10. Ethan
10
*********
I park my bike and move toward the door of the clubhouse, Hawk’s leaning against the wall smoking.
“Thought you quit.”
“It’s too early for this shit, man,” He complains, shrugging me off while blowing smoke rings in the air. It’s not too early, he’s just not recovered from last night yet. We all had some drinks down at O’Malley’s after Sky left the clubhouse. I needed a change of scenery. I would’ve preferred the Pearl, but after the last visit and being told she would be out for a couple days, O’Malley’s was the next best thing.
Gabe’s niece, Sadie came home for the weekend to help with the funeral. Since she can’t drink legally in the bar yet, she decided to come in and visit Jinx, which turned into them busting our balls. Hawk was doing fine, bantering, and holding his own in the conversation until he noticed Sadie dancing with some preppy looking fucker in the pool table room. Suddenly his beers turned into double shots. Several of them. I had a few of my own, but Hawk out did everyone last night. I’m impressed he was able to stand and walk to the cage when the prospect came to take him home.
I don’t think any of the other guys caught on to what had Hawk getting so plastered, and I sure as shit wasn’t going to say anything. If Mack or Jake find out he’s got a thing for Sadie, there won’t be a body left for the police to find. They’ll make damn sure of that. Besides, who am I to tell a brother not to let a woman drive him to drink, when I have one making me do the same damn thing. If Kieran finds out, I’ll be working my ass off sparring in the cage until I puke, or he’s satisfied I’ve sweat every ounce of liquor out of my system and then some.
Yeah, I’ll keep my mouth shut, thanks.
“You all good brother?” I chuckle, knowing damn well he’s still feeling his hang over from the night before.
“I will be in a minute. Once I can have a prospect pour me a little hair-of-the-dog and I’ll be right as rain,” he smirks, pushing his sunglasses up, blocking the sun creeping up over the trees.
Though I’m pretty sure I know the answer, I ask it anyway. “So, what’s got Pres in a tizzy today? Why’s he calling church at the ass crack of dawn again?” It’s not that early, but we’re all dragging a bit so if feels like it.
“Actually, it was Eli who asked Pres to call church.”
The fuck?
“Why? What do you think it’s about?”
Just then, Eli and his men come riding into the yard with Skyler’s truck following behind.
Hawk chuckles, dropping his cigarette to the ground, grinding it out with his boot. He grips my shoulder giving it a little shake. “I think you just got your answer about church there, brother.”
“The fuck is she doing here?” Again.
Goddamn. I’ve spent the entire week avoiding seeing her since the funeral. It’s over and done now, she should be preparing to leave with the Mountain Heights boys. I think she should be anyway.
Nothing else has happened, and she’s clearly fit to be tied about having a babysitter. I agree with her on this one. I think it’s overkill. The guy who killed George was after his rig and took it.
I’m convinced his death, and the theft are just that, a simple robbery that ended with an unfortunate casualty. I think George panicked and told Sky to come home because it made him feel better to know she wouldn’t be alone when she had to bury him. I think he knew he was going to die or come close, and he wanted Skyler to be close to Ghost if he did. Makes sense to want her to be with him. What doesn’t make sense is everything else.
All the secrets. The lying. I can’t understand why he would do all of that, especially to me.
I thought me and George were close. He was like having a second father since mine was never around. So why hide Skyler from me all this time, then bring her back here out of the blue and not warn anyone.
Warn me. Why didn’t he warn me?
He was protecting his daughter. I get that. Though I don’t know what the hell from. What I don’t understand, among other things is, why would he have her come to Gabe when she was already set up with Eli and his men in Mountain Heights? Why not leave her there under their protection? Why drag our asses into whatever the fuck this is?
She’s a woman. We protect women. It’s the Kings’ code.
These are all things I know and stand by, but I wish we were protecting someone else. Anyone else. Someone who didn’t betray me and my sister while trampling all over the future we were supposed to share, shredding my heart in the process.
God, I think I’ve grown a vagina.
If I wasn’t so concerned about the blow back from Pres, I wouldn’t have gone to the funeral at all. I would’ve paid my respects to George on my own terms. But unlike Eli’s men, my loyalty lies with my brothers. I won’t let anything come between us. I’ll never let a woman ruin what I have with the Kings.
They’re all I have.
Why do I feel like I have to keep reminding myself?
Since the funeral yesterday, I’ve avoided Skyler. Hell, I wouldn’t be here now if not for Pres calling church. I’ve got shit to do, thing to keep me busy enough to avoid both Skyler and the clubhouse for weeks on end if they’d let me.
I’ve got work, my training schedule, and miscellaneous shit around the gym I need to get done. Hell, I’ve been so wrapped up in Skyler’s return and George’s funeral, I’ve neglected the gym. Shit, I haven’t even had a chance to get back to the Pearl to see Scarlet.
Maybe that’s what I should do tonight? Go see Scarlet and get Skyler completely out of my head.
I’ve been trying to wrap my head around everything. To make sense of the shit swirling around in my mind. So many things just don’t add up and the two people who could clear it all up for me, refuse to tell me.
Last night was the first night I’ve been out with the guys in a week. Even going out for a few beers with them doesn’t feel normal anymore. Especially not with Eli and his guys hanging around, talking about Skyler, revealing all sorts of new things about her.
More secrets.
Remembering the conversations from last night, I felt like an outsider. I felt like the woman they know and the one I fell in love with so many years ago are two totally different
people.
I hated it.
“How’s Skyler holding up?” The conversation at the other end of the table draws my attention. “She’s not giving me anything except attitude about having a babysitter, so I’m going to have to rely on you for intel.” Gabe chuckles. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think she was one of you fuckers, always bitching.” Everyone laughs, except me. Gabe scrubs his hand down his beard. “Seriously, does she need anything? Anything we can do to make her more comfortable while she’s here?”
While she’s here… gives me hope it’s not permanent.
“She’s doing all right. Cash and the boys have been watching over her, making sure she’s eating, sleeping, and working off her anger.” Eli says.
I don’t even want to imagine how Cash and the boys would see to Skyler working off her anger. The thought of it is enough to have me seeing red. They’re always standing close to her, touching her. Making her smile and laugh. Fuckers.
“You mean pissing her off.” Walker corrects, smiling. “She doesn’t like being fussed over.” Cash laughs. Just seeing him makes my jaw clench. He’s not a bad guy. I’ve never had an issue with him until now. He’s cool, usually. A lot like Hawk. After seeing how he is with Skyler, how close they seem, I’ve decided he’s an asshole.
“She was pretty shaken up when she got the call to come home, but she followed the plan, sort of, and had been keeping her shit together. She’s still adjusting to being back. It’s going to take some time. She’s determined to stay though. I offered to take her back with us. I mean, she’s got a pretty good life there for herself if she wanted to go back to it, but she doesn’t want to leave. Says she promised George when she came back home, she would stay.”
Not if I have something to say about it.
“How is she emotionally? Losing someone you love isn’t easy. She was tight with George.”
That tidbit caught me by surprise. Especially since, for the last six years I was under the impression they hadn’t seen or spoken to one another since Skyler left.
Even George was keeping Skyler’s secrets.
“She’s not like normal chicks. We hardly ever see her cry or lose her shit. This trip is the most I’ve ever seen her cry, and even with everything she’s got going on here she seems to have a lock on herself. At least she does unless Ghost is hugging her. Before that, I don’t know when the last time I saw her cry was. Maybe she’ll let it all out after we leave,” Xander offers seemingly amazed at how different she is from other women. “But then again, in all the time I’ve known her, she’s been good at keeping her feelings locked down. Until you finally manage to piss her off. Then all bets are off.” He laughs.
Emily called it her superpower. Skyler would let anything roll off her back, until you hit just the right button and then there was no holding back her wrath.
I used to piss her off on purpose just to see the fire in her violet eyes directed at me.
Even when we were growing up, Skyler wasn’t like other girls.
In high school, when most girls spent hours making themselves look good and vying for the attention of some guy, Skyler didn’t. She never cared about stuff like popularity or dating. She never liked drawing attention and avoided conflict at all costs.
I had to wear her down to get our first date, and even after she said yes, she didn’t take me seriously. It took me kissing the ever-loving shit out of her for her to realize I wasn’t playing some game. I wanted her.
She was smart, funny, and sassy as hell if she knew you. She had to trust you enough to drop her guard. She was completely content reading a book on the grass by the lake with no one around for miles. Being alone never bothered her. In fact, she avoided crowds or people she didn’t know. She was uncomfortable around them, preferred a few close friends to a large party.
She used to be all those things. What changed her?
How the hell did Sky get herself into drugs? We were happy, I thought. She wanted to go to college and become a teacher. What made her so unhappy she turned to drugs and partying? And why didn’t I know about it? Surely, Emily would’ve told me if Sky was in trouble. Wouldn’t she?
Something doesn’t add up, and it’s driving me fucking insane.
She has always been beautiful, but it was an effortless kind of beauty. Not overly done up with make-up. Didn’t wear trashy clothing, but never felt the need to hide her body either. She’s more about comfort than brand. Girls at school would tease her. Tell her she would grow up to be a club whore because she was being raised by her father and local biker trash. She ignored it most of the time, and though it hurt her, she never let it show. She refused to ever let anyone see her break.
But I knew when she was hurting. She never hid her heart from me. Even when she’d try, her eyes gave her away.
She’s learned to shield those now too behind a curtain of hair or a pair of dark sunglasses. I fucking hate it.
Makes me want to grab her chin and force her eyes to mine so I can see the truth she’s trying to bury so deeply away.
Eli and the guys kept talking, giving me glimpses of this new Skyler they all thought was so fucking fantastic.
“She’s been doing a lot of running since we got here.” Xander chuckles next to Walker who explains. “Working out is one of the ways she clears her head. We need to find her a gym like the one she uses at home. Or a shooting range. Maybe we should take her by yours, Gabe?”
“I don’t think Skyler with a gun is such a good idea right now.” Gabe’s words are meant for Walker, but his eyes are locked on me.
She wouldn’t shoot me. I don’t think. But better safe than sorry.
Mountain Heights isn’t her home and it pissed me off to hear him say it was. Which is fucking ridiculous because I don’t want Oak Ridge to be her home anymore!
“Yeah, I heard she waited until Austin swapped out with Blake just before sunrise, and made his ass chase her on foot while she went for a run the other day.” Jake says laughing. “He made it to the end of the yard before he gave up and ran back to get his bike to keep up with her…for five fucking miles she made him follow her.”
Everyone erupted in laughter imagining Austin in his jeans, boots, white t-shit and cut running after her ass.
Walker points at Xander, both red-faced from laughing so hard. “Yeah, they must’ve warned Mason because Sky said he showed up for his shift wearing basketball shorts with a Kings of Fury MC T-shirt and sneakers.” Xander’s shaking his head. “At least he was prepared to run. She said he runs a few miles a couple times a week to stay in shape and doesn’t talk when he’s running so she didn’t mind him tagging along with her.”
“They better get used to it. Skyler is always on the move. Girl hardly ever stays still for long.” Eli chuckles then downs his beer.
“Really?” Hawk asks amused. “She hated exercise. We couldn’t get her to run in the yard for a game of tag when we were kids. She preferred to keep her nose in a book.”
Then Declan blew my world all to shit when he suggested Skyler get a membership to Knockouts Gym. My fucking gym! Asshole. I tried to suggest she use the lady’s gym at the opposite end of town. The one with all the CrossFit stations and Pilates classes. But when Declan explained we have a cage, boxing equipment, sparring, and jiu jitsu classes, Eli said it was the perfect place for her and Gabe granted her a free membership on behalf of the club.
Fuck my life.
Walker explained how she’s been doing all those things as well as taking self-defense classes for almost as long as she’s lived in Mountain Heights. That was news to me.
I tried to shift things in a different direction, to keep her out of my space, to no avail.
“We can always move her into the clubhouse. We have a gym down in the basement she can use.” I offered.
“She’s going to want to stay where she’s comfortable and I’m not sure she’s going to feel that at the clubhouse.” Eli says, glaring back at me.
“She’s not going to like that plan.” Xander whispers not so quietly to Hawk, his voice rising a little with each word.
“She can’t stand being in the clubhouse.” Walker adds.
“Why?” Hawk, who I don’t think could whisper to save his life, asks, drawing everyone’s attention to the side conversation.
“Put it this way, are your club girls…catty? Territorial?”
Hawk nods. “Sometimes.”
“Well, if you want your patch pussy to be able to suck cock when Skyler leaves, either send her away now or keep them away from her. One of ours chose to pick a fight with Sky. The bitch ended up with her jaw wired shut.”
“No shit?” Hawk’s brows shoot up as he looks both shocked and intrigued. “Was the bitch messing with Sky’s man or something?”
Her man? The fuck?
“Nah. The girls were jealous of the attention Skyler gets from all the guys and she doesn’t have to take her clothes off or suck dick to get it. Not that anyone would deny her if she wanted to.” Walker puts his finger in Xander’s face, a warning to shut up. “The guys respect her. The club girls don’t like it.” Xander shrugs.
“You’re turned on, aren’t you?” Jake teases Hawk.
“Well, yeeeaaah! I saw what she did to Ethan’s face. I thought she got a lucky punch in. But a bitch who can fight and looks like she does. I wouldn’t mind sparring with her in bed.” Hawk says with the utmost seriousness. “Ow!”
Before he can ask or say another word, I cut him off. “No.”
The smile on his face tells me I just fucked up, but I don’t care. Hawk is not going to get Sky in his bed…ever. Over my dead fucking body.
“Watch your fucking mouth, talking about her like that.” Ghost growls.
“But…” Hawk tries again.
“No!” Ghost, Gabe, Eli, and me yell at the same time drawing the attention of the tables around us to our group.
“Ugh. Whatever assholes.” Hawk grumbles, but I notice the shaking of his shoulders as he laughs. Fucker.
I’m still not sure what to make of any of what was said. The woman is a complete mystery to me. The girl I knew, the quiet, sweet, innocent mouse of a girl, is someone completely different now. What’s worse is the smart mouthed, spitfire with prominent curves in places I don’t remember her having them before, has me tied up in knots wishing I could get to know her. In more ways than one.
You can’t go there. What if it’s just another lie?
Eli dismounts and his men follow suit. Cash opens the door to Skyler’s truck, but she doesn’t step out. They exchange a few words while he stands there holding her door open. She’s got her hair pulled back in a high ponytail. Her eyes are hidden once again with those damn sunglasses. It pisses me off.
Cash steps back and Skyler climbs out of the truck digging her finger into his chest as she speaks to him seemingly forcing him to step back from her. She looks pissed and I find myself wondering why. Which is ridiculous because she’s not my problem and I don’t fucking care.
Keep telling yourself that.
Cash’s hands go up in a placating gesture, but he’s laughing. I can see his shoulders shaking from here. She slams her door, flips him off and strides past him toward the clubhouse. She doesn’t even glance in our direction as she walks past me and Hawk and through the door. At least I don’t think she did. Damn those glasses.
You don’t want to see her eyes, remember?
Shut the fuck up.
Shit. I’m arguing with myself now.
Eli waits for Cash to approach and the two have a short conversation. Cash isn’t laughing anymore. He looks serious about whatever they’re discussing. Eli scrubs his chin with his hand and nods. Now he’s poking Cash in the chest with his finger. It’s almost comical to watch. Probably because someone besides me is getting balked at by their pres.
They head in our direction; we exchange chin lifts in way of greeting and follow them into the clubhouse.
All our guys are already here drinking coffee. Jameson is sitting in a recliner. Declan and Jake are both on the couch. Skyler stands, leaning on the back of another recliner positioned beside Jameson. Her glasses now sitting on top of her head. Their conversation comes to a halt as we all enter the room. Skyler’s eyes drag their way up to mine as she takes me in, but no greeting is exchanged. No hello. No smart remarks. Complete silence.
We stand staring at each other for what seems like an eternity.
She doesn’t turn away. There’s something familiar in her eyes. A flicker of something, but I can’t get a good read on her from this distance.
She stands up slowly, walks to where Eli and Cash are standing and shoves her hand on her hips.
“I’m going up to the dock. I won’t leave the premises; you have my word. You can even send one of the prospects up there with me so long as they leave me the hell alone. But I’m not staying here right now.”
“You’re supposed to be where we can see you.” Eli says, narrowing his eyes on her. With her damn sunglasses on I can’t tell if she’s glaring back or just not giving a shit.
“Send a prospect to babysit. But don’t ask me to stay in the clubhouse, Eli. You know how I feel about it.”
They share some kind of silent understanding, then Eli nods and Cash hollers for Blake to follow Sky out to the docks. She looks back over her shoulder, no doubt she’s glaring at me. It lasts seconds, then she’s out the door and doesn’t look back, and I find myself wishing she would have.
I’ll break down those walls, Sweetheart. Give it time.
Where did that thought come from? I don’t want to break down her walls. I need to erect walls and keep her ass as far away from me as possible.
The hell is wrong with me?
I need to get laid. That must be it.
“Daaaaammnn.” Hawk drawls softly from beside me. “You two want to go to your room and get this shit sorted? I’m sure I could convince Pres to hold off church for ten minutes while you fuck your frustrations out with a quickie.”
His words break me out of her trance.
“What are you talking about?”
“The way you two were staring at each other looked like there was some pretty heavy eye-fucking happening between you and Sky. That is until she bolted out of here like her panties were on fire to get away from you.” He laughs.
“Fuck you.” I grumble. “The fuck’s wrong with you?”
“Just pointing out the obvious sexual tension y’all got going on between you.”
“It’s not like that.” It is exactly like that. To prove the point further, my cock twitches behind my zipper. The tension in the room in palpable.
I don’t want to fuck her.
You do.
She’s, my past. The enemy.
You still want to fuck her three ways from Sunday.
Damnit!
“Church!” Gabe bellows from the sanctuary door breaking whatever trance Skyler had me under. I walk into the sanctuary and take my place at the table. The doors close behind me but everyone’s still shooting the shit.
I give Hawk a chin lift. “What’s going on?”
“We’re waiting on Mack. He’s on the phone in Gabe’s office.”
“I didn’t know he was back.” My answer is a shrug of Hawk’s shoulders.
My thoughts fall back to Skyler and our little exchange out there.
Something’s off about her. She seemed different from the last time I saw her. Lately whenever we cross paths, she’s all fire and smartass remarks. Not putting up with anyone’s shit, especially mine. Though she stood there shooting daggers at me with her eyes, the fire that usually shines back at me was more of a light flicker. She seemed sad.
Her father died you idiot.
It was more than that.
As her eyes met mine, it felt different. Even behind the glasses, I knew she was staring at me. Usually it’s her anger I feel, but not today. And I know she’s angry with me after the way I acted at the party after George’s funeral. I saw the way she looked at me when I was dancing with Candi. Skyler was jealous. Hurt.
Is that what that was?
I didn’t plan to do anything with Candi the other night other than dance. Candi instigated the kiss, and when I saw Skyler watching us, I took the opportunity to taunt her a bit. I wanted her to feel what I feel every time she and Cash are together in a room. It was stupid of me, I know. Once Skyler left and Candi came back looking to take things further, I shot her down gently. She said she understood, and I spent the rest of the night drinking. Stuck in my own head.
Mack walks into the sanctuary and Gabe slams the gavel calling church to order.
“We have the dash cam footage. The cameras were both covered, but we have audio.” Mack states.
“Hawk.” Gabe barks. Hawk opens his laptop and a few seconds later the tv on the wall turns on with a black screen.
“If there really is a God, I need you to watch over our girl. Elizabeth, I’m so sorry, sweetheart. I did what I thought was right. Hopefully you can both forgive me someday.” George is talking out loud in the cab of his truck.
There’s the sound of tapping and some rattling noises, like a phone being placed in a metal holder, or maybe on the dashboard.
“Daddy? What’s wrong?” Skyler’s worried voices comes over the line.
“Hey Butter Bean.” George greets, using her childhood nickname only her family calls her by.
“Daddy, what’s happening?” There’s rustling in the background.
“I’m sorry, baby girl. I’m not going to make it home for our date this time. I’m afraid I’m stuck in traffic with no way out.”
“Was there an accident?”
“No sweetheart, but there’s a lot of cars and not much moving. I don’t see an alternate route either. I’m so sorry, Sky.”
He knew he wasn’t going to make it out.
“Can you call for help with directions?”
“No. I’m afraid there’s no one available now. I checked in, left a message, but I’m going to have to ride this one out.”
There’s a whispered run of curse words where Gabe and Ghost both sit.
“Fuck! Fuck!” Skyler shouts into the phone. Did she know?
“It’s okay, sweetheart. Listen to me. I need you to calm down and listen, Sky. Can you do that? I’ve only got a few minutes here, Butter Bean.” His voice sounds desperate, pleading.
“Yeah, Daddy. I’m listening.” Skyler’s voice shifts. She’s put up her guard, playing it tough for George. I can hear it.
“I need you to call your uncle Chris and tell him I can’t make our movie date. Ask him if he’ll be there in my place. I promise I’ll do everything I can to get there, but I don’t want you to go alone if I can’t be there. Do you understand?”
He’s telling her he’s pretty sure he’s about to die. What the hell?
There’s a silent pause.
“Butter Bean? Sky? Did you hear me?” George sounds frantic now.
“I-I’m here. Sorry Daddy. I understand. I’ll pack the snacks up and meet him at the theater as soon as I get done here. I wish you could be here too.” Her voice cracks.
“I’m so sorry, Bean. I need you to know, if I could be there…if there was any way out of this mess, I would be right there for you. But I can’t. Not this time. I’m afraid I’ve taken the wrong turn off and gotten myself stuck in some shit I can’t get out of. But no matter what happens, you need to know that I love you. So goddamn much. You and your mother are the best things to happen to me in this life and when I see her, I’m going to tell her how fucking proud I am of the woman you’ve become. And then we’re going to find a nice porch swing and a tall glass of sweet tea and enjoy the sunset together. But I promise, we’ll be keeping an eye on you. Don’t you ever forget that.”
He”s crying now. There’s no question in his mind he’s going to die.
“I love you, Daddy. So much.”
“I know, baby. I need to call your uncle and let him know you’re going to meet him. I don’t want to let go, but…” he chokes on the last word.
“I know. Daddy, do me a favor?”
“Anything.”
“Hug Mama and tell her I love her. Tell her…I’ll come visit as soon as I can. Both of you.” Sky’s voice hitches. “I’ll bring hydrangeas when I come. I know they’re her favorite.”
“I love you, Skyler. With everything I am.”
The phone clicks and we hear George breaking down, alone in the cab of his truck.
The room is quiet except for Hawk’s meticulous typing. A minute or two later, we hear a second phone ringing.
“George?” It’s Ghost’s voice on the line this time. “The fuck is going on? Where is she?”
“She’s on her way to you. She’s getting ready. Shouldn’t be too long. She was already in motion when I called.” George sniffs, letting out a long grown. “I need you to keep your promise to me and you sister. You know what I’m asking of you?”
Ghost sighs. “Where are you? What the hell kind of shit are you in? Give me a location. We’ll get on the road and come to you.”
“No. You can’t do that. You have a promise to keep. She’s more important than anything else. You got me?” George is shouting in the phone, angry. “No matter what happens to me tonight, you take care of my baby girl! She’s all that matters anymore. Don’t go chasing after my troubles. It’ll all be over soon enough. You just take care of her, and that boy. You keep your word and make that shit right. That’s all I need you to do. Now, can you keep your fucking word or not, Ghost?”
There’s a long sigh followed by Ghost’s voice saying, “I got you. You have my word. I’ll watch over her.”
“And you’ll set shit straight?” George doesn’t really ask so much as demand. “It’s time we fix this shit, Ghost. She deserves to be happy. None of this was her fault. She just got caught up in club shit she knew nothing about. It’s not her fight! She’s lost enough! You hear me? I can’t be there to fix it anymore. I tried. I had a plan, but shit’s gone sideways, so I need you to fix it!” George is shouting, his voice cracking as we listen to the man in question in agony over whatever he’s done.
“Please.” He whispers his plea.
“You have my word, George. I’ll set shit straight. She’ll be happy. I won’t accept anything less for her. Besides, Elizabeth would come back and haunt my ass if I didn’t.” Ghost’s words hit their mark, George chuckles.
“You ain’t lying.”
The phone goes quiet for a moment more then, George comes back on the line.
“I’m sorry, Chris. I truly am. I didn’t want to bring any of this to you or the club. After tonight, hopefully, it’ll all be over, and my baby girl will be safe and happy again. At least I can go knowing I did that much right.”
The line goes dead again.
“What was George talking about? What promise? What boy is he illuding to?” I ask, something in my gut tells me I know, but I can’t help feeling like there are so many missing pieces still to this puzzle.
Before anyone can answer, there’s another phone ringing and all eyes are glued to the black screen on the way.
“George.” The voice says in way of greeting. “Have you delivered the package to the drop off location?”
“Yeah. I... uh...I did. Everything was accounted for. Your men took care of everything like you said they would.”
“Good. Good. Then why do you sound distraught? What’s wrong, my friend?”
“I ran into some trouble on the way back. It seems they’re none too happy about you intercepting their precious cargo.” George chuckles. “I’m pretty sure I’m not going to make it out of this alive, so I’m calling to make sure our deal still stands. I delivered the shipment like you asked me to. I want to hear you say you’ll keep your word about Sky.”
“I should be insulted, but in light of your situation, I will let it slide.”
“Vincenzo, I mean no disrespect, I just need to know…”
“Relax my friend. You have my word. I’m sorry this is the way things are going to end between us. I had hoped we could do more great things together. Are you sure I can’t help you out of your predicament? Based on your location, I can have men to you in less than twenty minutes.”
“I appreciate the offer, but like the Kings, if you send in the calvary, it’ll only point these Devils in your direction. And since you’re all now in charge of keeping my baby girl safe and happy, I won’t take the chance on sending this shit to your door. I knew what I was getting into when I agreed to do this. But it was the right thing to do. I can only hope my daughter feels the same way and forgives me for leaving her behind when she finds out the truth of what I’ve done.”
“I will make sure she knows how courageous you were and how you helped so many find their way to freedom. I’m sure she will agree with me, you are a good man, George Sinclair. Your daughter will want for nothing in this life. She need only ask. She will be under my protection and that of my men. You have my word.”
“Thank you, Vincenzo. I appreciate you.”
With that, the line goes dead.
Everyone in the room is stunned to silence until Hawk opens his mouth to ask, “Well, what the hell do we do with all of that?”
There are several grumbles and groanings heard around the room. We’re all in shock.
“Sufficed to say, George was working for Parisi when shit went down that night.” Jameson states the obvious, calling out the elephant in the room.
“Does anyone else think it’s odd the way Vincenzo sounded on the phone? Almost like he expected this outcome. Not the least bit surprised that George was in the predicament he was in.” This comes from Cash, who’s been quietly observing the room while listening to the calls.
Does he think one of knows anything about this shit?
“Vincenzo is a man of few words. Unless your family, he’s not known for showing any emotion. He’s all business. If George had an arrangement with him, like he obviously did based on that conversation, Vincenzo’s primary concern would be on any repercussions that may befall him and his empire.” Ghost answers. Something in what he’s saying tells me this isn’t the first time he’s been around Vincenzo when a deal went sideways.
“Looks like we need to set up a meeting with our friend, Vincenzo. In the meantime, everything stays the same. I always want a brother with Skyler. Hawk I want everything you can find between George and Parisi. Phone records, emails, anything. I won’t go into this meeting unprepared.”
“On it, Pres!”
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