part0028

I didn’t have time to be nervous the rest of the day. As soon as I opened the door, customers streamed in. I ran out of my mixtures, I spent a lot of time going back and forth between the front and back making the drinks.

It was actually a little irritating. I’d gotten a new drink idea while flying through the air with Jack that I wanted to start playing around with. I was even going to name the frosty beverage after him.

I wasn’t going to gripe too much. Being busy meant that I was making money with my little store.

Throughout the day, I worked to remember the wall in my mind.

About half way through the day, Neve, a journalist for one of the newspapers in town popped in.

“Hey, Cider.” She settled into one of the chairs. “Could I get an original nonalcoholic?” She placed her tablet on the table and rubbed her temples. “I’ve been trying to get an interview with Darcorp’s manager for the past week. There’s been rumors that they’ve been ganging up on a smaller store in the rink. Have you heard anything?”

I finished making her drink, placed it in front of her, and sat down across from her, with my own drink.

“Where’d you hear these rumors?” I took a sip. Man, I made really good drinks.

“Through the grapevine.” Neve sighed into her cup. “A journalist can’t reveal her sources.”

I snorted. I wasn’t sure what to tell her. It was probably a good idea to keep everything a secret, at least until Samuel was taken care of.

“I haven’t heard anything, but I can keep a look out for you.” There. Safe and generic lie.

She narrowed her eyes at me as she continued to sip her drink. “Are you sure? Samuel has been seen coming and going from here over the past few weeks. What should I think of that?”

Tch. My fox admired her cunning all the while our tail twitched in agitation.

“He seems to have taken a liking to my drinks, as has everyone else.” Not that I’d ever let him have any, but Neve didn’t have to know that.

She finished her drink, brushing her hair over her right shoulder. “I don’t believe that, there’s a story here, I know it.” Neve pushed the empty cup to the middle of the table with some cash. “When you hear something,” her smirk was all knowing, “let me have first dibs on it, yeah?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I had to hand it to her. “But, if I hear anything, you’ll be the first one to know.”

“That’s all I ask. Toodles!” Her fingers wiggled in a wave as she left the store.

I shook my head, grabbed the cups, and went into the back to wash the dirty dishes from the day.

It slowed down significantly after that. I had time to clean everything, make fresh batches, and even time to start testing the drink that Jack had inspired.

I was having a hard time deciding on the sweetness when an hour to closing rolled around. Billy and Titus arrived, both were having some kind of debate about some kind of sport.

“We’ll be right back here during your conversation. When he comes in, we’ll let you have your conversation and then come out.” Titus kissed the side of my neck. “I promise no maiming.”

Igor walked in with Lys, Jack was right behind. Everyone was on time. My mates helped put the chairs up off the floor onto the tables except for one. Igor looked a little off. Her hair was everywhere and she had bags under her eyes.

“Reporting for duty, captain.” She saluted cockily.

Apparently, we weren’t going to talk about what was wrong.

“Do you have an idea of what you’re going to say to him?” Lys grabbed one of my cleaning rags and started to wipe down the back counter on autopilot.

“Not really. I figured on just being blunt. Tell him to get out of Silver Springs.” I looked up at Jack as he hugged me from behind.

“It will be in his best interests to leave.” Jack ran his hand over the top of my hair. “Igor may not have a chance at him if he upsets you. Keep your wall up.”

I kissed his cheek. “Thank you. It’ll be okay. I’m pretty sure the idea that the community would come after him for using his powers for evil will be enough to get him out of our rink.”

Glancing at the clock, I clapped my hands together. “Okay. Everybody into the back. I’ve got to get ready.”

They all moved in single file through the little curtain that led to the other part of the store. I started making two original ciders. My fox was vibrating with her nerves but, I, on the other hand, was completely calm.

After all that hair pulling worry, to find out that this guy was a supe of a sort and used his powers to mess with my livelihood, I wasn’t anxious any longer. I was pissed. For once, though, I was going to work on being diplomatic and not just blow up and escalate the issue. Like I had when Lys had first pranked me.

I should have been mature and confronted her. She’d been angry about her cups that she’d lent me in good faith. When she’d come to inquire about them, I’d been in a terrible mood thanks to the ex. I’d taken it out on her and my brother.

This time, I was going to protect what was mine the right way. No chickens involved. I shuddered involuntarily at the memory.

The clock chimed. Closing time. The door opened right after. Had to give it to the guy. He was prompt.

I faced him with the two mugs. With a mental check on my tree wall in my head, I walked around the counter.

“Thanks for coming, Samuel.” I gestured with a hand to the only table not put up for the night. I sat down first, placing the drinks in front of us.

He strode forward confidently, pausing right at the table with a stumble. He corrected himself quickly. If I hadn’t been watching him like he was prey, I’d have missed it. Good. He must have realized he wasn’t going to mess with me anymore.

“I see that deranged young woman you sent after me told you what I can do.” He smoothed his hands down his shirt. He seemed to do that when he was talking, as if it was an old habit he couldn’t kick.

“You’re lucky she didn’t eat you.” I blew on the steam wafting from my mug. “She has a habit of doing that to villains.”

Samuel chuckled, his stomach ponch jiggling a little. It wasn’t a good look on him. My stomach did the same thing but at least I looked good while it did it.

“I highly doubt that.” His hands wrapped around his cup. “Now, why don’t we get down to business? The contract is in my office ready for your signature. Hiding your thoughts now won’t help you get out of this.”

“Yeah, about that.” I leaned back, tilting the chair on its back legs. “I’m not going anywhere. Neither is my shop.”

Samuel moved his head in disappointment. “That’s too bad. This was really the only way that you’d have gotten out of this with some sort of money. Now, I’ll just crush your little shop under my boot.”

I let a little grin slip out as I reinforced my tree's roots. He wasn’t going to see this next part coming.

“On the contrary.” My right leg came up and my boot pushed against the edge of the table as I balanced on the chair. “It’s you that will be crushed. You see, I don’t think you realize what kind of town you’ve come to reside in.”

His brows moved as he frowned. He glanced at my forehead and my lips curled in victory.

“What are you talking about? That you’re a shifter? Sure, there’s more shifters around here than most places, but that has nothing to do with me.” He gripped the edges of his vest, pulling it down tightly twice.

“You really have no clue, do you?” I almost felt sorry for him.

“Silver Springs is a town of supernaturals. Not just shifters, but witches, vampires, trolls, fairies, and man-eating plants that have a deranged personality. How have you been here a few weeks and not noticed?” I sipped my cider, letting it slurp loudly. “What do you think is going to happen when these supes figure out that you’ve sabotaged one of your own? That you can read minds and use it to fuck people over?”

“Who's going to believe you? It’s your word, plus that thing's word, against mine. I work for Darcorp Incorporated, one of the top employers in the nation. We’re respected and loved. You, on the other hand, are nothing.”

Wow, this guy had balls, I’d give him that. He’d just insulted me and Igor without blinking an eye. I really didn’t think he knew that Igor would be happy to make him disappear in her stomach.

There was a slight sound from the backroom. I could only imagine it was either Titus or Igor. I would put money on it that the others were keeping them quiet and from coming out here.

Luckily, Samuel was oblivious.

“They’ll believe me because I’m part of this wonderful community. There’s trust here. You wouldn’t know what that meant, even if I took it in a bag of rocks and hit you over the head with it.” I held up my hand when he went to open his mouth. “The point is, we will run you out of town, or you will end up in one of the more violent ones' stomach. I suggest that you leave here, you forget my secret recipe, and go settle in another town. Oh, and don’t use your powers for evil.”

“You are a fool. I will crush you. I will crush your friends. You will beg me by the end to work for me when no one else will hire you. And when that happens, I will graciously give you the lowest job and make you grateful for it.”

The guy just started to laugh. He didn’t believe me. I sighed. Enough was enough. I stood, walked around the table, and while looking down at the scum infested man, grew my claws and with sufficient force stabbed down into his thigh, right next to his little balls.

As he let out a painful whimper, my mates came out from the back room with Lys and Igor. They all had varying expressions. If it wasn’t such a serious situation, I’d have laughed at them.

Titus gently reached for my arm, pulling my nails out, patting my hand. His eyes were on Samuel’s face. His eyes promised death. I threaded our fingers together and squeezed, getting his attention back to me.

“I think it's in your best interest to listen to my mate.” Titus’ voice was hard, scary. It only turned me on.

“She just stabbed me!” Samuel whined as he clutched his thigh.

“It’s just a little stab. Nothing fatal.” Igor leaned forward, tilting her head as she sniffed the air close to him. “Pity. If she’d stabbed a little bit higher, it could have been fatal.”

Samuel’s skin paled more than it already was. He glanced between all of us surrounding him. “You’re all insane.” Pushing out his chair, he stumbled backward, away from all of us. “You won’t get away with this.”

“I think she will.” Titus stepped in front of all of us, his back blocking my view. “I think you’ll take her advice and leave town. Tonight. Igor will be happy to escort you out.” He nodded to her as she came to stand next to him, her crazy grin sending a shiver of fear down my spine.

Oh, crap. This wasn’t the plan.

“Titus.” My hand touched his back. “We discussed this.”

“We did. We tried it your way. He’s just too dense to seem to understand that you were trying to help him. I’m not going to stand by while he is here and thinks he can hurt you.” Titus didn’t even look back at me.

Billy, next to me, wrapped his arm around my shoulder. “Let them do this. This guy has a black soul and isn’t worth the time you’ve wasted on him.”

“What are you idiots talking about? I’m standing right here! Move! I need to get to a hospital,” Samuel sputtered loudly.

“Yes, let’s show this fly out.” Igor’s glee was apparent and I felt a little squeamish. She really wasn’t planning on eating him, was she?

“Wait. Igor. Titus. Come on. We just want him to go away and forget about my recipe. That’s it.” I glanced between them. Jack came up to my other side and wrapped his arm around my waist.

“Cider,” Igor offered me a sweet look, “I won’t do anything to upset you. You’ve been kind to me, been my friend. Let me take this man away from here. I won’t cause him pain. Besides, this gives me the excuse to explore more of the world, yes?” She gripped Samuel’s arm and proceeded to drag him out of the store. “You’ll have to get another part time worker. Sorry! Let’s pick up some steak sauce on the way out of town, yes?” The door closed behind them as Samuel struggled against Igor’s unnaturally strong grip. The shop was quiet for several long moments.

“Well, that went way off kilter.” Lys slapped her hands together in mirth. “I am going to head home. Jace is off tonight and promised to give me a lap dance. He got a new piercing, so I can’t wait to play with it.”

Titus winced. “Really? Did you have to tell us that? I’m standing right here.”

She laughed as she left. “That’s what you get, DAD.”

Titus looked at us in confusion. “What did I do?”

Shaking my head, I leaned into my other two mates. “Who knows?” Then, it suddenly hit me. All the stress melted away and my legs gave out. Jack’s arm tightened to keep me up. “It’s over. It’s really over.” Whatever Igor planned to do to Samuel meant that I got to keep my shop and business. “This whole thing has been crazy, but there is one thing that I’m thankful for.” I touched Jack’s cheek. “I have my mates.”