by Blue Remy
Amy could only stare at the devastation of what was left of her mother’s store. Police were milling about, spreading black dust over everything while they fingerprinted every inch of the building. Someone had broken in and tossed the place. All the windows were smashed, furniture thrown through them, books torn off shelves, papers strewn about, all of her barista equipment destroyed. The worst was the graffiti spray painted on the outside. Crude words were attached to her name, along with the Temer Gallo MC tag.
Why would they put a price on her head? It didn’t make any sense. They had buried the hatchet years ago when Stone killed the president for murdering his childhood best friend. Sure, they were still rivals, but it was peaceful between the two. They ran Lompoc to Santa Barbara; Six-Guns ran Orcutt to San Luis Obispo.
“Who in their damned right mind would do this to you, babe?” Antonia shook his head, pushing the twists out of his eyes. Dark caramel colored skin offset jet black long braided hair, light hazel eyes stood out from under the false eyelashes he wore regularly. Silken bath robe of red was over a white tank top and boy shorts, fuzzy bunny slippers topped it all off. Tall, unbelievably good looking and statuesque, Antonia was a diva and one of Amy’s best friends.
“I have no idea, Antonia.” She shook her head and stepped out of his arms, hearing the familiar rumble of a band of Harleys making their way to the scene. “Shit.”
That sound meant her father and the boys were on their way. When they saw the tag, they were going to do something dumb. Her dad would call for retaliation. How the hell was she going to stop it from going down?
Six bikes roared onto the scene, whipping around to park. Helmets were ripped off and tossed to seats. All the men ran up to the distressed trio.
Tears began to flow when she saw the look of worry on her father’s face. She let go of Maggie and ran into his arms, unable to stop the heart wrenching sobs that left her. So much for being the bad ass chick trying to stop the retaliation that would come out of this horrible situation.
Stone cradled Amy’s face in his hands, then gently brushed the tears from her eyes. “We got this. This is tiny compared to what we’ve had to deal with. We will rebuild and make it bigger. I promise.”
Amy stared into her father’s eyes, desperately wanting to believe him. She needed to believe everything was going to be okay. “It was Mom’s stuff. The last of it.”
Stone hugged Amy tight, kissing the top of her head. He released his hold on her as Demon walked up.
Demon’s black eyes glittered with malicious intent, grin forming as he hiked a thumb to the damaged building. “Who the fuck did you piss off?”
Amy pushed away from her dad. How dare he speak to her like that! This was her mother’s store and he was going to deface her mother’s memory by accusing her of pissing someone off?
Antonia, overdramatically sashayed his way in between Demon and her, and cut her off. Fanning himself, Antonia welled up huge alligator tears, placing his hand on Demon’s chest, cherry-poppin’ red nails standing out against the black of his vest. His feminine voice waivered, “Please, Demon, hold me. I’m scared.” Lashes fluttered in a very Southern Belle way, his body visibly shivering in made-up fear.
Amy tried not to laugh at the damsel in distress act Antonia laid on Demon, but judging by the look on Demon’s face, Antonia might face an ass beating like no other. Antonia moved away from Demon with a pout. “Not even man enough to help poor, lil' ol' me.”
Mace walked up, holding his arms out and open, a grin plastered on his face from ear to ear. “Come here, honey. I’ll protect you from the big nasty man.”
A squeal filled the air as Antonia launched himself into Mace’s awaiting arms. “A real man!”
Amy’s eyes met Mace’s when he enveloped Antonia in a bear hug, swinging him back and forth. She mouthed a thank you to him as Stone and Romeo burst out laughing at the comical antics of her friend and employee.
“Hate to break up this love fest, but I need to talk to you, Stone.”
Amy started at the voice behind her, not having heard anyone walk up to them. She turned to see a deputy they had known for a while. “Deputy Perez. What’s wrong?” She looked between Stone and Perez, a knot formed in her stomach.
“What’s up, Miguel?” Stone pulled Amy close, keeping his arm around her. “Whatever you have to say, can be said here.”
Everyone clustered around Amy and Stone, wanting to know what was going on, forcing the deputy to take a step back.
“They found something in the store I wanted you to look at.”
Amy looked up in confusion at her dad, then to Perez. “What did you find? It’s not like you’re going to find anything illegal in my mother’s store.” If her family was using her store for their activities, she was going to kill someone. The store was too small for gun running, and they had their brothels in another area. That meant they were using her shop in their extortion schemes.
“Are you sure about this, Stone?” Perez cleared his throat, ignoring Amy while his eyes pleaded with Stone.
“Wipe the sand out of your vagina, Miguel and just tell us what the hell you found.”
Shaking his head, Perez rested his hands on the leather utility belt and his service weapon. “We found a rooster that had its throat slit on the register countertop with a note that said Amy was next.”
It was a good thing her father held her up. Amy’s world swam when the news sunk in. The Temer Gallo really were sending a message. Why now? Why her? They had lived in peace for over eighteen years. None of this made sense.
Demon growled from behind her. “We need a protection detail on Ames. I’ll take first shift.”
Stone held up his hand at Demon, handing a now pissed off Amy to her brother. “Just cool your jets, Demon.” He looked back at the deputy. “Are you sure it was directed toward Amy?”
Pissed off didn’t even begin to describe what Amy felt. She didn’t need protection. She needed a gun to kill whoever did this to her business. It would take weeks, maybe months, to get it cleaned up and opened again.
“I’m positive. We think the note was in the rooster’s blood.”
Stone shook his head. “Not good enough. I want to know exactly what that note said.”
Perez looked to Amy, then back to Stone, obviously very uncomfortable discussing it in front of her. “Fine.” Stone walked with the deputy away from prying ears.
Amy whirled and slammed her index finger into Romeo’s chest. She didn’t care if he stood four inches taller and outweighed her by a hundred pounds. Eyes narrowed as she hissed at him, "I swear to God, Zen. If you had anything to do with this.”
His hands flew up in defense, shaking his bald head. “I swear this has nothing to do with our business, Ames. We wouldn’t do that to you or Mom, and I’m hurt you actually think we would.”
“If your little feel goods are hurt because I’m making sure they’re not going to find anything illegal in my store, then maybe you need to be wearing an Ol’Ladies patch.”
“Damn, Ames. Calm down.” Romeo glared at her.
Amy never used his real name unless she meant business, and right now, she was all business. She stopped the verbal onslaught at seeing her dad make his way back to the group, alone.
Stone released a breath, fingers absently rubbing his goatee as he stared at Amy. Lips pursed, hand relaxed on his hip. “Mace, you’re on protection detail. You’ve become Amy’s personal body guard.”
“What?” Amy cried out in surprise. “Why?”
Demon’s face grew in rage; he stormed off to climb on his bike and tear out of the parking lot, leaving the crew in a plume of smoke.
“Dad! I can take care of myself. This is ridiculous!” What the hell did that note say? It had to be pretty damn bad for her dad to put a protection detail on her. “What did it say?”
Stone shrugged, turning to walk toward his bike. “That’s for me to know.”
“What did it say?” Amy bolted out of Romeo’s grasp, headin
g after her dad. She wanted to know what had him so worried. It had to be something pretty bad if he was walking away to avoid looking at her.
Picking up his helmet, he turned, “I’ve already lost my wife. I’m not losing my daughter too.” Strapping on the helmet, he glanced at Mace while pulling on his gloves. “Pack your shit. There’s a room in the barn by the house. It has a cot and a small dresser in it. That’s where you’ll be staying.”
Antonia clapped his hands together, batting his lashes at Mace. “That’s where all the studs are kept.”
CHAPTER 6
Amy cooked when she was upset. For the past week, she had been cooking, baking, and grilling up a storm. You name it, she probably made it. Stone had gotten all of the club brothers together, along with the Oakland chapter, and they were working on refurbishing the store. They had it repainted in two days, and the interior cleaned in three. No one allowed her near the store until it had been fixed. All that was left was to restock the shelves. Her dad even spoiled her, surprising her with a custom made espresso machine made in Solvang.
Today’s lunch special? Grilled turkey and cheese with baked sweet potato tots. It didn’t get better than this. Romeo sat at the kitchen table, going over the newspaper, waiting for her to finish the sandwiches so they could dig in.
“Does he really have to keep following me? It’s been a week.” Amy coyly looked over her shoulder at Romeo before she pulled out the tots. “Everywhere I turn, he’s there. It’s annoying.”
Romeo looked up from his paper, glowering at her from under his brows. “The president said he follows you. Until he says otherwise, it’s final. Suck it up, or do you want some cheese with that whine?”
“That is stupid!” Amy slammed the cookie sheet on the stove, spinning around to face Romeo. She thrust the spatula toward him to emphasize her words. “This isn’t club shit. This is family shit.”
Romeo’s brows shot up, pushing himself upright to face her. “It became club shit when those Mexican fucks threatened your life after trashing Mom’s store. And for your information, Amethyst James, this club happens to be the only family we have left.”
“Whatever.” That was her answer for everything when she didn’t like what was being said to her. She hated that her brother was right. Sure, they had family elsewhere. Uncles, aunts, cousins, but it wasn’t like they were there.
Amy set lunch on the table and plopped onto her chair, tucking a leg up under her. “I’m debating throwing a party for all the brothers to say thank you for their support and all their help this past week. The store wouldn’t be ready this quick if it wasn’t for everyone.”
Romeo nodded, grabbing a sandwich. “That’ll work.” He chuckled as he took a bite of the turkey and cheese. “Maybe you can get laid while you’re at it.”
“Don’t be such a dweeb, Zen.” She stuck her tongue out at him. He was one to talk. He was the whore between the two of them, not that she could blame the women. They flocked to him like ants to sugar. Pale green haunted eyes, six foot two and built like a beast, tan and bald, tatted and pierced. Yes, he was quite the ladies’ man.
Unfortunately, he was on his second strike. One more and they would put him away for good. First strike wasn’t his fault, she felt for him … a little. He was caught up in a girl, thought he was in love. He was eighteen, she was sixteen. They did the horizontal mambo and Mommy and Daddy found out. They nailed his ass to the wall with statutory rape charges, even when the girlfriend said it was consensual. His second strike was carrying a concealed weapon without a permit. Dumbass. Santa Maria police department could have waived the charges, but because he was wearing his cut, they threw the book at him.
Now, her brother was careful with everything he did, except women. She hoped he learned from the last pregnancy scare with Tasha, to glove it.
“You’re really one to talk, mister I-refuse-to-wear-a-condom-and-almost-got-Tasha-pregnant.” Amy gave him her best fake smile, knowing she opened a can of worms.
“I wasn’t scared. She was trying to pin my ass down and gain Ol’Lady status.” He shrugged, reaching for a tot.
“You weren’t scared? How could you not be? I’d be afraid of STD’s from her.”
Romeo sighed, taking a sip of iced tea. Setting it aside, he looked at her. “I knew she was blowing smoke up my ass. One, I use Trojan. Two, I can’t have kids.”
Amy wasn’t sure she heard Romeo right. “Excuse me?”
“Did I stutter? Snip snip.”
Amy snorted tea out her nose hearing Romeo’s admission. Coughing, she frantically grabbed at a napkin, staring at her brother in total disbelief. “Are you serious? Why?”
“To avoid bitches like Tasha trying to get me to do the morally right thing.” He shrugged nonchalantly. “I don’t let the girls I sleep with know. It’s a real road block to their agenda when they come to me telling me they’re having my baby and all I do is sit there and laugh.”
Amy knew her jaw was hanging, but she didn’t care. When had her brother become so jaded and calloused? Who had hurt him that bad? “But—but what if you find the right girl, Zen? Someone you want to have kids with?”
Romeo stared at her like she had lost her mind. “Won’t happen, Ames. Look at the life I live. Do I really want to bring a wife and baby into it? Fuck no. Now let it go.”
Wow. She was just schooled by her own brother. He had never shut her down like that. Amy would have to ask her dad what the hell happened, or Maggie. Being gossip central, she’d know.
“Anyway,” Romeo washed down his grilled turkey and cheese with his iced tea. “I’ll barbeque for the party, you just make sure all the sides get made.”
“I can do that.” Amy tried to smile, but her heart wasn’t in it.
“I know you can, but I’m not done yet.” He nudged her under the table with his foot. “I’ll do it, only if you make Mom’s famous dirt cake.”
That got Amy to smile. Both she and Romeo lived for their mother’s dirt cake. It made the worst day always bright and cheery. “Oh what? You want some worms now? Some little gummy worms?” She made squishing motions with her fingers at him.
“Duh.” Romeo countered with a low laugh. “What gave you the first clue, Sherlock?”
“Your total sarcasm, Watson.” Sticking her tongue out, she scooted off of the chair, picking up the plates to put them in the sink. “I cooked, you clean.”
“Bitch.”
“Ass.” Flipping him off, she glanced at her phone when it rang. Antonia. She picked it up and answered. Listening to Antonia, she watched her brother move around the kitchen, her mind unable to really process how hurt he was. He had a heart of gold, and it killed her knowing someone had taken it and wounded him so bad, that he wouldn’t allow anyone to get close to him ever again.
“I’ll be there in a few.” Hanging up, she let out a huge sigh. Grabbing her keys, she made her way to the back door.
“Uh, where do you think you’re going?” Romeo gave her a sidelong glance.
“Antonia needs me. He can’t match the herbs up. They got sent without labels, again.” Rolling her brown eyes, she opened the door and tried to leave once more.
“I’ll call Mace.”
Amy groaned in exasperation. “Look, I’ll text you when I get there, okay? If they were going to make another move, they would have already. I’m going directly to the shop.”
“Amy, don’t argue.”
“Gah!” She slammed the door behind her, with no intention of giving her guard dog a chance to follow her.
* * * *
Amy’s mind barely focused on driving to the store. Her brother’s secret had blown her away. She wasn’t sure why it bothered her so much. Maybe because he was the last of the James line for the family. Direct descendants from the outlaw Jesse James, their name meant everything to them. Her father was proud to carry on the legend of the James exploits. It hadn’t been planned either.
Alan James and his best friend, David Younger from the Cole Younger line, had
grown up together since they were babies. They were born just days apart from one another; the longest they had ever been separated was during sleep. When one did something, the other followed, and vice versa. They even joined the Marines together, went through boot camp and were stationed at the same base. Once they completed their tour, they settled in the Santa Maria Valley and loved the life of ranching. David bred horses and Alan cattle.
Eventually, both got married and had children. One fateful night, an accident changed everyone’s lives forever. The boys were at Elmer’s, in Old Orcutt, shooting pool with a couple of bikers. The bikers had too much to drink, tried to instigate a fight with the two friends. Neither one took the bait.
At the end of the night, Alan and David went their separate ways, but David never made it home. He was gunned down at a stop sign, by what witnesses said was a gang, leaving David’s wife and his son, Colin, alone. Alan was able to give the deputies what information they needed to make arrests, but nothing ever came of it.
Alan then embraced his lineage and became what a James really was, an outlaw. Approaching several friends that were in the military, they formed their own club, the Six-Gun Outlaws, and went to war with the Temer Gallo. It was a three year war, but in the end, Alan “Stone” James came out on top. Alan killed their president with his own hands.
Peace reigned after that for eighteen years.
Until now.
Shaking it off, Amy pulled into the shop’s parking lot. She texted Romeo to let him know she arrived without incident, and headed for the door. Her phone buzzed and she paused, checking the reply text from her brother. No biggie. Looking into the windows, she frowned, seeing Maggie and Antonia in what looked like a huddle.
The bell gave her away when she entered the shop, the culprits jumping clear of each other. Amy looked between the two. She couldn’t tell if they looked suspicious or guilty, but they were up to something. She knew them too well not to think so.
Antonia smoothed down his bright red blouse before pushing the honey colored braids out of his eyes. The diva changed his hair style and color more than she changed her panties. “Oh babe, I just texted you.”
