12. Ethan
12
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We’ve been called back to church again. I would’ve rather stayed in bed and finished dreaming about the night I had with one very sexy red head. Well, her wig is red. But that’s just a minor detail. Hair color doesn’t really matter. I’ve learned the real color, and everything else I can after last night.
I still have no clue what made Scarlet change her mind about giving me a private dance. I don’t really fucking care. I wasn’t expecting anything, a dance maybe, but this was all her doing. I was just along for the ride. And fuck me, what a ride it was.
I didn’t go into the Pearl thinking I was going to fuck her. I might have wanted to, but I’ve wanted to have her since the first time I saw her. But after having her? I’m fucking addicted.
There was something about her, I can’t quite put my finger on. I mean, she didn’t talk. She didn’t ask for anything from me. Hell, she took everything she wanted, and I was all too happy to give it to her. But there was something familiar about her. Something in the way she said my name. I can’t put my finger on it, but I think I know her from somewhere. I’ve been racking my damn brain all night trying to figure out if she’s someone I pass every day in my gym. Or maybe we went to school together? Maybe…we’ve hooked up before, but I don’t usually pay that close of attention to one-night stands. I do what I need to and broom them quick. And I never go back for seconds. So, to want to go back for another round is a new feeling for me. I haven’t wanted to fuck a girl more than once since…
Nope.
Skyler passes through the common area without making eye contact with anyone heading straight through the kitchen doors.
“What’d you do to piss her off?” I ask Cash since he’s the only one I know who’s been with her lately.
“I don’t know what’s going on with her. She’s been quiet all morning. Hasn’t said not one word to anyone.” He provides. “Well, that’s not true. She did say ‘fine’ when I asked if she was okay this morning. But that’s about it.”
“Oh, shit! Abandon ships my friend!” Hawk yells. “When a woman says she’s fine, she is anything but and your ass needs to vacate as fast as possible, or you’ll be on the receiving end of her wrath when she finally snaps.”
“You’re an idiot.” He looks at me and smiles wide, shrugging me off.
“That may be, but I know this. A woman who says she’s fine, rarely ever is.”
“Hey fellas.” Candi greets sweetly as she, Rachel, and Drea make their way into the room. “What’s the occasion?” She leans in, running her fingers over my arm with that saccharine smile of hers.
I step out of her reach. Something about it doesn’t quite have the same appeal anymore. Not after feeling Scarlet’s hands on my skin.
“Church!” Mack bellows from the sanctuary.
“Is it just me, or does Mack seem to be spending a lot more time at home lately?”
“Jake says his Pop’s planning to retire sometime this summer. Maybe he’s starting to transition things now. It won’t be easy to replace him, after working for West Enterprise for sixteen years. Maybe he’s spending time away to give his replacement time to screw up while he’s still around to fix it.” Hawk suggests.
“You don’t have high hopes for his replacement huh?”
“Nah. Those are some large shoes to fill, brother.”
“Get your seats. We’ve got shit to discuss.” Gabe slams his hand on the table.
“I was hoping to talk to you and my Pres about something.” Cash’s voice pulls me back away from Hawk’s conversation. He’s addressing Gabe.
“I’d like to stay in town for a little while longer, after my Pres and the guys head back home. Sky still needs someone to stay with her, and she’s got a list of shit she wants to do to the house while she’s there. I’d like to stay around and help her if it’s all right with you, Gabe. You too, Pres.”
Fixing the house? No. No. No. This shit can’t happen.
“She’s going to need some help fixing up the summer place. She’s talking about revamping her dad’s old house too. I haven’t let her in there since the place was ransacked. Been keeping her focused on the list of shit this place needs done. Looks like George got the outside updated, but the inside has some issues that need tending to before she can list it for sale. I offered to stay and do whatever I can for her.”
“She’s selling the houses?” I ask, thinking this is good news. She doesn’t need to settle if she’s selling the house. She can take the money and leave, which would make both our lives better.
“Not sure about both of them. One of them, maybe. She hasn’t decided, but either way, she wants to make some improvements.” Cash seems okay with whatever Skyler wants to do, so long as he gets to stay with her.
I don’t like that at all.
Gabe looks to Eli who nods. “I’ve got a couple of guys watching over The Bare Trap. I can spare him for a little while if you don’t mind putting up with him for a bit.” The Bare Trap is a two-sided Bar. The front bar is for locals and bikers passing through. The backside of the bar is a private strip club. One building, two functions both sides making money hand over fist. Can’t go wrong with booze and pussy.
“I don’t have an issue with it.” Gabe agrees. “You need your room stocked? I can get one of the girls on it for you.”
“That won’t be necessary. I’ve haven’t really used the room here. I’ve been crashing at her place since we got here. She’s not fond of the prospects being there overnight and you said you didn’t want her alone. She’s used to me being in her space.”
Say what now?I tamp down the growl growing in my chest, not liking what I’m hearing. I mean I knew he was staying with her, but I didn’t think about prospects staying the night when he wasn’t there. And now I’m picturing what they could’ve been doing alone…in the house.
Fuck!
Wait! He said she isn’t fond of the prospects staying, so maybe she hasn’t fucked them. But she’s okay with Cash staying overnight. She may not be his ol’ lady, but he can’t be sleeping in that house with her and not fucking her. I know I couldn’t pass up on the opportunity!
NO! Goddamn it! I need her gone. Yesterday.
I have Scarlet now.
Cash shrugs like his explanation makes perfect sense.
Okay, so maybe it does, I just don’t like hearing it.
“What is Skyler to you?” The words are out before I realize it’s me who asked them. Shit. Cash’s eyes snap to mine and my harsh tone. He smirks. Smug bastard. “I mean you’re always with her. You’re affectionate and very protective of her. So, who is she to you?”
“We’re…,” He rubs his chin contemplatively. I know whatever he’s about to say is to fuck with me, but I fall for his shit anyway. “Friends. Really. Good. Friends. It’s a beneficial friendship on both sides, I guess you could say.”
Nope. I’m gonna kill him. I’m gonna shoot the bastard and call it a fucking day. Yep.
My silence only serves to encourage him further. His grin widens, his eyes full of amusement. Hawk turns to me, leaning his elbows on the table putting his hands under his chin, rapidly blinking his eyelashes at me in expectation like a damn teenage girl.
Whatever asshole.
“You look pissed about something, Ethan. Would you like to share with the class, or do you maybe need a ten-minute time out to deal with your feelings?” Hawk goads in a breathy girly voice. “I’m sure we can find Skyler somewhere in the…”
“Fuck you.”
“Oh, no thanks. I’ve experimented with a lot of things, but not that. My bat doesn’t swing for the other team, brother.” His quick wit does what it’s meant to and eases the tension in the room as everyone laughs at him. Everyone but me.
“Is she your ol’ lady?”
“Not currently, no.”
“But you want her to be?” He doesn’t answer, just shrugs noncommittally. “I’d hate to see how she’d fuck your shit up after the club girls worked you over in the common room the other night. I hear you put on quite the show with those two.” I’m digging a hole and I know it, but I can’t seem to shut up.
Cash grins. The same shit-eating grin I’ve seen on Hawk’s face a thousand times, only it’s not amusing on him. No, when Cash does it, it makes my blood boil and my hands clench at my sides. I find myself imagining the sound my fist would make connecting with his jaw as I wipe that smug grin off his face for him.
“First, I’m glad I could bring some entertainment to an otherwise boring evening for you gentlemen. Enough that even those who weren’t in attendance heard of my sexcapades. Second, we have an…understanding, Skyler and me. We’re both very open about things between us.” He arches his brow. I know what he’s insinuating, and I call bullshit. There’s no fucking way Skyler would be okay with sharing, especially with club girls.
“I’ve had my fun, but I got to thinking, you know. It’s not good for someone who’s grieving and vulnerable to be left alone with all that emptiness, especially at night. I think it would be best for her to have someone close. Don’t worry Ethan, I’ll keep our girl safe.”
Oh, this motherfucker’s looking to pick a fight. And I am all too happy to oblige him.
“Shit, he wishes!” Xander chuckles. “Sky’s not going to be anybody’s ol’ lady.”
“Why not?” I’m genuinely curious, but if I’m honest I’m also terrified Xander’s going to tell me she’s shared by all of them, and I can’t promise the last thread I’m hanging by won’t snap like the fucker’s neck when I catch him.
“Cut the shit, Cash.” Eli reprimands. Hawk snickers from beside me until my clenched fist slams into his thigh.
“Ah, Pres. You’re no fun.” Cash whines.
“The fuck, man?” He groans, rubbing the sting out of his leg. I don’t pay him any attention, keeping my focus on the asshat across the room.
“I’m sure she can stay with Ghost if she’s lonely.”
“Or perhaps Ethan here would like to volunteer his place.” Hawk proposes, earning a glare from both Cash and me. It’s Jake and Jameson’s turn to snicker. “What? Given your history…ow! Knock that shit off!” Hawk whines through his laughter while continuing to rub the sting out of his thigh. He’s just trying to stir shit, but I’m not in the mood for his games.
I know I have no right or reason to be spouting off the way I am, but Cash grates on my every nerve.
Cash with Skyler grates on your nerves.
He’s not going over there to keep an eye on her, he has a whole other agenda in mind. I can see it in his eyes. I’ve seen how friendly and flirty he is with Skyler. How protective he was of her. He talks like he’s spent a lot of time with her and knows her well, and I don’t like it.
“What history would that be exactly?’ Walker asks, his narrow gaze homed in on me.
“Are we done here, ladies? Can we get on with business now?” Gabe’s becoming frustrated at our exchange, but he can’t hide the amusement in his eyes. Fuck me. They’re all enjoying this.
“Right. Cash I’ve got no problem with you staying in town, as for where you sleep…I’ll leave that to you.” Gabe gives Cash a stern look. Cash looks puzzled but doesn’t argue.
I’m struggling to make sense of my own shit right now let alone focus on the conversations around me. With the anger I feel toward Sky, and the pain she’s caused both me and my family I shouldn’t care about all this other bullshit. I sure as shit shouldn’t want to fuck her, but I do.
No! Scarlet! You want to fuck Scarlet!
The door opens and closes behind us and Mack takes his seat at the table with a nod to Gabe. Gabe drops the gavel and officially gets church under way.
“Now that we’ve got Cash’s sleeping arrangements out of the way,” Gabe says, glaring at me while he speaks. “Eli, I’m going to defer to you first, since you said you have some news to bring to the table. Then Mack, I’ll give you the floor.”
Mack doesn’t answer, but nods. He looks frustrated, uneasy. Two things you never want a man like Mack to be.
Eli clears his throat, clasping his large hands he leans forward on the table, pointing his finger and glaring at me.
“I’m just going to tell you, you’re one stupid motherfucker.”
“You’re a president. I’m sure since you’ve been hiding her all this time, it’s safe to assume you wouldn’t take someone in without knowing why. You know what she did. I have every reason to be angry. Although the entire club seems to want to pledge their loyalty to Skyler, it would be wise of you all to remember where her loyalties lie. With herself. While you all seem to be falling at her feet singing her praises, I’ve learned from my past mistakes. I don’t trust her.”
Shaking his head, his ominous eyes locked on mine, Eli doesn’t back down. “You just proved my point. You haven’t listened to shit. The Skyler you once knew has changed. Circumstances caused that change to take place. If you don’t believe me, take a look in the mirror. Your fucked up face says it all.”His words elicit a round of laughter around the table. “People do things to protect others…You know what? Never mind. You’ll have to figure this shit out for yourself.”
Before I can question what the hell he’s talking about, Eli starts explaining what he knows to the club. “The guy you saw on the video talking to George at the shipyard is part of the Devil’s Order. Or he was at some point. We’re not sure which.” All thoughts of Skyler and the bullshit with her and Cash immediately takes a backseat as I absorb Eli’s news. “He wears their tattoo but not their colors.”
Several curse words are grumbled around the room. At the mention of the Devil’s Order, all humor and arguing is pushed aside. Everyone in the room is instantly on edge and completely focused.
The Kings went to war with the Devil’s Order MC years ago after they killed Caleb’s brother, Jonah. He wasn’t just Caleb’s brother and our VP. He was Jameson’s father and Gabe’s uncle. There are rumors the D.O. had something to do with the death of Gabe’s wife and daughter too, but no one has ever confirmed it that I know of.
Declan whistles, then says, “Why do you say that?”
“He wears their tattoo on his forearm. Bronson caught footage of him in The Bare Trap last week. We couldn’t get a good look at him, but his tattoos were partially visible. The spider on his neck and a partial view of the Devil’s tattoo on his forearm were the only definitive markings we could see.”
“He was in Mountain Heights?” Mack looks momentarily confused.
Eli pushes forward. “Yeah. We couldn’t get facial recognition from our cameras due to a hat and his head being kept low. But Bronson caught him nosing around The Bare Trap asking some of the waitresses if they knew where he might find her. He was asking for Sky by name.”
“Did anyone say anything?” Ghost asks looking pissed as hell.
Xander jumps into the conversation, typing on his laptop. “No. The girls who work at the Trap don’t use their real names. Not even with each other. And most of the girls wear wigs when they work. It was part of the act. They wouldn’t know who Skyler Sinclair the way he would’ve described her. Tall, blonde, tattooed bombshell, not when she worked for Cash she wasn’t.
Wigs?
“Her act?” Both me and Hawk look at each other dumbfounded to hear Skyler has an act at a strip club.
“Some of the bartenders and waitresses fill in from time to time. Wigs and costumes help hide their true identities. Keeps crazy fuckers from finding the girls when they’re out in town doing their everyday shit. Mostly.” Cash says it like it’s no big deal, everyone does it sort of way.
“Ho-ly shit!” Hawk’s practically fucking drooling beside me.
“Skyler gets naked on a stage for the club?” The words come out like gravel as I try to contain my frustration. No wonder they’re so protective of her. She’s a financial investment.
The need to break something is overwhelming. More questions flitter through my mind. Why would she have to be a stripper if the Kings were taking care of her? Is this how they employed her all this time? What other services does she provide?
Both Eli and Cash looks at me with heads tilted as if to ask what right I have to question them, but neither give an answer.
“What the fuck?” Ghost growls from his seat in the corner. My own thoughts are coming from his mouth. He and Caleb are both suddenly more tense. Both have a cold air about them. Whether it’s because of the news of Skyler’s working in a strip club or the mention of the Devil’s order, is a toss of a coin. They’re eyes are focused, dark, and menacing. But it’s the cold, lifeless look in Gabe’s eyes I’m worried about.
Xander isn’t a small man, but he’s more on the leaner muscular side of things. I know he works as a bouncer for their strip club and leads a double life as a super nerd. He’s the Mountain Heights tech guy. He and Hawk are two of the smartest, tech savvy men I’ve ever met in my life. They’re also two grown ass men who get almost as excited about a new video game as they do about pussy. It’s strange.
“Sky usually worked behind the bar.” Xander offers, like he didn’t just defuse a fucking bomb.
Xander shifts in his seat, eyes focused on his laptop as he addresses the room. “I’ve combed through our footage at the club for the last three months and I haven’t seen this guy until now. But that doesn’t mean he wasn’t there before. I can’t get into the footage that far back from this location. Those videos are all saved on the hard drive at the clubhouse.” Xander taps a few keys on his laptop, not making eye contact with anyone.
“AND! Do we know who he is?” Ghost roars having lost his patience.
Xander taps some keys, the TV on the wall comes to life and we’re all staring at camera feeds from inside The Bare Trap. “No. We don’t. Not yet.” Xander says, looking Ghost in the eyes when he adds, “But we will. One of the girls recognized him but didn’t know his name. But either he’s been there before or someone he’s working with has because he knew where the fucking cameras were. I can’t get a good angle from any of them on his face. But we can see his tattoos. It’s definitely the same guy.”
“Fuck!” Ghost snaps.
Xander’s right. Every picture the man’s face is tilted down or away. His baseball cap is worn down low over his eyes. The one thing we can all see is the spider tattoo on his neck.
“Bronson has had my men out looking for him in case he’s still in the area.” Eli grunts. “But you all should be on the lookout. There’s a very good possibility he’s headed here next.”
Eli directs his response to Gabe. Gabe’s scrubs his beard with both hands, growling, “fuuuuck.”
“If he isn’t already here.” Cash ominously offers.
“Declan, get Garrison on this. Send Wyatt and Liam on it.” Gabe orders.
“The only good thing we can say is he appears to be alone. Bronson didn’t see him meet up with anyone. He left alone.”
“Did we get a plate?”
“Yeah, but he left in an Uber. So, the registered owner won’t help us here.”
Jake fills in the blanks and Eli nods. “What would he want with Skyler?” Jake asks. “With George dead, he doesn’t need her as leverage anymore.”
“That’s what we’re trying to figure out.” Eli looks to Gabe, his brow raised in question, but it’s Mack who answers.
“Money.”
“The fuck?” Ghost slams his fist on the table as he stands up. Caleb grabs his shoulder, a subtle reminder to reign his shit in.
Mack leans against the wall looking haggard in his rumpled suit and hair. He doesn’t usually wear his work clothes to the clubhouse if he can avoid it. He must’ve flown in in the middle of the night from Baron’s Edge.
“George said he dropped off a shipment to Parisi’s men. A package we now know wasn’t his, since the owners of said shipment killed George for keeping it from them.” Mack lets out a long sigh, crossing his arms over his chest as he continues. “Either they think Skyler knows where the shipment went, and who George was working for, or…” his words hang in the air.
“He plans to use Skyler as a means to make back some of the money George cost him.” Caleb supplies.
“Using his daughter to pay off his debt.” Jake growls. “He plans to sell her or pimp her out. It’s the only plausible reason he would be looking for her.”
“What was in the shipment George stole?” I’m almost afraid to ask because I’m certain I know the answer.
“It would appear George handed over a trailer full of women and under ages girls to an unknown Samaritan, who then contacted the feds and told them where to find the trailer.” Mack informs the room. The agent on the case wondered if Russell West or Garrison Security had any idea who the Samaritan might be so she could thank them in person. Of course, we told her we knew nothing other than one of our drivers was shot and his trailer stolen. Since George was an independent contractor, and he wasn’t on a run for West Enterprises, we have no record of what he was hauling or where he was coming back from.”
“Damn. Is that enough to keep the feds out of your ass for now?” Ghost asks.
“I’m sure they’ll be around, but there’s nothing tying Russell or his companies to any foul play. For now, their main suspect as well as witness, is dead. George is the only one who knew anything.” Mack shrugs.
“Apparently there’s been several young girls who have gone missing from places like Baron’s Edge, Devil’s Canyon, Crestview…They all have similar stories. God girls who suddenly start slacking in school, skipping classes, coming home high, and sneaking out late at night to parties with people the parents didn’t recognize. Within a week to one month, the girls disappear. When they’re found…” Mack looks at me doesn’t finish his thought.
“They’re found beaten and raped. Track marks in their arms. Their bodies hardly recognizable by their loved one.” Hawk finishes, reading something from his laptop, then posting it up on the tv for all to see.
It’s the FBI files for four girls reported missing two weeks before George died. Their bodies were found three days ago.
“They were being primed by their dealer. He got them started with the intention of taking them.” Jameson hisses. “Got them hooked. Got them to trust the dealer to make them feel good. He knew when shit hit the fan, when the girls finally had enough of their parents bitchin’, they’d run to him, and he’d help them escape all their problems. All while the son of a bitch turned a profit.”
“Son of a bitch!”
“Fucking hell!”
The room erupts in curses and grumbling. The harming of women and children is against our code of honor. That kind of shit doesn’t fly with the Kings.
“How many more were there?” Cash asks, his voice sounding strained as he speaks. We’re all feeling anger, and total disgust for the one responsible. They’ll die at our hands without question. We won’t let this slide.
“Honestly, we don’t know.” Is Mack’s reply. “There’s no pattern to show they’re working in one specific area. They move around from coast to coast according to what the agent told us. Girls have reportedly gone missing in several areas over the last decade or more. The cops are trying to narrow it down, but it may take some time.”
“So, what? You think this fucker approached George to drive his truck full of women and kids somewhere, and George double crossed them by delivering their merchandise to Parisi instead? Why would Parisi care enough to get involved? What’s his piece in all this?” Jake’s question is aimed at Gabe.
“Parisi doesn’t deal in skin trade. He may have gentlemen’s clubs that offer certain services, but those businesses are legit. To the same extent Glitz and Tass is, how about that. He wouldn’t condone anyone selling women or children into slavery. He doesn’t deal drugs. Doesn’t even allow the people who work for him to use anything stronger than a fucking joint, if he even allows that.” Gabe chuckles. “Parisi’s main revenue is made through more legal means, outside his gun trade business. But I’m not going to call him on that shit. We still have a few of our own backdoor gun deals when the situation calls for it.”
“I still think we need to have a sit down with him.” Mack says. “I’d like to know what he knows. He may have more intel on who exactly we’re dealing with. If this guy in Mountain Heights is officially a member of the Devil’s Order or if her a rogue piece of shit working with someone else.”
“Yeah, I hear ya.” Gabe says, stroking his beard.
“Cash, you stick close to Skyler. If you’ve got something else going on, I want a prospect on her. Might not hurt to keep one on her even when you are around. We still aren’t sure if this guy is still affiliated with the Devil’s Order, possibly a nomad, or if he’s got himself a new boss. Until we know for sure, everyone, watch your backs. Everyone rides in pairs. We clear?” There’s a ruckus of “yes sir” and “Got you, Pres” at Gabe’s command.
My stomach turns. My chest feels tight. Flashes of photos the cops showed me of Emily’s body. Everything she went through the night she died. My blood runs cold. The emotions of that night all come back to the surface.
I’ve got to get out of here.
“Hawk, Xander, find out who this son of a bitch is.”
“On it, Pres.”
“You got it.”
Hawk must sense my impending meltdown because he’s quick to get Gabe’s attention.
“Pres.”
I hear Gabe calling my name. Know he’s talking to me, but I can’t respond. Trapped in my nightmares. The anguish. The tears. The feeling of failing Emily and my mother. The fierce hatred for Skyler for leaving me to face it all alone.
“Ethan!” He shouts, dragging me from my mental hell.
“Yeah.”
“You good?”
“Just need some air.” Understanding and a sadness that mirrors my own stare back at me. Gabe tells us all to take a ten-minute break slamming the gavel down and I run like the devil himself is on my ass and get the hell out of there.
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