Page 17 of The Biker Alien

“If I’m all right.” She opens the door, and she narrows her eyes at me. She’s fuming mad. “If I’m all right. Are you serious right now? You have some gall coming over here. How did you even find out where I live? Look, I don’t care what it is that you’re involved in, but I want no part of it, okay? You. just go on and do your own thing and shoot back at those guys—”

“I didn’t as for this,” I growl.

She tilts her head, her expression on of complete disbelief. “Are you kidding me right now. You didn’t ask for this.Youdidn’t ask for this? Fuck you and the bike you rode on. Seriously? If anyone didn’t ask for this, that would be me! I’m so done. So done. You better go and tell all of your little friends that I want no part in any of this, do you hear me? None of you are to come to my shop. It’s my place of work, of business, and I reserve the right to refuse service to anyone, and that includes everyone from your gang.”

“I don’t have a gang,” I start.

“Sure you don’t. I never should’ve said yes to the date, never should’ve had that wine, never should’ve gotten into bed with you…”

Out of everything she’s said, that hurts the most. “You regret the time we spent together?”

“How can I not when it lead to me being shot at! Sure, they were gunning for you, not me, but I would’ve been collateral damage.”

“If I had any idea that they were going to come round my house—”

“You didn’t know, didn’t have any warning, huh? I guess that means you and your boys are all chums because your enemy shouldn’t have been able to get a leg up on you like that.”

“You’re right,” I growl. “That won’t ever happen again, but I want you to know that you aren’t going to be in any danger anymore.”

“Damn straight because I’m cutting ties with you. Go on now. Go.”

I take a step back and peek over to the right and then the left. One of my guys is stationed up the block. Good.

“What the hell is that?” she demands, following my gaze.

“Damn, girl, you don’t miss a trick, do you?”

“Call me ‘girl’ again, and I’ll smash a wrench into your balls,” she snaps.

“You’re upset. I get that, but if you think I’m going to leave you hear without any protection—”

“Just like you didn’t use a condom?”

I gape at her. “I didn’t think—”

“Yeah, you haven’t been doing a lot of that lately, have you? Neither have I, I’ll admit. I should’ve mentioned about a condom. Look, we’re done. All of it. And that includes you having a guy here or at Killer wheels.”

I narrow my eyes at her. “I don’t think that’s smart—”

“You aren’t going to think for me,” she says. “Listen, your enemy, he knows your guys, I’m assuming, so if they see that guy here and another at my workplace, guess what? They’re going to think I mean something to you, that I’m affiliated with you in some way, and that will just cause me to end up dead. No thank you. Call off your dogs.”

“Teri, I know you think you can handle yourself—”

“I’ve been just fine ever since my dad died. I don’t need you or anyone else. I’ve worked too hard to get where I’m at, and I won’t let you or anyone else make me feel afraid. Okay?”

“That’s the last thing I want for you, but I want you to be safe, and I—”

“No. There is nothing safe when it comes to you,” she says firmly. “Get the hell out of here, and I your guy doesn’t leave now, I’m going to call the cops again.”

I say nothing.

“Yes, again. I already called them about the shots fired at your house. Did that upset you?” She hesitates, and for a moment, she looks a bit vulnerable, some of her anger fading. “Is that going to make things worse for you?”

“I’m fine,” I assure her. “My boys and I will be fine.”

“So you say.” She lifts her chin defiantly.

“I’ll call off my boys, but I think that’s a mistake, Teri.”

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