CHAPTER TWENTY SIX
CHAPTER TWENTY SIX
Kid
He had waited to make the video call until he was certain the president of the Shadow Wraiths would be up and about.
“Mornin’ Kid.”
“Morning Maniac, I wanted to update you on the problems we’re experiencing. We’re being targeted for takeover by The Foundation and if they are gunning for us it follows that you’re on the line as well.” Kid explained.
“What a way to start the fuckin’ day. First, congratulations Prez, lookin’ forward to workin’ with you. Now to the rest, that’s not good news, those Foundation fuckers are ruthless. We’ve been experiencin’ some funny business at our businesses and in the port but put it down to the cartel up to their usual bullshit. This puts an entirely new spin on it. What are you doin’ on your side to safeguard your club?” Maniac asked.
“I’m calling a lockdown, these fuckers are into trafficking in a big way. Women and children aren’t safe outside our walls while we’re taking care of the problem. I’ve formed alliances with Maingarde and several other organisations and MC’s. We’re all on high alert. We think they’re underestimating the extent of the interconnectivity of those of us in the alliance, and that is going to work in our favour.”
Maniac laughed. “How could they miss the familial connections between all those who are allied to us? Families fight harder for each other, they always do.”
“I don’t think they’ve investigated us as thoroughly as they should have. And to be honest, as you know, we don’t go out of the way to advertise our connections.” Kid said, fighting his smile.
Maniac nodded slowly. “Yeah that’s true, don’t need every fucker out there knowin’ about our family connections. I’ll be sendin’ brothers out to investigate the problems at the docks and will bring the women and children in. I’ll start with a soft lockdown but let the brothers know it might become more at a later date.”
“Good, I’ll let you know if there are any developments our side.”
Not long after they ended the call and Kid sat back with a sigh.
He was worried about Spider, the man was like a little brother to him and he didn’t like the shit that was swirling around him.
Wrath and Coal’s report about what had gone down at the beach had him worried.
Dom had eyes on the Rutherfords and he had six brothers on Spider and Nessa. He was worried about the drive to and from the court today, there were too many things that could go wrong.
Tapping his fist on his desk he made a decision.
They would go out in full force to support their brother.
No fucker was going to get close to him, his old lady or his boy.
Spider
His nerves were killing him.
He had a knot in his gut that wouldn’t go away no matter how many times he tried to relax.
Tension ran through him and he felt it in his old lady’s hand as well. A fine shiver ran through her body every now and then.
They rode to the courthouse in the middle of a group of visibly armed bikers. Kid rode at the head and was making a statement those in law enforcement couldn’t miss.
He didn’t trust the pigs to keep his people safe so he would do it himself.
There would be repercussions after their show of strength but none of them cared, it would be taken care of another day, not today.
Going into court meant he wasn’t armed, they wouldn’t allow him inside the building if he was. He didn’t like it, not at all. He felt naked without his weapons and his kutte.
Joan had insisted on him wearing a suit and his old lady a dress. Vee refused, saying she wasn’t going to buy a dress to wear it once and never again. His woman was wearing a pair of black pants, a fitted white shirt and a short waisted black jacket with high heeled bootees. She looked stunning. Her hair was up and held in place by two lacquered chop sticks.
Wrath turned to look back at them and winked.
“The boss said to tell you that we aren’t naked out here. If we need them we’ll find protection in the hidey holes.”
Spider leant forward and pushed against the corner of the seat in front of him. A door flapped down revealing two guns strapped inside a shallow depression in the seat back. He closed it and nodded.
“Great, I was just thinking if we’re attacked we won’t be able to defend ourselves. The boss is always thinking ahead.” He smiled.
Wrath nodded then faced forward again.
Vee’s hand squeezed his and he looked at her, she smiled and winked but said nothing.
His old lady was fucking perfect.
Walking into the courtroom he pulled her close, still holding her hand but he wanted her close beside him.
Joan and two of her people were at their table doing whatever and they slipped into the bench behind them.
His advocate turned and gave him a nod and a smile then went back to talking quietly with the guy sitting next to her.
Turning in his seat Spider took in his brothers filling the benches behind them. There were so many of them they took up several of the benches on the Rutherford’s side of the room as well. Turning back he sat quietly, breathing slow and easy as they waited.
A disturbance at the back of the room had them all turning.
It was the Rutherfords, making their usual loud entrance.
Spider instantly turned away and ignored them, he would not give them the satisfaction of catching their eyes.
Silence fell as the door at the bench opened and the bailiff had them rising for the judge.
Proceedings went fast and Spider had been ready to be called up to give testimony. It never happened.
“I received an emergency petition from Advocate Bonthuys to award full custody to the biological parent, Mr Griffin Walker. The petition came with several supporting documents from the SAPS Crime Unit. After perusal of said documents and conferring with a colleague I am ready to make my ruling.”
He moved papers around on the bench before he looked up.
His dark eyes gave nothing away and Spider’s gut cramped wildly.
“The documents revealed that Mr and Mrs Rutherford has minimal contact with the child, leaving his care to an employee. It also revealed that the child is being exposed to criminal elements and deviant sexual practices in the home. It is the finding of this court that the Rutherford home is not a safe environment for the child. Therefore, it is my ruling that full custody of the minor child, Robert Rutherford, is awarded to his biological father, Mr Griffin Walker.”
A huge relieved breath left him and he nodded over and over. His boy was his, legally.
“Mr Walker, the court understands your impatience to have your son under your roof and the paperwork will be fast-tracked to ensure it. Your social worker, Ms Nina Bosman, will facilitate the handover and walk you through the legal documents you will need to sign.”
He looked at the Rutherfords and their legal counsel.
“Ms Bosman will collect the child at eleven o’clock tomorrow morning and deliver him to his biological father. Advocate Selwyn, you will inform your clients of the seriousness of the ruling in favour of Mr Walker. Should your clients interfere in anyway with Ms Bosman carrying out her duties they will face the wrath of this court. In light of the criminal elements regularly visiting the home Ms Bosman will be accompanied by officers of the Child Protection Unit to ensure a smooth and trouble free handover.”
He turned away from the shocked Rutherfords.
“Advocate Bonthuys, it is the order of this court that Ms Bosman stay in contact with Mr Walker after the handover. She will be doing regular follow up visits with the child and his father. We all want him to settle in and be happy, he deserves that much.”
He looked right at Spider.
“Congratulations, Mr Walker, having a child is a blessing and it’s up to us as parents to ensure they are loved and nurtured.”
All he could do was mouth ‘thank you’ and nod.
Gathering his papers the judge lifted his gavel and brought it down.
“Court dismissed.”
And then it was done.
Rush was his and he would soon be living in their home, forever.
He couldn’t wait.
Strange
Her disguise was perfect.
No one gave the old woman at the back of the courtroom watching the proceedings a second glance. She was surprised when the judge gave the kid to Spider. She didn’t understand his determination that the kid was better off with a biker than with the parents who had raised him up to this point. She wondered who the criminal elements were they were entertaining in their home. It would be interesting to find out. It might just lead her to an ally.
She left before the others. She had work to do.
While sitting in the courtroom listening to the judge she had suddenly known exactly what she had to do.
She had criminals to find and new alliances to form.
There was a momentary twinge of her conscience when she thought about Simon but she shrugged it off.
He was part of the problem, he should never have tried to have her taken off the mission. He had forgotten there were those who owed her at Head Office, and one of them had been too happy to add her to the mission.
And their supposedly new Director.
What a joke.
The stupid bitch never suspected the late addition to the team hadn’t been Simon’s choice.
Simon should never have been given a new team or an operation to run.
He wasn’t ready for it. Not like she was.
They would regret not electing her as team leader for this operation.
She was the one who had to take over and run their last op in Cape Town when Simon disappeared. She was the one who got Simon out after he totally fucked up their cover with Maingarde. She was the one who gave the final report on their mission once it was over.
And what did the new bitch of a Director do?
She gave her promotion to Simon.
Gave it to him for supposed bravery under extreme circumstances.
A man who pretended to be her friend only to take her dream from her.
She was going to show them all.
Once she was done her name would go down in the record books of ICI.
As the best agent who has ever lived.