Chapter Twenty-Nine
It was like an episode from the Twilight Zone.
Two bikers trapped her in the loft just to be ambushed by two men in suits.
Gent and Cue left shortly after Oz and Sal arrived.
She knew of Elodie’s husband but had never met him.
With all she’d learned from Caine, she wasn’t sure who she was more comfortable around, him or Gent.
Thank God for Sal. The older man put her at ease. Slightly. She was still on edge and high alert, but his incessant need to make pleasant conversation was impossible to ignore. And appreciated.
Sal made himself at home, brewing a cup of coffee. He walked back into the living room and whistled.
“This is some place the kid’s got,” Sal said, taking a seat next to her on the couch.
“You know when I was your age, I had this crappy little apartment. Thirteen floors, and the elevators never worked. In the dead of summer, I’d be hauling up groceries, sweating my derriere off.
Drenched by the time I reached my place. And only a box fan in the window.”
It was relatable.
“I have a shitty little apartment on the fourth floor that I share with three other people. We don’t even have an elevator.”
Sal lips spread into a grin. “You and I have something in common.”
Keely smiled and looked over at Oz. He hadn’t said much, allowing Sal to do all the talking, but he’d watched her intently. There was a superior air about him. It made sense since he was the boss. She was probably crossing the line or imaginary boundaries, but she couldn’t help herself.
Keely inched up to the edge of the couch. “So you’re the boss, right?”
Oz arched his brow.
“Oh.” She darted her gaze between him and Sal. “Am I not allowed to ask questions?”
It was an innocent question without any ulterior motive.
“You can ask whatever you’d like.” Oz clasped his hands. “Doesn’t mean you’ll get an answer.”
Fair enough. But…
Keely nodded and cocked her head. “So um, yes? You’re the boss?”
Sal muffled his laugh. “I like a gal with spunk who speaks her mind.”
Thanks, Sal. Oz ignored the comment and narrowed his gaze.
“I have people who work under me, so that would make me a boss.”
“Yeah, but of everyone? Are you Rogue’s boss?”
“Why?”
Keely shrugged. “I was just wondering if you had the authority to fire him.”
Oz cupped his mouth and shared a look with Sal. She could’ve sworn she saw a semblance of a smile.
Oz cocked his head. “Rogue is not very fond of you.”
Keely laughed and didn’t hold back. “The feeling is mutual, trust me.”
Sal chuckled and tapped her knee. “Rogue is an acquired taste.”
“I’ll take your word for it.”
Keely may have stepped over the line with that comment.
Sal didn’t seem the least bit fazed, but she noticed Oz take a special interest in her.
He was a lot more intimidating in person.
She’d heard about him through Charley, but hadn’t gotten much detail.
King of the Underground. Leader of all things illegal.
Oz cocked his brow, and she widened her eyes, realizing she was staring. Shit!
“Do you have another question?”
“Not really, just thinking?”
Oz sighed. “About?”
She folded her hands, resting her elbows on her knees. “You must have a lot of connections if you run the entire state, huh?”
Oz’s jaw squared, and he shifted his gaze to Sal.
“I’m just curious,” she blurted. “I don’t have any connections.”
“I find that hard to believe. We all have connections.” Sal sipped his coffee. “Not all have to tie into something big. You’d be amazed at how people you’d least suspect, could provide information you’d never imagine.”
True.
“Yeah, that’s true. I mean, if not for Penny I wouldn’t have…” She gasped.
Oh shit!
Keely jerked her gaze to Oz, and the corner of his mouth curled.
Busted.
“Can you please not tell Caine?” She wasn’t above begging.
As if on cue, the elevator sounded, and seconds later Caine walked through the door. His step faltered when he looked over and saw Oz in the room. She could understand. The idea of Rogue or Trey in her apartment was unfathomable.
Sal stood and greeted Caine before she even had a chance. They shook hands, then Sal waved his hand, gesturing to the loft.
“If I could go back and get a place of my own? This would be it. You’ve got good taste in real estate, son.” Sal smiled, meeting her stare. “And beautiful women, of course.”
That was sweet, Sal.
“Everything work out?” Oz asked.
Keely hadn’t even realized he’d stood as he made his way closer to them. It was interesting for such a powerful figure, he moved silently. I’m like a bull in a China shop.
“Yes, sir,” Caine said. “I’ve given the full report to Nash, and he’ll speak directly with Inez and Ace tomorrow.”
Oz gave a curt nod and stood next to Sal.
“It was nice meeting you.” Sal cupped her hand. “We’ll have to do this again.”
Sal tapped Caine on the arm and walked to the elevator. Oz followed behind. He nodded at Caine, who responded by lowering his chin.
“Sir.”
When Oz looked back at her, she gave a short wave. “Bye, Oz.”
Caine jerked his head, narrowing his gaze. There was no way she was calling him sir. What did Caine expect her to call him?
Oz’s lips twitched, and he nodded. “Keely.”
The doors closed, and Caine wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her tight against his chest. He held on longer than she expected, but Keely wasn’t complaining. His lips brushed against the crown of her head. I like that.
“Is everything okay?” she asked.
“As long as you’re okay, I’m okay,” he whispered.
Keely smiled, pulling away slightly to look up at him.
“Dare I ask what the conversation entailed between you, Sal and Oz?”
“Mostly small talk. Sal talked about his shitty apartment when he was my age. And how much he liked yours.” Keely shrugged. “And I asked Oz what it’s like being a boss and if he could fire Rogue.”
Caine’s brows dipped in a severe scowl.
“What? I was curious. He never did answer.”
Caine cracked a smile, shaking his head. “You are a fucking menace.”
It should’ve been an insult, and it might have been had he not followed it up with a kiss.
****
This was the last place Caine expected to find himself. The deal with Inez and Killcreek had been successful, and in the last two weeks, the whispers about Anders and his men had died down significantly. Other crews were already vying for the business left behind.
Caine pulled into the long driveway and parked out front. It wasn’t the first time he’d been at the MC, but there was rarely a reason to venture up to Killcreek.
“Do you need me to come in with you?” Caine asked.
Nash opened the door, glancing over his shoulder. “Your presence was requested.”
What?
Caine got out, walking a few paces behind Nash. The door opened, and surprisingly they were greeted by a woman. It wasn’t the first time he’d heard of or seen Cleo, but he’d never interacted with her.
“Hi!” She smiled and eagerly welcomed them inside. “Come on in.”
This was not the reception he’d expect from the Killcreek Drifters MC.
Nash nodded. “Hello, Cleo.”
“You remember me?” Her smile brightened and her eyes glimmered. “I remember you too, Nash. How’s Charley?”
“She’s well. I’ll tell her you were asking about her.”
Nash stepped inside, and Caine followed behind, eyeing the woman. She was in her mid-twenties, short, and had a tiny frame.
“Is Ace available?”
“Oh yeah.” She hooked her thumb over her shoulder. “They’re in the back pulverizing one another in the ring. A little barbaric, I think, but they seem to enjoy it. Last weekend, some guy got in there going against Wraith and…”
“Cleo.” The harsh snap had her jumping away from the door and spinning around.
In the shadows of the living room, a large figure emerged. For someone with the height and build of Wraith, it was a wonder he could walk into any room and go undetected. It was what made him dangerous.
“I heard them pull up, so I figured I’d let them in. I was going to come get you or Ace.” Her excuse did nothing to appease the tension in the room. Wraith shifted his harsh glare between Nash and Caine.
“Go upstairs,” Wraith ordered.
Caine expected her to follow his immediate instructions, but she shifted back on her heels and shrugged her shoulders to her ears.
“I can get them something to drink at the bar. Joker’s still on the run to…”
“Cleo.” Wraith growled, his scowl deepening.
She was giving more information than Nash and him should know.
Wraith may have picked up on it, but she didn’t.
Caine wasn’t sure how long she’d been with the club.
There was very little intel on Cleo other than her relationship to Knox, a fallen brother.
In a move that shocked everyone, Killcreek had kept Cleo after her brother’s death.
Most MC’s took care of their own, extending to families, even after death.
But Killcreek was notorious for having their own set of rules.
As far as Caine knew, they didn’t take on old ladies, and no one lived at the clubhouse except the brothers. And now, Cleo.
Nash cleared his throat, gaining Cleo’s attention. His gaze softened much like it did when he spoke to Charley and the other women. Caine had seen him do it with Keely too.
“We appreciate the offer, but we’re good.”
She smiled, though it seemed forced and she mumbled. “Okay.”
The back door opened, and a few members filed into the room with Ace leading the pack.
Caine had been distracted by the MC walking in. He hadn’t noticed Cleo sidle up next to him.
“We haven’t met.”
Caine jerked his gaze and saw her standing only a foot away. She offered her hand and he noticed it shook slightly.
“I’m Cleo.”
The room was drowned in complete silence. Caine could’ve ignored the greeting. If he had to guess, that would’ve appeased the Enforcer, Wraith. Caine looked over at him and slowly clasped her hand watching Wraith’s eyes follow his every move.
He glanced down at her. “Caine.”
She grinned and her hand tightened over his. “It’s nice to meet you, Caine.”
He lowered his chin and released her hand.
“Cleo,” Wraith snapped and she looked over. “Upstairs. Now!”
Cleo quickly skittered off down the hall but only made it halfway before she spun around.
“Nash, please don’t forget to tell Charley that I said hi.”
“Jesus fucking Christ.” Wraith snapped but Nash ignored him, smiling at Cleo.
“I won’t.”
The woman disappeared down the hall and he followed Nash to the table.
Ace and a few other members took their seats at the head of the table, while Nash and Caine were seated at the opposite end.
Caine still didn’t know why his presence would’ve been requested in a meeting with the club.
Aside from the job under Inez, Caine didn’t and hadn’t had any affiliation with the MC.
“How’s it going?” Ace grabbed a cigarette from the box on the table and lit it, taking a long drag.
“Everything’s good and finally settled down.” Nash adjusted his jacket. “And the club?”
Ace shared a look with Cross, then spread out his arms. “Living the fucking dream, brother. Got a shit ton of free product that we’re setting up to transport. All profit, so you know” —he took a drag— “Not a bad deal.”
“It seems it worked out for everyone.”
“Yeah,” Ace said, glancing over at Caine briefly.
“While I appreciate the pleasantries, I’m sure you didn’t invite us here, specifically Caine, to make small talk.”
Cross snorted. “And this is why you’re Oz’s second. So fucking intuitive, Nash.”
It was an underhanded compliment but Nash didn’t seem the least bit insulted.
“I try.”
There was an easy banter, a familiarity between Nash and the club. In the last few months, it seemed to strengthen. Caine knew there was history dating back long before he entered the Underground. But Nash stayed tight-lipped when it came to his personal life, much like Caine.
Ace took another drag, blowing the smoke out slowly. “During the clean-up, we came across something interesting with Zeke. He had a bullet hole straight to the chest.”
Caine arched his brow. This wasn’t new information. From what he’d been told, Jared was standing ten feet in front of him. It lined up with the perfect angle.
Nash clasped his hands. “Yes.”
Ace darted his gaze between him and Nash. “And one to the side of his neck.”
What?
“There were two bullet holes,” Cross said.
Nash glanced over at Caine, sharing the same puzzled expression. “Jared shot twice?”
Cross shook his head. “Not from the angle he was standing. Zeke got hit once in the chest and the other in the side of the neck. Two people shot him, Nash. Who else was in that room?”
There had been so much melee and chaos, Caine hadn’t paid much attention to Zeke’s body. His only concern was Keely.
“I didn’t hear two shots.” Caine furrowed his brows.
“Neither did I.” Nash added.
“Probably because they shot simultaneously.” Wraith walked over to the table, standing behind Ace.
“Are you suggesting this was a planned assassination of Zeke?” Nash asked.
“No, though I’m sure you didn’t lose any sleep over his death. I’m just curious who the other shooter was. From the story I got, you, Caine, Cyrus and Ridge were in another room leaving Jared and Jessie with the girl and Zeke.”
Caine clenched his jaw but steeled his reaction. It wasn’t often he was caught off guard. If there had been a second shooter, it could only be one person.
Jessie.
When he looked across the table, Ace was staring back at him, smirking.
“Look, this was just a piece of information I figured you’d want to know seeing as how your men were involved. Doesn’t change anything.”
“You share this information with Inez?” Nash asked.
Ace laughed. “Now that it’s settled, Inez doesn’t give a shit about who’s dead or who shot him. She got her revenge. This was just a courtesy.” Ace smirked, looking over at Caine. “But it seems to me, your girl has quite the ally.”
Yes, she does.
Nash and Caine walked out without saying another word. He expected some type of interrogation from Nash once they’d gotten on the road, but he remained silent. There was nothing to discuss. They both knew who the second shooter had to be.
And neither of them would out her.
Ever.