Colton
Today was a shit day. It started out great waking up next to Alexandra, then it went downhill when I got to work. Nothing went right at the shop. Parts I needed didn’t come in. The motorcycle I thought was fixed wasn’t, and now I’m frustrated.
Thank God closing time is in an hour. Vinny and I are cleaning up when the bell on the door rings. I glance over my shoulder, hoping it’s Alexandra, but it’s not. It’s Franny.
“Hey, guys. What’s going on?” Franny asks, as she throws her bag on the counter.
Franny is a great girl, but I’m concerned her secret relationship with Vinny will get them into trouble with her man. Then again, maybe Dagger won’t give a shit if his old lady is banging someone else.
“Not much, Kitten. Colt and I are just straightening up,” Vinny tells her.
She sidles up to Vinny and he’s loving every minute of it.
Vinny is a great guy. Really, he’s like the brother I never had. I know he’d do anything for me and I feel the same. That includes protecting him from the Falcons MC.
“Dagger’s out of town again tonight, Viper. You working at Cheeser’s?”
“Not tonight, Kitten. I’ve got the night off.”
Franny’s smile gets larger. “Sounds like you and I have plans then.”
I clear my throat. “I hate to break up your little rendezvous, but I need to talk you both first.”
Vinny hops up on the counter and pulls Franny between his legs. They both face me, waiting for me to explain.
“I assume this has something to do with what happened yesterday at the police station?” Vinny asks.
Franny turns to look at him. “What happened at the police station?”
“I got picked up on a murder charge. Apparently, the cops have an eyewitness claiming he saw me kill another cop.”
“Holy shit, Colt,” Franny says. “They can’t possibly think that you would commit murder, do they?”
Vinny looks at me with a raised eyebrow. I can tell he wants to ask about Alexandra. All day today, he started to say something, then backed off.
I trust Vinny with the information about me and Alexandra. Now, Franny is another story. I’m a little hesitant, but she’s been pretty accurate with the information she’s been supplying to me and Vinny.
“I need your help figuring out why these cops are trying to set me up. I do have an alibi for the time of the murder, but I can’t tell the cops.”
Vinny is first to speak up. “Why the fuck not? If you have someone who can vouch for you, why wouldn’t you tell the cops?”
Franny raises her eyebrows. “This should be interesting. Who’s your alibi, Colton?”
Suddenly, I’m sweating. Blowing out a breath, I tell Vinny and Franny the story. I tell them about the night at Cheeser’s… well, after we left. Vinny knew we met that night since he was working.
“I can’t believe the Assistant District Attorney is your freaking alibi,” Franny says. “This is perfect.”
“How is any of this perfect, Kitten?”
“Viper, don’t you see? She’s meant to save Colton.”
“Oh, hang on, Franny,” I snap, not meaning to. “Don’t get caught up in your romantic fantasies. I don’t want Alexandra sacrificing herself, or her career, for me.”
“Come on, Colton. This is right out of one of those romance novels. Oh, it’s so romantic,” she retorts.
“Kitten, this is serious shit. These dirty cops can fix evidence so it makes it look like Colt is guilty.”
Franny cocks an eyebrow at Vinny. “How do you know these guys are dirty?”
I rub the back of my neck to ease the tension. My head is pounding, and these two lovebirds are aren’t helping.
“Look, Miller and Anderson have had it out for me in the past. I don’t believe my dad killed himself, Franny. I think the cops had something to do with it. Each time I start asking questions, they pay me a little visit. These guys are smart enough not to threaten me outright, but I’d say trying to charge me with a murder I didn’t commit is a new tactic.”
Vinny moves Franny from between his legs and hops down off the counter. “What do you need us to do, Colt? You know Franny and I’ll help any way we can.”
“Franny, I need you to keep your eyes and ears open when you’re at the Falcons’ Clubhouse. Vinny, I need you to go talk to Willy and see if Miller and Anderson have been poking around Cheeser’s asking questions.”
“I’ll see Willy tonight and find out if he know anything. Colt, can you give me a minute with Franny?”
Tipping my chin to him, I make my way back to the office. The relationship between Vinny and Franny is pretty complicated. She’s an old lady but she’s not in love with Dagger, she’s in love with Vinny. Problem is, for some reason, she won’t leave Dagger. It drives Vinny crazy. He and I have spent more than a few nights trying to talk her into getting out, but it never works.
I close the door to my office, then try to organize the mess of paperwork so I can pay some bills. My thoughts eventually turn to Alexandra. I’m hopeful shit stayed calm today for her at work. She hasn’t texted or called, but I hope she’ll stop by tonight.