24

Izzy and Dana stood on step ladders trying to restock shelves with new books. They took advantage of the slow pace of the day, seizing the opportunity knowing that tomorrow the store would be busy as it usually was on a Friday. They chatted animatedly as they did their work, sharing laughs and recounting funny memories of last week when they had announced the black Friday sale that had them both active for the entire day.

Dana spoke fondly of Jimmy as she stacked her shelf, arranging the newest shipment of children’s book. She and Jimmy’s relationship was blossoming as each day passed and Izzy was happy that Jimmy finally found happiness with someone who truly had feelings for him. After the nightmare with Megan he deserved happiness but then again everything about Jimmy indicated that he deserved happiness. Izzy was glad he had found it with Dana, the two of them were a match made in heaven. Both were strange in the same way and were so similar in their weirdness it was unnatural which made their relationship unique in and of itself.

The bell over the front door chimed and Izzy looked over her shoulder to see who had entered the store. She came down from the ladder and set aside the books that were in her hand before making her way towards the customer.

“May I help you with anything sir?” she asked sweetly as she brushed a few stray strands of hair away from her face.

“I’ll let you know doll.” winked the man, his voice thick with a Welch accent. Izzy noted the tattoo littering his left arm and watched him walk towards the cooking aisle, each of his steps determined and reeking of confidence.

She made her way to the cash register and admired the man from afar. His black hair with faint blonde streaks hung around his shoulders, his dark wash jeans hanging on his waist. He perused the numerous books in the cooking section but suddenly, as if sensing Izzy watching him, his head snapped up from the book in his hand and his blue grey eyes met Izzy’s grey ones. Izzy blushed violently, having been caught gawking at the handsome stranger. He smirked at her as she lowered her eyes and continued to flip through the pages of a cookbook. Cheeks still flaming, Izzy glanced at Dana who was gawking at the man from between the space in the shelves, trying to be as discreet as possible. Izzy laughed to herself and turned her attention to the front of the store where she saw a familiar black SUV pull up. Checking the clock on the wall, Izzy frowned as she looked back to the SUV with tinted windows. Shadows would have called if he was dropping in, which he only did on the rarest of occasion and it was too early for Gates to pick her up.

Izzy was snapped out of her thoughts by the sound of a deep chuckle. She turned her attention to the gorgeous Welch man standing in front of the checkout area. Flashing him a smile, Izzy took the book that he had placed on the countertop.

“Quite an extensive collection you have going on here.” He said, his voice low.

“Thanks, I pride myself on that.” Replied Izzy proudly as she looked around the store. “Into cooking?” asked Izzy as she looked at the book in her hands; ‘Master Gordon’s Infinite Italian’

“I’m into attempting to cook. I seem to always burn anything that ends up on the stove.” He laughed as he regarded Izzy with his hypnotic eyes that seemed to twinkle mischievously.

“At least you try, though I would suggest purchasing the Beginners version of this book, seeing as how you have a natural ability to burn things.” Giggled Izzy in spite of herself.

“I want to skip to the good stuff.” Said the man as Izzy placed the book into a bag.

“Well let’s hope you have enough pots and pans to last or at the very least a very good scrubber.” Teased Izzy, flirting with the handsome stranger. He watched her with interest and flashed her a dazzling smile that made Izzy’s heart flutter.

“Name’s Matt. Matt Tuck.” He said holding out his hand.

“Izzy. Izzy Blackburn.” Replied Izzy as she placed her small hand in his large calloused one. He wrapped his fingers around her hand and Izzy could feel the blush creeping up her neck.

“I’ve heard a lot about you.” He said softly, his eyes flashing ever so briefly with something sinister.

“About me?” asked Izzy confused, as she began pulling her hand out of his.

“Yes. You. And the wonders you’ve done for this place. You did a fantastic job turning the store around.” He said, his voice smooth. He handed her exact cash for the book.

Izzy picked up a hint of something in the man’s voice that made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up; she just couldn’t figure out what. Perhaps she was being paranoid about the attractive stranger who seemed to have taken an interest in her.

“Maybe I’ll see you around sometime.” Said Tuck as he accepted the bag containing his book from Izzy.

“Yeah. See you around.” She said somewhat breathlessly as he flashed her that dazzling smile.

Izzy watched him exit the store. Just outside he stopped and turned giving her a small wave through the window before walking away. Izzy saw Shadows jump out of the vehicle and head towards Tuck. Shadows seemed to have called out to Tuck who stopped in his tracks. He shot Izzy a burning look before giving Shadows his full attention. Izzy sensed the tension radiating off Shadows’ body but Tuck appeared to be totally unfazed. Izzy saw Tuck hold up the book with a smug look on his face before covering his eyes with the dark sunglasses that hung from the neckline of his fitted black t-shirt. He turned to leave but not before he waved to Izzy who jumped slightly at the gesture before lifting her hand uncertainly in response.

Shadows scowled darkly after him and then turned to look at Izzy who gave him a quizzical look. He shook his head and jumped back into the SUV. Izzy would give her left arm to know what had transpired between Shadows and Tuck knowing full well that she would be pulling teeth in order to get that information out of Shadows when she got home.

****

“What the hell do you think you’re doing Tuck?” growled Shadows as Tuck stopped in his tracks. Shadows wanted to punch the smug look off of the man’s face.

“Well. Well. Well. If it isn’t M.Shadows.” sneered Tuck as he looked into the book store his eyes meeting Izzy’s in a sizzling stare before he snapped his attention to Shadows and regarded him with cold blue grey eyes.

“What business do you have here?” demanded Shadows of the leader of one of his numerous rivals. His body was rigid with tension as he folded his arms across his chest. The leader of Bullet for my Valentine was up to no good; Shadows could feel it in his bones.

“I’ve heard so much about Miss Blackburn’s quaint little bookstore.” Said Tuck snidely “That I had to come and get something for myself.” He held up the bag in his hand. “There’s no problem is there Shadows?”

Shadows’ fists clenched and unclenched in agitation. He knew very well that Tuck never ventured into his territory. He usually sent his second in command, Moose, to do his bidding. Something was definitely wrong with the entire situation. Tuck covered his eyes that were glinting maliciously with his sunglasses and gave Shadows a disdainful look.

“The agreement between all gangs is no trouble is to be caused when entering a rival’s territory.” Stated Tuck flatly. “And I my friend am causing no trouble.”

“No need to state the agreement Tuck. I know very well that you’re here to fulfill your own personal agenda.” Snapped Shadows, his hazel eyes darkening in irritation.

“You wound me Shadows.” Mocked Tuck, his thin lips curling into a sneer. “I pose no threat to you….yet.” he taunted before turning on his heel and walking away.

Shadows’ blood ran cold at Tuck’s departing statement. The threat of Night may have been eliminated but now, Shadows had an entire arsenal of rivals on his heels. Tuck was only the beginning. Bullet for my Valentine hadn’t stepped a foot into his territory in over a year and Shadows had a sinking feeling that the resurfacing of Tuck had something to do with Izzy.

****

Izzy, Christ and Jimmy were busy at work in the kitchen later that night making a royal mess as the two men attempted to help her make tacos. Christ and Jimmy were throwing lettuce and cheese at each other while Izzy tried to dodge the flying food as best as she could. Popping the taco shells into the oven she turned and glared at Christ and Jimmy who were both laughing maniacally. Their laughter quickly died as both men noticed the withering stares they were receiving.

“The majority of the toppings are on the floor you donkeys!” barked Izzy pointing at the floor. “I want everything picked up by the time I come back. You have two minutes.”

Jimmy and Christ scrambled to pick up the bits of lettuce and cheese on the floor as Izzy marched out of the kitchen. She was on her way to her bedroom to get her iPod when the sound of her name in a heated argument caught her attention. She followed the voices to Shadows’ office and tiptoed to the door which was slightly ajar. She discreetly peered inside and made out Gates and Shadows standing across from each other.

“How are you so sure that Tuck is up to something?” asked Gates, his voice agitated.

“The same way you know that he’s up to something.” Retorted Shadows angrily. “C’mon Brian, you know that he’s up to no good.”

“I don’t doubt that but why would he go to the bookstore?” replied Gates trying to force his voice to remain even and calm.

“You’re not seriously disputing his intentions are you?” shouted Shadows, his fists clenched.

“He’s given us no reason to believe that he’s up to something. We haven’t heard anything about Bullet in over a year.” Said Gates reasonably.

Izzy’s brows furrowed in confusion the way it normally did when she eavesdropped on Shadows’ conversations. The man from earlier, Matt Tuck, seemed to have Shadows on edge. Izzy made a link to the use of the word Bullet and assumed that Tuck had to be a part of another gang. Izzy’s blood ran cold at that thought.

“You didn’t see the way he was looking at her. Something isn’t right Bri.” seethed Shadows, flinging himself into the leather sofa in his office.

“Let’s just keep our eyes and ears peeled then. I don’t want us to get all riled up over nothing.” Said Gates practically as he waved his hand in the air.

“You better hope to God its nothing.” fumed Shadows.

“It’s not polite to spy Blackburn.” said a soft voice in Izzy’s ear causing her to jump out of her skin.

“You nearly gave me heart failure you douche!” snapped Izzy softly as she punched Jimmy’s arm before dragging him away from Shadows’ office.

The two of them re-entered the kitchen and Izzy took the taco shells out of the oven, her mind swirling with new questions. Jimmy gave her a puzzled look as he carried the dressings for the tacos to the table while Christ put out five plates. Images of the handsome Tuck swam in her mind and Izzy felt the color rising in her cheeks as she thought of his dazzling smile. She shook herself mentally and scolded herself knowing that this man couldn’t be good news if he had Shadows so riled up.

Shadows and Gates sauntered into the kitchen and sat at the dining table as Izzy pulled her thoughts together.

“Where’s Vengeance?” asked Izzy as she counted the plates on the table realizing they were one short.

“I sent him to handle some business. He should be back tomorrow night.” Replied Shadows flatly before his eyes lit up at the sight before him on the table. “TACOS? I love tacos!” he roared causing Izzy to jump at his sudden outburst. The rest of the men at the table laughed as they began to dig into the meal Izzy had prepared, no thanks to Christ and Jimmy.

They were almost done with dinner and Shadows had just taken a huge bite of his fourth taco when Izzy took a deep breath and asked the one question that was on her mind throughout dinner.

“Who’s Bullet and what does it have to do with Matt Tuck?” asked Izzy carefully.

Shadows seemed to be choking on his taco and he glared at Izzy through watery eyes. Jimmy thumped him on the back with his fist and Shadows let out a sigh of relief.

“Thanks man.” muttered Shadows as she turned his hazel eyes onto Izzy who flushed slightly under his steady gaze.

“Haven’t I told you before that your ears will fall off if you eavesdrop?” asked Gates nonchalantly.

“It’s not eavesdropping if the two of you were shouting with the door open.” Retorted Izzy, her cheeks flaming.

“The door was slightly ajar.” pointed out Shadows condescendingly.

“Same goddamn difference.” Sneered Izzy as her tempered flared at the tone of Shadows’ voice. “Is any one going to fill me in or do I have to call Tuck myself and ask?” she threatened.

“Tuck gave you his number?” chided Jimmy, concern clouding his eyes.

“Possibly. So make your choice.” commanded Izzy looking from Shadows to Gates with steadfast eyes.

Gates let out a low whistle and Shadows shook his head warily, his half eaten taco forgotten as he leaned back in his chair. Shadows cleared his throat before squaring his shoulders.

“Matt Tuck is the leader of Bullet for my Valentine and it seems as if he’s taken an interest in something of ours that is unbeknown to us.”