The Cowboy Who Strolled Into Town

by Riley Moreno

  “What do we do about the body?” Sonya asked her eyes wide and fearful. Diesel knew the feeling, the annihilation, the guilt that arose when you killed a fellow man for the first time, even if it was self-defense.

  “We leave it to the woods,” Diesel said. “The laws around here are simple; he who dies in their Shifter state is left for the woods. Ahawi, the Canibas settler of Shifter Grove, was very clear. The woods need the spirits to harness its magic, to keep the fine balance between man and Were.”

  “That sounds oddly beautiful,” Sonya said looking down at the tiger that was Rex, a large black blot of blood spreading through his fur like ink through paper, the orange turned a rusty brown, the mud caked in his coat flaking off in the hot summer night. “He deserves that much.”

  “You were fantastic,” Diesel said hugging her close, “A lot of women lose their head in these situations. You were amazing!”

  “I had a great coach,” she said smiling in to his chest.

  “Let’s get you to the hospital,” Diesel said and picked Sonya up in his powerful arms.

  Chapter Eleven

  Happy is as Happy Does

  Sonya walked in to the Pig Out diner on flashy high heels and a bright orange halter top. She wore cream Aladdin pants and her signature red lipstick. She knew all eyes were on her and she wouldn’t have it any other way.

  She’d been coming to the Pig Out once a week for the past four months now. Sleazy McGee knew her order by heart: eggs sunny side up, coffee black two sugars, and a waffle with the works. Sleazy also remembered not to stare at her breasts for too long. No one wanted a run-in with Sheriff Wake.

  Sonya had made friends in Shifter Grove, friends she would regularly meet in Pig Out. There was Larry’s Werefox wife, Samantha. Larry hadn’t been too happy about their friendship but Sonya liked to see him roast in her presence. There was Wereflamingo Clause and of course Werebear Kathrine.

  Sonya ran the local veterinarian hospital in Waterville an hour’s drive from Shifter Grove; she laughed that while she took care of people’s animals her boyfriend policed the others. Life was finally looking up; she’d met a man who had surpassed what she had expected him to be at first site. Imagine telling your grandkids that you met your one true love on Craigslist?!

  The thought of grandkids made Sonya blush.

  “Hold the coffee, Joe,” she said to Joe ‘Sleazy’ Barton. “I’m trying to cut down.”

  She felt a very small grateful nudge in the region of her belly and it made her grin like an idiot. The diner door swung open, the first draft of spring air came inside with the smell of pinecones and fresh grass.

  “Hello, beautiful,” Diesel said landing a kiss on her cheek and signaling to Joe for his morning coffee, “Your friends aren’t here yet?”

  “There running a little late,” Sonya said blissfully stretching her legs. “But I don’t mind, I get to keep you to myself for a little bit longer.”

  “I’m all yours,” Diesel grinned.

  “Not for long,” Sonya pouted. “Pretty soon you’ll be ignoring me and giving all your attention to someone else. You’ll grow tired of me but never of them I just know it!”

  “What are you talking about?” Diesel said confused by the turn of the conversation. “I can never get tired of you.”

  “You will,” Sonya teased, her eyes sparkling. “I can bet you will.”

  “You’re crazy!” Diesel said rolling his eyes in mock annoyance.

  “No, I’m pregnant,” Sonya said. “There’s a difference.”

  Diesel was shell-shocked and Sonya was afraid that he wasn’t happy with the news, that he didn’t want children; but then she saw the tears in his eyes, the wide grin that broke on his hopelessly handsome face and she breathed a sigh of relief.

  “I never thought I’d be this happy,” he finally said, taking her hands tenderly and kissing them. “You make me so happy Sonya!”

  “And you me,” she said. “But if it’s a Werefrog we’re abandoning him at a farm in Kansas!”

  “How about a Werecow?” Diesel teased.

  “No, a Wereleopard!” Sonya said touching her belly protectively.

  “Weresquirrel?” Diesel asked and Sonya hit him in the arm.

  Diesel chuckled and put his hand on top of Sonya’s, both their hands sending a clear message to the baby and the world beyond; this was their happiness and they would go to any lengths to protect it.

  The End.

  Mated by the Alpha Billionaire

  (Russian Billionaires of the Dmitri clan series)

  By Riley Moreno

  Chapter One

  The Horrible Date

  “Hmmmm, what should I wear to work tomorrow? Maybe my tight black skirt which shows my curves perfectly, a white blouse and black heels.

  But then again maybe I should opt for my boring loose navy blue skirt, as lately I really don’t like how that pervert married boss of mine, Mr. Smith has been staring at me lately! ”

  After small bored sigh, Natasha then returned her attention back to her date. And yes that’s right, Natasha Camille Walker was actually on a date and busy thinking about what she was going to wear tomorrow for work! Not that she was a workaholic but seriously who could blame her?

  The blind date set up for her by her crazy black girlfriend Monica, with a special emphasis on the word crazy, was just higher up the scales when it came to being horrible.

  When Monica had unexpectedly brought him to her house and introduced him to her, he had seemed totally normal even flashing Natasha a charming smile.

  And heck when Monica had added that this attractive well fit black guy, was a Doctor, Natasha had been totally hooked and quickly agreed to a date. Compared to the kind of guys she usually dated usually plumbers, wrestlers, gym instructors etc. this guy was like winning a lottery.

  So while grinning like an idiot, she had quickly rushed to her room and changed into one of her best dresses and driven here for their first date.

  And now in this well-lit, lively pub restaurant instead of them enjoying and having a perfect date, as soon they sat by one of the tables in the hidden corner, Simon her date opened his mouth. This just horribly ruined it for her from that moment!

  And now he was talking nonsense about abortion, a topic initiated by him of course, answering his own questions and not even giving her a chance to speak.

  ‘’ I have mixed feelings about abortions. On the one hand, I'm all for killing babies, but I hate giving women a choice.”

  What the hell? Was this guy actually a real doctor?

  And damn he was so sexy with his mouth closed shut! Natasha then thought to herself almost groaning in annoyance.

  Even that well-muscled underground wrestler whom she had once dated was so much interesting than this guy, at least he was a man of few words. Sadly the wrestler wanted to acquire his own concubine and Natasha was a one man, one woman kind of person not concubine material, so it did not work out between them.

  Once this date was done with, she was so going to kill her best friend Monica for doing this to her.

  And yes even though alarm bells were already blaring loudly about this guy not being the one for her, she was actually not going to end this date quickly.

  Because sadly instead of going back to that lonely house of hers to spend another night with her fridge's rasping compressor for company, she just needed some human companionship even if it was HIS kind of company.

  Maybe she should just do as Monica always chided her to do, to lower her standards a little bit and she would be married by now and not be lonely.

  “Are you into fitness? ’’ Mr. I like hearing only my voice talk, finally decided to include her in the conversation.

  Shut up Simon! Natasha was about to rudely tell him now realizing where he was going with that question. Just because she was not like those skinny girls and had curves in all the right places, did not give him the right to even dare judge her. It was her body not his.

  Luckily the wa
iter then came to ask for their orders.

  "Get whatever you want, it's all on me tonight." Simon then said and it was the only good thing she had heard from him all night. She even decided she was going to order the most expensive thing to pay him back.

  Deciding she also truly needed a beer, to still get through this date, she told the waiter to bring her some after Simon ordered salad for himself.

  After hearing her order for beer, Simon looked her in utter disapproval after the waiter left and opened his mouth again.

  “Did you know there are female hormones in beer? You drink a lot of beer you get fatter than you already are, cry a lot, talk too much, don't make sense, and can't drive a car. ‘’

  Deciding that she now already had enough and no one had the right to insult her like this by calling her fat! And wasn’t he the one talking too much, and not making sense, instead of her?

  Natasha quickly stood up from her chair, and did what her hand had been itching to do from the very moment spent with Simon and his big mouth...she slapped him. And the impact was loudly satisfying as her hand met his cheek leaving a bright big red mark.

  ‘’You are one of the worst dates ever!” Natasha then said to him as he sat there looking at her stunned. Luckily there were sited on a corner unseen by everyone.

  Just as she was about to leave and now feeling bad for overreacting, he then snapped out of his shock as he saw the waiter bringing their order.

  ‘’And before you leave, I was joking and not even planning to pay the whole bill, can you leave your own half. “He then said out to her just as she was about to leave while rubbing his burning red cheek.

  And now she no longer felt even bad for slapping him, he totally deserved it. What kind of man brought a woman to a date, joked about paying it and expected the woman to pay in the end.

  Was he really that stingy? Even some handsome low paid plumber she had dated, had paid for their food on the date.

  Before she could slap the bastard a second time, she instead walked away from him.

  As she left the pub restaurant while still seething mad she was glad to hear some men hooting and whistling at her trying to get her attention as she did look hot after all with her hour glass figure.

  As she went to the car park to her car she then realized that she had forgotten her car keys and her purse at the table.

  Dang it! She thought and turned to go take it.

  But the scene that greeted her was truly comical.

  Her now ex-blind date, was sitting there with his hand under the table, moving around while the other hand held a phone with a picture he was intensely staring at and making moaning sounds.

  It so cannot be what I think he is doing. Natasha thought to herself wondering whether to laugh or be disgusted.

  OH BUT IT WAS as dear Simon was now busy touching himself, masturbating while looking at her Facebook picture on the phone. It seems her stupid photo looked to be turning him on too much than the real her!

  Noticing her, he stopped stunned and had the guts to actually look embarrassed.

  ‘’Um it’s not what it looks like?’’

  He first said and she just looked at him silently.

  ‘’But since I paid for your food too, you sort of owe Me.’’ he then continued after regaining his momentum, now looking at her expectantly while pointing to his pants wanting her to give him a blowjob.

  Before she could end up getting arrested for murder for throttling someone, Natasha silently and quickly took her purse which had her car keys inside and left in a hurry. All she wanted to do was to be as far away from that creep as she could.

  Monica was so going to get it from her!

  Chapter Two

  The Kidnapping

  As she drove back to her house, Natasha was still seething mad and thinking of how Monica had even brought that creep to her house making him know where she lived!

  She was going to call her and give her some words to never ever try to fix her on another blind date or bring creeps to her house.

  As she entered into her neighborhood which was not a very good one, with suspicious looking people always mingling around, Natasha was used to it. This was the only place she could afford to buy a house in, with her little pay as a secretary plus she still had to pay off all her student loan debts.

  She sometimes wished she was Monica who was married to a rich chef husband who took care of her and was always going to fancy vacations.

  Monica never lacked anything while Natasha was always trying to meet ends meet. That was life for her as a single black American woman trying to make a living. But then again Natasha also never wanted to only be a house wife to some rich guy and instead wanted to work and make her own money too.

  As she arrived at the house, she then parked her car and walked up to her front door. Hairs then raised up on her neck as she felt as if something was wrong.

  Whenever she locked her door, she always placed the locker in a certain direction. Living in an unsafe neighborhood you had to be careful. Her heart started now beating rapidly at the thought that someone might have broken in into her little house as the locker faced wrong direction.

  With her shin gun in hand, feeling brave and not thinking clearly or considering calling the cops, she unlocked the door and stepped into the house.

  She then let out a sigh after checking everything and finding it all in place. The thief had stolen nothing and she was also overjoyed after running to her bedroom to check her safe which had her savings money and finding it all there.

  But that joy got cut short, as someone roughly pushed her to the wall and pressed a hand to her mouth to keep her from screaming while throwing away her shin gun.

  But she retaliated and started trying to kick at him and push him from her, but he was so strong and pinned her to the wall until she could no longer move any part of her body. The guy was wearing black clothes and had a black mask so she could not see his face.

  Tears started threatening to trail down her face as she hoped he would not rape her and she was now whimpering in fear. How could she have been stupid in not calling the police before entering the house?

  ‘’Listen closely to this bitch. ‘’ the guy then said to her and she was surprised to hear a Russian accent which she recognized from hearing it spoken by a Russian exchange student from college.

  ‘’I have a message for you from Gavril Baskovich Mosolov leader of the Mosolov clan.’’ He then continued placing some small white envelope letter into her hand.

  ‘’Read it and if you dare call the cops, we will know as we have spies everywhere and you will face the consequences.’’ And then he moved off her and jumped out through her bedroom window.

  With her heart still rapidly beating, the only thought on Natasha`s mind was what the hell did Russians of all people want from some black American woman like her?

  She first sat on the bed and with nervously shaking hands she then opened the little white letter to read the contents.

  Dear Miss Natasha Camille Walker

  By now I’m sure you already know where this letter is from. There is pest that I have been trying to get rid of. That pest keeps on ruining my business deals and now I have learned that the pest has some evidence enough to send many of my best men to jail for life.

  Miss Walker, this is where you come in. But first as a sense of humor, did you know that Natasha is actually a sultry Russian spy name? And that my dear is what you are going to do for me, as your name suggests.

  This Pest`s name is Viktor Ivanovich Dmitri and you are going to spy on him for me, find out where he is keeping the evidence and bring it to me. Apparently as a billionaire he is full of resources, well-guarded and even all my assassination and infiltration attempts of him have failed. But don’t worry I’m am not completely heartless and will not require of you to commit murder or kill him. I just want the evidence.

  I’m sure you are wondering why me? Well my dear it’s because you work at his company don’t you? And
Mr. Dmitri likes his women just as much as he like his tea...Black. I know that since his beloved wife was black and accidentally killed by one of my man, after his father Ivan a rival mafia boss of mine pissed me off. I only wanted his second son to be shot on the shoulder and not for it to be a kill shot. But that stupid wife of his jumped in and got killed in the process. And now that Dmitri son has become a pest to me in some stupid quest for revenge.

  P.S I have your little brother, Jeremiah isn’t it. A handsome young man, and if you want to see him in perfect form just do what I tell you to do and you will survive. Just don’t piss me off too.

  Petro has left a little package for you by the table, just turn right from you kitchen window. That is how you will receive your instructions. Be quick in sending me an answer of your reply as I am an impatient man.

  Tootles my little Russian spy

  Yours and always watching

  Gavril Baskovich Mosolov

  At first Natasha just stood frozen after reading the letter, wandering and hoping that maybe this was all a dream and she would soon suddenly wake up.

  Because how then could she take in this turn of events,

  All her life she had been a good law abiding American citizen, and never ever gotten her hands dirty but now some dangerous Russian Mafia boss wanted her to work for him? Plus how this could even be happening to her while living in America was also puzzling as weren’t these kinds of things supposed to only happen there in Russia!

  Worse she was to spy on some White Russian Billionaire, son of some other Powerful Mafia boss and also the boss of her company. This was so not going to end in a good way for her whether she accepted the spy job or not, as in the end there would be still one pissed mafia boss after her. Whether it be Gavril or Ivan.

  How the heck had she found herself caught in the middle of this and all because she was black and worked for Dmitri’s company. Life was unfair as she had never even met her Russian billionaire boss! He was inclusive, always surrounded by bodyguards and usually worked from his home office.