by A. J. Downey
“Um, getting my mom’s house in order and cleared out,” I said, and he nodded.
“Okay. We stay there until it’s done.”
“What?”
“You heard me. We’ll get up first thing tomorrow, head over there so you can get a shower and a fresh change of clothes and take you to work. When you’re done for the day, we’ll stay there chipping away at it ‘til it’s done.”
“You’re serious,” I said.
“I am.”
“You would do that? Uproot your entire life just to make mine better?”
“In a heartbeat,” he affirmed.
I fell mute and lay my head back down.
“Okay?” he asked.
“Okay,” I murmured.
“Okay.”
It’d been a few days, and we were executing Fen’s loose plan through a bit of trial and error. There honestly wasn’t a whole lot we were able to get done the next few nights. By the time I got home, it was late and I could only maybe go through one or two boxes or fill a trash bag.
Still, slow progress was better than no progress, I guess.
On Saturday night, Fen rode from his farm to my shop and came in just before I flipped the sign to ‘closed.’ Several of the ladies from the class that evening eyed him like he was a side of beef as they walked by, and I fought down the urge to say anything.
“Hi,” I murmured as he bent to kiss me.
“Hey, gorgeous.”
“What brings you here?” I asked as I locked the doors.
“Wanted to see my baby,” he murmured and reached over to pull the cord on the lit ‘open’ sign higher up in the window.
I couldn’t help but smile and said, “Well, here I am.”
“Club’s having a feed tonight. Thought we could grab dinner on the way home versus cooking.”
“Oh, you know what?” I said. “That sounds really good. Are you sure I’m invited, though?”
“Babe, you’re mine, you’re with me, you’re invited. The girls’ll be there and it won’t be nearly as crowded as Mace’s thing.”
“Yeah?” I asked, moving around my shop, picking up.
“Yeah, just the local chapter. No out-of-towner’s.”
“Okay.” I nodded. “Just let me finish closing up.”
“What can I do?”
“Nothing!” Amber called from the back of the shop. “I got it! Go on and get outta here, boss!”
I smiled and laughed a little. She knew now that I would eventually be closing down. That had been a hard conversation, but she’d declared herself in to the bitter end.
“Naw, we’ll help,” Fenris declared. “It’s dark as fuck out there and no way I’m letting you go out with no one here to have your back. Safety in numbers, kid.”
“I’m not a child,” Amber said, stepping out front with us and rolling her eyes for Fen’s benefit.
“You’re just a damn baby,” he argued.
“Fen’s right, Amber. It’s getting sketchier and sketchier out there.”
“Yeah, well, gentrification hasn’t quite taken a firm hold around here just yet.”
“I know.”
“Double-edged sword,” she said breezily.
We made quick work of cleanup, and I declared the rest could be done on Tuesday morning when I came in.
“Okay, boss. Whatever you say.”
We went out back and Fen made sure Amber was shut safe in her car. We waited for her to pull out and I turned to him. He gathered me up and kissed me for real this time, hand on my ass and everything.
“Mm, I like it when you do that,” I said.
“I like that you like that I do that,” he said with a smile.
“Riding with me, or?”
“Naw, I’ll see you up there. Park out front.”
“Okay, see you in a few.” He opened my car door for me and I got in. He had a habit of knocking on the roof of my car twice after I shut the door before walking away enough for me to be sure I wouldn’t run over his foot or something as I pulled out of the gravel lot.
The drive up to the club was barely enough to get my car’s heater blowing warm air. I parked in the same spot I had last time, around the corner of the building, and killed the engine, my lights, and what have you. Making sure I had my phone and tucking my purse under the seat.
I got out of the car and was just coming around the front of the building when who should I almost run into?
Why, Tic, of course.
“Shit,” he muttered and feeling much stronger than I had last time, I took a deep breath, let it out and looked at him square in the eye.
“Got something to say, citizen girl?”
“No, but I do.” Tic turned, just in time for Fen’s fist to crash into his jaw. Not even I had seen that coming!
“Fen!” I cried as Tic wheeled around and put some distance between me and Fen. I stood in front of my man; hands splayed across the cool leather on his chest.
Fen pointed at Tic and called out, “You disrespect my woman or me again, I’m going to whoop your fuckin’ ass!”
Guys came pouring out of the club.
“The fuck’s your problem, man?” Tic demanded, spitting blood and touching his lip gingerly. “Ain’t you ever heard of bro’s before ho’s?”
“Oh, shit,” I heard someone say as Fen literally passed me off into someone’s arms beside us and went after Tic.
I actually suddenly didn’t care. Tic was asking for it with that one.
Tic went low and rushed Fen, tackling him and I surged forward instinctually. Arms went around my waist and hauled me back.
“Whoa, there, darlin’! Let the men folk sort their shit out!” whoever it was called, and he started laughing.
I shit you not, money came out and the other men started placing bets.
Of course, the favored winner was Fen.
I covered my face with my hands and leaned back against Mace, who was the one who had a hold of me, when Tic cracked Fen in the face with a closed fist and a meaty ‘thwack!’
“Oh, God!” I cried, peeking between my fingers.
Of course, it’s all fun and games until the cops show up, which they did. A King County Sherriff’s SUV whipping into the parking lot off the main drag, red and blue lights sparking to life in the dark.
My stomach turned into lead as groans and boos erupted all around me.
“Shit, gotta go,” Mace muttered and disappeared inside the club while there was still enough confusion and the cops had yet to get out of their vehicle. Maverick stepped up beside me, taking Mace’s place, a hand down low, reaching back to clutch my wrist.
“The only thing you say is ‘I don’t answer questions’ period. Okay?”
“I don’t answer questions,” I said, and he turned his head, flashing a feral grin at me.
“Atta, girl.”
“Whoa, what’s going on out here?” the first officer demanded.
No one said anything.
“Alright, everyone get your IDs out,” the second one ordered. I looked to Mav, and he gave me a nod. I extracted my phone with its little silicone wallet on the back that held my debit card and ID for when I didn’t want to carry my purse around.
I swear, it was like the cop made a beeline for me to check mine first and I frowned slightly.
“Aspen Lawson,” he read, and I said nothing. He eyed me critically and asked, “What are you doing out here Ms. Lawson?”
“I don’t answer questions,” I said firmly.
“Really now?” the cop asked.
“I don’t answer questions,” I repeated, and I gave him a look that told him he might as well stop trying, I was not going to be that bitch.
Fenris fixed me with a look across the open ring of people and sniffed, wiping at the blood under his nose.
The cop caught the look between us and went over to Fen, snatching his ID roughly out of his hand and squinting at it. “Okay, Mr. Lars Elstad. You want to tell me what’s going on here?”
I bli
nked, realizing that this was the first time I had actually ever heard Fenris’ legal name. My next thought being he didn’t look like a Lars or an Elstad. He looked like a Fenris.
“I don’t answer questions,” he said with a smirk.
“What about you?” He pulled Tic-Tac’s license out of his hand but didn’t say his name.
“I don’t answer questions,” Tic declared and spit on the ground at the deputy’s feet.
“Well clearly somethin’s going on out here.”
No one said a word. We all froze them out.
Another Sherriff’s office vehicle pulled into the lot.
“Anyone inside?” the first deputy who’d spoken, an older man going soft in the middle demanded.
“We don’t answer questions,” Maverick declared. “As for inside, you got a warrant?” he demanded.
“No, no we do not.”
“Then inside ain’t none of your concern,” and with that, Ms. Momma Kat came around the bar and shut the door.
“Get all their IDs, run ‘em for warrants,” the older officer ordered.
“Get comfy, baby, this is gonna be awhile,” Maverick said out of the side of his mouth.
He wasn’t lying, it did take a while. The better part of an hour.
“It’s your lucky day,” one of the deputies said, handing Fenris his ID. “You’re coming with us.”
“On what charge?” Maverick demanded, scowling as the hair stood up on the back of my neck.
“No charge, yet. He’s wanted for questioning.”
“Yeah, fuck that. You can go through our lawyer,” Maverick said.
“You don’t want to come voluntarily?” the deputy asked, and it was the young buck from the first car.
“I don’t answer questions,” Fen said in a low growl of irritation.
“Here’s our lawyer’s number,” Maverick said handing a card over. “You tell whatever detective to call them. Now, if you’re not arresting any of us or charging us with anything? Do us a solid and go the fuck away. This is private property, and as you can see, we aren’t doing anything illegal.”
“I don’t see that at all,” one of the cops from the second car grumbled.
“Then charge one of us or off you fuck… sir,” Maverick said. “We all know our rights.”
“You sure you wanna get mixed up with the likes of these fellas?” the fat cop asked and held out my ID to me.
“I don’t answer questions,” I said firmly with a tart little eat-shit-and-die smile.
“Your funeral, little lady,” he said.
“I’ll take that bet and win it,” I shot back and a few of the guys from the club laughed at the man’s expense. He gave me a flat, unfriendly look, and I stood my ground, even though I felt my cheeks flush and my heart race in my breast.
“We’ll see, now won’t we?”
I wrinkled my nose impishly and reiterated for the umpteenth time, “I don’t answer questions.”
That got more laughter out of the guys still milling around.
“Best quit while you’re ahead, son,” Major said and laughed, his tongue ring winking in the light from the front of the club, which had several lights under the overhang running the length of the front of the building.
“Y’all have a nice night, now. Keep the peace,” one of the other guys said, tipping an imaginary hat.
“Alright, boys. Let these fine deputies get to more important things out there tonight,” Mav ordered.
They got in their cars and drove off and I practically sagged with relief.
“That wasn’t nothing,” Maverick said dryly. “We’re lucky they didn’t line us up and frisk us.”
“Naw, man. Why should they care? We were only beating the shit out of each other this time,” Fenris said, and I slightly jumped. I hadn’t seen him move up. I put my arms around him and hugged him gratefully.
“Yeah, well, it’s gonna be a hurry up and wait now to see what the fuck they want to talk to you about,” Maverick said. Fen just grunted noncommittally and sniffed.
“Let me get you some ice?” I asked softly, and he nodded down at me, whipping a black bandana out of one of his back pockets and wiping at his nose.
I looked over at Tic and murmured, “I’ll get you some too, on account of I’m not an asshole.”
Fenris laughed and gave me a squeeze, while Tic just scowled and gave me a solitary nod. I would take it, for whatever it was worth.
“You did good,” Maverick declared and hoped I didn’t glow outwardly from the praise. I would much rather keep that shit to myself on the inside.
Fenris, thankfully, let me fuss over him a little. I gave him two ice packs that Momma Kat and I put together. One for his nose and one for his swelling knuckles. When I had a stiff drink in his hand and him seated on one of the love seats I sighed and said, “One down, one to go.”
“What do you mean?” he asked me.
“You catch more flies with honey. I’m going to check on Tic if it’s all the same to you.”
“You’re a good woman,” he said, and it was something that he’d said before.
“I should hope so,” I murmured. “I’m your woman and you only deserve the best.”
His blue eyes flickered up to mine, and I saw some surprise in them, then a warmth flooded them that made me smile like some sort of madwoman, and maybe I was? I mean, I’d just seriously stood up to the cops out there. Yikes.
Tic was in one of the two bathrooms, running cold water over his hand and looking at himself in the mirror. I leaned against the doorway and sighed asking, “Can I get you an icepack?”
“Yeah,” he said, nodding and solemn.
“Need more than one?”
“No.”
I went and made him up an ice pack and brought it to him.
“Thanks,” he said tersely, and I nodded.
“You’re welcome. This does not make us friends.”
At that, he cracked the first smile in my direction that wasn’t shitty or a sneer.
“You’re alright,” he said with a nod.
I smiled but didn’t say anything. I just went back to Fen. The pizza was delivered just a few minutes later.
There wasn’t a whole lot to the rest of the evening. Eventually all the guys started leaving by ones and twos. Some with girls, some by themselves or with each other until it was just me, Fen, Maverick, and Momma Kat, who was going around cleaning up the place like some sort of den mother.
“Hey, Mav,” Fen said.
“Yeah, what’s up man?”
“Got some sticky legal shit I wanna ask you for my little leaf on the wind, here.”
“Shoot,” he said.
Fenris asked about the divorce and liquidating my shop, then asked about my mom’s house and the half of my brother’s inheritance.
“Shit, I’d need to see some things. Like the wills, and your lease, that sort of shit to get it all sorted out. Can you get a hold of those things?” he asked.
“Of course,” I said.
“Would you mind me having a look at ‘em?”
“I don’t see why not,” I said with a shrug.
“Good deal. As soon as I have all the documentation, I’ll look over everything and let you know what I can come up with.”
“Thanks,” I said softly.
“Thank you,” he said. “You did real good under a tense situation out there with the cops.”
“I don’t feel like I did anything to be honest,” I said with a laugh.
“You did plenty, trust me. Now if you ever encounter any cop for any reason, them’s the magic words,” he said.
“I don’t answer questions?” I guessed.
“Those are the ones.”
I smiled, he smiled, and with a nod at Fen he hoisted himself to his feet.
“I’m about to get back to my girl and get myself laid,” he said.
“I’m going to take him home and probably do the same,” I said with a grin and Maverick laughed out loud.
�
�We’ll make you one of us, yet,” he said.
Fenris smiled at me and I smiled back.
“I told you so,” my man declared and it warmed me down to my toes.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Fenris…
Her sister-in-law was a bitch, had fucked around, and the bitch was about to find out.
Time had gone by in a bit of a blur over the last couple of weeks and Halloween was right around the fuckin’ corner. Aspen and I had been busting our asses around her mother’s old place clearing out old furniture and a lifetime of her mom’s shit only for this bitch right here to spit on her fuckin’ efforts in one of the rudest, most self-entitled ways I had ever seen in my fuckin’ life.
“You’re selling the house, you’re giving me half, and that’s final. It’s not my problem what you do after that.” Christen was a literal fucking ice princess. She fucking radiated cold, from her glittering flat blue eyes, to her pale, overdone makeup, to her blond hair that was more than likely out of a bottle.
We were at some coffee place near Aspen’s shop. Her brother’s widow – I now knew why Aspen had phrased it that way since there was definitely nothing sisterly about her, was glaring daggers at her across the table. Her arms crossed over her chest.
“Christen, I’m trying to help you,” Aspen said. “I’m trying to help us both!”
Christen scoffed and looked at Aspen with utter disdain. “You’re trying to cheat me and Silver out of what’s rightfully ours!” she cried.
“Hold up, let me stop you right there, princess,” I said, holding up a hand.
Aspen was ashen, quiet, and swallowed hard, but didn’t say shit about me addressing her brother’s widow that way. She’d warned me it might go down like this and I’d warned her, I wouldn’t be anything other than myself about it.
“Did you actually sit down and read the wills?”
“My lawyer did,” she snapped imperiously.
“Might wanna have a talk with him about that,” I said.
Mav had found grounds for Aspen to keep everything from her mother, even though her brother had died after her. It was stipulated in her mother’s will that should either Copper or Aspen die, the whole of her house and belongings would go to the surviving sibling. Even though Copper had died after her mother, he’d died before her mother’s will could be officially discharged making everything Aspen’s. She didn’t have to give this gold-digging whore one red cent and with the way Christen was acting right now? I didn’t care how nice my girl was. I wouldn’t let her be a doormat.
