Page 50 of Broken

“Right, uh, you see that woman in the middlechair, got a biker guy with her, looks kind of scary? Not the woman but theguy?”

Tanya smiled. “Yes, I know her. Kim, right?”

“Yes, Kim, well, she wants all of us to go on agirls’ night. She wanted me to invite you and see if you would like to hang outwith us.”

This was a lot harder than she anticipated.

“Thank you for the invite but I have no one towatch Leanna. Maybe another time.”

“The club could watch Leanna,” Kim said, joiningthem. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Tanya.” She held out her hand for the otherwoman to take.

Petal watched as the two women shook hands.

“Thanks, but as much as I appreciate the invite,I’m not going to leave my daughter with strangers.”

Kim held her hands up. “I totally understand and Iwouldn’t either.”

Petal didn’t even need to guess what was going tohappen next. Kim was used to getting what she wanted. In a few days’ time, shehad a feeling the whole club was going to descend on the diner and Tanya wouldhave met everyone, which meant they were no longer strangers.

Kim went back to her seat, and Tanya turned towardher. “I’m not going to hear the end of this, am I?”

She couldn’t help but laugh. “No, you’re not.”

Tanya sighed.

“You’re not apprehensive because they’re … bikers,are you?”

“Petal, I don’t care about that. Leanna is mylittle girl, and I’m not comfortable leaving her alone to have a night out,especially when I can have one with my little girl, doing our hair, watchingmovies, and ordering pizza.”

She smiled at Tanya. “Sounds great.”

“It really is, at least to me. I don’t know ifanyone will understand.”

Tanya picked up the sugar containers, and Petalgot back to work. It was a long day, even after the lunch rush, and she had towipe down all the tables. There were customers stopping by throughout the day,followed by the dinner rush.

When she locked the main doors at the end of thenight, her feet were hurting. Tanya had already left. The diner was spotless.Rosalie had also left. Colt had picked her up, and Burto had gone as well. Shewas doing the last of her checks before heading out.

It was dark outside, but the parking lot had extralights, and as she walked toward her car, she noticed it looked different.Stepping closer, she glanced down at the tire, and growled.

“What the ever-loving fuck?”

Someone had slashed her tires. She walked aroundher car and gritted her teeth. All four of her tires were slashed, and what wasworse, she didn’t have a clue who would do this. She didn’t have any enemies.It had been a long time since she pissed anyone off.

She pulled out her cell phone and dialed Myth. Hewas the only person she might have upset by hiring a single mom. It would be completelyoutrageous if he was pissed off with her because she hired someone who neededthe job.

“Petal, what’s wrong?” Myth asked.

“Did you slash my tires?”

“What?”

“Well, did you?”

“No, I didn’t slash your tires. What the fuck areyou talking about?”

“I’m at the diner and someone slashed my tires.”

“Please tell me you’re not alone.”

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