back of her neck stood on end. What the hell? Grabbing an old baseball bat she kept around, she slowly crept out of her office. A sick feeling twisted in the pit of her stomach as she headed toward the front of the eatery.
When she came upon the white swinging doors that looked as if they belonged in a western saloon, she paused before peeking over the top to look at the front door that was lit by the street lamp outside. Pulling back, she slapped a hand over her mouth to stifle the whimpers crawling up her throat. She rushed back to the office and shoved the papers aside on the desk, searching for her phone. Then a powerful bang reverberated throughout the bistro, followed by loud voices.
“Open the fuckin’ door or I’m gonna break it down!”
Where’s my damn phone? And why the hell did I only buy one cordless phone to keep up front?
Panic spread through her like wildfire.
“I’m countin’ to one and we’re smashing windows!”
Got it! With her heart nearly crashing through her chest, she dialed 911. When the dispatcher answered, Lena screamed, “I need help. Two bikers are breaking into my restaurant.”
“Are you at 229 Main Street?”
“Yes. The sheriff knows about these guys. Bring help. They’re trying to rob me.”
“One!” the man yelled.
“They’re going to break my front window. Hurry.” Slipping the phone into her pocket, she rushed to the front of the store. It was better to let them in than to deal with more damage she couldn’t afford to fix, especially after she was forced to pay them. Lena shakily made her way to the door and clicked the lock open, just as one of the bikers—the dangerous one—pulled his arm back. She barely had time to move before their large bodies pushed through the door.
“What’s your problem?” she asked, her anger slowly replacing the fear.
“What the fuck took you so long?” the one with the Billy club huffed.
“I was in the bathroom.” The sheriff should be here soon. I have to stall until he gets here. “You said you were coming back in two weeks.”
The dangerous-looking one pressed against her. “We wanted to see you again, sweet cheeks.”
She fought the impulse to push him away and tell him off. Instead, she looked at his leather vest and saw the name Cougar stitched across it. “I wasn’t expecting you.”
“Then this should be a nice surprise,” the other biker said as he walked up to the new display case. “Do you bake all this shit?”
“Pretty much. I have an employee who helps me.” The surrealism of the situation didn’t escape her. Never in her wildest imagination did she think she’d be talking about her baked goods with two gangsters who were taking her money. “Would you like a cookie?” Where the hell are the cops? This town isn’t that big.
Cougar laughed. “My brother and I will take a box, but you’re not getting a discount on what you owe us.”
They’re brothers. I’m sure their mother is real proud. “I didn’t expect one.”
“You learn fast.” Cougar patted her behind. “Good girl.”
Lena gritted her teeth and hurried away. I can’t wait to see you in handcuffs.
“You got chocolate chip?”
Nodding, she slipped open the case. I can’t believe how long it’s taking for the deputies to get here. She bent over and snatched six cookies with a piece of parchment paper. Standing back up, she was startled when she bumped into someone.
“Oh!” she gasped, glancing behind her.
Cougar gripped her waist and yanked her back against him. “I bet you taste as sweet as those cookies.”
The thug by the case stood silent, his intense stare fixed on her.
“Please,” she whispered.
“Please what? Please fuck me?” Cougar chuckled.
The other biker licked his lips.
Lena’s heart pounded in her chest. She swallowed back the bile in her throat and tried to quell the mounting panic threatening to suffocate her. Think. This can’t happen. Blinking rapidly, she said in a soft voice, “I have a meeting with a wedding party to go over their reception details. That’s the reason I was still in the restaurant. They’ll be here soon.”
Cougar squeezed her butt and shoved her away. Slamming into the case, Lena lost her balance, and the cookies dropped to the floor. The steel corner of the display hit her hip. Pain shot through her, but she didn’t cry out. She wasn’t about to give the bastards the satisfaction.
“Give us the fuckin’ money,” Cougar demanded.
“It’s in the office.”
“One of us will go with you.”
“I’ll go