Page 21 of Vandal Unbound

His eyes drop to my legs and back. “That’s too bad. If you find yourself leaving here today and change your mind, I’m Rob, working on the lines down by the marina. Come see me.”

There’s a rumble by the door, and four bikers walk in. Immediately my eyes scan for Vandal, which is a bad sign. What about all the things I just tried to tell myself? That I don’t want a fixer-upper, a drunk, someone to take care of.

Rob reaches for my wrist, but the move leaves me cold. “You find yourself in trouble with this crowd, let me know.”

It’s nice of him to offer, and given the size of him, I think it would be a fair fight. But I pull my hand from his. “Enjoy your lunch.”

“How’s Elsie settling in at the camp?” Annie asks when I return to the bar for a hot second.

I take the cloth she offers and wipe the tray I’m using. “So far so good. I want to get the place set up nicely so we can have a few of her new friends over for a playdate or something. Would begood for her to have some kids her own age to hang out with and maybe become friends before school starts.”

“If you want to get out of here like twenty minutes earlier so you can meet some more of the moms at pickup, I’m fine with that. I remember how we always used to chat while waiting.”

I appreciate her offer, but twenty minutes of income is not something I want to mess around with. “Thanks, but we’ll figure it out.”

Annie takes the cloth back but puts her hand over mine. “I’m not gonna dock your wages. But if it helps you settle in, I don’t mind it on quieter days.”

It’s weird. I’m not used to people doing nice things for me for no real reason. This is the second person in two days. “Thank you.”

“Now, go see to Knox and his crew. They don’t bite for the most part.”

They’ve taken a table in my section, and I head over to them. They have the same cuts as Vandal. Iron Outlaws. I guess that’s the name of their group…club…chapter…whatever.

Given Vandal’s name was right there on his chest, I check out the four bikers. Knox. Havoc. Sunny. Reaper.

Their titles are on there too.

None of them are as large as Vandal.

“Hey, I’m Daisy, and I’m going to be looking out for you guys today. Can I get you started with drinks?”

The man named Knox looks up from his phone. “You new here, Daisy?”

“Third day,” I say. “So go easy on me if I screw it up.”

He smiles at that. “Four beers. Annie knows which.”

I take a deep breath, because that wasn’t painful, and I don’t know why I feel nervous.

No, wait, I do. I’m lying to myself again. It’s because if these four men come in, there’s a chance that Vandal might, and at least I’ll get to say hi to him occasionally.

When I return, Annie already has two of the beers poured and is working on the third. “I guess you know them well, huh?” I say.

Annie laughs. “Not on when they come in, but what they order when they do. See Havoc?”

I turn around and see the Viking-like biker scouring the menu. “Yeah?”

“He does that every day. Looks at the menu like he’s not going to order a burger, extra cheese, extra onions, and substitute the fries for onion rings, knowing full well I’m gonna give him the fries as well.”

I chuckle at that. “Given everything I’ve ever seen on TV about bikers, you wouldn’t think they’d be so predictable. What’s the tastiest thing on the menu?” I ask.

“Hmm,” Annie says. “I’d say either the Cuban or grouper sandwiches.”

“Good to know,” I say.

She finishes pouring the third and fourth beer and places them on the tray. “There you go.”

I carry the tray competently to the table and place the drinks out. “What can I get you all to eat?”