Chapter 13
Chapter
Thirteen
Grinder
I’d had my suspicions for a while, but when Caal had spoken them out loud, it was like a mist had cleared from my head. It was clear for all to see, but I guess I’d not wanted to believe it.
I’m not sure if the reason behind pulling the trigger was that I couldn’t bear to hear anymore shit coming from the asshole’s mouth, or anger directed at myself for being so blind to what had been going on right in front of me.
Royal was fucking my sister.
Had my initial instincts urged me to turn the gun on my Prez and best friend for betraying me?
Maybe, but as quickly as the thought came, it went.
Royal’s actions in the minutes after had only confirmed that it had been the right move.
Watching him swoop in like fucking Prince Charming, taking Gio into his embrace, the way he held her. That wasn’t just a simple reassuring hug, a ‘there, there, everything’s going to be okay,’ kind of hold. It had been the kind you gave to someone who meant the fucking world to you.
The way she fell into him, clinging onto him so tight, melting into him until they were almost one. It was clear that it was not a one-way street. Gio is into him too.
Royal had moved fast, his desperation to get her out of there clearly evident.
When he’d reached the bottom of the stairs, all the while holding her tight, instead of routing out the front door where most of our brothers were, he had taken her out the back.
As previously planned, on standby was a small four-seater speedboat that we’d acquired, without permission, from outside another property nearby.
A powerful motor hung on the back, Hammer at the controls.
Without a thought of the instability of the craft, Royal stepped into the boat.
The weight of them both caused it to wobble, but quickly, he regained his balance and placed Gio’s ass down onto one of the vacant seats.
“Grinder,” he ordered. “Get over here.” I stepped forward, no argument given, despite having a number of questions zooming around my head. “Take Gio back to the clubhouse where she’ll be safe, but keep a low profile. The fewer eyes on us, the better.”
“What about cleanup?” I ask, because that’s something I would normally oversee or at least make sure that whichever brothers were tasked with it, got it done.
“I’ll deal with it,” he reassured me. “Gio needs you right now, so get in here.” I step onto the boat but hold back, a little dumbstruck as I watch Royal with her.
“Gio, sweetheart,” he coos to her softly as he eases her arms from around his neck.
At first, she resists, not wanting to let him go, but he leans in and whispers something into her ear that I’m unable to hear.
Her arms relax, hands sliding into her lap as he removes himself from between her legs.
“Garth is going to look after you.” She looks up at him with eyes big, red and puffy, but I don’t miss the emotion within them.
Not fear. Not hate. Quite the opposite. Adoration is what I see, especially when he leans down and places a gentle, lingering kiss on her forehead.
“Grinder,” he motions for me to take the seat beside her, but just before I do, his hand lands on my shoulder. “Get her settled, see if Ria will sit with her, because once everyone is back, I’m calling Church.”
I give him a quick but sure nod before I take my place beside my sister, wrapping my arm around her shoulder.
With Royal stepping back on dry land, Hammer steers the boat away from the dock and then bucks it out of there.
As we get further away and down the shoreline, past all the other rich assholes houses with their private docks, expensive motors and more dollar than they know what to do with, I tighten my hold on Gio, bringing her in closer to my side, and rest my head against hers.
She’s trembling. The shock having a hold over her, controlling her body’s reactions.
No surprise really, what with this, the second time she’s witnessed a killing; both a bullet to the head.
This time, the bullet had been mere inches from her face, so close that blood splatter had contaminated her skin.
“It’s okay, sis, you’re okay. Everything’s going to be okay.
” Yet despite my words of reassurance, I can’t quite ignore the whirlwind of thoughts and emotions that are running rampant within my head.
For now, I need to rein those in, my priority in this moment is that my sister is safe, and away from the drama and chaos that’s just gone down.
Royal
Clean-up? More like a cover-up. With the help of Boulder and Banshee, we got creative, moving around bodies, replacing weapons and setting a scene that will hopefully remove any trace of the Saint’s Outlaws ever being there. A disagreement between themselves that got way out of hand.
Our regular cleanup team wasn’t really needed on this occasion, but I still got them to go in, give it the once-over for fingerprints, fibers and any other trace evidence, including anything that Giorgia might have left too.
Chasm had quickly scoped out any possible witnesses from the street, but luck had been on our side and most of the surrounding properties had been vacant. I’m guessing the majority of them are weekend retreats, holiday or second homes for the super-rich, business moguls from the city.
Forger, our tech king, with his dexterous fingers and computer savvy brain, had at the outset managed to hack into each and every camera both in and outside the premises, knocking them out, giving us time to get in and out without leaving video evidence.
Now, back at the clubhouse, after a message was received to confirm the clean-up was complete, I left my motorcycle in its usual place and made my way inside.
“Is she safe?” I shout over to Grinder as he steps through the door that leads from my apartment.
His eyes narrow. He serves me with a quick nod.
“Ria with her?” I check, not wanting her to be on her own while no doubt she’s trying to process the horror that she’s just gone through.
Again, no words, just a swift nod of his head, a slight curl to his lip.
He knows, and he’s fucking furious.
“Church,” I bark. “Forger too.” I straighten my back, chin raised as I turn on my heels and march towards the door leading into our chapel.
Sure, it’s clear with the death stare Grinder is throwing my way that he wants to beat the shit out of me, but that will have to wait, because as the president of this club, there’s a debriefing that needs to be done.
Once inside, with the door firmly closed behind me, I take a few moments before my brothers start filtering in, to regain my composure.
Fuck, the last few hours could have played out so differently.
Bloodshed had been inevitable. Loss of brother’s lives a possibility, but if one of the casualties had been Giorgia, it would have ripped out my heart and left me catatonic.
At this moment all I want to do is go to her, embrace her, love on her until the horrors are forgotten, no longer in her head, and the only thing that’s left is a sense of peace, security and love.
But I also need to put a line under today’s events, then come clean with Grinder, before I can take the next step with his sister, Gio, my Gio.
When I hear voices outside the door, I draw in a deep breath and take my place at the head of the table.
With everything that has just gone down, most would expect my brothers to be somewhat subdued, but on the contrary.
Elbows dig sides, hands slap backs as they jostle their way into the room, cackling like a bunch of old women discussing the latest medical soap opera.
Each of them tried to one-up the other with the part they played in the event.
I let it go on for a while, but eventually I put a stop to it.
“Shut the fuck up and sit down,” I roar over the noise, slamming down the gavel for added effect. The room goes quiet. The only sound is of creaking leather and heavy boots hitting the stone floor as they move to their place around the table.
“Now everyone has put their dicks away, we can start.” I tap my fingers on the edge of the Saint’s Outlaws emblem that is scorched into the wood surface in front of me.
“Today could have gone down very differently, but as usual, every single one of you stepped up to your role, worked seamlessly as a team and covered your brothers’ backs.
You were impressive and a credit to the club.
The mission was to extract Grinder’s sister, and every one of you stepped up to the plate.
” With every word, I let my eyes skim over the faces in front of me.
Yet I avoid Grinder’s. I fix them firmly on Hammer.
“Did you dispose of the boat?”
“Yeah, when we got to the meetup point with Scotty, Diesel — the guy you called in — was waiting, and he took care of it. Give it an hour, and it will be gone.”
Diesel was our guy who took care of the disposal of any vehicles that we might need to disappear.
Bodies were easy. You didn’t need to go far to find an alligator-infested swamp or a stretch of unused land that could accommodate an unmarked grave or two.
But with machinery, that’s when Diesel came into his own, and his inventive way of dismantling, upcycling the parts, making them unrecognizable and a far cry from their original status.
“Good.” I turn my attention to Forger, who’s standing at the back of the room. Prospects don’t get to sit at the table when they do get called in to join us. Hell, he’s only here because his input is crucial on this. “No chance of any digital footage out there?”
“Clean as a whistle, Prez,” he assured me.
“Good, good,” I tilt my head, acknowledging his work.
“I'm pretty sure we covered everything. When the cops do go in, all they’ll see is the aftermath of a drug dealer’s disgruntled crew going all psycho and ending up taking each other out.
Just in case, Forger, get Ink to help you monitor the police scanners, local news and radio, to make sure that when it does come out, it’s not going to give us any blowback. ”
“I’ll get right on it.”
“Does anyone else have anything to report or any questions?”
The majority responds with a clear no. All but one.
“So, do you think that’s the end of it?” Creep’s monotone voice rises above the rest. “We can get back to normal.”
“If you’re asking if we can relax back on the security around Grinder’s sister, the extra eyes that we had on her, then yes, but it doesn’t mean we should be complacent.
One thing this has brought to light, is that we need to step up our game when it comes to what is going on within the city.
If Giorgia hadn’t come to us for help, how long would it have been before we had noticed Caal and his crew?
They were already encroaching on our turf without our knowledge.
They were pissing on our feet and we didn’t even smell it.
No doubt they were trying to worm their way into the city like a virus.
One that could have got out of control and put this city back years.
Don’t get me wrong, Grinder’s sister should never have had her life turned upside down, feel threatened like she did, but if it hadn’t been for her, the impact of that bastard Caal on the Saint’s Outlaws could have been devastating. Instead, we live to rule another day.
The room fills with mumbled chatter, nods of agreement and a few sighs of relief at the realization of what shitstorm we could have been facing.
“If that’s all, brothers, then we’re done.” I wait a few seconds, but when no one pipes up, I bring down the gavel hard. “Now, go get yourselves a drink, let off some steam. You fucking deserve it.”
Chair legs scrape against the stone floor as my men get to their feet. As one by one they make their way back out through the door, heading to the bar for a well-earned shot of something strong and some pussy, in recognition of a job well done. Grinder’s ass stays firmly in his seat.
Guess it’s time.