Chapter 7 #2
That’s how I know she has an electric cattle prod actually. She pulled it out before I got there because she arrived at the club and caught them. The kids couldn’t stop yelling about it, thinking it would get Silva in trouble. Clearly, they don’t understand how things work in this town.
It was a night they were closed, and the kids thought it would be funny to break into Club 21. They broke a window, and the three of them were sharing a bottle of whiskey when she found them.
One of them pissed themselves from fear, and I made a big deal by taking them to the station. I didn’t book them in, but I did scare the fuck out of them. This isn’t something I would have been able to do in a bigger city.
The kids were from another town on a joy ride, and my officers and I were pissed that it was during a time when we didn’t have many people on the roads.
Silva explained that the club was wired with cameras and an alarm system.
It figures she’d have one in her home as well, but I’m irritated that she doesn’t even have the damn thing armed.
As I leave her house and lock up, I look around to see if there are any cameras.
I see a few of them, and I have to hope that they’re recording as well.
I know Silva is smart, and I’ve felt the pepper spray she keeps in her back pocket while grabbing her ass. I need to trust her that she can take care of herself, right?
Pursing my lips, I give into my protective instincts. I meant it when I told Silva that being a beta doesn’t mean I won’t lead with parts of me that don’t involve the brain in my head.
Jogging to my car, I root around for a tracker to put on her truck.
The cameras are sweeping the area at a steady pace, so I lurch into a run once they’re moving away from me and slide to a stop on the ground beside her front bumper.
I find a place to attach the tracker since it’s magnetic, and then sync it to my phone.
Now, I’ll know where she is at all times. No more worrying if she’s running late. It’ll keep me from being overbearing or appearing jealous. I’ve lost too many people in my life. This is how I cope.
Glancing around the truck, I wait until the coast is clear before ambling back to my car and getting in. I’ll definitely be sleeping better now that I’ll know where she is. Silva jokes that I’m a stalker, yet she has no idea how right she is.
Three weeks later
Gazing up at the gray sky, I flick it off with my middle finger as I walk across Club 21’s parking lot. The temperature is dropping quickly, and I can see the writing on the wall. Our first snow is going to hit very soon, and I need to convince my very independent omega to give me her car keys.
We haven’t even made it to Halloween and here we are, worrying about snow prep.
Tonight at Club 21 is trivia and ladies only night. I fully expect to be booed out of the bar for having a penis, but I’m more likely to have Silva agree to let me have her truck keys if she’s distracted. I’m also not against using public opinion to my advantage.
Striding inside, I can feel the gaze of people’s eyes as I walk toward the bar where Silva is working her ass off. There are high tops where there’s usually an open floor, and Club 21 orders pizza for the event from The Cheese Knees.
Trivia night happens once a month, so I timed my plan well. I hear people yell out really odd phrases as they continue to play at their tables, and I realize there are different games happening at the same time. I’m trying not to listen too closely, afraid of what I might hear.
I’ve heard rumors that this trivia night has a way of getting very X-rated.
“Hey, can I have your truck keys, please?” I ask sweetly.
“I can get my tires changed myself,” she sing-songs as she shakes up a drink. There are more staff working as servers to get drinks to people, and Silva even has someone else working behind the bar with her tonight.
“I know. I have time today, and an appointment. It makes sense that I’d take care of it,” I reply.
“Is this your dinner hour?” she asks suspiciously, pouring the drink into a glass and moving on to the next drink after setting it on the tray.
“Maybe,” I say, evading the question, even though she’s right. “Are you going to be a good girl and give me your keys?”
“Nope,” she smirks, waving down a server to take the tray out to a table.
“Silva,” I groan. “It’ll snow before you get new tires on, and I have time to do it now. The mechanics in town are also slammed. Please?”
“You’re adorable when you beg,” she says, glancing at a ticket and starting another batch of drinks. “Hypothetically, would you let me pay for said tires that you think I need?”
“Silva Marie,” I growl, annoyed.
“Don’t start making up middle names for me,” she laughs.
The sound draws shocked glances, and the bar gets quiet as the room focuses on her. Laughter is rare for Silva, but I love that she’ll laugh for me. I’ll gladly act the fool if it means more of this.
Someone walks over, and I see that it’s Ryann Darcy, our town librarian.
The omega is in her mid-fifties, and all about stocking banned books, literacy problems, and reading incentives over the summer for school aged children.
I’m a little shocked to see her at a bar, but Silva just kind of draws people to her, even when she’s grumpy.
“Sheriff Lynch, are you berating our bartender tonight? Dare I say, you’re also making her laugh?” she gasps.
“I didn’t laugh, it was gas,” Silva shrugs, a smile still playing on her lips.
She’s too fucking much and I adore it.
“Mmhmm. What are you attempting to accomplish?” Miss Darcy asks me, her lips pursing as if I’m a mystery she’s trying to solve.
“I want her truck keys so I can get her tires changed to brave the incoming snow,” I growl. “Silva is very busy, and the mechanics aren’t taking new appointments.”
“Does she get orgasms if she says yes?” Miss Darcy asks. Silva makes a strangled sound, while I give into a bark of laughter.
“Absolutely,” I agree adamantly. “Lots of them.”
“I don’t know why you won’t give him your keys, dear. You’re busy entertaining all of us,” she says. “He’s the most upstanding person in town as our sheriff. It’s nice to be taken care of once in a while.”
From what I understand, Miss Darcy’s husband died eight years ago, and she was very torn up about it. She took the job at the library expecting to die here, but has been thriving since.
There’s a certain kind of magic in our town, and it lies in our sense of community. We show up for each other, even when the person doesn’t know exactly what they need. Our town is also very gossip driven, though not in a malicious way.
“It’s not about that,” Silva groans. “I’m used to doing this kind of thing myself.”
“But you don’t have to!” someone else comments behind me.
There are teachers, dental technicians, nurses, business owners, etc. here tonight, so it is very public. Word has spread by this point that I’m dating Silva, and that it’s very new. This is a very dicey situation, but sometimes you have to face the lioness in her lair.
Hopefully I come away with all of my fingers and toes.
“No, she doesn’t,” I say. “Spitfire, you take care of everyone else, let me take care of you, yeah?”
Silva stares at me without any expression on her face, but her eyes are sparkling with emotion.
Her hand digs into her pocket before she hands me her truck keys.
“Someone make sure the sheriff leaves with some pizza,” she calls out. “The least we can do is feed him.”
Silva mouths ‘thank you’ as several women surround me, ensuring that I get pizza and soda to go.
“Thank you,” I mumble, my eyes on my omega. She’s nimble on her feet as she jumps right back into drink orders, winking at me when I catch her eye.
Fuck do I love that omega. Is it too soon for that? I’ve known her for nine fucking years, and have catalogued all the cute little things that probably intimidate other people. I think things are happening exactly the way they should be.
Making my way across the club, I hear my neighbor yell, ”Dick!”
My jaw drops as I turn around to find her. She’s in her seventies, and screaming about male genitalia.
“I beg your pardon?” I ask.
Miss Darcy waves me away saying, “She won this round. Off you go, Sheriff. We wouldn’t want to offend your ears.”
“That was part of the game?” I ask, confused.
“Motherfucker!” Felicity, a kindergarten teacher yells.
“Yeah, I’m out,” I mutter. There’s a reason men aren’t allowed here. I’ve heard too much already. It does sound like they’re having fun, I just can’t imagine sticking around listening to them scream obscenities so happily at each other.
I’ll need to ask Silva what the rules for the game are, because this is wild. Shaking my head with a smile on my lips, I leave the club.
“It’s insane in there on trivia night,” Emmett, one of Silva’s bouncers grunts outside. “I try hard not to go inside unless there’s a blizzard happening.”
“I didn’t know the kindergarten teacher knew that word,” I hiss, enjoying the way Emmett barks out a laugh. “I’ll be back later with Silva’s truck.”
“Did you think I’d worry you stole it?” he teases me. “I see the keys in your hand.”
“Very true,” I say, unlocking the vehicle and getting inside. I eat as I drive to see Shep, my coordination well timed as someone flies through a stop sign.
“Goddamnit, are we being for real right now?” I groan.
Thankfully a fellow officer’s lights and sirens go off and he follows the car. Relaxing now that I know it’s being taken care of, I continue on and polish off my dinner. I take the paper plate and soda inside, tossing the trash as I sip my drink. It’s cool and sugary, giving me a hit of dopamine.
I don’t usually indulge in soda, so it’s a nice treat.
“Hey, Shep,” I greet him as I stand in front of the desk. I’m currently inside the office attached to the garage, where he conducts business. He usually has his sister as his receptionist, but she’s nowhere to be found. “I have Silva’s truck ready for you. Still have time for her?”
“Yeah. I have someone else that came in for service from out of town,” he says, glancing in the direction of the waiting room he has set up. It’s a small set up, and the guy in question glances up at me. “Ya know what, let’s go see her truck.”
Shep obviously wants to discuss something with me away from his customer, so I nod and walk out with him.
“Maybe you can help me with the noise in her truck,” I lie as the door closes shut. “Okay, what’s up?”
“Damn, that was smooth,” he chuckles. “It’s just weird. This guy came in and told me that his battery is giving him trouble. He’s not from here either. I can tell, Syrus. He smells faintly of alphas, but he’s not one. I don’t fucking like it.”
“Alright,” I grunt. “Well, let me figure out why he’s here. You know we can’t kick anyone out without good reason.”
“I know damn well you’ve removed people from town ordinantes simply for their designation,” he snorts.
“You’re right, but if they're sniffing around Widows Peak, simply removing them isn’t gonna help,” I reply. “I’d rather know what they’re up to. If you think he’s got alphas with him, I believe you.”
“Thanks,” Shep sighs. “Well, the guy is gonna have to wait while I change out these tires for Silva. Am I sending the bill to her?”
“Nope, I’ve got it,” I tell him.
Shep gazes at me for a long moment, his teeth toying with his bottom lip.
“She’s going to hate that, huh?” he asks.
“Damn right,” I say. “Silva deserves the world, and sometimes that starts with new snow tires.”
“Well alright then,” he says, taking the keys I hand him. “The town has been buzzing about the two of you, but I think you’re good for her.”
“Does anyone think I’m bad for her?” I scoff. Judging by Shep’s measured glance, I shake my head. “On second thought, I don’t wanna know.”
Shep smirks as he leaves me for the truck, and I head back inside, my eyes on the man in front of me.
He’s Latino, with a tattoo of what must be an angel’s wings peeking out of his very boring cream sweater and he’s wearing a pair of dark wash jeans.
The muscles on his arms flex underneath his sweater, and I can see his throat clearly as he swallows nervously.
His tan skin is deeper than just hanging out in the sun would make it, and as his dark brown eyes flick up in my direction, I can see that there are golden flecks of yellow reflecting back at me.
I have to admit that he looks like he’s trying too hard to appear normal, which simply makes him stick out more.
The guy is smaller than an alpha normally would be, and I can see that he’s scrolling through his phone, pretending to be patient as his eyes focus on it again.
Moving closer, I inhale deeply, faintly smelling the older scent of the alphas he was with at one point.
He has no other scent attached to him oddly enough, and might smell like nothing if he hadn’t been with the other alphas.
Is he a beta?
His outward appearance might suggest a touch of nerves, but his finger is tapping his phone case impatiently as he takes in a breath. Whoever he is, he’s definitely not as chill as he’s pretending to be.
Walking over to a chair across from him, I fold myself into it, legs stretched out in front of me.
On the other hand, the new guy has his legs sprawled open, and he puts his phone away, draping his forearms over the sides of the chair as he waits.
I’m wearing my uniform, and I can feel him trying not to stare.
“Is it normal for a cop to get his girl’s car fixed when he’s on the job?” he finally asks.
“It is in Widows Peak,” I smirk, seeing my opening. “What brings you to our area? It doesn’t look like you’re local. I know everyone in town.”
“Seriously? That’s how we’re going to play this?” he chuckles.
The guy is definitely not an alpha, yet he stinks of one.
“Yep, that’s exactly how we’re playing it,” I say, waiting for an answer.
We’re both stuck here for now, I don’t have a problem waiting him out.