“You’re my backup. Joaquin will be by us for initial back up. I’m just going to find Benny boy and have a chat with him,” I explain. “Look, I understand if you don’t want to do this. Just don’t ask me to change my mind.” I don’t hear any complaints and we fall silent. Reva shares the same stern and grim look as Britt. Sam, her nerves taking over her, but I know when I need her the most she will be there.
Britt parks a block away for good measure, the wolves behind us by a block, far enough to not cause issues, but close enough to intervene if needed.
My phone buzzes, Leif Erickson popping on my screen. I answer the phone. “Alexander.”
“Little Cub, promise me something.”
“Tables have turned but okay, but I am listening.” I softly laugh, remembering all the promises he’s trying to make up for breaking.
“You come back to me.” I can hear the possessiveness in his voice, the slight twist of fear.
“A ghra mo chroi, always.”
“Stay close to Joaquin.” Alexander calmly says.
I hang up the phone before I let him talk me out of it. Joaquin joins us from walking back
I take a deep breath. This is for Jeremiah, for Lucie Lynn, for my community, for adding fear that should never have been there.
The Nest is like the Devil’s Whiskey, only filled with Falcons. It’s smoky, the air pungent with cigarettes and bad tequila and rum. I tuck a piece of my short hair behind my ear and make my way across the bar as the others find an empty table. The nearly balding bartender looks at me as I approach the bar. “What do you want?” he yells over the music.
“Jameson, if you got it,” I answer back, sinking more into my seat.
He slides a full glass into my hand and I swallow it in one go, the burning easing into the pit of my stomach. I stop him before he can move onto the next customer. “Is Benedict here? I have a bone to pick.”
He mumbles something under his breath and disappears for a moment. I watch from being me as the girls and Joaquin sit in a booth behind me. Moments go by and sips of whiskey later. I’m almost about to give up when I hear a sickening voice crack behind me.
“When he said a black haired woman was asking for me, you’re not who I was expecting.” Benedict’s voice circles around me like nails on a chalkboard. I turn around in my seat, plastering a fake smile on my face for posterity. He stands in front of me, shaved head, tattoos peeking out at every corner, tear drops around his eyes. “What can I do for you, little lady? Something you need taken care of?” His hand skims my arm, towards the nape of my neck. The twist in his smile is gut wrenching.
“Actually, youcantake care of something for me, buddy.” I flick out one of my stationary knives, and set it on the bar top for him to see. I have no plans on using it, it is merely a prop for my words.
“Oh, you are one of those kinky bitches,knife play. You have a lot of guts coming in here like this,” Benedict smirks, his face twisted with black scruff and dark brown eyes.
“I’m giving you a warning, Benny.” I push the knife closer, wanting to nick him, just a little bit. The temptation is real, but I promised myself that this would be the last resort. I want to draw blood, no matter how badly that could go for me.
“Choose your next words carefully,” Benedict spits out. I peer behind him as a group of men creep toward us.
“If you ever touch Lucie Lynn again, I will become your nightmare. You want someone to smack around, find yourself someone who will knock you on your ass and bury it,” I growl out, sensing the girls wanting to move closer. His eyes light up with recognition. “I will bury you and your men. You picked the wrong woman to piss off. I will protect my own.”
“Ah…. Teresa Bjorn.” My name rolls out of his mouth like poison. “Took you long enough to show your face.” He puts a finger under my chin, and I jerk away in surprise. “Figured you were rolling around with some dogs.”
I stand up, withdrawing my knife, putting it back into my boot, readying my hand against the knife in my holster.
“Stay. Away. From. Her. Stay away from my community.” I hiss every word. He takes a step forward, towering over me. I ready the other hand for any sudden movement.
“You’re messing with the wrong crew. I’ll give you one last chance, before I take you up on your offer.” I inch my hand to ready myself for what I did not want to happen, and yet wondering which vein I want to nick. “You think your band of bitches and one man, and if I didn’t know better is a dog anyway, will stop me?” He laughs in my face, his breath hitting me like a ton of bricks.
“I protect my own. You so much as come near the streets downtown or Lucie again, it won’t be the grim reaper coming for your soul.” I spit out every word, letting the threat ring in his ears.
I let go of my knife and start to turn away, but Benedict grabs my hair, fire and death flaming in his eyes. He yanks me back, my back thudding painfully against his chest.
“You shouldn’t have come here.” He jerks my head to the side, baring my neck. His other hand squeezes; I can feel his bruising hand leaving a print. My thoughts go to Alexander and the rage he would be in right now. “No place for a damsel in distress,” he whispers into my neck. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Joaquin inching closer, but Sam stops him for a brief second.
“Who says we’re the ones in distress?” I say as I stomp on his foot. I pull all my strength into the floor as I flip him forward off of me. He lands hard on his back, and the sound of impact spreads a tiny smile on my face. I look down at Benedict, my lungs heaving for a breath. His groans are like music to my ear.
The music had died at some point, and I gesture my head for the women to leave as we saunter out the front door, no one saying a word. I look back to the wolves, still mounted on their bikes, ready for anything. I wave my hand to signal home, and they rev their bikes.
I can feel the adrenaline escape me, but the power remains. It’senticing.