Annie pulled up another chair and pushed everyone to the side so Cole could sit next to Maggie.
“So, what’s going on? What kind of trouble have you all found yourselves in this time?” he asked.
“We’ve got a bear problem,” Nick said.
“And you are?” Cole asked.
“Sorry. I’m new to town. I’m Nick Carver. I moved here a few weeks ago.”
“The guy who just started up the new and improved Saints and Sinners in the old St. Laurent Hotel,” Cole said.
“That’s me.”
“Makayla had me run a background check on you.”
“Oh,” Nick said.
“Yeah. Nothing personal, man. She just wants to make sure she hires good people.” Cole shrugged.
“I can’t say I blame her,” Clara said.
“Especially not in this day and age. A woman can’t be too careful when it comes to who she brings into her business like that,” Maggie added.
“I get it. I do. I was just surprised, and it’s not that I minded. I don’t have anything to hide. Well, other than the fact that I’m a bear, but all of you know now. So, that’s one less thing I’m worried about,” Nick said.
“Now that I know who you are, who’s the girl?” Cole turned to face Gina.
“Sorry, I’m Gina Malone. I live here and work at Witches Brew with the girls,” she said with a smile.
“That’s right. Maggie mentioned something about a new girl starting and moving in. Sorry, it slipped my mind. I’ve been swamped ever since the full moon last week. I’ve been meaning to stop by the café to meet you. I just haven’t had the chance.” Cole apologized.
“No worries,” Gina said.
“Now, tell me about this bear problem,” Cole said, grabbing a few pancakes from the plate. “You make the best pancakes,” he said with a sly smile at Maggie, who blushed in response.
Gina didn’t miss the raised eyebrows of Annie and Clara or the fact that Annie was about to shoot off a smart-assed remark when Clara poked her in the side and shook her head.
“Anyway, back to the bear problem you guys are having,” Cole said before taking a bite of his pancakes.
“I should start off,” Nick said. “I was getting ready to open up Sinner and Saints when four scum bags walked in. I could tell right away that they were bears. They were total asses from the second they opened their mouths. The one they called Gavin demanded that I submit to him.”
“Now, that shit right there pisses me off,” Cole said.
“I basically told him to go fuck himself. When he came after me and tried to force it, I may have bounced his head off the bar a few times to get my point across that I wasn’t interested in joining his merry little band of unwashed rednecks. When the other guys jumped in, I took them out too.” Nick shrugged like it was no big deal.
“Then, they decided to kidnap me at the gas station,” Gina said.
“Jesus! Fucking alpha rednecks. They are the bane of my goddamn existence. I don’t know how many times I need to tell these assholes this is my town. My damn parish. And it and its inhabitants are exempt from their bullshit and games,” Cole growled. He turned to Gina. “Did they hurt you?”
“A little, but it could have been a lot worse. I don’t know what they would have done had Nick and the girls not shown up when they did. It was bad enough they shot him in the leg.”
“It’s fine. It’s all healed now.” Nick pointed out.
“Great, but not everyone has your healing abilities,” Gina replied.
“She’s right. It’s too risky to let someone like that maintain the status quo. He has to be stopped. They all do,” Cole said.
“I don’t think Gavin will let any of this go. I’ve beaten his ass twice now. He’s going to be out for blood the next time he attacks.”