CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER TWELVE
Vanessa “Ness / Nessa” Monroe
The Interview
Not being able to breathe woke me from a fitful sleep.
I felt horrible.
My head ached, my nose was blocked, my throat burned when I tried to swallow and my body ached.
I cursed the bastard who had passed his germs on to me. Bloody Lure had been coughing when he came over to see Magic a few days ago.
Thank heavens I hadn’t allowed him into the house. My brother could not get sick right now, he was still too weak. I had immediately sanitised everything Lure had touched but unfortunately I couldn’t sanitise myself. The bastard’s flu germs attacked while I was talking to him.
I’ve been on self-imposed quarantine in my apartment and had to call my mum in to help. I thought I could be sneaky and call Evie but she wasn’t answering her phone.
She’s been MIA since we brought Magic home.
With a groan I turned over and silently assessed how I felt today.
It was day three of my flu and even though I felt horrible it wasn’t as bad as it had been the first two days. I’m sure my mum’s chicken soup had something to do with it. It was the only thing that stayed down and that I could swallow easily.
Levering myself out of bed I slowly shuffled to the bathroom, did my business, undressed and climbed in the shower. The hot water washed away the grubby feeling and I felt a lot better once I was done. I dressed in clean sweatpants and a tee, not feeling like wearing pajamas.
While I felt better I quickly stripped my bed and re-made it with clean sheets and pillow covers. It was going to be great to sleep in a clean bed.
Loud knocking let me know my mum was at the door.
Stepping into the passage I grinned when I took her in. She stood in the open doorway dressed in the strangest getup. She was wearing hospital paper bootees, an apron, elbow length yellow rubber gloves, a shower cap covered her hair and a mask hid half her face.
“Holy shit, Mama, do you think you covered up enough?” I teased.
Her twinkling eyes told me she had done it on purpose to get a laugh out of me.
“I’m not takin’ chances with my boy’s health right now.” She mock-scolded me. “I left you a tray in your kitchen and put soup in the fridge. All you need to do is heat it up if you get hungry. We’re takin’ Nicholas in for his check up and the doctor warned us it was going to be a bit of a process as they would be doin’ some tests. Your dad thinks we should be back by about four but I’ll text to let you know.”
I nodded and the laughter was no more.
“Okay, I’ll wait to hear from you. Tell him I said have a good visit.”
“I will. You, little miss, eat somethin’ and get back into bed. You’re still lookin’ awful and you don’t sound well at all. Eat then take your medication and stay in bed.” She ordered before she left.
I listened to her footsteps receding down the stairs then went into my tiny kitchenette to get the tray.
I’d had my breakfast and was lying on my bed feeling a bit drowsy from the meds when my phone rang. I made a grab for it, worrying that it was my mum and something had gone wrong with Magic.
“Hello.” My voice came out rough and painful.
“Is this Vanessa Monroe?” A deep male voice asked.
Pulling my phone from my ear I looked at the caller ID and saw it was unknown. Who was this guy?
“Yes, yes it is. Who is this?”
“My name is Spider, actually that’s my road name, my civilian name is Griffin Walker. Skylar gave me your number. She said you’re looking for a position as a nanny.”
His voice was deep, smooth and with an accent I instantly recognised, so damned sexy. In my imagination I built a man around that voice.
“She’s right I am lookin’ into getting’ a new contract. Sorry about the way I sound, I’ve got the flu. How can I help you…uhm…sir?” I didn’t know what I was supposed to call him. Spider, Griffin or Mister Walker.
He settled that one quickly.
“Call me Spider, everyone does.”
“Wow, you do not sound well. Let me do the talking and you can ask me questions once I’m done. I want to be totally honest with you from the start. I’m in a legal fight to get custody of my son. He’s twenty months old and at present living with his mother and her husband. The court awarded me visitation but I want more. And before you judge me for trying to take him from his mother, there are indications that he’s being abused, mostly mentally, but I’m scared it could escalate into physical abuse as well. It is one of the reasons I’m going for full custody. The other is that the bitch stole my semen and had herself inseminated without my consent, had my son and hid him from me. I found out about him by accident. I can’t have her prosecuted because the law is on her side. Which is bullshit, but that’s beside the point. Damn, I wasn’t going to get into all that bullshit.”
He sighed and blew out a hard breath. “Let’s get back on track. The court has appointed a Social Worker to evaluate me, my home and my circumstances. She was honest and said in most cases the court awards custody to two parent homes. That’s not me. I don’t have an old lady or a woman. The next best thing is to have a full time, live-in nanny with an impeccable background and great references. That’s where you come in.”
He was silent for about a second before he began laying out the job.
“I’ve been living at the clubhouse but I was given a three bedroom duplex unit on club grounds where we will be living. You will have your own room and free time whenever my little man isn’t with us. At the moment I have him on Wednesdays and every second weekend. While the case is on-going you won’t have a lot to do, but as soon as I have full custody I’m going to need you. I work long hours as I’m the Treasurer for the club and the CFO of the Iron Dogz Group of companies. I spend my time between my office at the clubhouse and my office in the company building in the city centre. I work the long hours because there’s no one else demanding my time, I will cut it down when I have my son.”
I had to interrupt him at this stage.
“What makes you think you’ll be awarded custody?” I rasped.
“Sky told me you grew up around the Shadow Wraiths so you’re aware of how we operate. Let’s just say that I’m confident the judge will award custody to me after some evidence come to light.”
Hmm. That meant the club had found dirt on the mother and her husband and were going to use it.
“Okay, I get it.” What else could I say?
“Good.” He continued as if I never interrupted him. “I’ll pay all your expenses. That includes visas, flights, transportation on both ends and any other expenses you might incur. Your salary will be paid in dollars into any account you specify, it won’t be a problem. I will pay you what Sky did including bonuses. Your medical will be covered by the club and I’ll pay into your retirement fund if you have one. I’ll provide you with a vehicle and cover the insurances on it. Fuel will be provided by the club.”
He was silent for several seconds while I tried to wrap my mind around the perks of the job.
“It sounds amazin’ but what if I come out there and you lose the case?”
He didn’t hesitate. “I’m not going to lose, but, if it happens I will cover all expenses to get you back to the States. Not a problem. I don’t think I have more to add but if you have questions please feel free to contact me. I’m going to text you my private e-mail, anything you want to know, ask. I’ll answer what I can, only time I won’t answer is when it’s club business.”
I liked the sound of his voice, he sounded earnest and honest. For the rest, the job sounded great, and with me wanting to get out from under my family’s feet it was perfect.
“I like the sound of the job and I like little kids, so there’s no problem there. Give me a few hours to think about it and I’ll get back to you around the same time tomorrow. Does that sound good?” I sat staring at my phone as I waited for his answer.
“Great. Call me and we can get the ball rolling to get you here. Take care of yourself, Vanessa.”
He was gone before I could say a word.
Typical biker. They say what they want to say and then they end the call.
Checking the time I saw it wasn’t too late to call Sky.
I listened to it ringing and was ready to end the call when she answered.
“Nessa! Sorry I was busy with the kids and their homework. Did Spider call you?”
She didn’t even give me a chance to talk.
“He’s a great guy and I highly recommend him. What did you think of him?”
Finally.
“Hey, Sky, hello to you too.” I rasped.
“Oh my God! You sound awful, what’s wrong?”
“Bloody Lure gave me the flu but I’m gettin’ better. Mama is takin’ care of both of us at the moment and you know how she gets. They took Magic for his check-up today so it’s peaceful at the moment, until she gets back and starts on me again.”
Sky giggled and I grinned, she knew my mum and always teased her about her grandbaby obsession.
“She’s still on your back about giving her grandbabies?”
“Gah! It’s gettin’ worse, she’s decided I need to stay home, settle down with a nice boy and start producin’ those damn babies.”
Laughter bubbled down the line.
“You can laugh because it’s not your ass she’s after.” I griped.
“I love how your Southern accent comes roaring back when you’re home or when you’re pissed off. Now tell me, what did you think of Spider’s offer?”
Having been friends with Sky since I was a teen made it easy to confide in her.
“I like the offer. He laid out my duties clearly and the money and the perks are great. I have no real concerns except the fact that he lives in the compound, but then so do you and you’re safe and happy. It sounds like at first I won’t have a lot to do but it will change once custody is decided. You know I liked Cape Town when we were there with the band. There are waves to ride, mountains to climb so it’s my kind of town, as they say.”
I heard hands clapping and realised that Sky wasn’t alone.
“You’re coming back!” Lee shouted. “I’m soooo, so happy! I can’t wait.”
“Hey Lee-lee! How’s my girl?” Damn, I missed my girl.
Having been in her life since she was a baby made her mine as much as she was Sky’s.
“You do realise that Nessa is going to live in Cape Town while we’re up here in Joburg, right?” Sky tried to dampen her enthusiasm. To no avail.
“It’s a plane ride away, Mum. We can visit, easy.”
“Before you get too excited, Lee-Lee, let’s see how it goes, okay? I haven’t made a decision yet but as soon as I do I’ll let you guys know.”
Silence.
“Have you had other offers?” Sky asked quietly.
“I’ve had several actually. A couple of celebs and two musicians but it’s not exactly what I’m lookin’ for. The one is as a nanny to a tween who is already all over social media so that one is a definite no. I’m not up for that kind of aggravation. The one muso’s offer is a good one and she’s got a good rep with her staff but we’ll see. I’ll make a decision this week.”
“Good, I’ll be waiting to hear from you and crossing my fingers that you take the job with Spider. He’s going to need someone with your experience with children and with a club. You grew up around bikers and their lifestyle, therefore nothing they do or say will be shock you. We both know anyone else will have a hard time adjusting to the club and the brothers. Do them a favour and take the job before the poor women who apply are shocked out of their sensible shoes.” She giggled.
“Mrs Doubtfire.” I giggled.
“Can you imagine someone like that walking into a Friday night party?
“It will be a disaster.” I tried not to laugh too hard because it made my throat hurt.
We giggled together but I had to end the call because I wasn’t feeling so good.
“I’ve got to go and take some more meds. I’ll call you to keep you up to date. Be good and look after yourselves. Love to everyone.”
“Look after yourself and we’ll chat soon. Feel better soon.”
I ended the call and dropped back on my bed, curling in on myself. I fell asleep lying sideways on my bed and only woke up when I heard movement downstairs.
When I heard the rumble of male voices I realised that my parents and Magic must be back from the doctor’s appointment.
I tried to move, I really did, but my eyes didn’t want to stay open.
I went back to sleep.
When I woke up I lay quietly for a few minutes before reaching for my phone. I had made up my mind while I was sleeping.
I was taking the job in Cape Town.
Spider
First Weekend with Little Man
He had the cage packed with anything and everything they might need for their weekend at the Maingarde’s beach house. Niki had assured him everything he’d need for his boy was already at the house because she had it set up for Niko. She had also arranged for one of the ladies who worked at the farm to come in over the weekend to help.
During the week he had a top of the range car seat fitted to the back seat of his Jeep. The sales guy had shown him how easy it was to unclip and clip back in, and after doing it a few times he had it down. Genna had practised as well, both of them wanting to be able to keep things as free of stress as possible.
He was going to invite Ingrid to come with them but she’d had such a strange expression on her face when she heard him talking to his sister about the weekend that he didn’t. He wasn’t sure what the look was about and wasn’t going ask her about it either. It wasn’t as if they were in a serious relationship or anything. It was a fling, they were together while she was in Cape Town and that was it.
Maybe it was just as well she wasn’t coming with them. He didn’t want his boy to get attached to someone who wouldn’t be permanently in his life. It was best if he kept her on the periphery of his relationship with his son.
“Have you got the food and bags loaded?” Genna speaking right next to him made him jump.
“Damn, Gen, we need to put a bell around your neck if you’re going to be sneaking up on me like that.” He teased.
“Pft! I don’t need a bell, you just need to stop daydreaming.”
“I wasn’t daydreaming.” He denied.
“Ja, ja, I don’t believe you. You’re all bushy tailed now that Ingrid is around.”
His sister was being a pest but at the same time she was probing to find out if he was seriously interested or not.
“No bushy tails or any other tails around here.”
He cut her off before she could say more.
“Are you ready? I want to get this next part done. I have a feeling they’re going to give us the run around.”
“I’m ready and just so you know, I anticipated the run around. I spoke to Nina, your Social Worker, and she’s going to be there to facilitate the handover. With her there it makes it easier, we arrive, they hand over little man and all his shit and we leave. Easy.”
Pulling his sister into his arms he gave her a hard hug. “Thanks for being here. I don’t know how I would have coped on my own today.”
“It’s my privilege to be with you.” She muttered against his chest. “We’re going to have so much fun on the beach, just you wait and see.”
He let her go with a grin.
“Let’s get the shitty part over and done with so we can start the good part of the weekend. Spending time with my little man without having to hand him back after a few hours is going to be fucking amazing.”
Driving to the house where the bitch and her husband lived took a while because of the Friday traffic. Spider pulled up at the sidewalk and they both sat staring at the Tuscan/French Chateau monstrosity of a house. It really was an ugly conglomeration of styles that did not mesh.
Spider got out and walked around the hood to help Gen down and they walked towards the open ornate gates side by side.
The social worker, Nina, was waiting for them at the gate. She did not look happy.
“I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news, Mr Walker. The housekeeper informed me that Mrs Rutherford went out and took the boy with her. I called her and she will be back in about an hour. I’m sorry I couldn’t get her to return immediately.”
Spider gritted his teeth. “The weekend visitation is an order of the court. She can’t do this shit.”
“I know, I’m so sorry, Mr Walker. I’m in contact with my supervisor and a note is being made on the file, we will be informing the court of her transgression.” She apologised.
He was not going to stand there waiting like an asshole. The Rutherford slut is going to find out she was fucking with the wrong individual.
Turning away from the Social Worker he dialled Joan and explained what was happening. To say his advocate was unhappy was to underplay it. She was livid and wanted to speak to Nina.
Turning he held out his phone to her. She looked worried, and so she should.
“My advocate wants to call the police and have Mrs Rutherford arrested for violating the conditions of a court order. She’s holding off until she’s spoken to you.”
When she took the phone he turned away and made a call on his burner phone.
“Fish, brother, where did the bitch take my son?”
“Fucking bitch.” Fish muttered. “The PI we’ve got on her called it in just before you got there. She’s still within the Estate at some fucking birthday party. Don’t know why she got an invite because the birthday kid is turning seven.”
He heard the clicking of keys and several pinging noises.
“The PI just shot me some photos and there are no other kids around the age of yours at this damned party. She’s doing this to fuck with you. Hang on a minute, I’ve got the PI calling in.”
Spider listen to the indistinct sound of Fish’s voice while he fumed. It took everything he had to keep his temper in check.
“I’m back. The bitch apparently just took a call and the PI said she wasn’t happy. She called the nanny over and it looks like they’re about to leave. Our guy will stay on them until they get back home, or where ever she’s heading after this.”
“She had better bring my boy back here or she’s going to fucking regret crossing me.” Spider muttered.
“I hear you brother. Keep cool and let’s see where this goes. I’ll keep eyes on her, I promise.”
Shutting his phone down he walked back to where his sister was standing next to the social worker.
“Mr Walker, we called Mrs Rutherford’s legal counsel and advised him that his client will be arrested if she does not return with the child within the next hour. He assured me she will be here to do the handover within the allotted time. Apparently she took him to a birthday party and lost track of time.”
He wanted to say bullshit but kept his mouth shut. He wasn’t going to let her know that the club had eyes on the Rutherfords.
Her phone rang and she held up a hand then walked away for some privacy.
Spider with Gen plastered to his side watched as she talked then nodded and kept nodding, he hoped like hell it was good news for him.
She came back to them, a serious look on her face. “The judge amended the visitation order. From now on I, along with a police presence, will be at each and every hand over. It’s not ideal because it might cause problems for you in the future.” She sighed and shook her head. “Let’s just say the station commander in this area is not a fan of your club and wasn’t happy about being ordered to protect your interests. I have a quick call to make, excuse me for a minute.”
She got in her car and Spider lost interest. He watched the road, waiting on the return of the slut. The next minute a squad car came zooming up the street, they were way over the speed limit for a built up suburban area where children rode their bikes in the street.
Spider stood beside his cage, keeping his eyes on them as they drove closer. There were two pigs in the car and both glared at him. They parked on the opposite side of the street, got out and strode purposefully towards him.
Nina climbed out of her car where she had been sitting making calls and quickly intercepted them. A rather heated discussion ensued.
The pigs were obviously pissed off but he didn’t give a shit, all he wanted was his boy.
Turning away from them he rubbed his hands over his face then leant his forearms on the hood of his cage and let his body relax. Genna came and stood beside him, her back against the cage, arms crossed over her chest. He knew if he looked at her he’d find that she was glaring at the pigs.
“That has to be her car.” She said softly.
Straightening he turned and watched as a silver Mercedes Benz purred up the street. The slut was at the wheel, Josie and his son in the back. She ignored them as she turned through the open gates and parked half way up the drive.
She made a performance of getting out of her fancy ride. Swinging a long leg out she twisted to say something to Josie then proceeded to get out. Her red dress was short and she very obviously flashed her snatch at the pigs who had walked up the drive to talk to her.
Nina was right behind them, poor woman got flashed as well.
The bitch started waving her arms about loudly spouting bullshit at the pigs and the social worker.
Spider didn’t give a shit about her, his eyes were on Josie who had gotten out and was busy extracting his little man from his car seat. She had scarcely straightened with his crying boy in her arms when the bitch stormed around the car, came at her and tried to jerk his little man out of her arms.
His kid had both little arms wrapped tightly around Josie’s neck and held on for dear life, screaming at the top of his lungs. He was ready to rush over there and take him when his sister put a hand on his arm, holding on hard.
“Don’t move, let her bring him out to us. I know it fucking kills, bro, but we have to keep our side clean. Let her and the pigs make all the mistakes. Don’t forget, we’ll be using her manhandling our boy in full visibility of the SAPS, who are doing nothing to stop it, in court.” Genna’s voice was almost a whisper but not quite.
Looking at his sister he frowned. “How? There won’t be any footage of this shit.”
She just smiled and winked, tilting her head towards the passenger side’s wing mirror on his cage, and what do you know. She had her go-pro clipped to it and recording the entire fiasco playing out in front of them.
“When did you do that?” He kept his voice low.
“When you were talking to Nina and Fish, I noticed there were no cameras out here. I wondered if they had been removed on purpose. It was a thing of minutes to set up and no one noticed, not even you.” She answered.
“Thank you for having my back, Gen. I owe you a present of your choice for this one.”
“No, you don’t. One day I’m going to need a favour, I’ll remind you then.”
For the next ten minutes they stood side by side watching the fucking side-show on the Rutherfords’ driveway.
Finally, after what seemed like forever, Josie came towards them. His little man was still shuddering in the aftermath of his meltdown.
“I’m so sorry this happened. This morning she informed me that you cancelled the weekend visitation and as she’s my boss I had to go with her. I couldn’t call because she was watching me all the time.”
“No worries, Josie.” Spider said gently. “I’m just happy he’s here now. Are you staying here this weekend?”
“No, I’m going home, it’s my mother’s birthday weekend and my brother is picking me up. He should be here shortly.” She spoke so quietly he had almost missed the last part.
“Okay, I was about to offer you a lift to wherever you need to go. Happy to know you won’t have to hang out here waiting for a ride.”
The deep rumble of a V8 engine drowned out anything she might have said. She loosened little man’s arms from around her neck and when she handed him over he dived into Spider’s arms.
A vehicle came to a rumbling stop next to them, idling loudly. An asshole wearing the rag of the Fortunes gang around his head hung out the open window, grinning like a fool. Same with the fucker in the seat next to him. Spider recognised the driver immediately, it was Frankie September, a minor boss in the gang giving them shit on the docks.
“Look who it is. One of the big men in the Iron Dogz is out and about without protection. Aren’t you a little scared out here all alone, my brah (brother)?” He wobbled his head laughing as if it was a big joke.
Spider ignored him and handed his boy to Genna who quickly walked around the cage and strapped him into his car seat on the backseat. She then slid into the passenger seat and surreptitiously tilted the camera towards the street.
“You should know by now, the Iron Dogz don’t scare easily, Frankie.” He said with a nonchalant shrug but he was ready for anything.
And what do you know, the fucker ignored him.
His entire focus was on Josie, and not in a good way.
“Bitch, don’t just stand there wasting my time, Amos couldn’t make it, he sent me, get your shit and let’s go. I have a lot of shit to do today and don’t have time to be taking care of your crap.” He snapped at Josie.
The girl didn’t say a single word, she looked nervous and scared as she rushed away, obviously to get her shit.
Amos? Was Amos Fortuin, the Fortunes gang boss, her brother?
Spider slid into his cage, started it and pulled out, did a quick u-turn and drove away.
He had to get out of the area as fast as possible and back to the clubhouse. He didn’t trust the sudden appearance of one of the club’s enemies. Sliding his burner into the phone dock he quickly connected to Fish.
“We’re coming back to the clubhouse and I’ll be coming in hot. I think we have a problem.”
“We got you brother, saw it all go down.” Fish assured him. “Do you think the nanny might be working with the gang?”
“I don’t think so but she’s scared of those motherfuckers, it was clear as day.” He sighed. “I’m more worried about the way the slut suddenly relaxed when the gangbangers arrived on the scene, same with the pigs. Something stinks around here brother, and it’s not my kid’s ass.”
They drove in silence back to the compound.
After his crying jag little man was fast asleep in his seat. It was better that way. The poor kid had been subjected to enough upheaval for the day.
They would be getting to the beach house a bit later than planned, but better safe than sorry.
He kept checking his mirrors but didn’t see any obvious tails, he only relaxed the moment the compound gates slid shut behind them.
Kid and several brothers were outside, waiting on them.
He turned to Genna to reassure her.
“I’m going to arrange for some brothers to ride along with us. Dom has major security out there so we’ll be safe once we’re on the property. I just want to be sure we’re safe going there and back.”
Genna smiled and patted his bicep. “I get it, you do what you have to do and I’ll stay with your boy. I don’t think we should wake him up right now.”
Spider looked at his peacefully sleeping little man and nodded.
“Ja, you’re right, he’s had a rough morning.”
Leaving his sister sitting in the cage he joined his brothers and followed Kid into Orca’s office.