Chapter 2 #2
“I’m only going to tell you this one time, and that’s to back off. I can use this, and I would be justified in using it on you.” He told her that she was going to jail he was going to call the police. “Good. I’d tell them the same thing I told you, back off.”
She didn’t know what she expected, but for him to pull a gun on her, too, wasn’t it.
He rammed it into her forehead and smiled.
It wasn’t a friendly smile, and she was actually afraid of him.
Lying her gun on the table, she waited for him to make the next move.
It wasn’t until he simply disappeared from in front of her that she let out a long breath that she’d been holding.
“I take it things got out of hand.” The woman sat across from her, and she, still in shock, said nothing. “I’m Brandy Fraizer. We spoke on the phone.”
“He hit me twice.” She said she’d seen that. “Call the police. I’m going to press charges. There was no reason for him to hit me.”
“I’ve already done that, and they’re on their way.
He’s in the kitchen nursing a headache that I’m sure will last him the rest of the day.
My husband is in there with him.” She asked her what she wanted to do about it.
“I’m going to fire him first of all and then beg you to come back to work for me. ”
“I’ve had enough. I’ll train someone to do that job, but only for a week or two.
I think I’m getting to the point where I don’t like people anymore, and that’s not a good thing to be when you work in food service.
” She said that she didn’t imagine that it would be.
“You’re very beautiful. I hope your husband tells you that daily.
I don’t know why I said that, but it just popped into my head. ”
“You’re beautiful too. All right, now that Roman is out of the way, I’ll hire someone else to come in and run this place.
I’ve got enough information on him to have his ass arrested, too.
You don’t know why he hit you?” She told her what had transpired.
“That doesn’t add up, but that’s all right.
I saw the whole thing just as we were coming in.
He isn’t supposed to be carrying a gun while on duty.
I’m assuming that you have a permit for yours? ”
“I’m retired army. And yes, I have a permit. I don’t wear it when I’m on duty here, just after and before work.” She nodded, and a big man came out of the kitchen. He told Brandy that he’d called the police and they were on their way. “They eat here after every shift. They know me quite well.”
“I would imagine that everyone who lives in this town knows you. You’ve been working here for most of your life.” She said that she was only twenty-six. “You seem like you’ve seen enough. I don’t blame you for quitting. But I have a job for you if you’re interested.”
“I don’t know. Working for you should come with hazard pay.” They both laughed, and she could feel her cheek hurting now that she was no longer stressed. “I need to go to the hospital for a record of what happened. I’ll be back if the police want to talk to me.”
“They’re here now, and I’ve had Lica, my husband, call for an ambulance.
We might as well do this right the first time.
” She only nodded, knowing that she’d not have to go in the ambulance if she didn’t want to.
The police were nice and friendly, and they did know her.
As she was telling them what had happened, Brandy told them that she’d witnessed the entire thing.
Roman came staggering out of the kitchen with his gun pointed at her, and he was arrested for having a gun without a permit.
She was sent to the hospital because she needed stitches.
“That was easy.” She asked her what she meant while waiting for someone to put the stitches in her cheek.
Brandy had come in the ambulance with her.
“I thought that I’d have to come here and beg you to work for me and Roman, but it’s been taken care of without me having to beg.
I don’t particularly care to beg, but I would have just to get you to train your replacement. ”
“You’ll need two people to replace me. I usually came in and opened the place up and did the banking.
Someone will also be needed to run the bar when it’s busy, and like I said to you before, we’re busy in the morning.
” She said that she’d had someone checking out the place before she decided to buy it.
“I know. I saw him. He’s a nice man. Must be related to your husband. They could pass for twins.”
“His name is Ayden. He told me that if I didn’t buy the place, he was going to.
He was that impressed with the place.” She said that he stayed through the breakfast time, running his ass off busing tables.
“Yes, that’s what he was assigned to do.
He said it was the most fun he’d had in a while and that everyone here got along well.
That’s why I was so surprised to get the call from Roman.
He said that the place was going to go into ruin if I didn’t get rid of you.
You thought that you ran the place. I told him that you did and that he’d be lucky to learn half as much as you knew about the place. ”
When they came in to put in her stitches, she lay quietly while they did it.
One of the cuts required only four stitches, but the other one on her right cheek needed to have fourteen.
Not too bad, but she was beginning to hurt now and was glad that they gave her something for the pain.
She couldn’t wait to get home and into her bed. It had been too long a day today.
~*~
Devlin was going to go to the Little Diner after hearing so much about it.
When he pulled into the lot, he couldn’t believe that there was a line out the door to get into the place.
Waiting for his turn, he could see that people were coming out of the place in a good mood and seemingly full of good praises about the place.
He couldn’t wait until it was his turn. Edmond joined him just as he was getting in the door to the place.
“Brandy said that she has new management here. I hope the place can handle it. It seems to run itself right now.” He told him about the woman who had been training the management staff. “She said that she was beautiful. And strong-willed. What would you say if I said she was going to be your mate?”
“I’d say mind your own business and let me live the life as the favorite uncle.
” They both laughed. “She might be something to the family, though. Brandy has hired her to go to diners and see about the way it’s being run.
Not undercover, but someone who just goes in and spends the day with the staff. ”
“Sometimes that’s all it takes, is for someone to come in and listen to what’s going on.” He said that he’d been looking forward to this for a week now. “I’m to understand that the woman who was running the place is quitting. Today might be her last day.”
“Lisa Gunther. I did a background check on her and found out that she’s been in the service for a while and that she’s been working here since she was old enough to have a job.
Her background came back clean, and I’m hoping that she’s as nice as the others who work here.
I’ve done a good background check on everyone, and other than a few minor tickets, they’re all on the up and up.
” Edmond asked if he was going to talk to her if given the chance.
“I’d have to sit at the bar, and I don’t know about where I’ll be seated. Are you paying for us both?”
“Sure. I’d love to, since you had to stand in line all this time.” He said that it wasn’t a hardship as the line kept moving. “I can see that. We’re next in line. I think we’re going to end up at the bar anyway. Do you mind?”
“No, so long as I can have a nice breakfast. That’s what I’ve been hoping for.
” They both were big eaters, being shifter wolves.
They wouldn’t get their fill, people would wonder about them, so they’d get the breakfast, and if it wasn’t enough, they’d stop on the way home to get something somewhere else.
As soon as they were seated, he knew that he was going to get enough to eat. “I’m having the special.”
“So am I.” The special was four eggs anyway you wanted them, bacon, sausage links, and fried ham. A stack of pancakes with the topping of your choice. Along with biscuits and gravy and fried apples. “It might even be more than I can eat.”
They were impressed that their water glasses were never empty for more than a couple of seconds, and when he ordered juice, it came in a large glass that was chilled just the way he liked it.
After Devlin was finished eating, all he wanted to do was take a nap and sleep until dinner time. Then do it all over again.
“That was impressive.” Edmond agreed and said that it didn’t cost all that much either.
As they were getting up to pay, he left a tip on the bar for the staff and made his way to the cash register with his brother.
“I’d come here with you anytime you want if they cook like that.
I’m stuffed, and you know that’s saying a lot. ”
“I know. I want a nap.” They both laughed after paying, and he was headed out the door when he bumped into one of the waitstaff. She looked like she was a model, but for the tiny stitches on her face. “You must be Lisa Gunther.”
“Yes. You must be related to the Frazier men. You guys look like you’ve been popped out of a mold.” He laughed with her. “I have to finish up here. It’s been nice talking to you, but I’m busy.”