Chapter ~ 22
The cold prickle between his shoulder blades told him he was being watched. Curious stares said strangers were a rarity in tiny Trinity Falls. Pausing on a street corner, Chelios flipped up the collar of his expensive leather jacket. It was colder than a witch’s tit. Tapping a cigarette out of the pack, he slipped it between his lips. His gaze missed little as he cupped his hands and struck a light. Taking a deep drag, he crossed the street.
A banner hawking a grand opening of The Lantern Pub pulled him like a siren call. People tended to return to what they knew. Eva had been waitressing when Rocco met her. Her grandparents owned a restaurant. It was in her blood.
He studied the lunch crowd through the etched picture window. The Lantern was doing a lively business for a new venture. Scanning the interior, he sought out the waitresses. An attractive redhead served the table in front of the window. Chelios made certain to study her face. Hair could be easily changed, but it wasn’t Eva.
“It’s awful cold to be standing out here.”
Chelios turned at the hint of challenge in the officer’s voice. He offered a half smile and made a show of putting out his cigarette before tossing it in a nearby can.
“I wouldn’t want to interrupt anyone’s meal with my nasty habit.”
The Chief seemed to relax and even held the door open in invitation. Chelios smiled, wondering if all visitors to this small town warranted attention from the police chief himself. He instantly liked The Lantern. The place had a warm, relaxed feel with an eye toward quality in the furnishings. If they took as much pride in their food as they did the small details of the décor, it bode well for the place.
Choosing a small table in the corner, he perused the menu and the locals. The pub attracted all walks of life. Sharp suits rubbed elbows with grease stained coveralls at the bar. A woman came out of the kitchen, stepping behind the bar to greet patrons. Easy confidence and a look of pride pegged her as the owner. Middle age, she was striking, with high cheekbones, chestnut hair twisted up in casual knot, and a direct gaze that seemed to zero in on him in a second.
His eyes hidden behind dark lenses, he felt the probe of her stare. There seemed a hint of recognition in her regard, real or imagined. Chelios waited. The moment was broken when a busty brunette pushed open the swinging doors and said something to the owner. She shot him a look over her shoulder as she disappeared. Anticipation hummed through his body. His gut said Eva was in Trinity Falls, and she had new friends.
He watched the clock. Three minutes ticked by. The kitchen was quiet. When the swinging doors parted, the owner strode toward him with a purpose. Long legs encased in tight denim and knee-high, lace-up motorcycle boots ate up the distance in a hurry. He barely had time to glance at her left hand. The generous rock she sported left little doubt a man had staked a claim.
“What can I get you?”
“What would you suggest?”
“For a man with an appetite, I’d recommend the house burger basket special. The burger comes with your choice of hand-cut fries or beer-battered onion rings and the soup of the day is homemade potato with egg-drops.”
He liked her husky voice and the challenging tilt to her chin. Her eyes said she’d been around the block a time or two and wasn’t about to be intimidated by him. He nodded.
“That sounds wonderful, doll. Can I get a coffee to go with that? Black, please.”
“I’ll be right back with your soup and coffee.”
A slight smile turned up his lips. Watching the doll walk away was just as pleasant. Someone was a lucky bastard. The roar of bikes yanked him from his reverie. He frowned as a handful of Harleys pulled up front in a parking area reserved for them. He considered himself to be tough, but you had to be crazy to ride a bike in these temperatures, clear roads or not. They were an intimidating bunch, but the other patrons didn’t blink an eye. They greeted the Lords of Mayhem members easily, and a couple of them even gave up their seats at the bar so the club members could sit together.
The greeting the leggy owner gave them suggested her choice of footwear was practical as well as fashionable. Chelios studied the bikers, idly wondering which she belonged to. People-watching was a hobby and a skill that came in handy in his line of work. She had a familial connection with the two younger bikers, but despite her obvious affection with the others, he would lay money none of them were her man.
A movement at the kitchen door refocused his attention, but a young woman of Asian descent emerged. Biting back impatience, he mulled over his options. By flashing Eva’s picture, he tipped his hand for sure and put everyone on the defensive. He didn’t want to draw any more attention to himself than necessary. Biding his time was the smart thing to do.
Soup and coffee in hand, the owner, Ginny, if her customers were to be believed, approached his table again. A couple of the Lords didn’t bother to hide their watchful stares.
“You’re doing good business for a new place,” he said offhand.
“The Lantern has been here for over seventy years.”
“So it was a grand re-opening of sorts then.”
“You could say that. Doesn’t really roll off the tongue as smoothly though, does it?”
Chelios bit back a laugh. She was feisty. “It’s good to see a family owned place making it with all the big chains out there now.”
“Trinity is a very family oriented town.”
“It would seem you don’t take to strangers too quickly.”
She smirked. “That would be true, but we don’t mind selling them a good meal and sending them on their way.”
Chelios took a bite of his soup and offered her a lopsided smile. “If everything else is as good as the soup, a guy could see himself becoming a regular around here.”
Ginny waited until she was through the swinging doors to let out the breath she was holding. A soft string of curses came with it. She’d been sure she recognized the man from the pictures on Zeke’s desk. Eva had confirmed the man was one of Rocco’s. The poor girl had taken one peek and ended up on the floor, she’d been shaking so badly. After everything they’d been through in the past year and the lectures Zeke had given her about trying to handle things herself, she hadn’t hesitated to call in the cavalry.
Pulling herself together, she circled the kitchen and stepped into the employee lounge. Sambo startled her. He’d obviously come in the back door. The Lord’s soulful brother looked anything but easygoing at the moment. Armed and ready, it seemed the guys were taking her concerns seriously.
Eva was white as a ghost. Her blue eyes were wide and teary. Ginny could see the tremors from across the room. Kat sat beside her on the couch, tightlipped, but calm as she rubbed Eva’s back. Ginny crouched down in front of the terrified girl and took her hands. They were like ice.
“It’s going to be okay.”
“You don’t know him. Chelios is a killer. He’s Rocco’s right-hand man. He does what the boss says, no questions asked.”
Ginny tried to rub some warmth into the girl’s hands and gave them a squeeze. “Honey, listen to me. We’re not going to let anything happen to you. You’re one of us now. There are five Lords at the bar, one on the street; and look at Sambo. Does he look like anyone’s coming through that door uninvited?”
“I just don’t want anyone to get hurt.”
“I don’t care how badass this Chelios is. He is one man,” Ginny said firmly.
“There could be more.”
“And we’re prepared for that. I’m sure Tech is doing surveillance.” Sambo nodded at her questioning glance. “Strangers stick out like a sore thumb in Trinity.”
“How did you know that?” Eva asked, looking back and forth between Ginny and Sambo. “About Tech I mean.”
“This isn’t the Lord’s first rodeo. Like any group, we each have our strengths and weaknesses, and it’s only smart to assign jobs that play to our strengths.”
“You would’ve made a great field general,” Eva whispered with a little smile.
Sambo snorted. “She has you pegged. Leave it to Gin to tell everyone what to do and where to go.”
Ginny flipped him the bird. “You know where you can go.” He laughed and Ginny just shook her head, straightening the clip in her hair. “I better get back out there. His order should be up any minute. He doesn’t know you’re here. When he doesn’t find you, he will move on. Stay back here, out of sight, and listen to Sambo. Let’s see if we can get him fed and out of our hair.”
“Tell Mox to be careful. All of them I mean,” Eva said, color flooding her pale cheeks.
“No worries, baby girl. His brothers have his back.”
Chelios leaned back from the table. The broad hadn’t been exaggerating. It took a man with a big appetite to finish that meal. He’d taken his time eating, keeping a close eye on comings and goings, but no Eva. Most of the lunch crowd had cleared out. The Lords of Mayhem were still idling at the bar. None of them seemed all that hungry, giving more credence to his suspicion that they were here because he was.
Three of the five were hooked up with waitresses. It was a real family affair. The pretty boy and the bald wall of muscle were definitely the owner’s boys, but still no sign of her old man. Pulling out his money clip, he peeled off a twenty. Tossing it on the table, he stood and shrugged into his coat. Flexing his hands inside black leather gloves, he met Ginny’s gaze behind the bar. Her chin came up slightly. Such spirit. He smiled and gave her a nod on the way to the door. He could afford to be patient.
Outside, he flipped up his collar. Walking past the Harleys, he shook his head. Those fuckers were crazy. He jogged across the street and headed for the Audi, contemplating calling Rocco. He shook his head again. The pissant could wait until he had something concrete. Almost to his car, he spotted a familiar figure. It was the way she walked. She was a half a block up. He quickened his pace. She turned, disappearing through a door.
Eyes locked on the spot he’d last seen her, Chelios jogged across a side street. He stepped out to the curbside to get a better angle at the sign above the door. The Book Nook. He scanned the street. It was likely these buildings had a rear exit. The roar of motorcycles had him muttering under his breath as he darted down the alley.
The back exit was a story up. Unspoiled snow covered the rusty steps leading up to it. He jogged back up the alley, searching the street from the shadows. There was no sign of the bikes. Stepping back out into the wind, he shoved his hands in his pockets and kept his head down as he approached the bookstore.
She stepped out, a cup cradled in her hands. Tendrils of steam showed in the cold air as she took a sip and headed down the sidewalk. Adrenalin snaked through Chelios’ veins. They were almost to his Audi. She slowed, looking toward the car in recognition. Closing the distance, he grabbed her upper arm and nudged the gun barrel into the small of her back.
She gasped, the cup slipping from nerveless fingers to splatter on the sidewalk. He pressed close, nuzzling her ear.
“Get in the car, sunshine.”
Chapter ~ 23
Chelios glanced from the rearview mirror to the woman in the passenger seat. Her fingers were white on the door handle, and she was shivering violently.
“Not hello or good to see you? Nothing?” he asked.
Tears started to roll down her cheeks. He turned the heat up for her. Her chest heaved in a sob.
“Please, Chellie.”
He rolled his eyes at the tearful endearment and checked the rearview mirror again. There wasn’t a motorcycle in sight.
“We need to talk, doll.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t know what I did. Just please don’t hurt me, Chellie,” she whispered, lips trembling.
He flipped a photo at her. “Look familiar?”
Knees coming together to catch the picture, Tawny frowned. “That’s Eva.”
“Where do you know Eva from?”
“She’s Mox’s new girlfriend.”
“Mox?”
She nodded, tears slowing. Her hand was still trembling when she handed the picture back. “Yeah, Mox Brawer. He’s a member of the Lords of Mayhem Motorcycle Club in Trinity Falls. Why are you asking about Eva?”
“Eva Taylor is Rocco Soriano’s girlfriend.”
Tawny’s eyes flickered back to the picture, and her head shook back and forth in adamant negativity. “I didn’t know that. I swear. I just met her at a party a couple weeks ago. I had no idea.”
“And I never thought to ask you,” Chelios said with a snort of self-disgust. “What’re you doing in Trinity Falls, anyway?”
“I live there. I grew up in Trinity and rent there is half what it is in Cleveland.”
“How well do you know the Lords of Mayhem?”
“Depends on which Lord you’re asking about. Some of them I know biblically.”
He looked at her sharply and she shrugged in apology.
“Do you know the lady that owns, or runs, The Lantern? Ginny, I think it is.”
“Everyone knows Ginny Brawer. She’s from Trinity Falls too. Her husband, Zeke Brawer, is the Lords’ president.”
“I met a few of them today. I don’t think he was one of them.”
“He probably wasn’t. He would be at work this time of day. He’s a cop in Cleveland.”
Chelios closed his eyes for a moment. He recognized that name. Things just kept getting better. “He’s a detective.”
Tawny shrugged. “Yeah. Cop, detective…whatever. I’m sorry, Chellie. What does this have to do with me?”
“It didn’t have a damn thing to do with you, doll, until I found out you’re from Trinity Falls. Now, let’s just say that Rocco wants his girlfriend back, and you’re going to help me make that happen.”
She paled, huddling back in the passenger seat. Chelios knew the look and gave her a sympathetic shake of his head.
“Before you open your pretty little mouth and tell me the Lords will kill you, think who you’re talking to.”
Resting her head against the wall, Eva peeked out between the wood slats at the street below. Chelios knew she was in Trinity Falls. Why else would he have showed up at The Lantern? Shivers wracked her slender form, despite the fleece blanket wrapped around her. She stroked Vixen’s satiny ears. The pup seemed to sense her unease and had been Eva’s shadow since she’d got home.