Chapter 4

Shawna

"Order up."

I run over to the kitchen bar that separates the back end of the kitchen and the serving station, and grab my order for the party I took the order for. With all four plates along both arms, I slowly walk out of the kitchen and head straight to my section.

I have been working here at Burgen's going on eight months. It wasn't an ideal job, but the only one that allowed for my schedule of only mornings before twelve and not every weekend. Because of my other job over at May's bar, which pays much more than this one, I had to be careful not to step on managements feet.

"Alright guys. Got the double bacon burger, hold the cheese. The country friend steak and potatoes. The prime rib with green beans, and for you sir, the cobb salad, extra egg." I say as I drop each plate off on the four construction men that have come in this morning.

It's Early Sunday morning and we are surprisingly busy. Burgen's is not a large diner by any means. In fact there are only two waitresses besides me. It's a small hole in the wall place located right next to a few shops that they recently put in and because of the traffic this area is already getting, the developer decided to add more. Hence why most of the people here are all in construction uniform.

I've got to say, I am not complaining one bit.

"Anything else boys?" I may be letting it on a little thick, but c'mon, tips are a girls favorite thing in the world.

"We're good honey. Thank you." I nod my head and walk over to check on my other three tables. Once everyone is good and eating, I make my way back to the kitchen for a much-needed break.

I grab a water from the fridge and head to Benny to see if I can get in a quick turkey sandwich.

"Hey Benny. How is my favorite guy?"

"You must want something tink."

Benny has been calling me Tink since I first started working here. I always thought it was because tinker bell is practically a gangster in the movie, but I was made painfully aware of it being because of my size.

"You know me so well. Can I have a turkey on rye bread and extra mayo?Hold the lettuce and add in some of the tomato that is in that vinegar sauce."

Benny shakes his head with humor at my same order I place every single shift. What can I say? The man can make a mean turkey club. As the owner and chef for Burgen's, Benny Burgen is one of those typical burly men with a thick beard and dirty white apron on. He is actually pretty good looking when he cares enough to comb his hair or shave his beard. He opened the diner in honor of his late father whose dream it was to have one in the family. His father was killed by a drunk driver, which is another thing I respect about Benny. Every month, we give a certain percentage of the sales to the Mothers against drunk drivers.

"Here you go darlin'. Did you tell Emelia that you were going on break?" I nod my head and go straight to the breakroom for some rest.

Yesterday was another night I couldn't sleep well. My body was still sore and stiff so I knew going to get a work out or heading to the studio would be a bad idea, so I merely tossed and turned all night. I had gotten home from the bar around two in the morning and didn't fall asleep until four thirty. By then, my alarm was ready to go off at seven to make it hear on time.

My phone chimes right next to me and I pick it up to see who is texting me.

Inette: Cops were at clubhouse

Inette: Is that what it's called? A clubhouse? How juvenile and hilarious at the same time.

I roll my eyes then hit the call button next to her name. She answers on the first ring.

"I see you finally got my messages."

"What are you doing? Stalking them now?"

"No. Okay maybe. Depends on your definition, but the point is, when I went down there to see why the cops were there, which by the way I couldn't figure out why because their gates are super large and made of cement, there were cop cars there. I went up to these two guys appearing to be standing guard and wanted to see if they would let me in, and they had the audacity to look at me like I was some crazed bitch and asked if I was a sweetbutt."

"What did you say to them?" Hoping my very agitated best friend didn't say something that would have them finding out who she was. If they followed her and found out I lived there too, it could mean trouble for me. Last thing I want is Max or Austin coming to my house wondering why I am sending a crazy person to spy on them.

"Told them to fuck off."

"Inette, you can't just go up to a bunch of biker and curse them out for not telling you all the ins and outs of their business."

"They called me a sweetbutt."

I chuckle wishing I was there to see her face when I'm guessing a hopeful prospect was asking her that. Inette is what wet dreams are made of. Large breasts, tiny waist, ass the size of California, and the lips that most people pay a fortunate to get. Her dark blonde hair and light brown eyes are always wavy and dazzling. She always says she is too busy for love, but I think if it slapped her smack dab in the face, she would follow it, damn the consequences.

"Sorry you couldn't get your story."

"Oh please. You know me better than that. I don't plan on giving up. I'll get my story on all of this if it kills me. What I actually wanted to talk to you about was officer Timmons."

"What about him?"

Born and raised here, I know damn well who George Timmons is. He is the cop everyone knows because he doesn't necessarily follow all the rules. He had known for years what the MC was doing and knew that if he arrested any of them for drugs, then the real criminals would take over. Once Austin took reigns and let the whole community know he wasn't doing it anymore, Timmons got a little bit of a big head. He made it seem like he was the one that got most of the drugs off the streets.

"Apparently, our well-informed cop got a promotion. He is now chief of police."

"Wow, I wonder what that means for the club."

"Don't know, but I took some pictures of his promotion ceremony, which is a waste of money and time to do, but whatever, and this guy kept showing his face in the pictures."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, it's like I would go to take a picture, and he would randomly stand up or turn around to get right in front of it. At first I figured it was an accident, but he is in every single shot I have. I think he was doing it on purpose." My best friend is so exasperated that I know she is most likely sitting on her bed cross-legged and slouched over scouring over the very pictures she is complaining about.

"Well, maybe some people just want to be on tv or in pictures."

"Yeah, maybe."

"Anyways, I've got to get back, my break is over. But I will see you in a few hours."

"Alright, bring me back one of Benny's pies." She says as she hangs up. It never fails that her skinny self wants dessert at ten in the morning.

I head back up to the front and thank Emelia for watching over my tables. She passes me my tips at which I return some to her, then head over to grab the coffee for my next table where a gentleman in a suit was just seated.

"Good morning sir. May I offer you some coffee?"

The man looks up to me and I instantly retract my smile. He is wearing a suit that fits his body mold well. Of what I can tell he is tall and quite built. His blonde hair is cut military style and his deep brown eyes are staring straight into me. He has a jagged scar going from his upper eye on the right side of his face and leads all the way down to his chin on the other side.

"Yes please." He says, making me feel a little uncomfortable. I have never met the man, but his smile is sinister and he has a frightening vibe to him.

I am not the kind of person to judge. Half the time people assume I am something that I am not. Thanks to a very drunken night with Inette, I found out through a website and some saliva spit what nationality I am. I am half Filipino and half Japanese, and although it is a different mix, many people are rude to me because of it. But this guy? He screams bad. Miss O'Neal used to always tell me that I had a gift for knowing people's true self. I never understood what she meant until this moment.

"Cream and sugar?" I ask after pouring the contents into the mug.

"You know, it must be hard."

"Sir?"

"Working here I mean. It can't be easy working in a place when your heart is somewhere else."

"I'm sure millions of people do it every day."

"Yes, but how many of them are in love with some scum biker that caused all the turmoil that got her into said position?" I nearly drop the coffee pot starring at this man as he slings words my way.

There are only two people that know my story. One of them I just got off the phone with and the other is Miss O'Neal. I had to tell Inette something when I moved in with her as I was so broken hearted that the story just came out. Miss O'Neal only knows because she was there that night. How this stranger with the dark looks knows, is baffling and infuriating me.

"I don't know what you think you know sir, but I'm going to walk away now."

"I don't think so." Before I can turn, the stranger grabs my arm in a hard twist and pulls me further into him. Anyone walking by would assume I am just leaning in to get his order.

"Let me go." I say through my teeth, ready to bite this man if necessary. Because of my small frame, I am used to having to fight my way off a guy. For some reason they all think women smaller than them can't fight back.

"It must burn not knowing what went on over there. For him to come back a completely different person. It must hurt that he destroyed your dreams, destroyed your life, while you simply freed him from anything worse. How pathetic to be serving food knowing you are being punished for someone else's crime."

"Who are you?" I cry out, because now the guy is really hurting my arm.

"How does it feel to fuck murderers?"

Something inside me snaps and I use my hand, the one he doesn't have, reach over to grab his coffee and throw it into his face. His scream jerks his body upright, causing him to immediately let go of my arm. I fall back on my ass and cradle my arm to my chest. Definitely going to leave a bruise there.

The mystery man, narrows his eyes on me, then walks right out of the restaurant. I blow out a few deep breaths, thankful that his coffee was nice and hot. When I finally stand up on shaky legs, I turn in time to see Benny walking out and all the other patron's eyes on me.

Well shit.

Benny approaches me as I stand up. His face looks confused, but alert. I'm hoping he knows me well enough by now that whatever everyone thought just occurred, it most likely isn't the truth.

"Shawna? What's going on?"

"Sorry Benny. That guy was being all grab hands. I didn't mean to make a scene."

"Can I talk to you privately please?" I nod my head then walk towards the back area of the kitchen with him. I don't miss all the looks I receive from everyone as we pass them.

"You want to tell me what really happened?"

"He was being all grabby. He wouldn't let go of my arms even when I repeatedly told him so."

"I can always tell when you are lying. Your nose wrinkles."

Fuck. So I've been told. Max used to always laugh at me when I bought some expensive shoes and didn't want to tell him.

"You suck at lying. Where are they?" He laughs.

"Shut up Maximus. I don't suck at lying. I'm the queen of lies."

"Then why the hell is your nose wrinkling so much." He laughs then proceeds to tickle me

"I'm sorry Shawna. But if you aren't going to be honest with me, then I'm going to have to let you go."

"What? But."

"Sorry." Benny says right before he heads back out.

I take a moment to gather myself. I didn't want to be honest with Benny because I am still trying to figure the whole thing out. Who the hell was that guy? And how did you know so much about Max and me? Murderer?

I take a few extra minutes, then head to the break room and grab my purse. I decide to take the back way out, to avoid any more glances from everyone and on the drive home contemplate what I am going to do. This is another time I have been fired over a guy and I swear I am ready to rid the world of them.

"You're home early. It's not even one. What's the matter?" Inette asks when I walk in the door.

I throw my keys in the ceramic bowl, then collapse on the couch. I smell of oil and fried foods and normally I want to shower and change as soon as I get home, but this time I just don't have it in me. I spent the length of the car ride, having multiple moods settle within me. Anger, confusion, betrayal, hell even hunger snuck its way in there.

"I got fired."

"From a diner?" I laugh when her nose scrunches up with disgust.

"Right? It was my fault. I sort of threw some hot coffee on some shmuck that went all grab hands on me."

"Wait, and you were fired for that? What a crock."

"Technically I was fired for not telling the truth. The guy said something about Max."

"What Max? Your Max?" I nod my head and proceed to tell her the whole story, from what the mystery man said, to what he looked like.

"Whoa. Wait a minute. Was he blonde too?"

"Yes, and before you ask, he was good looking up until he opened his mouth. You think the club knows about this guy?"

"I'm certain they don't."

"What makes you say that?"

"Because I think that's the same guy who has been following our new chief of police around."

"Really?" I say sitting back up.

"Don't know for sure. Defiantly didn't see a jagged scar, but from his description he sounds like my guy. You said you've never seen him before so it makes sense. I'll know more when I get back to work in a couple days and get the pictures I printed. I wish I had my camera or I could just show them to you now."

"Guess it wouldn't make a difference. What the hell am I going to do now?"

"What you should have done since the beginning. This is technically the Nightmare Warriors problem and once again they got you fired. Go to them Shawna. You need to tell them everything."

"I can't. I can't do that to them." Inette looks defeated as she slumps her head back against the back of the couch. I hop up from the couch when an idea pops in my head. "But I do have another idea."