Chapter Twelve. #2
“For law-abiding citizens, yeah. For scum like you, not so much. Get out of my town,” Cates ordered, and I marvelled at the balls on her.
“That’s harsh,” Thief peered at her badge and smirked, “Sheriff.”
“Won’t warn you again, and I will put you in jail,” Cates warned.
“You and whose army? We’re making friends here, some pretty ones. Seems our brothers ain’t sharing the goods. But I’m sure we can play nice,” Thief retorted sleazily, running his eyes up and down Cates. To her credit, Cates didn’t bat an eyelash.
“Last warning, and then I’ll take you in for causing a disturbance,” Cates said calmly.
“Now, after we’ve been real friendly, you’ve gotta cause a scene?” Thief taunted. A split second later, he drew his gun and rubbed it suggestively. “Just a little taste.”
In an instant, Cates and the rest of us brought out our weapons.
Thief’s men didn’t appear as confident as before. Thief laughed. “Guess we were wrong, brothers. Ortonville ain’t a nice place after all. It seems we’re gonna have to help them be neighbourly.”
“Come back, and you’ll learn what bars look like,” Cates threatened.
“That ain’t something I’m unfamiliar with, Sheriff,” Thief sneered and then put his weapon out of sight and began sauntering off. “Tell the gimp we’ll be seeing him.”
My finger tightened on my trigger, but Cates pushed my gun arm down. “He ain’t worth the time you’ll do.”
“I disagree,” I responded. But I put my gun away. Moments later, Cates was grinning as we all pulled out our permit-to-carry licences.
Cates began chuckling. “Ladies, I issued them, so I think I know you own them!”
“Just making sure it’s done by the book,” I stated, and Cates winced.
“You ever gonna let me live that down?”
“Not for a while. But damage can be reversed. Depends on how you handle shit in the future,” I said.
“What are you going to do, Sheriff Cates?” Jess demanded, storming up. “Why haven’t you slapped cuffs on them?”
“What for?” Cates inquired.
“They brandished firearms in public. They’ve brought dangerous people into our community!” Jess exclaimed.
“All of them are thugs!” Skye Golding agreed, hurrying up.
“Why is that, Skye?” Cates inquired mildly.
“They drew guns in the street. This is not the O.K Corral!” Skye shrieked.
“They were defending their town from those people,” Cates stated.
“Who wouldn’t be here if not for them. They’re equally as bad as those who rode off,” Jess yelled.
“Jess is butt sore because we just dropped another fifteen k on Natalie,” I explained to the old ladies, who began laughing.
“That’s gotta hurt your business,” Penny taunted, turning to Skye. “And you are on suspension, aren’t you? For how you spoke to Falcon?”
Skye blanched.
“Don’t flinch away, bitch. You’re quick enough being a judgmental cunt. You can dish it out but not take it?” I added.
“Arrest them,” Skye snapped at Cates.
Cates stepped forward, and they both moved backward.
“You know what I saw? The sheriff of this town confronted ten hostile men. Nobody came to help apart from those standing here. When those fuckers pulled a gun, they had my back. Where were you two? Did you call nine-one-one? Come and take a stand with me?”
“We’re civilians!” Jess scoffed.
“So are they! I know for a fact you’ve got a weapon under your counter. Step away, Jess, because you are a judgmental coward,” Cates bellowed.
“Jessica Smithern. Skye Golding. You both should be ashamed of yourselves,” Mrs Maple said sharply.
I grinned. Nobody messed with this old biddy.
“Mrs Maple…”
“Don’t argue with me, young lady.” Mrs Maple poked a finger at Jess.
“Mid-twenties and more bitter than a ninety-year-old virgin. The issue you have is that you set your cap at some of those men, and they aren’t interested.
Plus, everyone knows you’re the town bike, that you’ve been ridden a lot and put away wet. ”
Jessica gasped and blushed as Skye also reddened. “No decent man wants a woman that his best friend has tasted, even worse, one that his brother has!” Mrs Maple continued.
I barely refrained from laughing. Good Lord.
Mrs Maple wasn’t holding her tongue. “You used to be a sweet, happy girl, and then you became popular and turned into the biggest bitch going. Both of you are completely vile. Now scurry away to the holes you came from and stay there before the Book Club acts!”
Jess and Skye did as Mrs Maple ordered, and I struggled not to laugh.
“Those two bitches. They needed a good spanking years ago and not of the sexual kind.”
Laughs greeted her comment as the prospects went bug-eyed. Mrs Maple turned to Myka, who was pale and shocked. Shit, I’d not thought before I acted.
“My dear girl. How nice to see you out again. I’ve come to invite you personally to the Book Club, and we don’t ask just anyone!” Mrs Maple stated.
That was true. They were as picky as fuck, but I understood why. They held actual power in their hands.
Myka
My head was spinning. What the hell just happened?
Everything in me screamed to flee and get away.
Those horrible men were frightening, and I was digging my nails into the arms of the wheelchair.
When the weapons were pulled, I nearly peed in fear.
Thief’s gaze caused terror in me. He wore an expression that reminded me of Dawson.
I was used to being around guns. Dawson had several.
Despite his faults, he’d never pointed one at me, but today a stranger had.
A nasty, viscous individual had been prepared to shoot me because of who I was with.
These people, however, had innocently led me into danger, and I could have been killed.
Jayes would have gone to the Beauregards.
The idea of the beatings he would have endured sent a chill through me.
I had to contact the Parks. This wouldn’t work.
Just as I made up my mind, the scene happened with Jess and Skye, and then Mrs Maple invited me to the Book Club.
The actual Book Club. Not a book club like normal ones.
No, this one had a title with capital letters and was dignified.
It didn’t have names, or other things in front or behind it.
The two words stood alone and conveyed something everyone in town wanted. Power.
“Myka, my dear, have I shocked you speechless?” Mrs Maple patted my hand.
“Thank you?” I stammered.
“Rosie will bring you to the next one. We’re excited to have you,” Mrs Maple declared and briskly walked away.
Rosie beamed, but it didn’t warm me as it should. I’d been confronted with a horrible truth today, and it scared me. Not even Rage MC could protect me.
Falcon
“Thanks, Rosie,” I remarked as she hung up the phone.
She had called and given me a heads-up. I guessed Myka was in shock and was wondering how to handle it.
The scenario must have been frightening, but she was safe whether or not she recognised that.
I wouldn’t let her run, and I headed outside to confront her.
Instead of hysteria, Myka greeted me with a calmness, which seemed to worry those around her.
“She’s not said anything,” Demi whispered to me, and I nodded. I picked Myka up and placed her in the wheelchair and wondered if she was shutting down on me. The change in her demeanour was terrifying.
“You okay?” I asked.
“No. They’re as scary as hell,” Myka replied.
“Who?” I needed her to explain what she was feeling.
“The old ladies. They shouldn’t be let loose unsupervised.”
“Myka, honey, are you in shock?”
Myka looked at me. “I was scared and wanted to run, but Dawson’s out there somewhere.
And those men, they were trying to frighten people, but they wouldn’t have pulled the trigger.
There were too many witnesses. Falcon, explain who they are and what shit this club is into.
Because I have Jayes and I won’t risk him. ”
“That’s fair enough.”
“Yes, I think so, too,” Myka said and motioned for me to wheel her into the clubhouse. Rosie grinned at me and tossed me a thumbs-up, and I rolled my eyes at her. Now, I had to ensure Myka knew she was, in fact, safe.