27. Skyler
27
*********
Sneaking out of Ethan’s room, I quietly shut his door. With all the men down in the basement, I figure I should be safe to sneak out of the clubhouse with only a couple of prospects to get by. Easy peasy.
Right.
My phone vibrates with a text.
VP: I’m at the gate, Be ready in 5.
Me: Ready now
VP: Santiago will take you wherever you want to go.
Me: I want to go home
VP: As you wish.
Blake’s phone rings. I watch as he answers it. His eyes grow wide.
“They’re in the basement. I’ll have to ask Pres. Hold on.” Blake who I’m certain is talking to Colt who’s manning the gate, takes off at record speed down the stairway leading to the basement.
Peeking around the corner, there’s no one else around. I run for the front door. Making my way outside I move to the corner of the building out of sight. I watch as the gate opens and three blacked out SUVs enter the property down the hill. They drive up the long road to the clubhouse. All three park next to each other. The driver from the first car gets out, scans the yard then opens the back door. The second has two soldiers and a driver, who do the same. The third is the same as the first, only a driver. Three men step out from the backdoors: Vincenzo, Matteo, and Santiago.
Santiago speaks to the driver of his vehicle and the man joins the driver at the first vehicle. Vincenzo nods to Santiago and stands beside the third car.
Blake comes walking out of the clubhouse to meet Vincenzo and Matteo. I tuck behind the wall trying not to be seen. He’s only a few feet away from me, and I know damn well Blake will snitch on me if he saw me out here by myself. Especially since he and Colt will probably get in trouble for letting me slip last them. I know what lockdown means; I just don’t give a shit. Right now, I need some time alone to think shit through and space from a very demanding and obviously, delusional biker.
“Mr. Parisis. Good to see you again, sir. Pres will be up to see you shortly, he’s, uh, seeing to a pest problem.” Blake says it like Gabe’s killing ants in the basement.
Vincenzo nods. “I’ll wait inside. You can pour me a bourbon on the rocks while I wait.” Turning back, Vincenzo addresses Santiago. “You can head home, Santiago. Matteo and I will be fine here with our friends. Please be sure to watch over things until I return.”
“Sure thing, boss.”
Blake follows Vincenzo and Matteo into the clubhouse. Once the door is shut, I scurry across the front toward Santiago who is holding the back door open for me.
“Get in, Sweetheart. They can’t see through the tint back here. I’ll take you home.”
“Thank you!” I toss my bag into the seat and scoot all the way to the other side of the car.
Santiago gets in and starts backing out. “When we get close to the gate, I need you to duck down below the seat. They can’t see in through the tint, but we don’t want him to catch a glimpse of your head through the front windshield. We don’t want any problems with your boy.” He chuckles. “At least not until he talks with the boss. Then, I can’t promise he won’t come to find you and drag your ass back here.”
“Ethan isn’t my boy, and he won’t be a problem for you.”
“Oh, I know he won’t be a problem for me.” Santiago waves to Colt as we pass through the gate and onto the main road. Once we’ve cleared the corner, I sit up on the seat and watch the trees pass by the window as we drive by. “I can’t say the same for your ass when Ethan finds out you not only snuck out during a lockdown but left with another man who wasn’t a club member. I hope that sweet ass of yours can take a good spanking, Sweetheart, because I have a feeling you might not be sitting too pretty by tomorrow.”
“Ethan is not going to spank my ass! He might be a little pissed off, but he isn’t into all your kinky shit.”
Santiago laughs. “I wouldn’t be so sure. I know if you were my woman and snuck out on me when I specifically told you to keep your ass somewhere, babe, you wouldn’t sit right for a week.”
I don’t respond because, what do I even say to that? Other than, I have a whole new picture of Santiago in my head.
Ethan would never do something like spank me. Would he?
He did threaten to tie me to his bed. But I’m sure he was being dramatic.
Right?
I’m not sure, but the thought of being tied up to his bed at his mercy has my thighs clinching together and my core heating up.
Get a grip on yourself, Skyler!
It’s bad enough, Ethan got me all hot and bothered and left me with an achy pussy. Now I have images in my head of all the wicked things he could do to me if he’s even half as kinky as Santiago seems to think he is.
Fuck me. I’m going to need to relieve some of this stress when I get back to the house, or I’ll never be able to get any rest tonight.
“So, what’s the story with you two anyway?” Santiago is intimidating with his broad build and his fitted Armani suits. The women go crazy for him at the Pearl, even those who work there. We all talk about his olive skin and his Adonis like body we all know is under all that fabric. He has a hard look about him when he’s working, but to us girls, he’s as sweet as they come. Ever the gentlemanly protector.
If you aren’t his woman and don’t break a rule, I guess. Then apparently, he becomes a kinky fucker with a penchant for punishment.
“It’s a long story, and unfortunately not one I want to tell. It doesn’t have much of a happy ending.”
“Well, that’s disappointing.” He chuckles. “I figured after you broke your own rules and fucked him mindless at the Pearl, there would have a better ending.”
My eyes grow wide as saucers. “How?”
“Cameras.” My eyes close. My cheeks heating up. “Relax. Archie asked if I knew you were in there, and with who---I had him shut the cameras down. Figuring you didn’t want everyone to know. But when you came out of the room looking freshly fucked, and he left looking like the cat who ate the cream, I figured you worked things out.”
“You and me both, Santiago. You and me both.”
When we pull up to the house, Santiago is quick to grab my door and my bag. I raise my brow at him, and he shrugs. “It’s part of the job, Sweetheart. Get over it.”
I punch in the code Xander text me for the new security system and open the door.
“Where do you want this?” He asks, lifting my bag.
“I can take it.”
Santiago gives me a look that says you’re not getting it and waits. With a deep sigh, I give in because I really don’t have it in me to argue.
I’m so tired.
“My room. Last one on the right. He nods and leaves toward my room while I rummage through the fridge for something to cook for dinner. I’m lost in thought. The night at the Pearl. Almost getting snatched at the diner. Telling Ethan about the baby we could’ve had.
My mind is anywhere but on food when Santiago leans over my shoulder and asks, “What do we got to work with?” I nearly jump out of my skin.
“Jesus! Wear a bell or something would you?”
He laughs, putting his hand on my shoulder, moving me out of his way.
“Sorry, Sweetheart. I thought you heard me come in.” Santiago studies my face for a minute then suggests, “Why don’t you go sit down and I’ll make us something to eat, yeah?”
I sit on the edge of the island and watch as Santiago removes his suit coat, placing it over the back of the barstool, then starts pulling food out of the fridge laying things out beside me.
“You cook?” I don’t know why the thought surprises me.
Again, he chuckles, shaking his head. He grabs a knife from the block on the counter and a wooden cutting board. Placing an onion, tomato, and two bell peppers placing them to the side of the board.
“Believe it or not, Sweetheart, there’s more to me than a pretty face and rock-hard body.” His brows wiggle. “I’m pretty good with a gun and yes, I cook too.” His smile widens. He reaches back into the fridge and pulls out a small package of chicken breasts, placing them on the counter beside the vegetables.
“My mama taught all us kids our way around the kitchen. Said she didn’t want us dependent on anyone else to take care of us. It makes us weak. She also would never accept anyone else could cook like she does, so she took to teaching us herself.” His face lights up as he speaks of his mother.
“She sounds like an amazing woman.”
“Yeah, she is. But don’t be food by her kindness.” Santiago looks at me seriously. “The woman is as ruthless as she is sweet. She will gut an enemy and not think twice about it.” My surprise must show. Santiago points his finger in my face. “We make sure our women are cared for, which includes making sure they can defend themselves should something happen to us. Every woman should be able to protect herself.”
Cross my arms over my chest. I don’t know why I feel indignant at his words, but I feel like I need to remind him I’m not helpless.
“I’m well equipped to handle myself. Cash and the guys have trained me for years in Krav Magra, knives, guns, and general self-defense. I know how to handle myself, but sometimes, I hesitate. I don’t know why. I guess I don’t really want to take someone’s life. It’s a huge responsibility. A weight I’d rather not deal with.”
“Yeah, but that Matthews fucker deserved what you did to him and then some.”
I freeze at his words.
“W-w-what are you talking about, Santiago?” I ask, hoping my fear doesn’t show through, though inside I’m fighting to keep the panic at bay.
He shrugs a shoulder, placing a skillet on the stove top, coating the bottom with oil, then setting the burner to medium. He grabs the chicken, placing it in front of him, searching through cabinets for something.
“George told us you killed the kid in self-defense. You did what you had to do. No shame in that, Sweetheart. You hesitate now because you’re holding onto guilt for taking his life. But he wasn’t an innocent man, Sky. The fact is, if you hadn’t killed him, he would’ve killed you. He deserved what he got. I would’ve strung him up for a few days in our cellar, but your way worked too.” His face resembles disappointment, and his tone tells me he’s dead fucking serious.
“I didn’t want to kill him. He just…”
Santiago finds the spices he wants and generously seasons the chicken before placing it in the skillet. He bumps the faucet with his elbow turning the water on, and begins washing his hands, while continuing to explain.
“You may not have wanted to kill him, but don’t think for one minute what you did was wrong. He deserved it. He had been pumping young girls with drugs and turning them into prostitutes. Keeping them so fucked up on his shit, some didn’t realize what they were doing, they only knew they had to do what they were told if they wanted another hit. Your friend was one of those women.” He dries his hands, then reaches for the onion and a knife. Looking at me over his shoulder he says, “I know you don’t want to hear it, but you know it’s the truth, right?” I nod. I did know. I just didn’t think anyone else knew. Everyone in town assumed she was drugged and raped because it’s how the police report was written.
He begins slicing the onion into thin strips.
“Matthews always had a string of girls following him around town. Boss kept an eye on him for a while right before your friend was killed. The guy pretended to date the girls for a few weeks. He’d take them to parties. Drug their drinks, take photos of them, convincing them they had a great time. He would convince them to try something a little harder, fuck them, and convince them they were his one and only. Then once they were hooked, the fucker sold their time and body making him more money and keeping the girls coked out of their head. So don’t you ever feel bad about sending that asshole to hell. We clear?”
I let Santiago’s words sink in, but there’s a part to all of this he doesn’t understand. I don’t think anyone does. Because it’s club business.
But if Santiago knows what happened, then he already knows the club’s business, so I should be able to talk to him about it. Right? I haven’t spoken to anyone about it since the night everything went down. Not even with Daddy. I was sworn to secrecy from everyone.
But Santiago knows more than anyone else does. And I know I can trust him.
I need to tell someone. Maybe it’ll finally help take the weight off my chest.
I start twisting the hem of my shirt in my hands. “Can I tell you something, and you swear not to tell anyone else? I don’t even know if Vincenzo knows, but I-I need to talk to someone about it, and since Daddy told you what I did---and you’ve kept his secret…I need you to keep it between us! Gabe would be pissed if I said anything.”
Santiago drops the knife, reaches under the cabinet, and pulls out a second skillet, again coating the bottom with a thin layer of oil.
“If I can keep the family secrets,” his lips curve at the corners, “I can keep your secrets. So long as you aren’t doing something to hurt yourself that is.”
“You don’t care if I want to hurt someone else?” I ask.
Santiago has the knife in his hand and stops short of cutting the bell pepper, turning to me. “Give me a name.” His face is serious, his tone deathly lethal.
“No. No. I don’t want to hurt someone else. I was only asking why you wouldn’t care if I did?”
“I don’t think you understand. You wouldn’t hurt someone; you would give me a name and I would take care of it. But if you did hurt someone, you would need only tell me where to send the clean-up crew. Boss will take care of everything.”
Oh my God. He’s serious!
“Okay. Okay. Back up. I don’t think you understand what I’m asking.” Santiago looks at me expectantly, one hand on the knife the other now holding his phone. I throw my hands up in front of me. “What I meant was, can I tell you something about the night Chase died and you not tell anyone? Like things you may not know happened. Things I worry about.”
“You can tell me anything, Sweetheart. What’s weighing on your mind?” He turns back to his vegetables and continues slicing away.
I breathe in deep and let I out the words rushing them with my breath.
“I don’t feel guilty for killing Chase.”
“Good. You shouldn’t.”
“But I do feel guilty for all the trouble killing him caused the club.” Santiago throws the vegetables into the pan with the oil, then lightly seasons and stirs them.
“The club does what they want. It’s not your choice what they do.”
“I know. But they wouldn’t have had to do anything if I didn’t kill someone. See, my uncle disposed of the body, and the club covered up his death to make it look like he disappeared to keep from starting a war.”
“As they should have.”
“Santiago.”
He turns, leaning against the counter, his arms crossed, his face telling me he’s waiting for me to make sense.
“People have come looking for the truth about Chase’s disappearance. They’ve come looking for me, and the club is going to have to go to war anyway…because of me.”
“This is what you’re worried about?” Santiago waves me off then turns back to the food. “You’re worrying for nothing.”
“How can you say that? The club is going to go to war with the Devil’s Order and it’s all because I killed Chase!” My voice raises along with my frustration.
“Listen to me, Sweetheart. And listen well.” Santiago leans against the counter once more, waving a wooden spoon in my direction. “You are not responsible for what any man does. They make their own choices. Your uncle chose to dispose of the body to ensure your safety. There are crooked men in all walks of life, even some of those who have sworn to serve and protect. You understand?”
I nod, remembering Daddy had said something similar the night Emily and Chase died. He had said we didn’t know who we could trust outside the club.
“Your father, uncle, and Gabe did what needed to be done to keep people from asking the right questions. Without you as a witness to question, and no body, there was no evidence to suggest the club’s involvement or yours. You follow?” Again, I nod, trying to keep up with what he’s telling me.
“The Devil’s Order isn’t after you because some punk ass prospect fucked up a deal and went missing. They’re here because your father was working with the boss to help stop the Devil’s Order from trafficking young women and girls.”
“Wait. What?” His words shock the shit out of me. “What are you talking about?”
“Not too long ago, George learned about a trafficking ring. He knew the man involved in transporting the women and girls was Chase’s brother, a member of the Devil’s Order. He wasn’t sure the guy knew George was your father, but he didn’t want to take any chances. He also didn’t want to involve the club, so he came to Vincenzo for help. You follow?”
I nod.
“Unfortunately, shit went sideways, and your father was murdered.” Santiago runs a hand down his face, recrossing his arms as he continues. “George knew when he turned over the truckload of victims to Vincenzo’s contact, the Devil’s would come after him. What he didn’t want, was for them to come looking for you. So, he…”
“Worked out a deal with Vincenzo to provide protection for me.” I fill in the blanks for him. “But why would he send me to the clubhouse then? Why not send me to Vincenzo?”
He shrugs his shoulders turning back to the food. Placing a lid over the chicken and turning sown the fire to simmer. With his back to me, he says, “I don’t know. Maybe he was looking to keep the club occupied with you while the boss worked on putting an end to the trafficking shit. The boss will fill Gabe in on whatever he and George were doing, but we both know the Devils aren’t about to go up against the Parisi family. Our reach goes too far.”
“No. But the Devils came after me and Jayde today. Which means they’re willing to go to war with the Kings.”
“And because of this, they’ve chosen to start a war with all of us.”
*********