Wilson 9.
Pierce lays down his tablet and places his hands behind his head as he leans back in his chair at the conference table. “I found her, but I’m not sure if we should turn her over to the police or take care of her ourselves.”
“Pierce.” Lincoln admonishes, one dark eyebrow rising just like his father used to do when someone was about to cross a line. “I know we’re in a motorcycle club, but we are civilized human beings and cannot ‘take care’ of every undesirable we come across.”
Kadisha and I snort in unison, while Fields sighs in disappointment. Pierce smirks and I have a feeling Lincoln may be about to eat his own pretentious words.
“She’s currently shacking up with Bruce Lancia.” His smirk deepens as we all react to the news about the dead-beat mom we’ve been trying to find for a custody case we’re handling. Lancia is a fairly well known “suspected” drug dealer in Independence. The only reason we haven’t stepped in is because he insulates himself well. He’s always on our radar, however.
“So, she’s blowing her money that is supposed to be going to her ex-husband and two little girls on…blow?” Fields asks.
“Not exactly.” Pierce’s smirk morphs into a cold smile, my stomach dips at the expression. He brings his fisted hands to the table, knuckles white, and meets Lincoln’s gaze. “She doesn’t have any money. Lost her job. She’s just worked out an alternative payment method with Lancia.”
“He’s fucking her?” Kadisha blurts, her face pinched in disgust. “No way her used up snatch is worth a dime bag of weed, let alone an 8-ball of coke.”
“Hers isn’t, but her daughters’ is.” It’s as if all the oxygen has been sucked out of the room. My chest constricting, a tingling numbness enveloping my body, as my pulse thunders in my ears.
“I’ll text Madison to call for Church ASAP.” Lincoln states coldly, standing from his rolling chair and striding from the room before any of us can respond.
Kadisha slaps her hand against the polished wooden table. “You find that bitch and give her to Betty, Stacy, and I. We’ll gladly ‘take care’ of her, while y’all deal with Lancia.”
I’d laugh at her vehemence, but nothing about this is funny. What started as an unfortunately simple dead-beat parent case has turned into something far worse than any of us imagined. My blood thrums in my veins with the promise of violent retribution.
My watch beeps with a reminder. I force myself to push down what I’ve just learned, there is a time and place for the seedier side of MC life. Right now, I have somewhere to be. Not much I can do until Church anyway.
“Good work, Pierce.” I tell my brother with a chin lift. Grabbing my stuff, I drop it off in my office and check my pockets for keys, wallet, and phone.
I’m almost to the main doors when Kadisha steps into my path with a Cheshire Cat grin. “Where are you heading off to in such a hurry?”
“I’ve got plans.”
An eyebrow lifts, a Kohlman family trait, and her grin becomes toothy. “Anxious for your dress fitting?” Damn gossipy bunch of bitches.
“I’m picking up some lunch.”
“Uh-huh.” She tosses some of her braids over her shoulder and nudges me with her shoulder as she walks to her desk. “Say ‘hi’ to Tilly and KelKel for me!”
I can’t be bothered to care, so I wave an agreement and step outside. Spring is making a valiant effort to arrive early this year and I’m not one to complain about decent riding weather. Starting my bike, I sigh in contentment as she rumbles beneath me, slip on my helmet, and pull into traffic. I make a quick stop at my favorite deli, getting soup, sandwiches, and some cookies for dessert. I’d rather have Tilly, but I can be a patient man. She’ll be that much sweeter when I finally have her.
“Wilson!” An unfamiliar female voice chirps when I walk into Aged Barrel Bank. High heels click on the tile floor as a busty woman in a tight skirt comes bustling over to greet me.
“Do I know you?”
Her feet come to a stuttering stop, her eyes flitting nervously over my shoulder. “Not exactly. But I know Fillmore.” Ah, the acting branch manager he fucked in a bar bathroom.
“I’m not Fillmore.”
She twirls her hair around her finger and giggles. “I know, silly. You’re Wilson.”
“I’m done.” I say, stepping around her to walk further into the bank. I bypass the tellers and their curious stares and head down a short hallway to where Tilly’s office should be.
“Wilson! Um, I mean, sir, you can’t go back there.” Bar-Fuck follows me, but my legs are longer and I’m not wearing ridiculous heels. I knock on the closed office door with the sign on it that says, “Manager”, and open it. I’m only momentarily disappointed that Tilly is fully dressed and sitting on a small couch with KellyAnne, talking as if they’re old friends. That disappointment is quickly eclipsed by affection and desire, quick and hot, as they turn in surprise to my unexpected entrance, and Tilly’s face lights up with unadulterated joy.
A man could get used to that type of greeting.
“Ladies.” I croon, shutting the door in Forget-Me-Fuck’s face. I hold up the bags from the deli and wink at Tilly, making my way to her desk to unpack. “Brought lunch for us.”
KellyAnne misses nothing, her shrewd eyes tracking my every move with a slow smile. “How sweet, Wilson. I’m finished here, so I’ll let you two—”
“Nuh-uh. Sit back down. Got enough for you too. You have to try this loaded baked potato soup.” She sits back down next to Tilly, and they allow me to serve them, complete with Diet Mountain Dew for KellyAnne (thanks to her husband Nate), and pink lemonade for Tilly and myself.
I move one of the chairs from in front of her desk to the small coffee table in front of the loveseat and take a seat. “KelKel, did they find an ass-sling for Merith?”
Tilly and I are in tears by the end of lunch, KellyAnne keeping us entertained with stories of the dicks and the boobs and their wild adventures. I question their sanity, but not their loyalty or heart. It’s clear to see how tight the group is, reminding me of a more law-abiding, and less violent Congressionals MC.
When KellyAnne tries to bring up her ideas for Tilly’s dress, I raise my hand to stop her. “I want my reaction to be unbiased and genuine when I pick her up.”
Tilly smiles with a shine in her eyes, while KelKel chuckles and picks up her measuring tape once more, “Then stand up, Casanova, I need your measurements.” I drag my eyes from Tilly to stare at KellyAnne in question. She rolls her eyes, pushing me into position. “You’ll need to match, which means I’ll need to make your damn tuxedo.”
I groan, thinking of an ill fitting and cumbersome tuxedo. I catch Tilly’s dreamy gaze running up and down my body, and suddenly, a tuxedo ain’t so bad if it means she’ll look at me like that the night of the gala.
Kel does her thing, and I search for a distraction, so I don’t give her more than she’s bargained for measuring my inseam. “Uh, Tilly, you should be receiving phone calls and emails from prospective donors. Madison and the others have put out the word.”
Her dark eyes snap to mine, and I watch her mind come back online. I may puff my chest out a bit in pride, at least until Kel stabs me with a pin and a vicious grin. “Ow!”
Kel lowers her eyes demurely, “I’m so sorry!”
Bullshit.
“That reminds me, Tilly, I need yours and the charity’s contact information. There will be a few businesses in Steubenville that want to donate as well.”
Tilly tilts her head to the right, “Why would anyone in Steubenville, Ohio want to donate?”
Kel finishes up, squeezes my shoulder, and packs up her supplies. “Samuel Nolan Schnell Kohlman.” And my respect for the dicks and boobs soars through the stratosphere.
“Kohlman? Is that—”
“Lincoln’s…son.” I respond, knowing I’ll explain in more detail another time.
“What you all are planning, the potential, the possibilities…every community needs something like that. You have no idea the difference it can make in someone’s life, regardless of their age or socioeconomic status, to have a safe place to learn and grow.”
Tilly is still obviously confused about what Sammy has to do with this, but she agrees with KellyAnne’s sentiment.
“Well, I guess it doesn’t matter the reasoning, though that’s a good one, we’re just happy to have the support. The state is providing funding, as well as the city, but not nearly enough. This fundraiser will be the difference between success or failure.”
“I believe in you, chica. It’s been an absolute pleasure meeting you and feeling you up. I’ll be in touch!” Kel opens the door and leaves with a wave over her shoulder.
“I really like her. And her friends sound amazing.”
“They are certainly something else.” I say, closing the distance between us. She gasps when I invade her space, dipping my head to run my nose up the column of her slender neck. I won’t kiss her. She asked me to wait, and I will. Sniffing her is allowed, right?
“What…what are you doing?”
“Saying goodbye.” I murmur, a grin spreading when her skin erupts in goosebumps as my breath skates across her delicate flesh.
“This is the hottest goodbye I’ve ever experienced.” She whispers, her chest rising and falling rapidly between us.
“I’ll call you tomorrow, Tandoori.” Chuckling, I step back and stride confidently out of her office. I count down in my head for my nickname to register through the fog of lust surrounding her.
“NOOOO!”