Edge Of Fear (Arrow's Edge MC Book 4) by Freya Barker (best love novels of all time .TXT) 📗

can grab mine. Didn’t know you were coming.”

I offer Ouray my coffee, but he shakes his head.

“I’m not staying long. Was just checking the progress.”

I open the box of donuts and grab one, shoving half of it in my mouth.

“All quiet at the restaurant?” he asks.

“As far as I know. Why?”

“Luna just called. Feds picked up another dealer last night and not too long ago they intercepted the truck driver and took him in for questioning. Not much to report on the supplier side yet, but they’re shutting down the setup. There weren’t any drugs on the truck again this morning. Luna says they figure somehow the supplier got wind of the operation and pulled the plug. Maybe setting up shop elsewhere.”

I take a drink of my coffee and consider what this means.

“I’d have felt better if they got those guys as well,” I confess. “No sign of that Bernie guy?”

“Gone to ground from what I hear. The sister too.”

“So what happens with the girl? The one in the kitchen, Mandy?”

“That’s actually what Luna was calling about. They’re recommending she stay away from the Backyard Edge and are looking into getting her set up near her sister.”

“That’s gonna leave Sophia short a server as well as a cook. Again,” I grumble, because the FBI agent who’d been working every night this week was hustling as hard as everyone else was yesterday.

“I’m aware, brother, so is Luna. I’ve got one of the part-time line cooks from the Brewer’s Pub coming in tomorrow, and we can shuffle the shifts there and at the Backyard to make sure both businesses are covered. At least temporarily, giving us time to find replacements.”

I glance over at Ravi who is dropping a shovel of gravel into a rut, stomping it down with his feet. Van is lying in a patch of grass off to the side, his snout resting on his crossed front paws, watching the boy.

“Timing sucks,” I point out. “Sophia’s parents are coming to visit. Arriving tomorrow.”

“So get her to take some time,” he says matter-of-factly.

“Gonna be a tough sell now. She’d never go for it.”

Ouray claps me on the shoulder and grins.

“Then you’ve gotta get creative in finding a way to convince her.”

Easier said than done.

It’s still on my mind when I sidle up to the bar that night.

Emme walks over and sets a draft in front of me. I don’t even have to ask anymore.

The place is busy again. Not quite like last night, but two tables and all the booths are taken, so staff is hustling.

“Food?” Emme asks.

“Got any left?”

“I can check with the kitchen,” she says and darts out from behind the bar, leaving just Mack behind it, who lifts his chin in greeting.

Sophia, who was chatting with a couple on the far side of the dining room when I walked in, cozies up to me, lifting her face for a kiss.

“How are things?”

“A little crazy. Luna was here earlier to pick up Mandy and brought a temporary replacement for her. Luckily Emme was willing to jump in again, even though she wasn’t on the schedule for today. She says she can do with the extra pay.” She shakes her head. “I can’t keep up.”

“Talked to Ouray earlier,” I volunteer. “He filled me in. I’m sure we’ll be able to fill those spots before next weekend.”

“I sure hope so.”

A group of four comes in and Sophia rushes over to greet and seat them.

“How does half a rack of beef ribs sound?” Emme wants to know as she slides back behind the bar.

“Sounds good to me.”

I watch as she grabs empties off the bar and rinses them in the sink.

“Emme?”

She looks over. “Yeah?”

“Sophia’s saying you’re looking to make a few extra bucks?”

“Always,” she answers with a grimace.

I’m sure there’s a story there, but it’s not my place to pry.

“I wanna run something by you.”

CHAPTER 20

Tse

“I CAN’T BELIEVE you did that behind my back.”

Sophia isn’t taking too well to the fact I’ve arranged for Emme to work overtime so Fee can take some extra time off. All she has to do is go in for a few hours to do the paperwork but her dining room responsibilities Emme will take care of.

“Been a tough couple of weeks, Fee. On top of that, your parents are showing up today. You need some downtime.”

She pulls her feet from my lap and gets up, waking Van who’d been snoozing on the deck beside us. We’d been enjoying an early morning coffee on the deck, as we’ve taken to doing this past week, when I mentioned the arrangement I worked out with Emme last night.

“And you think this is a good time? The restaurant is crazy busy and I have new staff to hire because we’re shorthanded. There are a million and one things I need to take care of, Tse,” she says, clearly agitated as her hands gesture wildly. “Yes, I know my parents will be here, but I haven’t even put a full three months in. I can’t start taking vacation, because they suddenly decide, out of the blue, they need to come see me.”

Clearly she’s not happy. Tough.

I grab at one of her flailing hands and give it a small tug, tumbling her onto my lap. She immediately struggles to get back to her feet but can’t because my arms are holding her in place.

“You can’t just call the shots for me,” she sputters, giving up her struggle. “I’m a grown woman.”

“No mistaking that, Fee.”

Even my body recognizes that fact, having risen to the occasion with her ass wiggling on my lap. It’s been a frustratingly long week and I have a serious case of blue balls by now.

“I’m perfectly capable of making my own decisions,” she continues.

“Aware of that too,”

“Are you? Because this is starting to feel familiar, I’ve been there, done that, and am pretty sure I don’t wanna go down that road again.”

Now I’m pissed.

I release my hold and she scrambles off my lap. I get to my feet as