"You ordered your dog chicken nuggets from the Chinese place?" Stella asks, staring at me with many more questions in her eyes as I dish up Rocky's Chinese takeout order on his little plate."It's from the kid's menu." He can't handle an adult portion and since I don't have actual kids, I feel Rocky fits the description. They're regular chicken nuggets. It's no worse than buying him a four piece from a fast-food joint, and it makes him feel special. Everyone — even dogs — deserves treats.Stella shoves a piece of beef in her mouth right from her container and takes a spot on my couch as I finish loading my plate with noodles and then vegetables layered on top.There were four crab rangoons left in the middle plate on my kitchen island and I grabbed two while eyeing the leftovers. "How many rangoons have you had? Are these mine?" I can't remember if we ordered a six or an eight piece when Stella video chatted me earlier in the day and made dinner plans.Crap. My interrogation wi
The little Yorkie takes off into the house with his envelope, and the mailman rings the doorbell again. I check out my peephole and spot him and his blue uniform holding a giant box. Then I step back freaking out over what to do. If I was home alone, I'd let him ring the bell all night until he left the box on the porch, but Stella looks at me like I've gone crazy for not answering it. She gives me one last quick glance and then sets her plate on the end table and goes in search of Rocky, leaving me alone.I don't want to explain why I'm scared to open the door, so as she searches my small home for my disobedient dog, I gather my strength and open it. No point in both of us being murdered."Hey, Ray," I say with a bright fake smile.Except it's not Ray, my usual mail guy, but a younger man I've never seen. "I'm sorry. You're not Ray."He smiles, not looking upset. "No, post office is changing policy and now houses with boxes go last. I'm running behind today, but this box is fo
The autumn sun heats the air around me and I pull on my shirt trying to fan cooler air underneath it. No one tells you this part of the coast can be as hot in August as it is earlier in the summer. Locals warned me that after Labor Day the temperature will drop, but I haven't seen that yet even though we're a few weeks away from the holiday many people mark as the start of fall."Dom, it's just a walk," I argue with my brother on the private cell phone as I get closer to the bait shop and the beach line of Pelican Bay."It's not safe for you right now, Harley."He doesn't need to argue this point considering he's told me a hundred times. But I figure whoever sent me the mysterious photo knows my address, so a random unplanned walk to the shore might be safer than sitting at home waiting for whatever happens next.There can't be anyone who knows I woke up this morning and wanted to take a quick trip. I'm not what you'd consider the fishing type."Dom, I'm going to the bait sho
A map of Pelican Bay hangs on a large piece of corkboard, taking up one wall in what Dom affectionally refers to as his war room. Six of Dom's most trusted brothers sit around the table in leather chairs. I climbed off his bike not more than ten minutes ago and he marched off, dragging me behind him with only a brief explanation of visiting the war room. I can say it's not what I expected.In my mind there was more... leather... blood... ladies' underwear.I didn't spend many hours at the club in Colorado where Dom's father led his crew, but I do not remember a war room.A few colored photographs of various men I've never seen before are tacked to the edges of the map, and the only thing missing to make it a prop straight from a true crime documentary is short red thread connecting the pictures to various locations in Pelican Bay. To compensate someone numbered each picture and then in thick black permanent ink marked a space on the map to coordinate.As I watch my brother stal
He lifts his mask just above his mouth. "No, I'm Bennett." There's stubble on his chin, but before I get a better look, he drops the mask again."Listen," I try to get his attention by grabbing onto his arm and widening my eyes so he understands the importance of what I want to say. "Where is Elliot? I have to tell him something."I've been so concerned with keeping my secret I left out the most important part to my story. It was stupid to believe I could keep it hidden and tell Elliot at a better time, but it's obvious now I've waited too long. If my secrets get anyone injured today, I'll never forgive myself.It's my fault these two groups of men have come together in what can only be described now as a rescue for a woman who doesn't need a rescue.Shit.Balls.Fuck.Now I'm in a mess. As if getting weird mail and seeing a man get shot wasn't enough, now I have to work myself out of this shit. Shit of my own creation. Why did I lie?Just like the men before, he doesn'
Elliot slams his foot on his gas pedal and his truck fishtails out of the motorcycle compound, the gates barely parting in time to let us pass. My brother ushered Elliot and Ridge's men, including some of his own, into his war room packing the space with pissed off males. When I tried to gain entry to the room, a reasonable request in my opinion considering the things that happened tonight concerned me, they closed the door right in my face after telling me it was men talk.Both of the men in my life were damn lucky I wasn't holding a gun at the particular moment.I thought Dominick and I had grown since he was thirteen and told me I couldn't join the club he'd made with a bunch of other boys from his father's club. In retaliation I stole and threw away the laces to his favorite motorcycle boots. All eight pairs.I kept the same strategy tonight, but more devious. Rather than steal his shoelaces I tossed his leather jackets in the oversized freezer they keep in the compound kitch
Elliot sits on the couch staring, but his eyes are glassy as if I've stunned him."I should've told you. There aren't enough words for me to say I'm sorry. I didn't want to ruin my life here."He nods, but it doesn't seem like he agrees.The silence freaks me the hell out, so I keep going. "I wanted to start over in Pelican Bay and I knew once my brother found out people discovered our connection, he would think it wasn't safe here anymore." I can guarantee Dominick never planned on me witnessing a murder. Did these things happen to normal people? I've never wanted to be a part of club life and he vowed to never force me into it. It would devastate him if moving me here brought me in after all these years."Why were you at the bait shop to begin with today?"Now it's my turn to laugh in a non-funny fashion. "I wanted to get a thank-you gift for the laptop."He stares more, and under the intense scrutiny I swear a bug crawls up my arm, but when I swat it away, there's nothin
Nobody understands family drama until you try to explain to a literal superhero the guy who runs your local motorcycle club isn't a horrible guy. But it's the truth. Dominick and I grew up together. I know the best and the worst in regard to Dominick. Sure, shit goes down behind closed doors, stuff I don't even try and guess, but under the thick skin and hard exterior, Dominick is hiding a heart of gold.Elliot scoffs. "Yeah, he comes off as a real altar boy."I laugh, the sound light and breezy because we've reached the point of talking about Dom where Elliot can joke. It's progress, enormous progress considering we've spent the last few days not mentioning his name once. I tried at dinner the first night of my house arrest, but Elliot ground his teeth together so hard at the mention of his name I heard the click from the other side of the couch.Twice a day Elliot took a call where he grunted into the phone and his longest response was "she's fine," so I had confirmation my bro