Page 18

18

Rye

I'm angry.

I do my best to let my direct my feelings into my chores. Sure enough about twenty minutes before I'm supposed to open I've got the walls cleaned off as best as I'm going to be able to do. Thankfully, there's not a lot of light coming into the small bar. The windows are still boarded up, but I'm supposed to be having a new glass delivery tomorrow. It's not like the usual folks that come in here are interested in looking out the windows anyway.

They are here to drink.

That's all they need me for.

Making the last few adjustments, I make sure the area is safe for people to come in. The last thing I need is for someone to cut themselves on some glass or something like that.

I go to the door and switch the sign to open, before I even make my way back to the bar, the door to the front swings open.

Part of me wants it to be Bee, but I force that feeling away. I'm not going to torture myself pining over a woman that doesn't want to be with me. We both had our fun and that's enough.

I wish I truly believed that, but I don't have much of a choice. It's the only option I have.

Instead of it being Bee, I'm surprised to see its Richard. He owns the small convenience store on the corner. He never comes in here.

"Richard?" I question when I see him looking around. I've done a good job cleaning up, but that doesn't mean it's not obvious that something serious happened here.

"Yeah, I was just coming over here to let you know that a few of those girls on the bikes came by earlier."

"Oh?" I'm not shocked. I knew they were going to go around, I just am not sure what Richard would want to talk to me about it for. We've never really been friendly like that.

"Yeah, well..." He rubs the back of his neck like he's uncomfortable. "I know you've got a shit deal from Sonny the same way the rest of us have and even if nothing comes from what those girls want to do, I just wanted to make sure I let you know I appreciate you even trying to fix this mess."

My eyes open wide. I'm not expecting this, "I'm not doing anything. I just won't let those assholes strong arm me. We don't owe them anything."

"We don't, but it's easier to stand when someone else does it first. You were the only one to push back. Even though it's clear that it's come at a cost. I don't know what I can do to help, but I just want you to know that I'm behind you as well as everyone else. We just needed someone else to stand up and fight back first."

I'm stunned. "Yeah, no problem." It's all I can say in return.

He reaches out and shakes my hand. "I'll see you around, if you need anything to help with the cleanup, let me know. I'll do what I can."

When I made up my mind to fight back against Sonny, I didn't think it would be the start of a whole freaking revolution, but I'm happy that at least one person got something out of this. It makes me feel good.

I just hope it all ends up the way we want it to.

The night goes by in a flash. If I thought the broken windows would deter anyone from coming in I was wrong. In fact, it feels like there are more people in the bar now than usual. Everyone but the one woman I'm used to seeing.

Bee hasn't called or showed up, not that I really expected her to.

It's past one in the morning, and I'm pouring one of my regulars his third drink when trouble makes their way into my space.

One of Evan's flunkies walks in followed by another and another. Finally, Sonny the Shark himself walks in.

Instantly I reach for my gun but think better of it. There's too many of them in here mixed with the large crowd of people that are just here to have a good time.

"Well would you look at this place just thriving," Sonny talks loud and everyone in the room quiets down. "It's nice to see my investment paying off."

"You've got no investment in my place, and you're not welcomed." I say, moving out from behind the bar. My eyes scan the crowd. There's way too many people here right now to have a full on brawl.

"Not welcomed? Really, you think you can tell me where I'm welcomed?" Sonny squints his eyes at me. He pulls out his weapon before he shouts, "I own this block. I'm welcomed wherever the fuck I want to be welcomed."

The patrons scream, and soon it's a mad dash to the door. Panic claws at my heart as I watch the people desperate to get out. There's nothing I can do about it now. All I can do is hope that everyone makes it out without any injuries.

When the majority of the people flee, Sonny smirks at me again. "You see what happens when you go against me? Chaos. We don't want that, do we? You already know what I can do, Rye. I've got the power now to take everything you've ever worked for and destroy it."

"I don't care what you say, Sonny. I'm not going along with whatever you're trying to do here. I don't need your protection. I don't need your money. I don't need anything from you."

The door opens again, but just before I'm about to warn whoever it is away, I notice that it's a few of the other business owners. Richard was telling the truth. They have my back. It feels good to know I'm not standing against Sonny alone.

"Leave him alone. We don't want you here." Richard speaks up.

Sonny turns and chuckles when he sees the small group of shop workers around him.

"You're just a stupid bunch, aren't you. I see I'm going to have to prove my point with all of you again." He sighs before turning his gaze back on me. "You say you don't need my protection, but does that count for everyone you care about? Did you think we wouldn't figure out what you were trying to do? That we wouldn't notice that feisty little piece of ass coming in and out of here? It's sweet that you've got your woman going to war for you."

I surge forward. He's talking about Bee. This is why I didn't want her involved. Now she's a target.

"Don't worry. We've made sure her and all of her little biker girlfriends know better than to mess with us. She should've stayed her drunk ass at the bottom of a bottle."

"What the fuck have you done?" I growl at him, taking another step in his direction, my hands already in fists. I'm willing to do battle for Bee without a doubt, but first I have to make sure she's okay.

"I've made sure they all know their place. No one fucks with me. That clubhouse should be up in flames by now. Maybe she'll call your name as she burns to a crisp in her bed."

Right now... they're hurting her right now?

I don't see anything in front of me but red.

Panic and fear slice through me.

She might not be my woman, but that doesn't make her any less mine.

She needs me and nothing is going to stop me from going to her.

I push through the crowd of people, both Sonny's goons and those that are there to help me. I don't care about the bar or what they can do to it. All that matters is getting to Bee before it's too late.

Bursting out the door, I see my car is blocked in by Sonny's people.

I'm not going to wait or try to get them to move... instead, I turn and take off running.

The distance can't close fast enough.

If I ever needed the ability to really turn into Superman and fly, it would be now.