Another chapter! Spent all day writing this one, and it turned out kinda long. Don't let that stop you from reading, though.

Chapter Ten

"Hey, you hungry?" Chris asked as he and Chex followed Alley out of the office. "There's a great bar and grill right on the school grounds. They've got the best seafood chowder this side of the country."

Alley hesitated. She really should get back to the garage and let Charley know what she'd seen, but she was a bit famished. She hadn't eaten anything since breakfast, and it was already past six o'clock. Her stomach gave a long, low gurgle at the reminder, and she grinned as Chris laughed. "I could use a bite to eat," she agreed.

"Then right this way, if you please." He steered her away from the parking lot and toward another smallish building that was only two stories tall. "This is the Atrium," he explained. "Well, the first floor of it is the actual atrium; the upper level is offices for the teachers and staff. It's pretty much the hangout for students. The bar is inside, a few small gift shops, the school bookstore, and lots of seating for just hanging out and relaxing."

"Best part of the whole school," Chex put in. "Although if you plan on drinking, you'll have to show ID."

"I'm only twenty," Alley admitted.

"Really? I kind of thought you were older than that," Chris said, looking surprised.

"He's into the older chics," Chex teased, poking her brother in the ribs.

"Why? How old are you?"

Chris looked embarrassed, scratching his head. "Actually, we're only eighteen. Just graduated high school."

Alley's jaw dropped. "Seriously? I thought you were like my age or something!"

"You're only a college freshman, too, right?" Chex wanted to know. "Shouldn't you be in a higher grade?"

"I took a year off after graduating to work full-time and save up extra money. And to figure out what school I wanted to attend. I did take a couple of weekend courses at the community college to get in some of my credits and stuff, but nothing full-term."

"Hey, that's fine. In college, age doesn't really matter. We're all still consenting adults," Chris said.

Chex smirked at him and waggled her eyebrows. "Consenting for what, I wonder."

"Aw, shut up, Red. Nobody asked you." Face flushed, Chris stomped into a dimly-lit restaurant and made his way to the bar.

Chex laughed. "He's such a weenie around girls."

Alley grinned. "He's kinda cute, though. For a kid," she teased, earning a dry look in response.

The food really was good at the Atrium Grill. Not only the chowder, but the thickest, gooiest grilled cheese sandwich that Alley had ever had the pleasure of biting into. "I've died and gone to nirvana," she sighed, wrapping the cheese that had oozed out of the bread onto her plate around her fork. "What was in that sandwich?"

"Cheese." Chex took a bite of her fried chicken.

Alley snorted a laugh. "Well, duh. I meant what kind?"

"Not sure. Trade secret, but I'm pretty sure they use a blend," Chris replied. "And they grill it using mayonnaise instead of butter. Supposed to be healthier or something."

"Right. Because six different blends of cheese in a single sandwich is the absolute epitome of health food," Chex said blandly.

"How do you know that?" Chris eyed her suspiciously, and she smirked.

"I have my ways."

"You boinked the head cook, didn't you?"

"Wouldn't you like to know."

"Actually, I really, really wouldn't." He shuddered as Alley sought to hide her grin behind her soda glass.

"How much do I owe you?" she asked, reaching for her bag, but Chris waved her off.

"Don't worry about it. My treat," he replied.

"Are you sure?"

"Of course! What kind of gentleman makes a woman pay for her own meal?" He ignored Chex's derisive snort and flashed a smile at Alley. "I invited you, so I'll pay this one, okay?"

She consented with a nod and a smile. "Well, if we do this again, let me pay for you as thanks. Both of you," she added, not wanting Chex to be left out.

"Oooo. Friend-zoned!" Chex sang under her breath, earning a kick under the table. She just smirked at her glowering twin.

Alley bit her lip, hoping she hadn't offended him, but he gave her another charming smile and pulled some bills out of his wallet. "School year is just beginning," he said casually. "I'll definitely take you up on the offer for another meal."

"Yeah. Me, too," Chex added, grinning. "You seem like fun. Even if you do look like a Barbie doll."

It had grown dark by the time they left the Atrium. Alley had stopped by the bookstore to pick up the last two textbooks she needed for her classes. Chex said her goodbyes before heading toward the dorms, where she was staying. "More privileges of being the dean's kid. Really cheap boarding, and I don't have to live at home with the wicked step-mom," she explained with a smirk.

"She's not that bad," Chris said with a frown.

"Not to Mr. Perfect Son. But she doesn't like me very much. I refuse to bend over and kiss her ass."

"Well, maybe if you wouldn't dress like—"

"Like what? Like someone with her own brain and a willingness to use it?" Chex stopped walking and faced him with a fist planted on her hips. "I'm my own person. I have my own way of living, and there's nothing wrong with how I dress. You might be willing to let her groom you like a little lapdog, but I refuse. She's not even our real mom, and she hasn't done anything to earn the title." She flipped her cherry hair. "Besides, you're one to talk. You're living in the dorms, too!"

"Because there's no point in driving to school when we can live right on the grounds," Chris sighed, clearly used to this conversation.

"Right, whatever. I'm heading back. See you around, Alley. We should hang out sometime." She stomped off, skirt swishing.

"Yeah, I'd like that," Alley called after her.

Chris flashed her a sheepish grin, shrugging. "Typical sibling spat. They never last long," he apologized. "She'll be over it by morning."

"You said you had a step-mom?"

"Yeah. Our real mom took off when we were just little." He shrugged uncomfortably. "Dad was always busy in the school, so we were mostly raised by nannies. Then he came home one day a few years back and said he was getting remarried. Her name is Victoria. She's a real classy lady. She comes from money, you know? I guess Dad had met her at some associates' function raising money for the college. Anyway, I was okay with him getting married, but Chex took it hard. I guess … she was always holding out hope that Mom might come back someday. Or something." He shrugged again. "We were seven when she left. Chex took it the hardest. Mom hardly ever contacts us. Maybe a birthday or Christmas card here and there. But she made it clear she just wasn't willing to be a mother. She's living it up on some tropical island somewhere." His smile was brittle.

"I'm sorry," Alley said softly. "I didn't mean to pry or bring up bad memories."

"Nah. Not your fault. Anyway, guess you should be getting back, huh?"

"Yeah, Charley's probably getting a little worried by now." Alley juggled the books as she fumbled for her keys in the bottom of her bag. Chris pulled his phone out of his pocket, fiddled with the touch screen for a few seconds, and then the camera flash flicked on, effectively giving her light to see by. "They need to install more lights along the walks. Dad's been after the board to get on that for years," he complained.

"The parking lot is lit well enough."

"Yeah, but getting to it can be dangerous after sundown. Not everyone around here is as nice as I am, and you're a really pretty girl."

Alley blushed a little, charmed by his fumbling attempts to flirt. "That's sweet of you, but I can take care of myself. I've got pepper spray with me. And I also know self-defense. Dad made me take some classes when I started growing boobs." She laughed at the expression on his face. "The truck is right … over…" Her voice trailed off as her eyes fell on the pickup. Or, more precisely, on the three very large men who were standing around the pickup, talking amongst themselves. "Aren't those…?"

"Limburger's thugs," Chris huffed. "What're they doing? Where's the boss?"

Alley slowed and ducked behind a large SUV parked in the nearly-empty lot, trying to see what they were up to. "Are they trying to break into the truck?" she whispered.

"No, looks more like they're keeping watch. Or waiting for someone."

"For me to come back?" Alley shifted nervously. "Why would they be waiting for me? They don't even know who I am." Unless somehow they'd figured it out … but how would they? She hadn't given Limburger her name, and there was no reason for him to ask for it. She doubted she even registered on his radar enough for him to get curious. There was absolutely no way he could have figured out who she was in those few brief moments of passing.

Unless…

"The truck," she breathed, smacking her forehead. "It's got the garage's name on the doors. He must've seen it and recognized the name, and thinks Charley is here. And he's sent his thugs to wait for her to come back."

"Planning on jumping her?" Chris whispered.

"I dunno. Wouldn't surprise me. He's a nasty piece of work, from what I heard. And he really doesn't like her friends."

"We should call the police. They won't touch Limburger but his thugs aren't off-limits." Chris pulled his phone out again, but was stopped by Alley's hand on his.

"Wait. I think … they're leaving," she said, slowly standing up. Indeed, the men had backed away from the truck and were currently sauntering across the lot to a pair of what looked like dune buggies parked in the shadows.

"Hey, weren't there three of them?" Chris asked. "Where'd that fourth guy come from?"

"Who cares? I'm just glad they're gone." Alley made a beeline for the truck, only to be brought up short by Chris's hands on her shoulders, bringing her to a staggering halt. Just as a large, gleaming, vintage 1930s Rolls Royce cruised slowly past them. Alley's jaw dropped. It would have been a beautiful car … had it not been painted an eye-gouging shade of purple. She knew instantly who it belonged to. To prove it, the car came to a gliding halt and the window rolled down. Alley instinctively held her breath as Limburger's cold, gleaming eyes met hers.

"So, young lady. We meet again." His voice was cultured, refined, smooth as an oil slick. His eyes left hers, darted to the truck she stood only two feet away from, slid back with a raised eyebrow. He said nothing, but his gaze was suspicious. She bit her lip, feeling light-headed from lack of breath, and prayed he'd just leave before she passed out. "Be careful out there," he warned, a humorless smile tugging at his thick lips. "There may be … unsavory people lurking about."

"Thanks for the warning," she choked out, and let loose the breath she'd been holding when the window rolled up and the car moved on. "Okay, I'm totally freaked out. Are you totally freaked out? 'Cause I'm totally freaked out," she babbled.\

"Hey, hey, relax," Chris soothed, putting an arm around her shoulders and rubbing her arm vigorously. "The creep is gone, we're fine. Are you okay?"

"I don't know," she groaned, staggering to the truck to lean heavily against the door. She looked it over, checking the locks, but nothing seemed out of place. Then she frowned as she recalled the fourth thug who'd popped up from nowhere, a niggling suspicion forming. "Lemme see that light again," she grunted, kneeling on the ground beside the truck. "Shine it under here."

He complied, and her worst fear was confirmed: Something dark and liquid was leaking in a steady drip under the cab, steadily forming a large puddle. "Holy shit," Chris breathed. "What'd they do?"

She sighed. "I'm pretty sure they cut the brake line. They were aiming to murder me. Well, my cousin, anyway." She flashed him a weak smile. "Still think he isn't a threat?"

"I'm calling the cops." His voice left no room for argument.

"And tell them what? Limburger has it in for my cousin so he got his goons to sabotage her truck in order to kill her? There's no proof he had anything to do with it. We didn't get a good look at those guys, either, so we have no descriptions."

"Well, what else can we do?" he huffed, frustrated.

"Can I borrow your phone? I have to call Charley. She'll have to come tow the truck back. And she'll want to know I'm okay." Alley sighed. "Maybe you should take off. If Limburger figured out I'm related in any way to Charley or the mi-her friends, he'll be back. And you'll be targeted, too. Just by association."

"If it comes to that, I'm a target, anyway. He's after this place, too, and I am the dean's son, after all." Chris handed her his phone and crossed his arms. "I'm not about to take off on you now. So don't even bother trying."

"Thanks." She smiled at him gratefully and dialed Charley's number. "Come on, pick up. Pick up!"

The line clicked. "Last Chance Garage, this is Charley speaking."

"Charley? It's me." Alley held the phone away from her ear as Charley immediately started in on her.

"Where the hell have you been? Do you know what time it is? I mean, I know you're a grown-ass woman and all but for cripe's sake couldn't you at least call and let me know you're not gonna be home for supper or something?" Charley bellowed.

"Ma? Is that you?" Alley deadpanned, earning an indignant huff on the other end.

"I can see now why your mom worries to death over you," Charley grunted. "You don't even have a phone! Where are you calling from? And what's the matter?"

Alley sighed and rubbed her temple. "It's a long story. To make it short…" She took a deep breath. "I'm still at the college and Limburger showed up 'cause he's after the land and he saw your truck and I'm pretty sure he cut the brake line and I'm calling you from my friend's phone to ask if you can please come pick me up 'cause I'm really kinda freaking out right now," she said in a rush.

There was a moment of silence. Then, "What?"

"I said—"

"I heard what you said. Are you okay? Is he still there?" Charley's voice radiated genuine concern.

To her horror, Alley felt tears pricking at the back of her eyes, her emotions dangerously unstable. "No, he's gone," she replied, voice trembling despite her best efforts to steady it. "He drove off in that hideous car. His thugs are gone, too."

"You said you're with someone?"

"Yeah. His name is Christopher Archer." Alley sniffed and swiped impatiently at her tearing eyes. "He and his sister were hanging out with me today and showing me around. They're really nice." She flashed a watery smile at a concerned Chris.

"Listen, go back inside the school and wait, okay? I'll be there as soon as possible."

"I think…" Alley bit her lip. "He saw me at the truck. I think he's suspicious about who I am. I'm pretty sure it was you he was aiming to murder."

Charley muttered a curse under her breath. "Well, he'd figure it out one of these days anyhow. Just … go inside, and if he shows up again, hide until we get there."

"We?"

Charley chuckled. "The guys overheard. Big ears and all. You won't keep them away even if you tried. So maybe lose your friends before we show up, yeah?"

"Yeah, okay. I'll be in the Atrium. It's the small two-story near the back of the property." Alley ended the call and handed the phone back to Chris. "Look, thanks for all your help. You've been so great. My cousin is on her way, so if you want to take off now, I promise I won't be offended or anything."

"Pfft. Right. I'm just gonna leave you by yourself after all that?" He shook his head. "Not happening. Come on, we'll go to the Atrium like you said. I don't know about you, but I could use something to drink!"

"Hey now, Mr. Dean's Son. Aren't you a little young to be imbibing in alcohol?" She gave him a teasing poke in the side.

"Who said anything about alcohol, old lady," he teased back. "There's a vending machine that sells fantastic hot chocolate. I could really go for a cup. How about you?"

"In the middle of an August heat wave? On top of all that hot food we just ate?" Alley shrugged. "Sounds like a plan."

The chocolate was good, and Alley savored every sip of it as her jangled nerves slowly calmed, but no matter what she said, she couldn't talk Chris into leaving her alone. Part of her was annoyed (she wasn't a little girl, for cripe's sake), but a larger part was relieved by his persistence. She doubted the Purple People Eater would be back, but she felt safer having someone by her side. Even if that someone was essentially a perfect stranger.

Half an hour passed, and Alley spent the time curled up on a cushy sofa, paging through her text books as Chris delved back into his novel. It was quiet, with only a few students hanging around the Atrium. That's why, when the front doors suddenly burst open with an ear-jarring clatter, Alley just about jumped out of her skin, nearly falling off the couch and dropping her book in the process.

She looked up, wide-eyed, as a tall, slender man dressed in head-to-toe black strode through the doors, paused to look around, and then honed in on her. He headed right for her, head encased in an oddly-shaped biker helmet. She started to panic, wondering if Limburger had sent someone back for her after all, before she caught a gleam of reflected light, saw the long, metal tail lashing behind him. She relaxed, recognizing him. Stoker.

She didn't know where he'd dug up the leather biker clothes, but it was astonishing how different he looked in them. Without the fur and mousy features to distract her, she could appreciate for the first time how built he was, the dark material hugging his lean, muscled body. He moved with purpose, strides smooth and graceful, like a dancer. A traitorous thought worked its way into her mind that, under all the fur, he was really kind of beautiful. And she wondered if all of the mice had such beautiful forms. She hastily banished the thoughts from her mind.

Chris had put himself between her and the agitated mouse, nearly a head shorter, but still determined to protect her as he faced down the intimidating figure. "Who're you?" he growled, voice cracking just a bit.

Stoker just chuckled.

Alley's eyes widened when she saw Chris's hand clench, quickly scrambling up from her seat to grip his arm. She didn't even want to think of what might happen if he took a swing at the war veteran. She didn't think Stoker would hurt him, but then again, he was a trained soldier. He might not take kindly to physical violence. "It's okay," she said. "He's a friend … of my cousin."

Chris relaxed by degrees, his fist unclenching.

"Where's Charley?" Alley asked the mouse, who hadn't bothered to take off his helmet. All the same, she could feel his gaze on her, assessing.

"She's looking over the truck with the others," he finally replied, voice muffled behind his helmet. "I came to find you. You okay?"

"Yeah, sure. I'm fine." She flashed a bright smile, and turned to Chris. "Look, thanks for everything today. I mean it. It was so nice meeting you and Chex. I hope I'll see you around, once classes start."

Chris's gaze slid away from Stoker and he offered a weak grin. "Yeah, same here," he replied. "We'll do this again. You know, when things get a little less crazy around here."

"Definitely." Alley squeezed his hand. "Tell Chex I'll call her sometime. When I get a phone, that is. Maybe you can both come with, help me pick one out? You can show me around Chicago or something, too. And I can buy you lunch like I promised."

Chris chuckled, sounding nervous as Stoker cleared his throat and crossed his arms, impatient. "Sounds good. Well…" He shifted, casting an uncomfortable glance at the tense, black-clad man. "Your family's here, so guess you don't need me around anymore. Take care, yeah? Hope I'll hear from you soon. I'm gonna grab another cup of chocolate and head back to the dorm." He gave an awkward grin, a polite nod to Stoker, and then he turned and walked off.

Alley released a breath and picked up her bag, cradling her books to her chest. She turned to leave, and jumped when a heavy arm abruptly settled around her shoulders, as Stoker led her gently but assertively out of the building. "Hey, do you mind?" she hissed, red-faced, as she caught the stares of the few remaining students in the building. She tried to balk, but Stoker was stronger than he looked. "I know where the parking lot is."

He didn't answer. His hand merely tightened on her arm, leading her away from the Atrium, and then off the walk and into the darker shadows cast by a towering oak. Only then did he remove his helmet, and she was taken aback by the genuine worry etched across his features. "Are you okay?" he repeated, his voice soft. "Did he lay hands on you in any way?" Under the concern, she heard simmering anger, and she shifted uncomfortably.

"He didn't even get out of the car," she mumbled, looking away from his intense gaze. "It was his thugs that killed the truck."

"But he saw you at the truck? You sure he knows you're associated with us?"

"I was headed right for it. The lot's pretty much empty." Alley shrugged. "I doubt he could mistake which car I was aiming for."

He sighed, running his hand over her hair in a soft caress. "Sorry, honey. Looks like you might be involved in this war now, like it or not." He quirked a grin. "Don't suppose I could talk you into runnin' back to Florida now, can I?" He chuckled at the look she gave him. "Didn't think so."

Alley, uncomfortable with his proximity, not to mention the way he kept looking at her, stepped out from under his hand and continued to the parking lot, where she found Charley and the three other mice hooking the pickup onto the back of her tow truck.

"Alley Cat!" Charley handed the winch to Vinnie and threw her arms around her cousin. "You okay, kid?" she asked. "You sounded really upset on the phone."

"Yeah, a little shaken up, I guess." Alley offered a small smile. "I'm okay now. Chris stayed with me until you came. He's a really nice guy."

"Do tell." Charley raised an eyebrow with a catty smirk. "Not even started classes yet and already have the boys wrapped around your finger."

"Well, that's nothing new," Alley replied, earning a laugh from her cousin as she clambered into the passenger seat of the tow truck and leaned out the window. "Was there really any need to bring the entire army?" She gestured to the mice.

"They were worried. And who knows if Limburger would come back and wait for me to show up, if I really was the target. No sense taking chances." Pickup secured, Charley climbed into the driver's seat. "Okay, guys. Let's head back now. Thanks for coming out with me."

"Not a problem, Charley-girl," Throttle replied. "Glad you're not hurt, Alley." He smiled up at her, gave a signal, and the four bikes took off down the road with the tow truck following close behind.