Chapter 4
An hour after the bikers left—all of them—Val was still shaken up but surprisingly, still holding strong.
She’d only seen guns used in farming or hunting, not aimed at people. Sure, plenty of farmers around town rode around with their guns, but that was different. Not like these bikers.
They’re gone, you’re okay.
She kept repeating that over and over until she believed it.
Not that she would forget, mind. Her stomach heaved a few times thinking about the Krypt crew’s threat.
You’re safe again, it’s all right.
Sam was okay too. Maybe.
While she was grateful for the intervention of the two local bikers, she knew that it had a price. One that Sam was going to have to pay.
Sam called in his spare cook, Callie, since he was too upset to work alone. Val was grateful. Callie was a hard worker, talkative where Val was mostly silent. Which worked out well, Callie chatted, and Val did what she did best, listen.
Sam sat in the first booth and nursed a big glass of whiskey, neat.
Val didn’t drink. She preferred to work off her nerves by cleaning.
Even though Sam looked like he should go home, he told Val he was fine. She didn’t believe him, but she let it go. He knew his own mind.
After all, Sam was the only person she had that was like family. Him and Rochelle. But Rochelle was part of the Hellraisers, and Val learned to keep her distance ever since she got settled here. As much as she respected Rochelle as a woman and would always be thankful that she’d brought her to Longford, Val wasn’t keen on the bikers Rochelle lived with. Val had heard all kinds of local gossip about drugs and parties. She didn’t judge but she didn’t understand either. So, it was better to leave her friendship with Rochelle where it was.
In the past.
And she didn’t need anyone. She had Sam, who was like a father to her. He gave her a job when she landed here and rented her the apartment above the diner. It was small, a one bedroom with a tiny galley kitchen, but it had everything she needed. Her own space, quiet and clean. Val didn’t care for material things, except for her books. All she needed was her library and her peace. At twenty-three, most women her age were obsessed with makeup and hair, clothes, and cars. And sex. Val didn’t bother with the former and was curious about the latter. Still, she kept to herself.
Grabbing a rag and the spray cleaner, she got to work scrubbing every surface in the place. But despite her best efforts, and a now spotless diner, she still hadn’t gotten rid of the nervous feeling that sat in her belly like a dead weight.
It wasn’t just the guns that had shocked her, it was the men. Or rather, her reaction to the Jesse and Xander. Val still couldn’t believe she’d actually talked back to them. Normally she shied away from any confrontation. Or talking to people in general. God knows she kept her mouth shut when those guys from the Krypt crew walked in and pointed their guns in her face. She wasn’t stupid.
But the Hellraisers? The blond one, Jesse, and the flirty one, Xander? She had no problem sassing them.
Which was all kinds of crazy since pissing them off wouldn’t help Sam in any way. Val wasn’t sure what kind of mess Sam was walking into but being in league with these bikers was definitely dangerous.
Despite that, she didn’t fear the local crew.
Most people around town were the same. Everyone minded their own business and it made for a peaceful, quiet community. Only, now she knew about Sam’s gambling, and him getting involved with the Hellraisers, she worried.
“Are you sure you don’t want to go to the police?” Val murmured as she slid in the booth facing Sam.
Then she thought about what would happen if the police started asking questions about her life, where she came from, who she was. No way would she want her face on the local news. That was the last thing she needed.
“Don’t be ridiculous, Val. Most of the local cops are involved with crews. No, I won’t do that. And neither will you.”
“Okay. As long as you’re sure?”
Sam nodded. “This gambling thing? It involves people from all walks of life, and I mean all. Judges, politicians, police. People in real high places, honey. My best bet—sorry bad pun—is the Hellraisers. Maybe if I work with them, they’ll protect me.”
“I wouldn’t count on that. They protect their own. Not outsiders.”
“How would you know?”
Val paused. She didn’t like talking about where she grew up. But this was Sam.
“I grew up in a place like that. Not a club, but a religious community. It’s the same thing. They don’t like or trust outsiders or anyone knowing their business. And if you want to do business with them, you have to become one of them.”
Sam downed the rest of his whiskey in one go and slammed the glass on the table.
“I got no choice. Done is done. And so is this conversation,” He sighed. “I’m gonna go help Callie with the dinner prep.”
Valery nodded and watched her friend and employer head to the kitchen.
She stared out the front window. The town was empty at this time of day, with only a handful of people walking around. One of their regulars, the local mailman, Bryan Kierlik, entered the diner and Val got back to her job.
It was surreal to think that only a short while ago, some guy had a gun to her head. Now she was pouring coffee and asking a customer if he wanted his usual sandwich platter for lunch. This day was bizarre, and it was just beginning.
“I got a letter for you. Figured I’d kill two birds with one stone,” Bryan remarked as he passed her the letter.
Val glanced at it but there was no return address. It wasn’t a bill or anything. Plus, her name had been written by hand. That was odd. She stuffed it into her pocket to look at later.
“Thanks.”
“Your boyfriend?”
Val wasn’t entirely surprised by the question as she glanced at him. Bryan was somewhere in his thirties, with a brown buzzcut and a beard. He was nice enough, but she felt nothing. He’d asked Val out several times, but she always said no. She had no desire to date. Dating meant questions and she didn’t want to answer about why she had no family, no past. It was fine. She was okay with being alone. Most of the time.
Sometimes, late at night, alone in her bed, she wondered what it would be like to be with a man. The urge for intimacy however was outweighed by her need for safety. Life was good the way it was. Why risk it?
“No. Probably just a bill.”
“I doubt that. Look at the handwriting.”
“Maybe it’s from one of my friends back east.”
“You go there often?”
Val bit back the urge to say ‘none of your business’ and was relieved when another customer, another local named Wally True, walked in. “Sorry, Bryan, I’ll be right back.”
Val felt Bryan’s eyes on her as she walked over to greet Wally. A retired miner, Wally lived across the street in an apartment above the only grocer in town. He had kind eyes and was as quiet as Val, preferring to sit in a booth, by himself, and not at the counter.
“Afternoon Wally, cup of tea and the special?” Val asked.
“You got it, please and thanks.”
Val nodded and headed for the kitchen. Sam and Callie were deep in discussion and both startled when Val walked in.
“Sandwich plate and a meatloaf, please.”
Sam nodded and he and Callie started the orders while Val made a pot of tea and grabbed a refill coffee for Bryan.
Once both men had their drinks, she had a moment to herself.
Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out the letter. Opening the envelope, she unfolded the white paper and was startled by what was on it.
It is time to return home. You are destined to be betrothed to the holiest of men. Heed this warning and obey. Or face eternal damnation.
The letter fell from her hand as a panic unlike any other gripped her.
Breathing was impossible.
“Val? Everything okay?”
Callie’s voice startled her, and she bent down to retrieve the letter, shoving it back into her pocket.
“Fine, just a letter from a friend.”
“Bad news?”
“Yes, unfortunately,” Val replied and turned around. “I need go for a quick break, can you cover me?”
Callie nodded, her eyes full of concern. “Of course.”
Val headed for the back door and then climbed the stairs to her apartment.
It couldn’t be. There’s no way they would have found her here, could they?
Once inside, she opened up the letter again and re-read it.
Head this warning and obey.
Oh, hell no.