Gideon: Stone Warriors, #1

By Chris Redding

Protect the vulnerable.

It has been the Stone Warriors' motto since their inception. When a single mother gets caught in the middle of a turf war, Gideon must protect Nellie and her son. Too bad he forgot to protect his heart. The first book in a new series featuring a gargoyle motorcycle club.

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Chris Redding
• Release date: May 10, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201557058

Chris Redding

Chris discovered at age ten she had a knack for storytelling. Ever since, she has wanted to be a published author. She was born and raised on Pennsylvania, holds a BA in Journalism from Penn State and is an established author of novels, novellas, shorts stories, newspaper articles and ghost-written books.  She has published mainly fiction, with a specialty in paranormal romance, but has written about contemporary romance, romantic suspense and cozy mystery for herself and for others.  She is actively involved in the professional writing community, and conducts workshops to help other writers. She lives in New Jersey with her family and animals. Writing is her passion and when she isn't writing, she practices yoga and runs.  Get her Newsletter and keep up with what is happening.  Go to www.chrisreddingauthor.com/contact.  Happy reading!

Book preview

Chapter One

Nothing like the sound of eight cylinders under the hood.

With a throaty roar, Gideon O’Malley backed the newly restored 1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am off of the trailer in front of the owner’s house. The driveway was brick along with the facade of the house. On the top sat gargoyle-like figures that he knew were real. They guarded the house for the man who had never truly let on, but Gideon knew he was a fellow gargoyle.

What Gideon didn’t know was how the man made his money, but he liked how he spent it. This was the second resto-mod they’d done for the guy who had a smile bigger than his house right now.

You want me to leave it running? Gideon asked.

This was his favorite part of a renovation of a car. Delivery day. Most customers don’t see their cars for months. Gideon had the privilege of delivering them because he was the moneyman for Hunterdon Customs, the establishment that had completed the restoration.

As in any resto-mod or restoration and modification, the outside looked the same. A golden eagle lay on the hood. HC had touched up the paint, but all of the real work had been on the inside.

Gideon unlatched the hood then climbed out, leaving the motor running. The man went right to the hood and opened it. His smile grew even more. That is gorgeous.

The motor had been updated. The seats were new, and the Firebird now had disc brakes and an automatic braking system. Overall, it was a safer car than it was when it came off the production line.

The man struck out his hand at Gideon. You guys always deliver.

Gideon shook the man’s hand. Glad you keep doing business with us.

You need that check.

Right.

The final payment for the car. The man nodded and left Gideon standing on the driveway. No keys were relinquished until Gideon had the check in hand. The man returned with two checks. Here’s one for the transaction and the other one is a check for your foundation. You guys do great things.

Gideon pocketed the checks in his cut. Some of his fellow MC members didn’t think he should wear his cut to deliveries, but he was proud of the Stone Warriors. They had nothing to be ashamed of. Most of their customers would be less bothered by them being a motorcycle club than if they found out they were all gargoyles.

Thank you.

Hunterdon Customs, run by the Stone Warriors, had been connected with this man when his foster child had to testify against his birth father who had abused him. The Stone Warriors were called up to escort and stay in court while the little boy told his story. It’s what their charity did. It said it on his cut. Protecting the unprotected.

No, thank you. I might have a line on another car, but I won’t know until I see it, the man said.

You know our number, Gideon said.

He left the man grinning over his newly restored car. He closed the trailer door then climbed into his truck. With a last wave, he drove back to Hunterdon Customs another happy customer enjoying his car.

Before he could reach the garage that the Stone Warriors ran, he noticed an unwelcome sight. Because the Stone Warriors were an unusual MC, they didn’t have territory in the normal sense. They patrolled several blocks of the residential area around their compound, just to keep them safe. The residents knew they were there and were thankful. Everyone got along, and it kept out the riff-raff.

Obviously not well since three men in Goblins cuts were sitting in a park near the garage. He should have smelled them, but they were down the block. Goblins and gargoyles were mortal enemies and the two clubs never got along.

What were the Goblins doing here? There had been some rumblings that some gargoyles were outing themselves in Philly, but Gideon hadn’t been paying much attention. Goblins had been in some news, but the general public didn’t believe that they existed. Gideon was happy to keep people in the dark about being a gargoyle.

Gideon slid out his phone as he kept his eye on the goblins. They hadn’t spotted him yet.

Flynn, we got Goblins in the park.

Okay. I’ll send some of the newbies over.

Flynn and Gideon had joined the Stone Warriors at the same time. They’d gotten their cuts at the same time also and their friendship had been cemented. Flynn was the best mechanic Gideon had ever met. Thanks, bro.

Gideon was content to wait for the others to arrive. Unfortunately, the Goblins spotted him. Their leader, Niall Burke, was there, so this was sanctioned by him. The Stone Warriors wouldn’t fight unless provoked.

Niall rolled up to the driver’s side of the truck and took off his helmet. Gideon rolled down his window. You get lost?

Niall grinned. Just checking out possible expansion of our territory.

Oh? Why here?

Niall shrugged. We don’t expect much resistance.

Four motorcycles arrived at that moment, ridden by Stone Warriors. They surrounded the three Goblins. Niall glanced at Gideon one eyebrow up.

Leave us alone, Niall.

Niall sniggered. Right. Sure. Like the do-gooders are a match for us.

It had always bothered the Goblins that the Stone Warriors weren’t into any illegal activity. Niall and Gideon had gotten into it more than once over that. The Stone Warriors just wanted to be left alone.

Beat it, Niall, Gideon said.

Niall tucked his helmet back on then nodded to his cohorts. They drove away. Gideon shook his head at the retreating figures. The cops were on the side of the Stone Warriors because they had never caused any trouble. In fact, they mostly kept trouble out of Glen Cairn.

The Stone Warriors followed the Goblins and Gideon drove back to the garage. At least there’d been no bloodshed this time, but he suspected that wouldn’t last.

He backed the trailer into its spot then unhooked it from the truck. He parked that in front of the clubhouse that had the same design on the macadam as they had on their cut. Protecting the unprotected was their motto and those words wrapped around the picture.

He glanced at it for a moment to recommit himself to what the club stood for. Then he entered the clubhouse. Quinn Hogan, their president, sat on the couch facing the television. I heard you had a run in with the Goblins.

News travels fast.

Flynn came in to warn me.

They left, Gideon said. I’ve got a check for the bank. Anything else to deposit?

Quinn shrugged. I think we have some cash in the office. That could go.

Gideon made his way to the office that was attached to the clubhouse. Only members could go back and forth. Flynn was in Gideon’s chair at his pin neat desk. A numbers guy had to be precise.

Goblins leave? Flynn asked.

Yes. The boys should be back any minute. Gideon pulled out the two checks he’d been given. We have some cash both for the business and the foundation.

Flynn smiled. Nice. We can do a little bit for that family near the railroad tracks.

Gideon settled across the desk from his best friend. A little, but not enough.

They’ll be thankful. She needs a better car to get to work.

How’s that coming along?

I’ll be done tomorrow and now we can pay the parts wholesaler and get the parts for that other job.

Gideon nodded. Always one job to the next. We need to find a way to make more money for the foundation.

You’re the money man. Figure it out.

***

Nellie Flannery typed in the final details for her latest fundraising job. A non-profit shelter for battered women was having a silent auction. It was a virtual one, so there was very little overhead. Nellie had coordinated with a website that held virtual events, and now the silent auction was set to begin tomorrow.

The newspapers had been contacted, as had some of the donors with deep pockets whom Nellie knew in