I NEED A HERO (𝓒𝓞𝓜𝓟𝓛𝓔𝓣𝓔)

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Founder's Day dawned bright and clear. Nemera had gone to her parent's house the night before so that she could help them set things up. Gideon had beefed up his security to eliminate any attempts against her, Orr and Tau. Knowing how thorough her Dad was, Nemera was determined to relax and let herself enjoy the day.

The out of town relatives had also arrived the night before, so there were plenty of hands available for setting up tables and setting out food. Gideon, as usual, presided over the grills while Chitraka - whom the cousins called Aunt Dot - arranged all else to her liking. By the time the other guests started arriving, everything was ready.

Nemera and her cousin Makenna stood side by side by the drive, waiting to welcome the guests. Makenna was full Mota, with red curly hair and freckles on her fair skin. She was a bit taller than Nemera, and a bit more robust of frame. They had a friendly rivalry that dated to their childhood. Makenna was also a cop in Om Basset, working on patrol.

Orr arrived and found himself in a group hug, sandwiched between the cousins. When they released him, Nemera ordered him off to see Chitraka before he joined the others inside. They had welcomed several other guests when they heard a familiar rumble coming down the road.

"I wonder who that is?" Makenna peered into the distance. "It's not Dan, he's coming with Candy and the kids."

"I don't know." Nemera also looked toward the road, where she could now make out not one, but two cyclists pausing at the security checkpoint. They were riding Stormlands cycles; one a lake blue Zephyr and the other a midnight blue Cyclone. As they were cleared and set their cycles into motion again, something familiar about the smaller rider triggered her memory and tipped her off to who they were.

"It's Elian!" said Nemera, "and Tau Zuberi."

"Hey," called Makenna as the riders came rolling to a stop near them, "That's a nice bike, cousin."

"It is," said Elian, setting the kickstand and removing his helmet. "And as of today it's all mine."

"Awesome," said Nemera. She watched as Tau put his bike on the stand and pulled off his helmet, shaking out his mane of hair.

"He's cute," Makenna murmured softly behind her.

"When did you bring your bike over?" Nemera asked, ignoring her cousin and walking over to admire the bike - and truth be told, Zuberi's legs in his soft well-fitted jeans.

"I figured since I was shipping the Zephyr for Elian, I might as well have my Cyclone," Tau replied, patting the gas tank. "I missed her." He hung his helmet on the handle bar and swung his leg over to stand beside Nemera. "There's a lot of great roads to ride around here. What do you think?"

"I think it's an awesome machine, of course," Nemera replied giving him a snarky grin. "What else would any sane person think?"

"True, that," said Tau. "She's a beaut."

"Makenna," said Nemera, recalling her manners, "this is Tau Zuberi. Tau, my cousin, Makenna."

"Pleased to meet you," Tau said, shaking Makenna's hand.

"Likewise," said Makenna. "Do you play volleyball?"

"Back off, cuz," said Nemera, "He's on my team."

"I see." Makenna gave her cousin a stern look. "You brought in a ringer."

"He's no ringer," protested Nemera "He's a detective on the same case as I am."

"Uh-huh." Makenna still looked stern, but as Nemera shrugged and turned back to admiring the Cyclone she winked at Tau.

"This color is just gorgeous," said Nemera, smoothing a hand over the faring. "I'll bet she rides like a dream."