“Cajuns don’ be so normal den Tommy boy?”
Gator’s accent was still heavy, but at least his words were in English. “Hell no. All that voodoo shit is creepy as hell.”
“Bes’ not be talkin’ down to me den, hmm?”
“Fuck you Gator. You ain’t magic so stuff that shit.”
Gator laughed out loud and shook his head. “I’m not magic, but I know dem who is.” He winked. “Noticed you di’n say what has hate in yer eyes neither.”
“That’s ‘cuase it’s not your fucking business.”
Gator nodded. “A woman then. Always a woman what has hate in a man’s eyes and a stiff dick in his pants.”
Tommy felt his cheeks go hot and he wanted to smash his fist into Gator’s smiling face, but he didn’t. He just ignored the comment.
“Get this shit done so we can get home. The women are plannin’ a big shindig for Halloween and there’s gonna be lots of free pussy and I plan on bein’ there so get the fuck to work.”
“Mmmhmmm, a woman…” Gator said as he went back to his big dark red motorcycle. They had made several runs and the boss man said if they finished the next four on schedule that they would be caught up. That would mean they would get cut loose in time to make the ride home just in time for the party and he planned to get a few things figured out. If Willa was with another guy for now then that might keep her out of the way while he took care of another problem, because nobody threatened what was his. That crazy bitch just crossed a line she couldn’t uncross and it meant the end of her. Willa could stay cozied up to that fucker until Tommy got business taken care of, but then he planned to figure shit out with her one way or another.
Tommy cranked his bike and looked up to find Jack watching him.
“It about time to take care of that?” He asked and nodded toward the phone Tommy still held.
Tommy nodded once.
“You need help you let me know. I don’t like what those calls do to you brother.”
Tommy nodded. “I’ll let you know.”
It meant a lot to him that Jack was stepping up.
“You’ve been avoiding pussy like you got an allergy since we went home. Anything I should know?”
Tommy met his brother’s eyes and was a little shocked to see them heavy with emotions.
“I could ask you the same thing. You haven’t been hitting anything since we came out here.”
Jack nodded. “I have some things I’d like to see turn out. Not sure they will, but not willing to fuck it up until I can be sure.”
“Yeah, me too, but this crazy shit has to stop first.”
“Then we figure out how to make it.”
Jack was smart as hell and if he was willing to help Tommy then there was a better chance of things going right.
“We need to talk it over in church again when we get back.”
“I’m thinking I need to give Preach a call on it before we get back.” Tommy admitted. “Only time I’ve wished half the brothers didn’t fucking hate my guts. Spec could figure this out or fuck Shad, but I don’t know how to get any of them involved without looking like a pussy. They didn’t look too concerned when I brought it up last time.”
Choo-Choo stepped up and slapped Tommy on the back. “I heard the word pussy.”
“Tommy’s not one.” Jack put in by way of explanation.
“Matter of opinion.” The big man grinned.
“Shut up.” Tommy tried to look intimidating, but Choo-Choo was a big fucker. Tommy wasn’t small, at 6’2” he towered over most, but Choo-Choo had a couple inches on him and was a sight broader. The man had to weigh nearly four hundred pounds, but it didn’t hinder him. Tommy liked him a lot. He would make brother before the year was out along with Gator. The club needed fresh blood and these two would make the club stronger.
“This about that crazy bitch that calls every time you get laid?” Choo-Choo asked and Gator stepped back into the conversation.
“Yeah.” Tommy hadn’t realized how obvious it had been.
“Bitch needs a rubber room, you ask me. That stopped being funny a long damned time ago. Gives me the creeps nearly as bad as bad as fucking Rena.
Jack let out a laugh. “She’s one scary bitch. She still after you Choo-Choo?”
“Scared to tell her no. Makes me feel like a pussy. Like a fucking piece of meat.”
Jack laughed, but they all felt that way about Rena. She wasn’t like any other woman. Mrs. had put her in charge of the club girls and things were a lot classier than they ever had been. No more bitches running around the morning after a party either. Mrs. had found a couple of little Mice to take care of that shit. The whores had to get up and do the heavy stuff before nine and get the fuck out or they wouldn’t be allowed at the next party and Rena kept track. The little mice took care of changing the beds and the general house cleaning at the club and the other places the boys liked to crash.
Nobody wanted to wake up to a woman who had partied all night. They might look alright after a few beers with the lights down, but in the glare of the morning sun and a hangover they looked like a bad horror flick.
“You need some help with dat chick Tommy boy?” Gator grinned as he asked and that made the hair on the back of Tommy’s neck stand up. Tommy didn’t believe in all that voodoo shit, but there was something about Gator. Something dangerous. The fucker knew he creeped everybody out too and he loved it. The look in his eyes said he would have no problem making sure his problem met a dark end.
“Something needs to be done. Crazy bitch won’t leave me alone. Messing with other shit now too.”
“Must be some monster dick you got in there man.” Choo-Choo leaned his head over and eyed Tommy’s crotch.
“You turnin’ fag on me now Choo-Choo? Get your fucking eyes off my dick.”
Tommy felt better. He had a solid crew. His brothers had his back and even if they gave him shit for it they were there. He held up a finger and walked a little ways away.
“Preacherman.”
“Hey Preach. I got a problem.”
Tommy explained the situation to Preach. He left out the parts about Willa to protect her, but he knew he might have to spill that too to keep her safe.
“Sounds fucked up. Why the hell did it take this long for you to let us know this shit Tommy? The way you talked about it last time it was like it was no big deal.”
“I thought I could handle it. She’s just a woman.”
“You got a lot to learn about women boy. I have to say I am impressed with you. Showed balls going after her like that.” He let a sigh pass his lips. “We told Marty she was dead. She wasn’t our problem, but Marty would have raised hell.”
“Shit that could cause a problem. What about Mike?”
“He knows that we aren’t sure about her, but agrees it’s best for Marty to think they killed her. Think we need to put her in the ground.”
“I have to think it might have been best if they had.”
“Who knows?”
“Just the brothers who are here with me. We can take care of it if we need to.” Tommy assured him.
Preach was quiet and that never boded well.
“Why now? What changed?”
Tommy grimaced. “She’s not just threatening me now.”
“Mina.” It wasn’t a question. “Knew there was something with that woman. What did the redhead say and what the fuck is going on with the two of you?”
“She’s following Willa, Mina, and said she knew I still wanted her.”
“We need eyes on that girl. She’s Ink’s family and if I’m not bad wrong she will be yours before too long. I’ll get someone on this. Oscar maybe.”
“Not fucking Oscar. Damn it Preach, he’s an idiot.”
“Fuck. He is a worthless little shit. I’ll find somebody. Shad or Spec will be in touch. Get rid of your phone.”
The line went dead and Tommy let out a breath. This would be taken care of. He had to let the brothers do their thing. He was too far away to do an
ything right now, but his brothers had his back. That’s what brothers did. That’s what family was all about.
“Let’s get the hell out of here. I want to be home by this weekend.” He said as he made his way back to his bike.
The boys let out a yell and revved their bikes. He wanted to get this shit done so he could figure out what was going on with Willa, but he knew one thing, that fucker with her better watch his ass if he let anything happen to her.
Six
Mina hated feeling haunted. She’d talked with the officer that had taken her report and he hadn’t been able to figure it out, but decided it was definitely cut on purpose. His conclusion was that it might be the work of kids since she had no enemies.
Boy that made her feel safer.
She climbed out of her car and scanned the area. The parking lot was well lit, but she felt eyes on her.
“Has to be my imagination.” She mumbled as she walked toward her building.
Dr. Bower had found a woman to assist Missy in the office and Missy had been overjoyed. The woman had seemed nice enough. Her name was Nina Chance and Mina had forced herself not to laugh. Can’t pick your name after all. Nina’s parents had apparently had a pretty good sense of humor.
Dr. Bower had insisted on having a mini office party to welcome the woman and Mina had volunteered to stay to help clean up after. The extra hour had apparently been more taxing than she had anticipated and she was dreading her date with Tanner. She thought about calling to cancel when she saw his silver jeep pull into the lot and park beside her car.
“So much for that idea.” She mumbled and turned with a smile and waved.
“You’re early! I haven’t even been inside yet. You will have to come up and wait for me to get ready.”
He jogged to her, his green eyes dancing as he reached her.
“I don’t mind.” He ran his fingers down her face. “You look beautiful Mina.” His finger traced just under her eye. “A little tired tonight?”
Mina felt herself relax. “A little.”
“We can just stay in if you’d rather.” He kissed the tip of her nose.
“I’d like that. You don’t mind?”
He smiled warmly down at her. “I don’t mind. I’ve been wanting to spend some time alone with you anyway.” His hand slid down to her lower back and pressed her against him more firmly.
Mina squirmed away and offered a smile as she began to feel butterflies in her stomach. She had talked to Tanner several times on the phone and they’d had a very nice first date, but she wasn’t ready to sleep with him or even make out with him really.
They stepped into the elevator and he wrinkled his nose. “What is that horrible smell?”
“Peaches.” Mina put in helpfully. “It has always smelled of peaches in here.”
“Is there one of those spray air fresheners or something?”
“Not that I know of.”
Mina stepped off the elevator and started toward her apartment, but stopped short when she saw Mr. McGuire standing in front of her door holding a dishtowel to his bleeding head.
“What in the world happened?” She asked as she rushed to him.
“Some crazy bitch tried to break into your place. She said she was you and had lost her key, like I don’t know my Mina. When I picked up my phone and called 911 she hit me with her twenty pound purse and took off. The police are on the way.”
Mina forced Mr. McGuire to let her look at his wound. It didn’t look bad, but it was bleeding.
“I’m so sorry. I don’t know what is going on. First my tire and now this. It’s crazy.”
“Some woman wanting to be you. I can’t imagine she’d the only one. Had on a long black wig too, but she was nowhere near as lovely as you.”
“I don’t know how to thank you for this. You could have just called the cops.”
Mina heard sirens as she spoke.
“What sort of man does that? Not the right kind.” Mr. McGuire’s eyes were on Tanner.
“I’m sorry. This is Tanner. Tanner this is Mr. McGuire, my neighbor and apparently my knight in shining armor.”
“Very nice to meet you Mr. McGuire.” Tanner said formally and Mr. McGuire returned his greeting.
Mina let herself into her apartment and welcomed the officer who had come in answer to Mr. McGuire’s call. Mina spent the next hour making coffee and answering questions and going over the issue with her tire again. She explained that she had only met Tanner a few days ago and he explained that he had no one in his life that might target Mina. It was silly to even suspect that since her tire had been slashed before their meeting, but the officer was just being thorough.
Tanner offered to stay the night to ensure her safety, but Mina declined his offer, since she felt she would be obligated to show her appreciation in a sexual way if she accepted his offer.
So, she found herself curled in a ball on her bed, dressed in her pajamas and completely unable to close her eyes. She decided she needed a friend.
The phone rang only twice and she heard the sweet voice of her friend.
“Mina are you alright?”
Mina laughed. She hadn’t thought about the time and it was almost midnight. “Physically I am.”
“That shit of a man hurt you already? Damn it was fast.”
“No actually, someone tried to break into my apartment tonight. My neighbor stopped her, but it creeps me out a little.”
“Her?”
“Yeah, some chick claiming to be me. Had on a long black wig and everything, although Mr. McGuire said she wasn’t nearly as lovely as me. He is the sweetest old guy and she hit him when he called 911. That bitch hurt my friend.”
“Honey are you alright? Your voice is shaking.”
“I’m a little scared.” It felt good to admit that.
“I’m not sure how much I can tell you, but the boys are looking after you or will be in just a little while and Tommy called me to check on you. Spec has been asking about you too, but he says club business so I don’t understand what’s what there. I don’t want you to be scared so I’m telling you that I found out that someone is headed your way. Should be there by now. You may see a brother following you or if he’s good, you won’t, but you are being watched. Ink said Preach had asked if you were coming to the party and if not to make sure you made the trip. Whatever is going on is being handled so just hang tight.”
“That makes me a little more afraid Candy, thanks for that.”
“No! That was supposed to make you feel better!”
Mina heard a grumble and Candy whispered that she was talking to Mina and the basics of what happened. Then it was Spec’s deep voice on the line.
“Did she get into your place?”
“No.”
“That’s good. We have a prospect on his way to you, should be there by now. I’ll let him know what has happened. Might be safe to let him sleep on your couch until this is handled.”
“Oh super. This is going to be real great for my love life.”
“At least you’ll still have a life.” He said seriously and Mina wanted to cry.
“Who is it? Do I know him?”
“Am I supposed to keep up with who you know?”
“Oh please, you know everything about everyone.” Mina laughed when he snorted.
“I don’t think you’ve met him. He’s fairly new.”
“So I’m getting a rookie to watch my ass, nice.”
“He was in the military for four years. Pretty sure he can do the job.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sound ungrateful. I do trust you. I’m just a little on edge.”
“Understandable. This is being handled. You won’t see it and you won’t know anything and that’s best so just take me at my word.”
“I do. Thank you.”
“He is in the elevator now. Just let him in. His name is Sniper. He eats like a fucking elephant though so make him buy some fucking groceries.”
Mina laughed even as she heard a
knock on her door. “He’s here. Thanks Spec. I really do appreciate this.”
“Ink will hit the roof when he hears this shit and just so you know, Tommy insisted we put a man on you. You’ve got friends here Mina and we are not friends who fuck around.”
Mina opened the door as she said her goodbyes and her eyes widened.
“Hey there gorgeous. I’m here to watch your ass and I doubt that will be a hardship.”
Mina rolled her eyes. “Does that ever work?”
His grin was quick and his eyes sparked. “Nah, I don’t do lines with women. Just goofing around. Heard what happened, honestly not sorry about that, means I can sleep on a couch instead of not at all.”
“Come on in then and I’ll get sheets. The couch pulls out so you will be able to stretch out. Candy said it was comfortable, but she tends to lie so who knows.”
Sniper laughed then. “She seems alright.”
“Oh I love her to death. Best friend I’ve got, but she’s too sweet sometimes. Sweetest heart I’ve ever seen.”
Mina came back with an armload of blankets and pillows.
“Let me do this. I’m not here so you can wait on me.”
“Damn right.” Mina grinned as she pulled the cushions off the couch. “I think I’ll be able to sleep now and I have to work tomorrow so you will need to be up.”
“Not a problem. I’ll follow you to work and hang out while you’re there.”
“Sounds like a cold job to me.”
“I have to earn my patch. Could be worse.”
Mina would never understand the life of a biker. Why did they even want to be in a club so bad anyway? It seemed like boys playing on the playground to her, but these men were no joke and they were saving her ass so she had to give them some respect.
She fell into bed and was blissfully asleep before her head hit the pillow. It had been a long time since she had been able to let her guard down and just relax, since living with Ink. She had forgotten how safe it felt to have a man in the house.
Tommy fumed. Hannah had sent him pictures of Willa tonight. She looked terrified. She was standing with an old man and the guy he’d seen in the other pictures and a cop. The old man was holding a rag to his head as if to stop it from bleeding. Tommy didn’t know what to make of it and Hannah didn’t send a message, just picture after picture of Willa. At work, in her car, with the group in front of her apartment. She was letting him know she was in control. He’d called Preach and insisted on having someone sent out right away, but he still couldn’t settle down. They had another run to make before they started home and the damned trucker was as green as grass. He had spent the last hour in the shitter and Tommy was about ready to drive the damned rig himself. He had to get home. Preach had said Mina would be there under protection for the weekend and he wanted to get his hands on her again. She needed to get a few things straight in her head and he needed her to tell him what had really happened all those years ago once and for all. He had to decide to love her or hate her and right now the battle was undecided. What he did know is that she belonged to him and he would be the only one to take her life if it needed taking.
Tommy Rich: Defendes MC Series Book 7 (Defenders MC Series) Page 5