Page 51 of Shadow Strike
Claire stepped forward, pulling an envelope from her bag.“The cease and desist was delivered to Ryder Briggs an hour ago.Officially, he’s been notified that any further contact with you constitutes harassment and will result in legal action.This is your printed copy.Another should be in your inbox.”
Regan took the envelope, turning it over in her hands.It felt flimsy for something meant to protect her.“And unofficially?”
“Unofficially, I don’t expect him to care.”Claire’s voice was matter-of-fact.“But it sets the board.Every time he ignores the law, he strengthens our case.”She glanced at the window, at the Outlaws still milling around outside.“Do you want me to disperse them?”
Regan followed her gaze.CB was back outside, talking to another cluster of men.One of them was showing him something on his phone, and CB was nodding along, engaged and unhurried.
“No,” she said slowly.“Leave them.”
Claire raised an eyebrow.
“CB’s doing something out there.I don’t know exactly what, but—” Regan watched as two more Outlaws drifted over to join the conversation, their body language open and curious.“He’s making them think.Making them see him as something other than the enemy.”
“He’s undermining Ryder’s authority,” Garrett said.“Reminding them that the Briggs name doesn’t belong to Ryder alone.”
Regan hadn’t thought of it that way.CB wasn’t fighting the Outlaws.He was reclaiming them.
The front door opened again, and this time Outlaws actually came inside.Three of them, older men with weathered faces.They settled into a booth near the window and picked up menus.
Regan exchanged a glance with Lynx, then grabbed her order pad and approached the table.
“Afternoon, gentlemen.What can I get you?”
The one closest to her—silver beard, kind eyes—looked up with an apologetic smile.“Sorry about all the commotion.You know how it is when someone puts out a call.”
She didn’t, but she nodded anyway.“No trouble so far.”
“There won’t be.”He said it with quiet certainty.“We heard the recording.That Ryder…” He clucked his tongue.“Most of the boys out there, they remember Wade.Remember how things used to be.CB’s been reminding them.”
She took their orders—burgers, fries, coffee all around—and retreated to the kitchen.Only then did she realize she had a problem.
Lucy wasn’t here.Lucy was at the SPS compound with Desi, safe from exactly this kind of situation.Which meant Regan had no cook.
She stood in front of the grill, frozen, when one of the Outlaws appeared in the kitchen doorway.Maybe late fifties, with a sheepish expression.
“You need a hand?”
Regan blinked.“Excuse me?”
“CB said you’re not a cook, and I saw your face when you came back here.”He stepped inside, already reaching for the apron hanging by the prep station.“I cooked at a diner in Billings for six years before I joined up.Name’s Pete.”
She should say no.Should tell him this was her kitchen, her bar, her problem to solve.But the lunch rush was picking up, more Outlaws coming inside and settling into booths, and she couldn’t pour drinks and work the grill at the same time.
“Okay.”She handed him the order slip.“Burgers are in the walk-in.Fries are pre-cut.Don’t burn anything.”
Pete grinned.“Yes, ma’am.”
It was surreal.Regan moved through the lunch rush on autopilot, pouring beers and filling coffee cups while an Outlaw manned her grill.
The men were polite.Friendly, even.They said please and thank you, asked about the specials, and complimented the burgers Pete was turning out with surprising competence.
She caught Claire near the back hallway and pulled her aside.
“I have something for you.”Regan reached into her apron pocket and withdrew a thumb drive.“Everything I’ve gathered on the Outlaws.My research notes, interview transcripts, and financial records I managed to dig up.All of it.”
Claire took the drive, her expression sharpening.“This is for the podcast?”
“It was.Now it’s evidence for you.”Regan held her gaze.“Whatever helps you build your case against Ryder.I want him gone.”
