Nodding, Gordy did as Gio suggested, then after letting out a slow breath, quietly said, “I would like to take over the diner.” His eyes then went wide, as he looked around, “I mean… if… if no one… I mean…”
“Hey, you forget, I’ve tasted your cooking and the people of Drago would be blessed to have you as the new owner of this place.” Gio said, looking around the room, “Right everyone?”
The townspeople all nodded shouting out their agreement.
Gordy swallowed once again, saying, “I… well, I just don’t know how I’d get supplies. I mean Cameron always went into town to do it and well… I… I can’t do that.”
Another large man stood up saying, “I can start a delivery service. I can start going into town for supplies for those that can’t leave Drago. I used to drive a truck before I came here. My CDL might not still be good though.”
Nautical, one of the other D.O.A. agents, quickly said, “That would be fantastic, and if you could teach some others how to drive a truck, Wiz can work his magic and get you all you need so you are nice and legal. That would really take some of the stress off of us as far as getting supplies here like we already do. I know that we’ve hated having to rely on outsiders to do deliveries.”
“Okay, it sounds like we have a plan. Anyone that hasn’t decided if they would like to start a business can either work for those that have or keep on as you have been. It’s up to you at this point. However, if you haven’t come up with a business and wish to start one, contact Wiz and he can make sure to set up a meeting. Now, there is something else I’d also like to talk about. I’d like to start up our own fire and police stations.” Pit said.
The room erupted once more at the mention of police, but Pit held his hand up and everyone settled down. “Look, I know that a great deal of you don’t have the best experience when it comes to the law, but it has to be done. My men and I can’t keep doing what we have to do for Heck, patrol here and keep the peace, and still have time for our mates. We need to expand a bit. We need your help, and I figured you guys would prefer to decide who runs it instead of me having Stone call in some favors from the FBI.”
“Drake! Drake would be the best to do the job.” Margret from the salon called out. There were shouts of “Here! Here!” all around.
“No.” Drake immediately shouted out.
When Gunner saw the look Margret gave to Drake, Gunner knew the man would have no choice but to cave. Gunner had been on the receiving look of that woman more than once and it never boded well for him either.
“Drake Gallow, you are the best qualified to do the job and you know it. Now as Pit here has said, he needs us to all pull together and help. He has given us all so much… hell, all of the D.O.A. men have, and never once has he asked us for anything. Not even money to pay for everything we have.” She looked around to all the people in the room, saying, “They saved many of our lives themselves and they have given us a home when we had nowhere to go.” Turning back to Drake, Margret stated firmly, “The least you can do is pull your head out of your pity-party ass and help this man when he asks for it.”
Drake sighed, giving a sharp nod, “Fine. I’ll do it, but I expect help. I’ll pick the men and women that will work with me.”
Gunner completely understood his position. After all, it was because of his department being so crooked in the first place that Drake was even here. When his partner had been killed, Drake had begun an investigation to find the fucker responsible, and by the time it was done, not only did he discover that his entire precinct had killed his partner, but the whys of it as well. They were running guns and drugs.
When Drake had contacted the FBI for help, Clem, D.O.A.’s old FBI point of contact, had been assigned to the case and had called them in to help Drake take them all down. By the time they had finished, the entire police precinct had been either arrested or killed, but the plan of attack, as usual, didn’t exactly go down as it should have. Drake had seen the maharishi in all their glory. They had offered to take Drake with them to Drago, as they did anyone that needed to come to terms in what they’d seen. He had originally refused.
Drake had tried to go back… he really did, but three times Drake had been sent on bogus calls, and all three times had barely made it out alive. Apparently, even if fellow officers were criminals, that was better than being a snitch amongst their kind.
Discouraged and disgusted, Drake had contacted Clem saying he had changed his mind and wanted to go to Drago to start over. As far as Gunner knew, Drake spent a lot of time fiddling in a shop behind his home doing gods only knew what and rarely mingled with the people in Drago.
“I can help with the fire department if you like?” Another large man said.
Looking to where the voice came from, Gunner noticed another rather large man standing there. Shit, that fucker had to be almost as tall as his own six foot nine and was at least the same two twenty in weight. Shit, the closer Gunner looked at the guy, the more he thought they both could pass as brothers. Between their height and weight and short blond hair… hell, they even had the same strong chin and high cheekbones. It was only the fact that this guy had blue eyes and Gunner’s were a reddish orange—the same as his maharishi. Oh, he used to have blue eyes, but for some reason when he and his dragon had joined souls all those years ago, Gunner’s eyes had changed colors to reflect his maharishi. Somehow, Gunner always figured it made them closer than even the other guys to their dragons. Silly, but true.
“Rusty. I think that would be greatly appreciated. Do you think you’d be able to train some people so we can keep our citizens safe?” Pit asked.
Nodding, Rusty answered, “I can and will, Pit. Margret’s right. We owe you.” Holding up his hand before Pit could say anything, Rusty continued, “I know, you don’t think we do, but if it wasn’t for you, my kids and I would have been dead a long time ago, as would so many people here. Besides, this is our home too and you’re right, we should be getting off our asses and making it one. This is our town and it’s about time we start showing it.”
“Well, gods be damned, Rusty. I think that’s the most I’ve heard you say in the three years you’ve been here.” Margret said with a laugh.
It was funny to see such a large burly man blush such a bright red. Hell, that blush went clear to the tips of his ears.
“What are you doing staring at that man when you have such a tasty morsel over there with Gio?”Gunner’s maharishi asked.
“Stop being annoying. I wasn’t ogling that man, and as much as I would love to get a nip of Gordy’s flavor, I can’t.”
“Why the fuck not?”
“Because he’s close friends with Gio and that means he’s off limits.”
“That’s bullshit and you know it. Come on, Gunner, it’s been a seriously long time since you’ve had anyone share a bed with you. Gordy is sweet and sexy as fuck. If I were you I’d be on him like a dragon with his hoard.”
“Shut up.”
“Gunner, I think things are dwindling down in here if you want to head out.” Pit said.
