Chapter 19
“That was a nice idea sending them on a vacation.” Joanne joins me in the members-only bar, where I’ve come to be alone. She’s dressed for attention tonight in a short skirt and a blouse that’s buttoned down low. Low enough to show that she still has a figure to fuckin’ die for. “You look like you need one yourself, you look stressed.”
“I am stressed,” I admit, thinkin’ about all the shit Maddy found in Cliff’s emails. I didn’t wanna believe what Tawk had told Jessie a few days ago, but now I have evidence I have no choice but to take action.
“You’ve had a long journey, you must be tired.” I can’t tell if Joanne is giving me the come-on or if she’s playing with my emotions when she strokes my arm. I just know that tonight, I ain’t in the mood for games.
“Come.” I stand up and offer her my hand. She looks a little shocked as she stares at it.
“You just gonna stare at it or ya gonna do what you really came in here for?’ I dare her, and when she takes it and stands on her feet she blows out a brave breath.
The club is busy tonight, the music is thumping through the walls as I lead her through the foyer, toward the stairs that lead up to the rutting rooms. Hayden passes through and sees us together, and I tip my chin when he gives me a wicked grin. I guess, for everyone around here, this has been a long time coming.
“Jimmer, don’t you want to go back to your place, or my cabin?” Joanne looks up the staircase, hesitantly.
“And risk us changin’ our minds?” I question, and the timid smile she gives me reminds me of the girl I knew all those years ago. I continue to lead her up the stairs, heading down the corridor and into one of the rooms. There”s rarely any action up here, anymore. Members from the other charters use ‘em when they visit, and Marilyn always does a good job of keeping ‘em clean. Joanne almost looks impressed by what she sees when I open the door and gesture for her to step inside.
“I promised myself this would never happen again,” Joanne admits as she sits on the edge of the mattress, and I put some distance between us and take the seat in the corner of the room.
“Take off your blouse,” I order, tilting my head so I can admire her body. I remember how much she used to like being commanded and I wonder if she ever got me outta her head when she was with Vincent and those other men.
“Jimmer, I…”
“Take it off.” My voice comes out low and husky, and when she starts to do as I say I sit back and observe the way her confidence grows.
“Did you miss me?” She slowly, seductively undoes the buttons of her blouse and lifts it from the waistband of her skirt.
“Yes,” I admit, feeling my nails dig into the arm of the chair from the honesty of my confession. Joanne must like what she hears because she smiles and steps a little closer, unzipping the back of her skirt and leaving it on the floor as she continues toward me.
“I missed you.” She takes my wrist and guides my hand to cover one of her tits, and when I squeeze it tight in my fist her back arches and she makes that same sweet sound I remember from all those years ago. Standing up from the chair I overpower her body, walking her backward toward the bed, and she smiles victoriously when I push her onto the mattress and climb on top of her.
“Jimmer.” She moans my name when I dance my lips close to hers and tease her with ‘em. Then, studying the desperation on her face, I wrap my fingers around her throat and pin her to the bed.
“I know,” I growl into her ear as my fingers stiffen around her neck.
“We…We don’t have to miss each other anymore, Jimmer,” she tells me, closing her eyes and breathing me in, and I watch the woman at work and chuckle to myself.
“No, darlin’, I mean, I know. I know all about you and the conversations you’ve been havin’ with Cliff. I know that ya targeted him because he was on the sick man list your husband had. I know ya told him that I was comin’ for him, and I know that ya blackmailed other men on that list for your own gain instead of handin’ it into the authorities.” I watch the fear spread on her face. “You knew what Walker was doin’ when you were married to him, and you raised my little girl among that instead of comin’ to me. You”re a deceitful, lyin’, nasty whore.” I squeeze my fingers a little tighter and watch the panic on her face amplify. Then just when I wonder if I could break my own rules, the door crashes open and Sheriff Armstrong barges inside. I release her and take a step back, holding up my arms defensively so he can put her in cuffs.
“What the hell is this? Jimmer?” She screams as he turns her onto her front and cuffs her hands behind her back and while he reads her her rights, I kick the clothes she was wearing when we came in here under the chair outta sight.
“She got anything more appropriate for me to take her down in?” he checks and when I shake my head at him, he shakes his head and continues to drag her out the door.
“What are you arresting me for?” she screams at him as I follow them down the corridor toward the staircase.
“Shall we start with aiding and abetting a pedophile ring?” Armstrong informs her, forcing her down the stairs in her underwear to where a crowd of my club members and hangouts have been gathered to see her off.
“Goodbye, Joanne.” I stand on the top stairs and watch her be escorted through them and toward the door.
“Jimmer! Jimmer! Help me” she calls over her shoulder as she struggles against our sheriff’s hold. Her reputation always meant so much to her, I wanted everyone to witness her humiliation and shame.
Everyone except Ella, that”s why I ensured Nyx got her outta here this morning.
“I ain’t in the palm of your hand now, Joanne,” I throw back the words that had been written in one of the emails Maddy had found.
“Jimmer!” Joanne screams over her shoulder at me helplessly and when Rogue stands in the way of the door, blocking her and the sheriff’s exit, she looks ready to kill.
“You had a list of names. Men who got off on hurtin’ kids,” she says with haunting eyes.
Sheriff Armstrong looks back at me, and I nod my head at him, so he knows to let Rogue continue.
“You used those names for your own good, bribed those sick bastards for money, then you came here and played with your grandchildren.” Rogue spits at her face, causing Joanne to jump in horror. “Get this nasty bitch outta here before I fuckin’ kill her.” Rogue steps aside and lets them pass and when Grimm wraps his arm around her, I can tell from the way she lets him comfort her that she’s not just angry. She’s hurting, and I”m real glad I spared Ella from witnessing all this.
I can still hear Joanne screaming from outside as I make my way down the stairs and follow my brothers into the barroom.
“I’m sorry, Prez, that can’t have been easy.” Jessie slaps me on the back as we make our way to the bar.
“It wasn’t easy, but it was the right thing to do.” I look to my VP and feel kinda foolish. I should have known not to trust Joanne, I guess my need to be proved wrong clouded all my judgment.
“Come on, let’s get you a drink.” He slaps my back.
“Nah, I think I need to be alone tonight.” I appreciate him wanting to make me feel better, but the truth is, nothing is gonna take the pain of her deception away. I always figured everything she did when she was younger was done with the right intentions for Ella, but the more I think about it, the more I see that it was for her own selfish gain. Joanne deserves everything she’s gonna get.
“You know where I am,” Jessie reminds me as I turn back around and walk out the door.