The Verge (Gang/ Werewolf/ Mafia)

Banana Pancakes and Guns

It was still dark out, early enough that not even a hint of glowing sun peaked through the small open windows of my parents room. A cool draft bellowed the curtains and rain pelted the tin roofing. Now that sleep had eased up its dazing confusion, lack of sun might be because of the gloomy weather. The pitter patter made a peaceful symphony, but still too much damn noise to actually sleep. Baby scratched at the door, natures call knocking. Leaving the warm bed left a pain deep in my bones. She launched into the small yard I had fenced off beside the trailer to keep her safe. Giving her time, I filled her bowl with the expensive kibble for breakfast and a fresh serving of water. Always an early riser, she would want her morning cuddles and playtime immediately. Just as I put the water bowl down, she flung through the doorway snarling and ferocious. At the front door a light but definite knock sounded. Panic seized my heart and I ran on tippy toes to clutch the damn bat. "Who is it!" I call out and there's a soft chuckle before an answer.

"Good to know you don't get visits very often. No competition that way." Romans baritone voice sent a deep chill down my spine. After a few breathing exercises, some definite stalling, and grabbing my fur child to keep her tucked away in my arm and prepared with the bat in the other hand, I opened the door.

"What in the hell do you want? Do you know what god forsaken hour it is?! How dare you-" he cut off my rant with a sigh.

"Want you to come to breakfast with me, s'already six in the mornin'. Nighttime s'over, daytime startin. Comin' sunshine?"

Shocked, I was. Complete with a jaw drop and a stutter, I asked "A-are you nuts!?" He grinned, the psycho. That cocky, arrogant smirk lifted the corners of his full lips and sharp tipped fangs peaked out to say howdy.

I'm going to say it was the chill in the air. Blame it on the anger coursing my blood. Through the thin sleep shirt I had slept in, my nipples peaked and stiffened. Not because of his easy smile, hell no. Never for the pearly white canines denting his plush lower lip, either. Oh god, and those dimpled cheeks. No! My current condition was because of the cold, damnit! Even so, the peaks drew his eyes and the shirt may as well have been non existent. "Someone's excited." His shit eating grin grew to a full blown, yet utterly dazzling smile.

"It's. Cold. " I seathed with slit eyes.

I slammed the door in his face, and Baby huffed a breath in its direction. He started pounding on the door. "Not leaving until you talk to me, sunshine!" he called out.

Who am I to turn down a free meal? Besides, I want to know what the real reason is for him coming all this way to see me. Breakfast my ass. It was a twenty minute drive to get from his territory to the trailer I call home. As much as I know about him and his pack, I have yet to discover where the exact location of his home actually is. Rumors held anything from a log cabin deep into the forest, to a stone castle on mountainous cliffs.

Heading back into my childhood bedroom, I looked at the small collection of clothes I had. Most of my kiddie clothing I had already given to other little girls in the trailer park. Some special items I kept tucked away in a drawer. Since douchbag, who was still pounding on the door, has already seen me in all my bedheaded glory, nothing special needed to be done. Throwing on some soft sweats and a sports bra under the long sleep shirt, I threw my massive tangle of deep red hair into a messy bun and rushed to brush my teeth and slap on some deodorant.

Throwing open the door, the massive man blocking any escape no longer had a grin on his face. "Bout damn time. You can't take the dog." He was buying me the biggest breakfast on the menu for that one.

"I took five minutes, maybe. You're lucky I brushed my teeth, asswipe. I'm not taking my princess, she Is going to a neighbors for a visit!" At that, her tail started thumping against my side, any time somebody mentions going for a visit her heart gallops. I shouldered past him, past his shiny black car and made my way to Land Lady's humble abode. Every morning at dawn, she sits out on her rickety porch and drinks her coffee. Today is no different. "Can you watch her for a bit today? I know you always watch her while I'm at work but-" she scoffs and crooks her finer, letting me know to just plop Baby over the fence. I kiss the soft fur atop her head and let her down. "Thank you. I'll bring leftovers."

"Pancakes!" she calls out.

"You're buying her pancakes" I sing out to grumpy man. He actually cracks a smile and nods his head just slightly. He unlocks the car doors and I cant help but roll my eyes. "You were here for a total of maybe nine minutes, and outside the entire time. Nobody would jack your car." I was bitching mindlessly, because the second my skin touches the buttery leather seats I actually have to stifle a moan.

"Automatic locks, smartass." He grumbles.

Years ago I had learned almost all wolves had a tendency to say the least amount of words they possibly could, especially if they had a deep tone. The deeper the voice, the more pain it caused them to speak. The smallest utter must cause Roman an intense burning because I've never heard a richer voice than his in all my nineteen years of life.

The drive was calm and silent, comfortable. He had soft music playing in the background, mostly classical. I caught the Game Of Thrones theme song and had to giggle. "Still classical, kinda" he murmurs.

"Kinda" I sigh. This is the smoothest ride I've ever experienced. With the soft rainfall surrounding us, I could almost fall back asleep. The soft blowing of heat from the vents wasn't helping. Add in the music, and his smoldering scent, I was in heaven. He had a heady fragrance that surrounded him. Deep, woodsy undertones and fresh campfires. Strictly man, definitely sexy. After a ten minute drive, we pull into a small diner with a 24 hour sign glowing in the window. Marys' on Main was a town favorite, not only because it was one of the only restaurants within a thirty minute drive, but the food was killer. At least, that's what I heard. I've never been able to afford to eat out. "Do they have pancakes?"

"Best in the whole state." He says, and slams his door. Abruptly he's at mine, holding it open like a true werewolf. I utter a small thanks.

Inside the building, a lone trucker sits at a bar stool drinking his coffee and a middle aged woman, who I assume is Mary, sloshed more into his cup.  "Be right with you folks" she calls out with a smile. I acknowledge her with a small wave and Roman pushes me into a corner booth by the windows.

I order a large stack of banana pancakes to go for Lady and the early bird special for me. A meal with all the trimmings, and even order an extra side of sausage to treat Baby and Cookie with at home. Not so much as an eyebrow raise at me from Roman, he just quietly orders a plain black coffee and toast. When the food actually arrives, his toast goes untouched but he pounds back cup after cup of the coffee. After his third, the waitress brews him a special pot and leaves it at the table. Crazy wolf that he is, he finishes the whole damn thing. I on the other hand, go to town and relish every bite my stomach could handle. As it turns out, it could handle a lot. Throughout my breakfast delight, I could feel Roman watch me and every time I glanced up, a small smile plays around his lips, yet he doesn't say a word. When I'm about to bust my guts, I sigh and lean back with a content belly. Unashamed, there's only a few bites left stranded on my platter. Time for business. "What do you really want. I know you didn't ask me here to watch me eat my weight in bacon and strawberry syrup goodness." I fold my hand over my full tummy and raise up my guard. Whatever he says, I wont let my emotions show. Show emotion, show weakness.

"Lovely as it was, no. Not here for the show. I got a proposition for you." He has a cold look and his eyes are blank. I raise my eyebrows and gesture for him to continue.

"Need a spy of sorts. Do a drop, keep your ears open. You're a girl, nobody gon' ask questions. Even gon' pay you."

No emotion.

"What kind of drop?"

"Got a man in need of fire power. Flame thrower. Couple bombs. Small stuff."

"Small?!" okay so, some emotion.