Chapter Two
“Iwant to see the world.”
Kira half listened to her coworker rambling as they took out the trash.It was amazing how much garbage one diner could make.
“London, Paris, Rome.I would kill to explore those cities.I’ve only been here in Cheyenne a short time, but I already know I’m way bigger than this place.I mean, where’s the glam?”
In the two weeks Christine had worked at the diner, Kira determined the young girl had unrealistic dreams and expectations.Working in a diner in Cheyenne, Wyoming, would never allow her to save enough money to fulfill those dreams, but Kira wasn’t going to be the one to burst her bubble.At least one of them still had hopes and aspirations.
“Hey, who are they?”
Kira glanced to where Christine pointed, and counted four motorcycles.The yellowing halo from an old streetlight allowed just enough illumination to show off the leather cuts, and highlighted the emblem on the back of one man.
“Sons of Sin,” she replied.“Stay away from them.Bad news.”
“I never thought I’d see an honest-to-God motorcycle gang here.”
“Club,” Kira automatically corrected.“Not gang.”
Christine waved it away like it didn’t matter, and maybe it didn’t.Wasn’t like she needed to know the correct terminology.
“I know it was like a gazillion years ago, and he’s, like, old, but I had a huge crush on Charlie Hunnam once upon a time and I watched one episode of that show he was in so I know a lot about motorcycle gangs,” Christine declared proudly.She droned on about that actor, barely stopping to catch a breath, so Kira ended up tuning the young girl out.
Especially since four more bikes joined the Sons, and she tried to figure out what was going on.The danger was palpable and she wondered if she should warn the diner’s manager.Just then, gunshots rang out.Both women stood frozen for a second longer than they should have, until Kira yanked Christine down behind the safety of the dumpster.From their position, they had a prime view of the shoot-out.Men scattered as some tried to shoot back, but it was clear none of them knew from where they were being attacked.
Then a lone figure in black moved from the shadows and grabbed something off the ground.The item was tossed into the center of stacked tires near the junkyard fence and then the person disappeared.The whole thing was suspicious and raised the hairs off the back of her neck.She tugged on Christine’s arm.
“Come on,” she whispered.“Let’s get back inside.It’s too dangerous out here right now.”
Christine was practically comatose, so Kira yanked her along.When they stepped back into the diner, the girl’s face was leached of color.
“My life flashed before my eyes,” she said, her voice warbling.“Oh my God, Kira.I could’vedied!”
It didn’t go unnoticed that she saidme, not we.Christine was a little self-centered.
“I will kill both of you dead if you don’t get back to work,” their boss, Joe, called out from across the kitchen.
The two women nodded and hurried to wash their hands in the large basin sink.
“Just forget what you saw,” Kira whispered to her.
“What about the cops?”
“If—and that’s a big if—the cops come out this way, you better keep your mouth shut.They’d gloss over anything the Sons did, and then tell them you’re squealing.”
“What do you think was thrown in the tires?”
“I don’t know, and I don’t care.You should do the same.”
Christine’s brow furrowed.“Look, I know you’re old and shit, but don’t boss me around.”
She finished rinsing off her hands and yanked a few paper towels to dry up.Kira smarted from the age slur.Twenty-nine wasn’t old.Although knowing she spent years behind the diner’s walls didn’t help her self-esteem at all.
They got back to the monotonous work Kira craved.She smiled at the right time at the right people, collecting tips and serving coffee.Christine gave her the cold shoulder, not that she really cared.She didn’t do friendships.However, there was a period of time when Christine disappeared, and Kira had to take care of her booths as well as her own.It pissed her off but she bottled that up inside.She’d learned long ago not to argue back.
Midnight lingered close by, and she couldn’t wait for her shift to end so she could get the hell away from the night’s activities.
As if that wasn’t enough to deal with, the bell over the door jingled and Kira watched in resigned dread as a big biker walked through the door.Of course, because why not?The universe liked shitting on her.He made a beeline to the counter and slid onto a stool.Great.He was in her section.
