Chapter 12
Grace watched as Sid and Jace chatted. They were solid friends who shared unspeakable horrors of war. Both had suffered, still suffered, but were contributing members of society.
Jace turned to her, a smile on his face. ”So, tell me about you, Grace. How much work do you have to do over at the house and then what will you do?”
”I own both of those houses.” She pointed toward her twin bungalows. ”I”m currently living in one and fixing it up. Then, I”ll move to the second while I rent out the first. My plan is short-term rentals. I”d like a few more eventually so I can make enough to live on. I have a fair amount of work to do, but luckily, most of it is cosmetic. Painting, tiling, things like that.”
Jace chuckled. ”Short-term rentals are popular here. I have four of them myself. But, mine came with the bar, and right now I have a couple of friends living in them...” He grinned at Sid. ”I”m also paying Quinn to fix up the other two. So, I”d say I have more going out than coming in. But, that will change soon.”
”I know what you mean,” she chuckled.
Sid grinned as they spoke and she enjoyed the fact that he didn”t seem jealous or possessive. She”d had enough of that over the years.
Jace addressed Sid. ”Tell me about the Garage. I heard through the grapevine you got the Knucklehead started.”
Sid”s smile was electric, his cheeks dimpled, and his eyes sparkled. ”I did. It felt good. But she has a long way to go to be ride-ready.”
Jace laughed. ”I have no doubt you”ll get her ride-ready.”
The server came out with their drinks and Chiefy”s water bowl and Jace nodded. ”I gotta get back inside. Stop in when it”s quiet, we”ll have more time to chat.” Jace stood. ”Nice to meet you, Grace.” He glanced over the table at Chiefy, ”You too, Chiefy.”
Chiefy”s tail wagged twice, but she was tuckered out. She barely lifted her head.
Jace leaned in slightly, ”I”m watching the bikers and I”ve got a friend who is the local detective here in town. If you have issues, I”ll give her a call.”
Sid grinned. ”How good of a friend?”
Jace pointed a finger at his friend and chuckled. ”A friend. That”s it.”
Jace started back toward the bar, stopping at tables and asking the patrons if they were happy with their meals and laughing with them as he went. Sid watched his friend and shook his head as he chuckled. ”He”s a natural at this.”
”He sure seems to enjoy his business. That”s the key though, isn”t it?”
Sid nodded. ”It is.”
Suddenly the doors from the bar burst open and the bikers came pouring out. There were many of them, perhaps ten. Chiefy jumped up and moved to sit between Grace and the bikers.
Grace smoothed Chiefy”s neck hair. ”It”s okay girl. We”re good.”
Chiefy growled slightly. A low, warning growl.
Jace switched direction and stood before the bikers. ”No bullshit out here. Got it.”
”Fuck you, man. We”re not doing anything wrong.”
”Your posture and demeanor tell me you”re looking for trouble. I”m just saying don”t. I”ll call the police faster than you can throw the first punch.”
The first biker chuckled. It wasn”t a happy chuckle, it was slow and menacing. He turned to his friends and a couple of them nodded.
Sid leaned forward. ”Grace, call 911.”
She pulled her phone from her little bag. It was made difficult by her shaking fingers. Between trying to keep Chiefy calm and herself calm, she felt slow as a turtle and clumsy.
Finally retrieving her phone, she tapped and held the number nine on her phone and held it to her ear.
”911 what”s your emergency?”
”Hello. My name is Grace Murphy and my friend and I are at Sarge”s Sandbar outside. There”s a group of bikers here and it looks as though they”re sporting for a fight. The owner is trying to talk them down, but the ”F” bomb is being tossed around a lot and the group is advancing on the owner.”
”We”ll be right there. Can you stay on the line with me?”
”Ye...yes.”
She turned her eyes to Sid”s and nodded. She stared into his eyes to make sure he wasn”t going to have an episode, but he seemed just fine. He sucked in a deep breath and stood.
”Sid. No.”
”I”m sorry ma”am, what”s going on?”
”I”m speaking to my friend.” Grace reached for Sid”s hand, and he turned in her hand and squeezed her fingers.
”I have to help my brother. We stick together. Stay on the line with the police.”
Chiefy growled a bit louder and Grace”s breathing began to come in shallow spurts. ”Are they on their way?” Her voice shook.
”Yes, ma”am.”
”They need to hurry.”
”Yes, Grace, I”m messaging them. You should be hearing sirens soon.”
The sirens finally filled the air and Chiefy growled louder and let out a low muffled bark.
”Shh.”
Grace watched Sid as he approached the group and stood alongside Jace. His shoulders were pulled back, his back was rigid, his hands at his sides, fingers balled into fists.
Another man stomped over to Sid and Jace and stood alongside Sid. Sid glanced briefly at the man, but they all stood facing the bikers.
Jace”s voice raised, ”Get out.”
”We haven”t done anything wrong.”
”You”re behaving in a threatening manner. I don”t have to serve you. Get out.”
Sirens grew louder and stopped out front and Grace”s eyes filled with moisture. Her voice was shaky when she spoke to the 911 operator. ”They”re here. Thank goodness, they”re here.”
”I”ll let you go then, Grace. Unless you want me to stay on the line.”
”No.” She gripped Chiefy”s leash tighter as she began prowling toward Sid. ”No, thank you.”
She ended the call and set her phone on the table. She gripped Chiefy”s leash with both hands and let out a shaky breath when police walked toward the group of men. Two officers began talking the situation down. Sid, Jace, and the third man stepped back at police request, but they didn”t stop watching the action.
Grace”s heartbeat felt as though she”d just run a marathon, her throat was dry, and her fingers, had they not been holding Chiefy”s leash so tight, would be shaking like they were on a vibrating bed.