Page 16 of Ferocious Protector

“Will do.” His house isn’t too far heading through the woods, and the lush greenery of the trees and undergrowth provide the perfect cover as I make my way there. The black SUV is parked not far from the house, staying under cover.

I give the back window a rap before opening the door and pull my pistol as something stirs in the forest. Damian laughs. “Damn. You’ve got good reflexes, Blake. It’s just Dereck. We didn’t want to be sitting ducks and get caught from behind by the enemy.”

“Roger that,” I say, sliding into the backseat while Dereck opens the front passenger door and gets into the vehicle. “You have everything you need?” Damian asks.

“I’m all set, let’s move out.”

Damian avoids the main highway, takes a few long-ass country roads and comes into town from the other direction. Damian meets my eyes in the rearview. “There’s a chance someone could recognize Dereck and me, but they won’t recognize you. Let’s sit apart. We’ll let you out before we get there and you walk in, alright?”

“I’m good with that, but what’s the play here?” I’m not really the watch and see type of guy. A few months ago, my job would have been to take out the threat before it becomes reality, but the Larussios must have a reason for wanting us to wait.

Dereck turns in his seat. “You’ll learn with the Larussios that information is the most valuable asset. My guess, they want to see who’s coming and why before we take them out. Always a secondary play with these guys. Even when we take them, they don’t want them dead if we can help it, they want them scared enough to talk when Tommy and his boys get to them.”

I suck in a breath. “Roger that.” I open my door. “You have a signal for when enough is enough?”

Damian laughs. “Nope, I have no doubt you’ll know when to step in. Until then, let the show play out, keep any civilians from getting hurt, and only one caveat. They strike first, unless it’s something we can’t ignore.”

I get out and close the door behind me, walking briskly across the crosswalk to the little shop across the street, scanning the area as I make my way toward Wild Deuces. There aren’t many bikes on the street, and nothing that screams invasion or anything of the sort.

Mason is sitting at the bar, talking with Lettie. I walk in and don’t acknowledge either of them, instead taking a seat toward the middle at a table set up for two. One of the waitresses behind the bar with Lettie sees me and comes over to take my order. “Coffee and a piece of apple pie.”

She smiles. “If this is the first time at the Wild Deuces, you’re gonna love that pie. We make everything from scratch back in the kitchen.”

“I’m sure I will.” She walks back to the counter and my eyes scan the entryway first in the front and then in the back. My gaze wanders nonchalantly over to a group of four bikers sitting by the large stage Kenny just put in last year.

A dancer is on the stage in a bright red costume twirling on a pole but there’s nothing about the four men that gives me any concern, at least not yet. They’re minding their own business just having a couple beers with a huge plate of nachos in the center of the table.

Damian and Dereck walk in and take a seat not far from the door. A good spot to see both entrances and be able to react quickly if things erupt at the bar. The waitress who took my order heads over and places my coffee and pie in front of me. “Enjoying the show?” she asks, gesturing to the stage.

“Sure. Local talent?” I ask.

“Marla. She dances every Saturday night before the live bands start. Warms up the crowd.”

I smile. “Thanks for the coffee and pie. It smells delicious.”

She gives me a smile and heads over to Damian and Dereck’s table to take their order but they’re not really paying one bit of attention to her but instead watching the front door as five huge bikers walk in.

I bring my cup to my lips watching carefully, ready to move in a second if needed. The bikers scan the area and land on the bikers sitting at the table by the stage. The tall one with tatts running down the length of his bare arms gestures with his head toward the bar. They walk in sync, and my hand moves to the gun by my side, keeping it out of eyesight but ready if needed. The waitress who took care of us doesn’t seem afraid, meeting their eyes and greeting them with a friendly smile like the one she gave me not moments ago. But Lettie, her posture is concerning. She’s moved to the front of the counter, and I already know she’s pushing that panic button under the bar that Beckett told me about.

She clearly either doesn’t know them or knows they’re in here for trouble. My phone beeps but I don’t take the moment to look down, watching instead, not taking my eyes off the situation in case it escalates fast. I’m not taking any chances with how fast Kenny got shot some years back in this very bar.

But now they’ve caught the attention of the group of bikers sitting at the table, who were just minding their own business, and now, all hell is breaking loose.

And now I know exactly what the enemies play was, distract and separate us. I know it before five more bikers walk in that door and the big burly guy grabs Lettie by the collar of her shirt drawing her closer to him.

I’m moving at the same time and speed as Damian, Dereck and Mason, with guns already out. “You let her go or your friends are going to be scraping you off the ground.”

The one with hands on Lettie gives me a big toothy smile. “We’re just having a little fun. A little warm up before next weekend,” he says.

“Turn around and get out.”

He shrugs. “See you tomorrow, ladies,” he says, turning and following the rest of his men right back out the door.

The minute they leave my phone beeps with a message from Patti Ann who has forwarded a message from Tucker. “I’m coming to get you.”

“How far out is Tommy and his crew?” I ask Damian.

“Should be here in about a half an hour.”