Why don’t ya ask lover boy? He likes makin’ new friends.” Charleen’s left brow rose. Cajun’s eyes widened and he gave her an innocent shrug as if to say,
‘It’s Harley, what do you expect?’

“Cajun’s got his own girl to look after now, Harley. I imagine havin’ him taggin’ round another female likely wouldn’t be a good idea in this particular…situation, am I right?” Tandy asked, trying to defuse the situation before ugliness arose from it. Cajun nodded quickly, and Charleen’s mouth pursed as she gave her own firm and resolute nod. Tandy had expected as much. Given their genetic makeup, this sort of scenario wouldn’t play out well if he tried to throw Cajun into the mix. Women never share well, but Charleen’s case was a bit more sensitive than that. Harley’s sigh was shaky, and Tandy almost felt sorry for asking this of him when he saw the naked helpless fear reflected in his eyes.

“Pops…”

“I know I don’t have a right to ask this of ya, boy. But I am.” Harley’s jaw tensed, unconsciously bringing a thumb to his mouth to bite his nails in a habit that Tandy hadn’t seen him display since he was a boy. Tandy leaned forward, smacking Harley’s hand from his mouth. It had become a second nature habit of his own, having to do it time and again while his boy was growing up. It was another reason he had encouraged Harley to chew gum when he was stressed. Working on machines as they always were, his nails had the tendency to gain the usual mechanic’s blackened grime. Not the kind of thing you want to be chewin’ on, no matter how screwed up your emotions were. Given Harley’s current lifestyle, the gunk under his nails had to be a hundred times worse.

“Such a girly habit,” Cajun sneered jokingly. Harley’s foot shot out, sending the coffee table slamming into Cajun’s shin, causing his brother to let out a surprised grunt.

“Y’all
sound
like a girl,” Harley replied mildly, though a wicked gleam shone in his eyes. Tandy wanted to box both their ears. But over the years Tandy had found that the only way to keep boys from fighting was to find a bigger distraction from their anger.

“She’s all alone in the world, son. Been far too sheltered, and once I’m gone she won’t have anyone to protect her. ‘Sides that, she’s…special.” Harley’s eyes rose to meet his, catching the different tone of voice Tandy had taken on the word ‘special’.

“Special how exactly?”

“I ain’t altogether sure. Let’s just say the trip here was real interestin’. She has these black outs that are derned right scary. And she’s determined there’s a Raider after her.” He watched for the spark to light in Harley’s eyes. If he couldn’t appeal to Harley’s gentlemanly side alone, he’d appeal to his beast’s thirst for a fight.