11. Chapter 11- Chayce
Chapter 11- Chayce
H aving this woman, Regina, pressed against me is wreaking havoc with my dragon. Clearing my throat as fire burns in my chest, I guide her to my truck.
“Where are you heading that you ended up in our neck of the woods?” I ask, trying to keep my voice even and tone conversational.
The dome light from the truck shows a blush on Regina’s cheeks as she climbs into the passenger seat.
Closing her in the cab, she gets a reprieve from answering until I follow suit and turn the key. Once the truck starts, I turn the heat up for Regina.
“Well…” she starts, her fingers twisting nervously. “I ran into a few things at home.”
“Are you okay?” I ask as my words come out hurriedly. Immediately, my dragon starts puffing smoke from his nose and I hope that it isn’t emitting from my own. From the way Regina answers questions cryptically and her stand-offish attitude, I don’t want to scare her off, but fear she is in danger.
“Yes…” Again, she pauses, making me wonder why. “The law ended up getting involved.”
Now, I am fully alert and even more on edge. The strange prints on the pack land, her presence in the middle of a bad storm. Regina is involved with the law. None of this is adding up or making sense.
Slowly pulling away from the curb, I head toward the auto garage.
Stopping at the front door of the building, Cobi Morris can be seen through the plate-glass windows behind the service desk. Regina hops from the truck before I can register the movement. Jumping out to catch up to her just as she reaches the door, I grab the handle before she can, slowly pulling it open to allow her to pass.
Regina glares in my direction before crossing the threshold. Her lips purse as if she is biting back a retort.
The bells on the door bounce against the glass, causing Cobi to raise her head. A soft smile is on her face as her gaze bounces between Regina and me.
“Hey, Sheriff. What can I do for you?” Cobi asks politely.
“Reg…I mean Mrs. Chaney’s car was towed in from Padston Pass earlier.”
Regina cuts me off. “It’s Miss,” she says, confusing me.
“Huh?”
She lets out a small huff of annoyance, speaking louder as if that will help with her explanation.
“You said I was Mrs., it’s Miss. I am not married.”
Cobi chuckles softly at our exchange, schooling her features when my gaze turns to her.
“Yes, Sheriff. Kyle and Daddy dropped it off and had to go on another call,” Cobi confirms.
“We need to get Miss Chaney’s luggage. She is staying in Gypsy’s place above the Whiskey Genie.”
Regina shoots a dirty look my way, but I ignore her.
“Oh, sure. Give me one minute. I’ll be right back,” Cobi says.
She grabs a set of keys from a small cabinet hanging on the wall and steps through a door to the right leading into the garage.
It isn’t long before Cobi comes back carrying two large suitcases and a duffle bag. Stepping forward, I take them from her before Regina has a chance to move and address Regina. “Is there anything else you need from your car?”
“No, thank you,” Regina answers curtly.
Turning to face Cobi dismissing me, Regina asks about getting her car fixed.
“Here is one of our business cards.” Cobi pauses for a moment, picking a small card up off the counter. “Kyle or Daddy should be in tomorrow to help discuss repairs. Make sure you call first. With this storm, they might be running calls,” she finishes.
Regina mutters a soft “Thank you” before tucking the card in the back pocket of her jeans. Her phone rings, the sound coming from her purse, but she ignores it. Reaching for her suitcases, I push in front of her grabbing both easily in one hand. She huffs out an annoyed breath, spinning on her heel and heading for the door.
Her phone rings again, and as soon as it stops, it starts ringing again.
“Please answer that. It’s obviously important.” My words are short, the noise setting my teeth on edge.
Regina climbs in the truck and starts digging through her purse in search of the annoying device. Placing the suitcases behind my seat, I notice Regina with her head tilted back, the ringing phone in her hand. Fed up with the noise, I grab it from her and swipe my finger across the surface.
“Hello,” I say, earning an indigent glare from Regina while being greeted by silence from the other end.
“Where is Regina Chaney? Who is this?” an irate male voice says.
“This is Sheriff Galloway.” Ignoring the question on Regina’s whereabouts since she wasn’t in a hurry to answer. “Who is this?”
“I am a sergeant with the Boston Police Department,” he says curtly, catching me off guard. “Where is Regina Chaney?” the man says more forcefully.
My mind is spinning with questions as to why a police sergeant is ringing her phone off the hook. While distracted, Regina takes the opportunity to grab the phone from my hand.
“What, Sergeant ?” Her tone is short as she puts special emphasis on the word sergeant, causing my brows to draw down in confusion.
“Well, unless you want to come to…” She pauses her conversation, looking at me. “Where did you say I am again?” she asks me. Shouting can be heard, but I can’t understand what is being said.
Focusing back on Regina, my lips move on autopilot as my mind continues to make sense of all this. “Padston, New York.”
“I’m in Padston, New York,” she parrots into the phone.
“Well, my car is at the garage. So, unless you plan to come pick me up, I am going to be here for a while.”
Regina’s tone and lack of respect for law enforcement have my spine stiffening. There has to be a reason for it. Only hearing one side of the conversation makes me even more confused.
“Yeah, well, fuck you!” she yells into the phone.
The hostility in her voice has my head whipping in her direction.
“You know where I am. You also know I won’t be going anywhere for a while, so if you want me back in Boston any time soon, you will have to come and get me.”
With those parting words, she ends the call, shutting off her phone as well. Regina crosses her arms over her chest, throwing herself back into the seat of my truck.
“Drive, please,” she snaps, forcing me into action.
Starting the truck and heading toward the Whiskey Genie, my thoughts war with each other. Should I ask?
Glancing at Regina before focusing back on the road, her gaze is focused on the passing scenery.
Maneuvering my truck through the alley, we come to a stop at the bar’s backdoor. To the left is a set of stairs that lead to the apartments.
As I shut the truck off, Gypsy steps outside. Regina hops out and moves around to the front as I collect her luggage.
Trying to hide my apprehension, I quickly introduce the two women.
“Regina Chaney, this is Gypsy Jones. Gypsy, Regina.”
Gypsy gives Regina an appraising look as she hands me the keys. The women exchange pleasantries as I climb the stairs, a suitcase in each hand and the duffle bag thrown over one shoulder.
Jostling the suitcases to one hand, I use my free hand to unlock the door. Placing the luggage just inside, I hasten to rejoin the ladies.
No sooner do I rejoin the women does the radio in my truck squawk.
“Sheriff Galloway, come in, please,” Nora’s voice floats through the air.
Leaning into the cab of the truck and grabbing the microphone, my words are clipped.
“Sheriff here, go ahead, Nora.”
“Sheriff, Adyr needs you out near the den. Alpha Palmer called about some tracks.” Nora does her best to hide her concern, but I can still detect it.
Casting a glance over my shoulder, unsure if Regina knows we are shifters, my breath releases in a heavy woosh. She is deep in conversation, giving no indication she caught the radio conversation.
“Tell them I am on my way,” I tell Nora before setting the microphone down.
Turning to the women, my tone is soft. “Ladies, duty calls. Are you good here?”
They both nod in response and I waste no time climbing into my truck and pulling away.
Driving toward the bear’s section of town, my mind spins. So many questions tumble one after another.
What is Regina Chaney running from?
What is she really doing in Padston?
Why is a sergeant from the Boston PD calling her?
Why did she snap at him like that?
Not realizing it, I have reached the den already. Looking around, it takes a few minutes to realize Padston Pass runs close to the edge of the bear’s land.
We need to keep an eye on this woman while she is in town. My dragon’s feelings about her will need to wait.