I sigh heavily and scrub my hand over my face. “Get your shoes on. We need to be quick or I’ll be a bear before we get back.”
We head down to my car, and I quickly scan around to make sure that Vlad and his men aren’t still hanging around. I’m sure they have someone watching us. If I thought I could, I’d grab them both and run, but when it comes to criminals like this, there is no way that we’ll be able to get very far before they’d find us and drag us back.
We make it to the store in record time, and as we head inside, I can feel exhaustion gripping me. I’ve been running around and on my feet for almost sixteen hours straight, and dealing with Vlad and his men was a good four of that. It’s fucking insane.
Isla and Sawyer make their way through the aisle ahead of me toward the supplies they need, and I ponder my options again. I don’t have any friends, other than Sherry at work, but that’s strictly professional. I’ve been so busy carrying for the kidsand working that friendships haven’t been a priority. But I did in college. Maybe I can reach out to one of them for help? Or at least hope that one of them might know of someone who can help me. Another part of me, though, wants to keep them close, so that I know they’re safe.
It’s a lose-lose situation any way I look at it. So for now, things will have to stay the same until I can figure something out.
Isla and Sawyer are arguing over the best supplies to get. I bite back my irritation and instead remind them calmly, “Just get something that will work. I want to be in bed within an hour. Any longer and I’m liable to string you up by your ankles and use you as a piñata for a few hours.”
Isla and Sawyer roll their eyes at me, used to my dark, but completely baseless, threats. Except, I didn’t see the older woman just past them who turned to look at me with horrified eyes. “You would do what?” she practically screeches, making Sawyer and Isla jump in shock, and then give me wicked grins before they school their expressions.
Shit. This is the last thing I need.
“She’s kind of mean,” Sawyer tells the lady with a serious face. “I mean, she doesn’t even stuff us with candy before she starts swinging.”
Isla nods. “At least she doesn’t use a bat and only uses a stick,” she adds. “Though I wish she had taken off those points. And her aim is terrible. I thought she was supposed to hit us in the bellies, but she’s always hitting my ass. Maybe we need to get her some glasses.” She looks at the woman with wide eyes. “Your glasses are nice and big. Where would you suggest we send her? Who do you use?”
The smartassery is strong with these two. I really should watch what I say around them because clearly, they’ve beensoaking up a little too much from me. My dark sense of humor can sometimes be taken the wrong way.
The older woman’s face reddens to the point that I’m almost concerned I’m going to have to check her blood pressure, but before she can blast them, and me, I hear some loud chuckles behind me, and I turn my head to see a couple of large bikers standing there, grinning. I’ve seen the Devil’s Soldiers around, and I’ve heard they’ve had some people targeting them recently, but they’ve never struck me as the kind of people I should be wary of.
These two certainly look like men you don’t want to piss off, but they have kind eyes and smiles that has me relaxing slightly. The one on the right is a large black man with dreads pulled up into a ponytail at the back of his head, a thin goatee, and bright blue eyes that are full of amusement as they look at me. The one on the left is a bit shorter and closer to my height, with dark hair, dark eyes, and a scar that looks like it healed well along his jaw.
“Damn, I’m going to have to remember that one for when Archer gets a little older and a smart-ass,” the one on the right tells the other. Then he looks back at me. “What kind of stick do you use? I might need something a little different.”
I smirk, unable to help myself, despite the stress I feel. Humor has always been my go-to stress relief. “I mean, I just grabbed something from the tree outside, but I’m sure you could find something really good if you go searching.”
“You all should be in jail,” the older woman screeches, making Isla and Sawyer burst out laughing. “How can you just joke about something so awful?” Then she turns and stalks away, shaking her head and muttering.
“See you, Karen!” Isla calls after her sweetly, making Sawyer laugh even harder.
“The cops are going to be knocking on our door, smartasses.” I sigh when they finally get themselves under control. “Get yourstuff so we can get home. I’m tired and I need to get out of these scrubs.”
“Can we get some candy?” Sawyer asks with a teasing grin. “You know, so when you hit us later with the stick, something might come out.”
The two bikers start laughing again, and I groan. “Just get stuff and head for the cash,” I tell him with a glare. Isla and Sawyer grin and head off, leaving me to shake my head and turn back to the bikers who are still grinning. I look at the names on their cuts, Viper and Shadow, and ask, “Your club need some free labor? Might need to work some of the smartassery out of them.”
“’Fraid not,” Viper says apologetically.
“I don’t know if I want them around my daughter.” Shadow laughs. “My daughter is six and she’s already having me set aside money for a bail fund for her. I don’t need her getting ideas from those two as well. She’ll be going around hitting things to see if there’s candy inside.” His smile dips slightly and his eyes flash guiltily, piquing my interest, but then he smiles again and adds, “Or she’ll convince the other kids to do it and they’ll all be going around hitting things.”
“No, let’s get this right. She’ll tell Rose, who will put candy in things and encourage her to hit things to find out where.” Viper snickers. “That would be her revenge if we ever piss her off.”
Shadow looks horrified at the idea.
I already like this Rose person. She sounds like my kind of woman.
“What did you say her number was?” I joke lightly, pretending to pull out my phone. “Sounds like she and I should connect.”
“Never,” Shadow vows firmly, but his lip twitches in amusement.
Isla and Sawyer come back to stand close to us, and they grin. “We saw the lady in the other aisle and she’s still looking horrified.” Sawyer snickers. “But we got our stuff and left her alone. She probably will call the cops on us next time.”
“I’d look great in orange though, and it might be worth it to mess with her again,” Isla laughs.
Viper lets out a burst of laughter and jabs Shadow in the side. “It’s like looking into the future with Macy, isn’t it?” he jokes.
