Page 55 of Allegiance
Lena
“Yeah,he’s been blowing up my phone tonight, but I can’t deal with it. Not after everything that went on with Quinn. I’m not looking for anything serious, but I at least want to know the guy I’m sleeping with and investing my time in wants the same things I do. Clearly, that isn’t the case for him.”
Felicia gave an affirmative noise over the phone as Lena stuck her head out of the office to make sure cleanup in the bistro was running smoothly without her direct supervision.
“I haven’t been texting him back. I’ve been giving him the cold shoulder, but Mr. Honesty can’t man up enough to admit when he’s seeing someone else.”
“You must’ve figured that a man like that had to be seeing more than one woman. It was inevitable. They’re built like that, especially when they’re so good-looking.”
“Yeah. But to tell Quinn about me and not do the same for me in return? That’s totally screwed up. I thought he was better than that. I really misjudged him. And the killer is, Ilikedhim, and was comfortable with him. There was something between us, or I thought there was. I don’t know. It was different with him—way different from anything else I’ve ever experienced in the past.”
“It seemed amazing from what you’ve told me. But just because it was life rocking for you, doesn’t mean it was the same for him. We’re all different people, and we see things from different perspectives. Maybe rich bimbo is his favorite flavor, and you were a taste test that was off the menu.”
Lena struggled to see the logic behind what her best friend was telling her, and couldn’t rationalize the unfairness of the situation. It was like some stupid high school crap, and she was so done with it. Which was why she had given Tank the cold shoulder. As much as she wanted to dig into what was going on with him, confront him about things, it really wasn’t her place after one night together. There were no claims made on each other, and any kind of possessiveness would just make her look bad.
She had more dignity than that, and she wasn’t sure if he was even worth the trouble.
“I have to get back to work. We’ve got a big order tomorrow, and I’ve got to make sure everyone’s clear on the timing of it. I’ll take to you soon.”
“Now that you have less time with Mister Boy Toy, I better be hearing from you more often, or I might have to pop a surprise trip on you.”
“Don’t threaten me with a good time.” Smiling, Lena made a kissy noise and said goodbye.
Adalyn stuck her head inside the office, her eyes wide, her lips pursed. “Lena, you’re going to want to see this. It’s not good.”
“Did something go wrong with the shipment again?”
The last time she had to deal with a driver, he’d forgotten to refrigerate the trucks and all the food had spoiled. Lena hurried out of her office and looked out the front window to a mass of fire trucks and emergency responder vehicles parked in front of Gus’s dry cleaning store, catty-corner to the restaurant.
Lena gasped. “What the hell happened?”
“Maybe a gas pipe blew?” Adalyn offered. “Sarah and I heard a huge boom, and we ran outside and saw the flames coming out of the store. I’m surprised you didn’t hear it.”
“I was in the freezer taking inventory. I shut the door to keep the temperature constant. I hope Gus isn’t hurt.”
A small piece of Lena withered inside as she watched the store burn. There was no question as to who would do such a thing in this town, or why they were doing it. Gus must’ve refused to pay the “protection” money. Although she had an inkling that other shops in town were being forced to turn over a percentage of their earnings to the motorcycle club, she hadn’t had the time or the strength to approach anyone to ask about it. Lately, it seemed like she was dealing with one mess after another on her own time.
Now Gus and his livelihood had paid a bitter price for not bowing down to those hoodlums. A shudder of fear, mingled with disgust, worked its way down her spine. Sooner or later, she would have to put a stop to the madness, even if she had to put her restaurant in jeopardy.
The small bell on the front door dinged, and Lena drew her attention away from the gutted storefront to Lupita, a middle-aged woman who owned the flower shop a few doors down from the bistro. Lupita often came in for a late afternoon sandwich.
At that moment, the florist looked stricken, and her hand shook as she handed Lena the money for her usual order. Lena gently took the other woman aside and into a corner of the restaurant.
“Are you paying them?” Lena asked, praying that the older woman wouldn’t play dumb.
“Yes. What other choice do I have?”
Lena nodded. “I’ve been paying too, but I went to the police. The sheriff and his deputies are going to be here the next time they come for the money. That’ll finally give them the proof they need to arrest them, and all of this will be over for us.”
A bitter laugh bubbled out of the older woman’s mouth as she frowned and crossed her arms.
“Are you for real?”
Lena was confused. “What do you mean?”
“To be so naïve that you don’t know the sheriff is in the MC’s pocket and on Fitzgerald’s payroll since the dawn of time. Fitzgerald wants us out, so he’s using the bikers to put the squeeze on us so we’ll leave. The greedy man wants this real estate so he can build condos and become richer. He’s the one paying the bikers to scare us.” She glanced toward the window. “You can see what happens if we don’t pay.”
Lena’s heart sank to the pit of her stomach. “Wait, so you’re telling me—”
