Chasing His Kickass Luna Back by Jane Above Story

#Chapter 9 – Shut Down
Abby

I stand with my hands on my hips, watching a group of law enforcement officers pour into my

restaurant.

One of them approaches me, a stern expression on her face. “Mam, you need to shut down this

restaurant immediately and straighten out your practice.”

“Pardon?” I say, looking around with wide eyes. I can’t believe my ears.

“The restaurant needs to be closed for the month.”

I lower my hands. “Please, I can’t do that,” I say. “I have customers with reservations, and regulars that

are expecting to be seated. I can’t just close for a month.”

Just the thought of doing so makes me feel a little sick. The last thing I want is to let my customers

down, and who knows what negative effects it could have on my business long term.

“Please, officer–” I start, but she waves me off. She looks completely unmoved by my pleas.

“You have a food safety problem here.”

“No.” I shake my head. “That can’t be right. We’ve gotten an S+ in sanitation every time.”

The officer rises to her full height, that stern expression unwavering. “If you disobey the order again,

the police department will detain you.”

I stare down at the cease-and-desist notice, desperately trying to wrap my head around what it means,

but even holding it in my hand doesn’t make it seem real. How can this be happening? I’ve never failed

a health inspection. Now my restaurant is closed for a month and there’s nothing I can do about it.

“I can’t think of anything that would warrant this,” Olivia says. She’s the only one I didn’t send home

after the police raided the place.

“Can you think of any recent hygiene problems?”

She thinks for a moment, then shakes her head.

“Did we offend any regulators?”

I don’t

“Any customer complaints?”

that I

forehead. “Great, so there’s nothing. We haven’t done anything, and yet here

of business for

trying hard not to freak out, especially not in front of Olivia, but it does sort of feel like

my

come in for the reservations some of

what if they find somewhere else

a pinched

“What?”

who were here the other night didn’t

table.”

a minute to register who she’s talking about, then my hands curl into fists. Karl. I

make a reservation, and now he’s taking it

should have known. He’s never gone easy on the people who’ve

fact that I turned him away, in full view of the packed restaurant and in front of

get his revenge on people before.

sort of thing

Alpha, he certainly has the power to

probably right,” I

back, my muscles tense. I will not let him get

and mess with my business. I

number his

“Hello?”

“I need you to put me in touch with your Alpha.

right now. I’ll tell

hangs up before I can respond. I cross my arms over my chest and sit down in my office chair.

leaving here until he calls. I don’t care how long it takes. I don’t care if I have to sit here

going to

the phone to ring, and I force myself to take

it to my

His voice sounds

“Karl.”

“Are

coldly. “I want to talk

for a moment. “I didn’t expect you to

“I thought it would take

you

I put the phone down a little harder than necessary. Olivia’s waiting

desk when I walk back

go home,” I say. “I’m going

She nods.