“Well, I’m tired, full of delicious food, and ready for bed.” Shannon held onto his arm as they stepped into the street where he’d left Gertrude next to the curb. She dangled the helmet from one hand. “Of course, I also feel the need to celebrate when we get to your house.” She stopped him before he could help her onto the bike. “Speaking of houses. There’s something we need to discuss. About where we’re going to live.”
“I’ve already asked Albert to start looking for places. I know my house is too small for our growing family.” Billy heard the thump of heavy metal music coming closer. He glanced down the street and there was that same black SUV, moving fast, too fast. Right toward them. He grabbed Shannon’s arm.
“What?” She staggered when he shoved her toward the house. “Billy!”
“Run!” He heard a thump as the car jumped the curb. Was the asshole nuts? He wrapped his arms around Shannon, carrying her as he dove for the house. He rolled both of them, coming up hard against the concrete porch supports.
The roar of a Harley came from behind him. A squeal of brakes, the screech of metal meeting metal. The heat and smell of exhaust blew over them, all hell breaking loose when the car took out the wooden porch steps then kept going. Gunshots. Glass shattering. Billy held a trembling Shannon under him and prayed like he’d never prayed in his goddamned life.
“Stay inside.” That was for Gran.
“Go the hell away.” That was for those insane assholes who must have a grudge against him. No idea why.
“Protect my woman and my baby.” That was straight to God.
Billy finally snapped to the fact that the only sound he heard was his own harsh breathing and Shannon whimpering underneath him. He raised his head cautiously.
Shannon clutched his jacket. “Billy?”
“Don’t move.” He got slowly to his hands and knees and surveyed the scene. Deep ruts and tire tracks where the SUV had taken out the steps and his grandma’s garden. A shiny black fender cast aside on the grass. Gertrude overturned and knocked to the center of the street. No sign of Simon on his hog. Shit. It was a war zone but at least he didn’t see bodies or blood.
The kids! He saw them lying on their stomachs, hands over their heads. Good idea with gunfire. Watchman held his phone to his ear. Distant sirens might mean the kid had actually called the cops. Billy felt Shannon’s hand on his face.
“Are you all right? What just happened?” She gasped when she saw the front of Gran’s house.
Gran peeked out from behind her bars. “Billy! Are you two okay? I called the police. They said officers are already on the way.” She rattled her key in the lock. “You two get in here. I’ll lock us in.”
“Shannon, how do you feel? Are you all right?” He ran his hands over her.
“I’m fine. Come on. Let’s get inside.” She tugged him toward the mangled porch.
“You go. Let me help you.” Billy wasn’t about to cower behind the bars. He boosted Shannon up. He’d have to rig some temporary steps or Gran would be trapped there. Shit. He wanted her out of this fucking neighborhood. “Lock yourselves in. Do it now.”
“No! Come with us.” Shannon reached out. “They might come back.”
“Listen. I hear sirens. They won’t come back now. I need to see what’s going on. Talk to the police.” He took her hand and held it. She was pale, trembling. “You sure you’re okay? Did I hurt you when I grabbed you?”
“Not at all.” She pulled, frowning when he shook his head and stayed where he was. “Be careful.” She slipped inside then locked the door. Billy saw her put her arm around Gran.
“Close the wooden door too.” He strode out to Gertrude and pulled his handgun out of the saddle bag. Son of a bitch. Who had tried to kill him? And when he was with Shannon? He wanted to hurt someone. Beat them bloody. Slam that gun against their motherfucking heads. He stalked down to where the kids were back on their feet, talking and gesturing as they rehashed what had just gone down.
“We got the license number, boss. Told it to the cops.” Watchman spoke for the group. He held out his hand, palm up, not about to miss an opportunity.
“You kids okay? Everyone here all right?” Billy saw them nod as he dug for a large bill and slapped it into the boy’s hand. “Did you see the driver? Any idea who did this?”
“It was a woman drivin’. Didn’t you see? She leaned out and shot at your friend on the other bike when he came at her and tried to steer her away from the house.” Watchman was clearly excited now that the coast was clear. He glanced at Billy’s gun. “You don’t think they’ll come back, do ya?”
“Doubt it. Since you called the cops.” Billy hoped he was right. “I didn’t see what happened. I was protecting my lady.” Billy glanced back at the house. Pieces of lumber, potential murder weapons with jagged edges, were scattered inches from where he and Shannon had been.
“Your guy? He mighta got hit but he kept goin’. Chased that big car. Never stopped. I told the cops which way they went.”
Billy dug out another bill. “You did good, Watchman. Be careful.” He turned when he saw a police car pull up next to Gertrude. “Stick around. Talk to the cops. I’ll make sure none of you get into trouble. You hear me?”
“Yes, sir.” Watchman grabbed one of his posse by the back of his shirt when he tried to make a run for it. “You heard the man. We wait, we’re witnesses.”
There was some grumbling but they all held their places. Billy strode over to meet the police. The cop and his partner were out of the car, looking around. It took a while to explain what had happened. The tread marks and damage to the porch told most of the story. Then a call came in over the scanner. The SUV had crashed not far from their location after more police cars had joined the chase.
“Did they say if the man on the Harley was still with them? The kids over there said he was following the SUV.” Billy was worried about Simon. Two more police cars drove up. One of them was driven by his friend Buchman.
“What’s this I hear about you playing dodge the SUV in your grandma’s front yard?” Buchman and his partner got out of their car and walked over. He whistled when he saw the mess.
“Not a game I’d ever want to play again, my friend. My fiancée was with me at the time.” Billy nodded toward the house. Now that the cops had arrived, he saw Gran and Shannon looking out through the bars. “You see what they did to Gran’s porch steps? A nightmare.”
“You got that right. She all right, your fiancée?” Buchman frowned as he studied the damage. “Engaged? That’s new. Congratulations.”
“Thanks. Yes, she’s fine. Tell me you arrested the assholes who did this.”
“Yeah, my pal Jimbo did. Thanks to some guy named Simon Davis who pursued them on his hog. He wouldn’t let them get away. He called in on his cell and gave his location so we could follow his cell phone signal. Pretty smart. And those kids on the corner? One of them is my nephew. They stepped up and gave us the license number.” Buchman waved and a tall youth shrugged and looked away. Being related to a cop must not help his street cred.
“I want to talk to the perps. Find out why this happened. What it was all about.” Billy wanted to do more than talk, but he tried to rein in his temper.
“Here’s your chance. I asked them to bring the two people in the car here. To see if you could identify them. They clammed up right away. Wouldn’t say a word and carried no ID, though they had some fire power. I thought we were going to have a bloody shootout on our hands, but when they saw they were surrounded, they gave up and threw out their guns.”
“I’m glad of that.” Billy remembered those gunshots. Right in his grandmother’s front yard. Shit, if one had gone through her window… It happened all the time. An innocent bystander hit by a stray bullet.
Buchman pulled out his notebook. “Funny thing, Billy. Car’s registered to a company. Alamo Apartments. Didn’t you tell me that
’s the outfit a block over? Why the hell would they be trying to run you down? You didn’t play detective when I told you not to, did you?”
“No, I left it alone.” Billy followed him to the police car that had pulled up. “You were going to check…”
“I did. Drove by but had no probable cause to search the warehouse or any of the apartments. Questioned a few of the residents I met in the parking lot about the late-night action. Got nothing useful. Me coming around might have made them nervous. I sure never mentioned your name.” Buchman waved at the driver of the car that stopped next to them. “Hey, Jimbo, this is the guy who needs to look at your perps. He’s the one they tried to run down. Let him see if he can give us an ID.”
“You read them their rights, didn’t you?” Billy made sure his gun was covered by his jacket. He was grass-stained and clearly had been through a hard night.
“Sure. Did it at the scene of the crash. Don’t want this to come back because of a screw-up.” The cop gave him a sympathetic look before he opened the back door and reached inside. His partner did the same on the other side of the car. Billy froze when he saw who emerged and was shoved against the back of the police car.
At first, the handcuffed woman and man didn’t look up, just stood hostile and silent, staring at the ground.
“Take a look, Billy. Do you know them?” Buchman stepped aside.
Billy breathed through the roaring in his head. If he wasn’t sworn to uphold the law… Calm. Hold your shit together. God, but he wanted to pull out his gun and slap it across the woman’s sullen face. Like she’d slapped Shannon that day. He kept staring at them and the woman must have felt something in the air. She lifted her chin and looked back at him defiantly.
“Call the FBI, Buchman. She’s Margaret aka Maggie Lioni, leader of the Exiles. She’s wanted by the Feds on a multitude of charges.” Billy looked at her sidekick. “This one’s name is Charlie. I never heard his last name. For some reason, he wasn’t in the photo array the FBI showed me, but he’s facing charges now.” He walked up to Charlie and poked him in the chest. “Good luck, asshole. I see attempted murder in your future. Maybe if you sing loud enough to the Feds about your lady friend and the Exiles you can cut a deal.”
“You just couldn’t leave us alone, could you, Pagan?” Maggie spit at him. She missed, which seemed to infuriate her. “We were settling in. The last place the Feds would look for us is downtown Houston. Then you come sniffing around.” She was practically screaming. “How did you know? How did you fucking know?” She jerked away from the cop holding her arm and tried to head butt him. Buchman stepped between them and did what Billy longed to do. He used his nightstick to slam her back against the car.
“Paranoid, Maggie? I didn’t know you were living there. I just wanted to find a place for the local kids to hang out. Something better than a street corner.” Billy glanced at the group with shifting feet on the corner who were talking to a cop taking notes.
“You’re a lawyer, right?” Charlie spoke up. “You really think I could cut a deal with those Feds?”
“Shut your fucking mouth, Charlie. It was your stupid idea to fit in, to buy a car that made it look like we’re part of the neighborhood.” Maggie kicked him so hard he almost fell over. “Dumb shit.”
“Get me away from her. I’ll talk to the Feds. I want to make a deal.” He sobbed and huddled next to the cop who had his arm in a strong grip. That policeman looked at Charlie scornfully.
“Called the Feds earlier. This woman popped up as wanted when we ran her prints.” Jimbo grinned when the telltale big black SUVs pulled up to the crime scene.
“So much for loyalty, Maggie.” Billy saw more of the black cars the Feds drove pull up. He walked over and told the agents where the Exiles headquarters were located. The man in charge was eager to “clear out the nest” and got on his phone. Charlie was talking to an agent, eager to make a deal.
“Buchman, where’s the guy who chased them? Simon Davis?” Billy asked once Maggie was led away. He bent down to examine the damage to Gertrude. He’d have to call his insurance agent and have it towed to a repair shop.
“They wanted to take him to an emergency room. He had a minor gunshot wound. Ambulance driver called to the scene cleaned him up and said the man was good to go. Then Davis demanded to be given his bike back. He needed to make a statement then he’ll be let go.” Buchman turned. “I think he’s coming now.”
Billy heard the powerful motor. Yep, Simon turned the corner and ran straight into a crime scene. He convinced the cop at the yellow tape to let him park and Buchman waved him in.
“Look at her.” Simon knelt next to Gertrude. “She’ll need new paint, pipes. It’s a crime. Where are the fuckers who did this?” He was on his feet, his gun in his hand.
“Settle down, Mr. Davis. They’re in federal custody.” Buchman put his hand on Simon’s shoulder. “I assume you have a permit to carry that weapon.”
“Uh. Billy?” Simon’s eyes darted around the area. “I may have left it at home. On my dresser.”
“Cut him some slack, Buchman. He was a hero tonight.” Billy nudged Simon and he put his weapon out of sight behind his back. “My client here has a permit. I’ll vouch for him.”
“This one time.” The policeman frowned. “But if I catch you carrying again without the proper paperwork on your person, you’re going downtown, Davis.”
“Yes, sir. It should be in my wallet. Careless of me.” Simon couldn’t take his eyes off Gertrude. “I still want her. I’ll do the restoration myself.”
“Are you sure? She’s insured.” Billy had never seen such devotion to a machine.
“No one touches my baby but me.” Simon nodded when a tow truck pulled up next to the yellow tape. “A buddy of mine is here. If you’ll trust me to pay you tomorrow, I’ll have him take it to my garage tonight.”
“Go ahead. After what you did tonight, you can have her. Half price.” Billy realized Simon’s interference had probably saved his life and Shannon’s. Maybe he should just give the man his bike. He’d definitely helped capture Maggie and her crew.
“Thanks, man.” Simon fist bumped then turned to Buchman. “Can I take her out of here?”
“Yeah, go ahead. Crime scene photos are done and we need to clear this street.” He smiled as Simon lovingly righted the motorcycle and rolled it away. “Hey, Billy, it’s time for my break. You want some help building temporary steps? Looks like you have two ladies dying to get out here.” He nodded toward Gran’s porch where they could see Shannon and Gran watching them.
“Yeah. Thanks. I think there’s some lumber in the garage.” Billy followed him and thought about that close call. He’d thrown Shannon beneath him and prayed. It had definitely shown him what he was willing to die for. Her and his child. He took a deep breath and felt the knot of tonight’s tension release a little. Taking on a family was a heavy load. But he could and would handle it. Gladly.
Epilogue
It was one of those perfect fall days in the piney woods, cool enough for the long sleeves on her wedding dress and not a cloud in the sky. Shannon was glad they’d decided to hold the wedding here. The chapel hadn’t been big enough to hold her family and Billy’s many cousins. It seemed he was related to half the Tribe and they all wanted to attend the wedding.
She breathed in fresh air and pine and thanked God her stomach was cooperating. She wasn’t showing yet, thank goodness. Megan’s good friend who ran a boutique had found the perfect dress for her at a bargain price. Or at least that’s what her sister had told her. Now that Rowdy was worth millions, it was possible he’d footed the bill. Shannon had said “Thanks” and let it go because it was gorgeous and made her feel like a princess.
“Are you ready, big sister?” Ethan was taking his job of walking her down the aisle seriously. He had on Daddy’s tux again and looked great. The photographer had made her pose for a picture wit
h her sisters and brother before the bridesmaids had walked down the aisle. The Calhouns. None of them was allowed to cry, it would ruin the girls’ makeup and Ethan was too manly.
It seemed a little silly for all of them to be so dressed up when the wedding was outside next to a lake, but Billy had insisted. He had found out from Megan, who’d snooped and read her diary when they were growing up, what Shannon thought would be a perfect wedding. He’d become determined to make it happen. So there were six bridesmaids, including her sisters, wearing an array of pastels, each holding single white roses. It was just like she’d written when she was sixteen. She held a bouquet of orchids and roses. Perfect.
Shannon took her brother’s arm. “Billy’s waiting for me. I’d better make him mine before one of those single bridesmaids gets her hooks in him. Did you see them all over him last night?”
“You’ve got nothing to worry about, sis. That man has eyes only for you.” Ethan kissed her cheek. “You look beautiful.” He smiled, then led her out of the cabin and down the porch steps.
The music swelled and she saw Billy at the end of the aisle looking like he’d just won a case in front of the Supreme Court. White folding chairs were in rows on either side of an aisle lined with satin streamers tied with more roses. Every seat was filled and the congregation stood as the keyboard, played by yet another of Billy’s cousins, broke into the wedding march. Traditional. She loved it.
Ethan squeezed her arm as they set off slowly down the aisle. It seemed to take forever yet no time at all before she stood beside Billy and said her vows. How far they’d come since the night she’d first seen him. One thing in her diary wouldn’t be at this wedding. Champagne. She wouldn’t miss it either.
When the minister pronounced them husband and wife, Billy kissed her until someone started whistling. That set off a chorus of whistles until she flushed and pushed him away.
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