by Jayne Blue
I pulled up a stool at the bar in Pontiacs as the sun set and watched the place fill up again. I shouldn’t have done it, but I also watched through the window as goddamn Kevin Potter showed up for Kara. I saw her walk down the outdoor steps from her place to the waiting car. My heart was in my throat at the sight of her. She was fucking stunning. I’d never seen her so done up.
She had her hair up and was wearing a dress that hugged her curves. It plunged in the back and was held up but a clasp at her neck. It was some soft peach color, and it looked fantastic with her tanned skin. I turned to Frank and ordered.
“Beer?”
“No, whiskey, straight.” I was in the process of downing it when a dude sat on the stool next to me. He was a brother. His Great Wolves cut unmistakable, and it made me miss mine. I remembered Sawyer said I would get a visitor.
We nodded to each other, and he told Frank, “I’ll take what he’s having and another round for him.”
“Thanks, brother, Stone.”
“Walker. Interesting place here.”
“Yeah, a lot of weekend bikers getting their vacation jollies.”
“So you find everything okay?”
“I did. Was that boat out there your doing?”
“I got it here, but it’s Great Wolves Grand City foot the bill all the way. Sawyer’s your Prez now but I gotta tell you we go back with him.”
“He’s a good man.”
“Hell yeah.”
“So you’re going to be here a while I heard,” Walker asked.
“Probably. You have been in this area a long time?”
“I have.” I decided the safest place to go for good information was a brother. So I gave it a shot.
“You ever hear of a guy named Kevin Potter?”
“Yeah, ran him out of our town near Destin.”
“What do you mean?”
“He’s a banker. He was squeezing all the little businesses we protect.”
“Yeah, that sounds exactly like him. He’s from Gold Cross apparently.”
“So he’d offer good terms then change the deal. When they couldn’t pay, he was telling them to go to the local loan shark. Which was also him.”
“What?”
“Yeah, a guy named Butchie was beating the shit out of our little local guys, saying he was doing it for the loan shark. But in reality, it was all Kevin. That’s when we returned the favor.” It was a perfect racket, and Kevin Potter had run it more than once.
“This sounds really familiar,” I said.
“You’ve got a Great Wolves Security branch in Grand City right?”
“Yep. It’s more in demand every day.”
“Us too, so we kicked Butchie out and let Potter know we were watching over the businesses, and they’d be paying on the original terms.”
“It worked?”
“Yeah, we’re small out there, only a few businesses had trouble. They’re all on the upside now. Much nicer place to be without Potter.”
“Yeah.”
“So why all the interest,” Walker asked me.
“Potter’s doing the same thing here. I did not realize the Butchie connection, though.”
“Yeah, he squeezes and then puts them in a no-win situation. If you need the guys and me to deal with Butchie or Kevin, just holler. We like kicking their asses. We’re not so legit that we can’t spill blood when we need to especially those two.”
“Thanks. I’ll keep it mind.” It was good to know the truth, but it also put me in a spot. Taking on Butchie and Kevin could have me in the spotlight. I did not want the spotlight.
“This is my number. You need anything while you’re in town you call. We’ll be here fast.”
I took the number and Walker, and I decided to enjoy the night. Estelle served up a good meal, Frank a good drink, and the bar was cranking. For a moment, it was like a vacation.
I could forget that I was on the run, and the one woman I wanted was in the hands of Kevin Potter right now.
The same Kevin Potter that the M.C. had already kicked out of another Florida town. I was starting to think laying low was going to get harder and harder.
I knew that I wasn’t going anywhere. I knew that Kara had me. Whatever that meant.
Walker and I enjoyed the whiskey at Pontiac’s, and I tried not to think of Kevin’s hands on Kara.
Chapter Eleven
Kara
The pit in my stomach was real. It started when I left Stone and grew as I got ready for my date with Kevin. I had been dreading this before I met Stone. I had no interest in Kevin and didn’t want to encourage him.
But the pressure to make Kevin Potter happy was just as real as the pit in my stomach. His money could make the fundraiser a success. My job was tentative. Short of finding pirate gold I needed a way to pay rent. I needed an actual income. It would look good to my bosses if I helped raise a lot of money for this event. So there I was at the Save the Manatee event with Kevin Potter parading me around like I as his show pony.
This was all a problem before Stone came into my life. And now Stone was in my life, and everything was better. And worse.
I showered and primped and all the while I was thinking about the way we’d been in the cabin of the boat. He was commanding, almost brutal, and his eyes showed a desire for me that matched what I was feeling for him.
I finished getting ready. Just get it over with was the plan.
Kevin waited in the car, and I got in.
“What is that?”
“What?” He was looking at me, and the corners of his mouth were turned down like he’d smelled something foul.
“The dress. It isn’t the one I bought you.”
“Uh, that wasn’t really me. This is.” Kevin had sent over a black sequined number that plunged in the front and with a skirt so short I wouldn’t be able to sit down without giving a free show.
I’d chosen a salmon colored dress I had in my closet. It was softer, prettier, and fell to the knee. I’d worn it before and liked it. I didn’t want Kevin’s weird gift. I wanted to wear my own clothes.
“That dress I bought you cost way more than this shit.” Kevin was awful about it of course. I looked down. Was my dress that terrible? I didn’t think so. But Kevin wanted to control me, every aspect apparently.
“I know, you left the tags on so I returned it and they’ve credited your account. So see I’m a cheap date.” He didn’t laugh. So that was how things were going to go. Oh boy.
I would try to make the best of things.
The event was downtown and attended by locals. Most of what happened this time of year was centered on tourism. The Save the Manatee Dinner, was an event attended business owners and old families from the area. No tourists or bike week people. Estelle and Jason qualified as old family business owners, but they didn’t have extra to give right now so I was alone on this one tonight.
This was my first time at the event and other than Kevin it was nice. It did make me feel a lot older than I was. But I did get to see my work friends we were also circulating.
All in all, not bad. Kevin made a big show of bidding the highest for a manatee experience and the charity raised over 50-thousand dollars in one night. Pretty impressive.
Kevin asked me to dance. And I suppressed my natural revulsion to try to be nice. Immediately he held me too close. And bombarded me with his version of sweet talk.
“I haven’t heard any more about you paying up on the note for the island. Any prospects?”
“No, nothing new.”
“Well, if you want to turn it over sooner we could do that? Eliminate the burden you have. It really is too much, worrying about that island, and then your job.”
“I like my job.”
“You won’t need that either though if you and I are together.”
I didn’t know how to answer. I couldn’t answer. We finished the dance. He’d smashed my breasts against his suit, and I could feel him against me. It all made me vaguely queasy.
“I think we are all set. Can we go?” I said. I had had enough. I didn’t want him touching me anymore or making veiled threats about how we could be together and save the island.
“Sure, this is pretty fucking boring.” He said and grabbed my arm and dragged me behind him. I had to break into a near run in my ridiculously high heels to keep up. At one point I tripped, and he didn’t miss a beat. He actually gave me an exasperated look. Wasn’t a gentleman supposed to walk with you?
Whatever. He drove me home, and I’d hoped he’d drop me off like he’d picked me up. At the curb and quickly. But I wasn’t that lucky.
“Let me walk you up.” To get to the entrance of our apartment above the garage you had to go up a flight of stairs on the outside of the building. We had a little patio that faced the ocean and then a door to the place. I loved it actually. And I didn’t want Kevin in my place or on my porch.
“No need really,” I said and tried to smile sweetly.
But Kevin was out of the car and around to my side of it before I could protest again. Oh, now he was a gentleman?
He put a hand on my back and led me to the stairs. I decided this is where it ended.
I stood there and turned to him.
“Thank you for the donation and for the dinner.” I was going to make a swift turn and bolt up the stairs. But I wasn’t quite quick enough.
Kevin grabbed both my shoulders and had a look on his face that was unmistakable.
“You’re beautiful.” And he leaned in and smashed his lips on mine. I didn’t want it, and I leaned back with tightly closed eyes.
“Kevin please I don’t want to give you the wrong impression.”
“Don’t fucking tease me Kara Ross.” And his grip tightened on my arms. I had tried to walk a thin line. I had tried to at least be polite. I had hoped that somehow that if I didn’t make Kevin mad I’d have a better chance saving my island.
But the island wasn’t important enough to let Kevin Potter think we were a couple or that I would sleep with him. Or participate in whatever fantasy future he’d concocted.
“Stop.” I tried to tug back and out of his grasp. He groped at my breast. I was about to knee him. When hellfire reigned from two directions.
“Get your hands off her!” Stone had appeared out of nowhere and pulled Kevin off me. At the same time, Jason slid me over to the side of the stairs and barreled past me.
“What the fuck Potter,” said my brother.
Potter was now dealing with two very pissed off men.
“Jason, you know you’ll need to watch your tone,” Kevin said.
“You’ll need to understand that when my sister says no, it means no.” Jason’s fists were balled up, and he stood in front of me now.
“Jason, I’m okay, don’t start something.” Stone ignored the plea I’d made to Jason and pushed Kevin to the ground. There was also a biker I’d never seen behind Stone. They were cut from the same scary cloth, and I wondered who he was. Kevin was now talking a mile a minute.
“You again? You fucking thug.” He spit the words up at Stone. The size difference was one thing, but the toughness difference was another. Kevin may be able to buy whatever he wanted, but Stone could easily tear Kevin apart with his bare hands. Everything about Stone was rough and hard, and everything about Kevin was posh and squishy.
“Stone you better let him go.” I didn’t want Jason or Stone to get into trouble because of me. Assaulting Kevin was trouble in this town.
Kevin looked at me to Stone and back.
“Stone? You again? You’re fucking him!” Kevin shouted, and I wanted to crawl into a hole and die.
“You don’t talk like that about my sister.” And then Jason punched Kevin Potter in the face. The same Kevin Potter that held the note on his business and our island and the Pontiac’s bar. Kevin spit some blood out on the ground, and Stone stepped back.
I tried to salvage something out of the situation. I saw any good will between Kevin and my friends and family draining away.
“Jason, stop, Kevin I’m sorry this is a mess. Are you okay?”
“I was about to give you the world because you weren’t a whore like so many of the girls around here. But it looks like I was wrong.”
“Excuse me?”
“You need to get out of here.” Stone stepped in between Kevin and me this time. His friend close behind him. Kevin seemed to recognize Stone’s biker friend and he started to slowly back away from all of us.
“Oh, and look who you have with you? I should have recognized it right away. You’re a Great Wolf eh? Figures. Nothing but trash.”
“Fuck you, Potter, leave these people alone,” Stone’s friend said.
“Walker, why don’t you go back Destry where you belong?” He said to Stone’s friend. And then he turned back to Jason and me.
“Don’t bother asking for more time on those loans. I’ll be taking over the bar, the island, and your fucking bike shop.”
“You going to tell them all that Butchie is you? That you’re the loan shark?” Stone spit out the words.
“What?” I looked at Stone with shock.
“Yes, not only was it bad enough that everyone’s in debt to him he’s controlling the illegal loans too.”
“You can’t prove a damn thing.”
“Except that’s what you did in Destry you piece of shit.” The man Kevin called Walker piped up.
“Walker and you Stone? It’s not your businesses I suggest you get out of town soon, or I start making your life miserable.” Kevin was threatening Stone and Walker.
“And Kara, good luck with this, your drunk dad would be so proud.” What a complete and total asshole.
Kevin walked off in a huff. It was a second of total shock that held me still and staring off after him. What the hell had just happened?
“That was a disaster,” I stated the obvious.
“You’re my sister what did you want me to do?” Jason ran his fingers through his hair and was attempting to cool off.
I looked at him to Stone and his friend Walker.
I didn’t have any idea what to do next so I introduced myself.
“Hi, I’m Kara. Thanks?” Though I wasn’t exactly sure what, I was thanking him for. Maybe making sure Stone didn’t actually kill Kevin?
“Sure.”
I turned to Stone, who had picked up my evening bag and was holding it out to me.
“What the hell is a Great Wolf?”
“I think the Wolves and the Rosses need a beer. Let’s go. I’m buying.” Stone said. That’s when Walker bowed out. Which was fine. I had enough testosterone to deal with on this particular night.
“Sorry, I’m gonna head out. But call me if you need me, Brother. Pleased to meet you, darling.” Walker nodded and walked away.
Jason, Stone, and I headed to the patio to figure out what came next and just what we’d done to our situation by standing up to Kevin Potter.
Estelle and Frank intermittently joined us and didn’t have much to add in the way of good news.
“Not much to be done. If we can’t pay.” Jason said as he nursed a beer.
“Nope.” Frank agreed. I felt hopeless but in another way free. There was no more illusion that Kevin would show mercy. Or there would be some reprieve. I guess going as far as dressing up and going on a date had brought things to a head in that department. I thanked goodness for small favors. If he ever put a slimy finger on me again, I’d crack it off.
“Why am I not surprised that all the loans lead right back to Kevin Potter. He is the one pulling Butchie’s strings too. I thought he was a reputable banker if nothing else. His dad was..” Estelle shook her head.
“We all did,” Frank said.
“Yep, that’s the hell of it. He doesn’t really want to get paid. He wants to take over all our businesses,” Jason said.
“He doesn’t want to take them over. He wants to tear them down.” Stone said, and that was the heart of it.
“For a better hotel or condo.”
Frank saw the problem, and I now did too.
“The old town isn’t making the kind of money you know it could if this strip and Ross Island were high-rise condos,” Estelle said, and there it was. We were all in the way of cash, more cash, for Kevin. He’d wipe us all off the map of Gold Cross if he could.
“As far as I can tell we’re no worse off than we were this morning. We’re still in debt, and at least now we’re not going to have to fake or pretend to like Kevin Potter.” Jason scratched his head and looked over toward his shop. I wished I could fix this for him with all my heart. I felt like he was getting old even as I stared at him.
“I gotta turn in. For now, I still have a bike repair shop to run.” My brother looked defeated and sad. It killed me and fired my desire to find a solution.
Jason headed out, and Frank and Estelle got back to work which left Stone and me.
“Thank you for coming to my rescue, but I could have handled it.”
“He looked insistent, and I’m not a fan of other men kissing you while also pawing at you.”
“I was about to employ a knee.”
“I see.” I still sensed anger from Stone. I wondered if we were going to fight. Everything was so new I didn’t know how he reacted, or what emotions were churning inside him.
“Well, I was going to try. But it’s out in the open more or less now.”
“What is?” Stone asked, and I looked him at him straight on.
“That I am with you.”
“For now.” He said, and I wondered if I was headed for a heartbreak with this. I didn’t want to think about that.
“For sure.” I left it open. He left it open. For now, meant I had an ally in Stone and one that could leave me blushing and weak in the knees with just a look.
“So what’s a Great Wolf?”
“That’s my club.”
“So why don’t you wear a patch?”
“It’s complicated.” Was his only answer. I felt like I had a tiny bit more information on him but there was a lot more there. There was a life that Stone wasn’t ready to share with me.
“Complicated is the key word here for all of us it looks like. You stepped into a web of complications in Gold Cross.”
