Page 3 of Raggedy Dan
“It’s just us.We’re the last.”The man shouted the words, his volume and timbre rising with every syllable.
“Riley Monroe, your techniques are a study in effectiveness.”Dan laughed, the sound painful to hear.
She mentally paired evidence of the damaged voice with the visible scarring, meaning he had to have been in a hell of a fire.And survived.That’s something right there.
He continued, “I’ve got folks coming.We’ll get all this out of your way in a bit.”He paused and pointed to the shattered display case.“Don’t suppose you’ve got another one of those around, do you?”
“Nope.”She pressed down on the man’s balls again, only backing off when he dry heaved a couple of times.“I’m going to be hard-pressed to find another I can afford.”
“Okay.”He took a couple of pictures, then apparently sent them as text messages, because he got something back quickly, phone buzzing in his hand.“You’re in luck.You met someone today who has a spare display case and wants to unload it for cheap.As in free.”He jabbed at the phone with his thumb.“Might even get it delivered today yet.Depends on you.”
“You don’t have to do that.It isn’t your fault this jackass decided to try his luck out in my shop.”She swallowed hard.“But it would be mighty welcome.Let me know the cost, though.I don’t need handouts.”
“How’s your tattooin’ hand?”
The change in subject made her shake her head, rattling earrings as she tried to catch up.“My hands are fine.He had the wrong grip to do any actual damage.”She stood still, running her schedule through her head until the answer finally dawned on her.“You’re my two o’clock, aren’t you?”
“Guilty as charged.”He moved to squat near the third man in the tidy row of deadbeats he’d lined out on her floor.He rummaged through his pockets, pulled out a wallet, and took photos of the ID inside.“Were you able to do a sketch from what I sent you?”
“I have it designed, yes, sir.And I’m open to putting it on your shoulder, but I want you to consider making it a shield across half your chest too.The concept is too good to have it be a two-hour tattoo.”
A noise came from outside, and she realized she’d been hearing the rumble of engines for the last minute, only registering the sound when it suddenly stopped.Several men’s voices carried in from outside, words overlapping in a terrifying cacophony of sound.Riley took a step back, her breaths coming quick.
***
Dan
“It’s okay, these are my people.We’re good, Riley.”She was spooked, and it should have come as no surprise, given what she’d endured today.
Tinder walked through the front door, scoping out the situation within seconds.He crouched, putting one knee to the floor, making himself intentionally small.“Hey, Dan, got your messages.”
“Thanks for comin’, Prez.Hey, Riley, this is the president of my club.I wanted him to collect these three assholes sooner rather than later.Is it okay if we bring in a couple more guys?The truck with your new display isn’t here yet, but they’re on the way.”She looked at him, whites of her eyes flashing before she dropped her chin to her chest.She pulled in a measured, intentional breath, and her shoulders relaxed.“That’s good, Riley.Slow and steady wins the race.”
Without lifting her head, she asked, “What club are you part of?I didn’t see the back of your vest.”
“Rogue Maniacs MC.We’ve got beef with these assholes and killed their club, shutting it down and patching over only the few who were worthy.”
She tilted her head slightly, and he could see her eyes were closed.“I heard about you guys.Good things.”Her eyes popped open, and she had a tiny smile on her face.“I know Dawg from yoga.”
“Well, you’re in luck because he’s just outside,” Tinder said softly, then called, “Mad Dawg, come on in here, nice and slow.”
The door opened again, and a big man stood in the light.He caught a glimpse of Riley, and a wide grin hit his face.
“Meg, I didn’t know this was your place.They said it was Riley.”He walked in, letting the door close behind him as he took in the tableau inside the shop.“Come on over here, girl.”
He’d hardly finished speaking before Riley was running in his direction, the footsteps of her combat boots echoing through the shop.She ran right into Mad Dawg’s arms, and he curled around her, whispering into her ear.The man under his hand jerked and Dan swung before thinking, hitting him directly on the hinge of his jaw.It knocked the man back out, and a second later he felt a hand on his shoulder, Tinder holding him back.He whipped his head around to find his president shaking his head.
“He’s locked in with Ella, you know that.”
“Yeap, I do.But it...I don’t...there’s somethin’.”
“I’ve got a new assignment for you, Dan.”Tinder rose to his feet with a grin, and Dan did the same, without the change in facial expression.
Riley’s shoulders were shaking.She was crying.He knew instinctively that she’d hate it as soon as she got past the adrenaline drop she had to be feeling.He reached behind the counter holding the register and brought out the bottle again.Taking the cap off, he took a quick swig before saying, “Riley, need another hit of whiskey?”
She nodded and pulled away from Mad Dawg to turn around and look at Dan.“That’d be welcome, Raggedy Dan.”She took the bottle from his hand and lifted it to her lips with a twisted smile.“Thanks.”
Her eyes were circled with tear-smeared mascara, her cheeks were a bright red, and Dan didn’t think he’d ever seen a prettier woman.
