Chapter 10 – Mason
MASON
“I can’t believe you went to the courthouse and had a judge do the ceremony.” Hawk starts in as soon as my ass hits the chair.
I shrug him off. “It was the quickest option.”
“Fuck you.” Hawk laughs. “Fuck the courthouse. I could’ve done the ceremony for you. I got my license online. I’m a certified officiate now,” he says proudly.
“You mean you’re like a pastor or some shit?” I can’t help the laugh that comes out as I say it.
“No, he’s not,” Jake intervenes. “He paid some company that gave him a plastic I.D. card that says he can visit hospitals, officiate weddings, and speak at funerals in all fifty states. All he has to do is answer ten questions and pay an annual fee.”
“Why would you do that?” I’m genuinely curious.
Hawk leans back with a huff. “Eli always gets to do the ceremonies and shit. And I got to thinking, what would happen if he suddenly decided to get hitched, or one of his guys did? He’s going to want to be a part of the party, not the officiate.
So, I took one for the team.” He says it like he did us all a favor.
Again, Jake explains, “He got upset that Eli has officiated both Ethan and Sky’s, and mine and Avery’s weddings. Hawk here has FOMO. He doesn’t like to feel left out. He needs to feel important. Center of attention.”
“The biggest ass in the room,” Jameson adds.
“But he was your best man. So, he kind of was the center of attention next to you.” Hawk looks around the room as we all discuss him like he’s not there.
“Fuck all of you,” he gripes. “See if I do you any favors when you want to tie the knot or christen one of your kids or some shit.”
“Oh, shit. Don’t touch my baby’s head with your brand of holy water. For all we know, that bottle of yours contains Everclear and would leave my baby scarred for life,” Ethan teases. “Your demons and her purity won’t mix well.”
The room erupts in laughter. All but Hawk, that is, who is still looking at us like we’re all assholes.
The gavel slams down on the table, putting an end to our jokes. “All right, assholes. We’ve got an infestation problem down in the basement we need to get a hand on, but first I want some answers from you.”
I know before he says anything that Pres is talking about the Devil bastard we had Declan bring in late last night from the strip club. “How the fuck are you married?” he asks.
“It was Everly’s idea.” I shrug and explain to everyone how Ever panicked and told her caseworker we were engaged. “I used her slip-up and made it my advantage.” The guys all laugh.
“You know she can just get this whole thing annulled if she wants to?” Jameson says, making my stomach twist.
“She won’t.” I’ll make damn sure she doesn’t.
“All right,” Gabe jumps in. “Someone want to tell me why Declan and Mack have been turning the Devil in my basement into ground beef overnight?”
Declan and Mack share a smirk. “He was in Ghost’s club last night harassing some of the girls.
You said not to engage without backup. Those were the only stipulations we were given.
You never said we couldn’t beat his ass once we had him on the grounds.
” Mack shrugs. “It’s been a long few weeks, Pres. ”
“Well, did you get anything useful out of the asshole?” Gabe tries to sound pissed, but we all see the glimmer of satisfaction in his eyes. No one gives a shit if a Devil suffers around here.
“Yeah. He’s not the one we’ve been looking for. His road name is Dragon. He’s the one who fucked up Just Off the Top, but he’s not the ringleader. He’s the fall guy,” Declan says. “He was the distraction.”
“He was sent to frequent the strip club and keep our attention. When Torch was ready to make his move, Dragon’s instructions were to cause a ruckus and keep us busy,” Mack adds.
“What was he distracting us from? What has Torch done?” Caleb is the one to speak up, asking what we’re all thinking.
Declan looks at me. “Keep your shit together, brother.”
I don’t like where this is going, but I nod my agreement anyway.
Declan sighs. “Wyatt caught footage of Torch entering your woman’s house last night.”
“What?”
“Ever didn’t mention it to you?” Gabe asks.
“No. She didn’t say shit about an intruder to me, Pres.”
“Maybe he wasn’t intruding then,” Hawk suggests, and I’m on my feet.
“What the fuck, man? Ever wouldn’t let that asshole anywhere near her or Kaylie on purpose.
Torch was her worst fear as a kid. He was always trying to get Sharon to let him take Ever off her hands and put her to work for the club.
” It comes out half growl, half roar. I’m shaking with anger.
My chest tightens with something unfamiliar.
“Why wouldn’t she tell you then?” Jake asks.
“For all we know, and I’m not trying to be the asshole, just playing devil’s advocate,” he says, throwing up his hands.
“If what Sadie said was true, and your girl is a Devil’s daughter, she may be comfortable enough to let him into her house.
Maybe things aren’t what you thought them to be.
The whole salon trashing could’ve been a way to draw us out so Torch could get a head count on us. Figure out his odds.”
“Fuck you! Fuck all of you if that’s what you think,” I shout.
“Whoa! Calm down!” Gabe shouts, slamming the gavel. “Jake, Hawk, shut up! Mason, sit your ass down and tell us what you know.”
“I don’t know. Why didn’t anyone tell me there was a breach when it happened last night?” I’m looking right at Hawk.
“The sensor didn’t go off. The alarm was disarmed. There was no sign of forced entry,” Hawk says. “But the camera caught this fucker going in through the garage.” The TV on the wall lights up and seconds later there’s a still shot of the asshole we saw at the strip club the last time.
“Torch.” Everyone’s eyes are on me. “Shit.”
“Spill it, Mason. Now!” Gabe’s frustration has reached an all-time high.
“He’s Kaylie’s bio dad.” I scrub a hand down my face.
“The way Sharon told the story, Torch came into town one night after a shipment went missing. He was pissed and in need of money, so he came to Oakridge looking for a stash of cash he swore Viper had left with Sharon. She said there was no such money, but Torch was determined that there was.”
“Torch tore the house apart and when he didn’t find what he came for, he beat and raped Sharon within an inch of her life.”
“Fucking hell. There’s a special place in hell for this son of a bitch,” Ghost announces to the room. “I think we should send him there to find it.”
“It took two days for him to give up and finally leave town, but he left a little something behind.” I hate that Kaylie came into existence because her father was a selfish, abusive asshole, but I wouldn’t trade that little girl for anything in the world.
“Sharon knew who the father was, but she kept his information a secret from everyone for as long as she could. The only reason I know is because she told me when I was helping her get clean. When she went into rehab, we had to tell them she was pregnant and listed the father as unknown. Throughout her pregnancy care, we kept it all quiet. Torch had disappeared, onto bigger and better things.” I sigh. “That was until about two years ago.”
“What happened?” Caleb asks angrily.
“Foster care transition homes became their new supply chain. My guess is Torch was sent here to set them up since this was his original chapter’s territory.”
“They thought it was their territory. Oakridge is the King's. Always has been.” Caleb shakes his head.
“Torch stayed clear of town and away from Sharon until a couple of weeks before she died.”
“What brought him back do you think?” Ghost asks, scrubbing his bald head with his hand.
“Spider found Sky, and a princess came home,” I state matter-of-factly. “War came back to Oakridge, and with it, old demons.”
“Fuck,” Gabe grumbles. “All right. I’ve heard enough. Let’s go visit the asshole in the basement and find out what this Torch fucker is really doing here this time.”
We all stand and follow Pres down to the basement where we find Dragon, Torch’s friend, strung up wearing nothing but a pair of boxer briefs and a set of Mack’s cuffs. His eyes are swollen and his lip is busted open. His chest is so bruised he looks like he’s covered in leopard spots.
“What the hell did you do down here last night, Mack?” Hawk asks, laughing. “You and Lisa having issues or something? That’s a lot of pent-up aggression that needed an outlet, my man.”
“You better keep my wife’s name out of your fucking mouth, asshole.” Mack lashes out at Hawk, who shrugs.
“I was just voicing my concerns for you, brother. That’s some extensive rib work you did there. Looks like you broke two, maybe three, ribs?”
“He’s breathing.” Is Mack’s response. “Those were my only orders. Keep him breathing.” He shrugs.
Gabe approaches the barely breathing man hanging from the pulley above. His toes are barely scraping the ground.
Gabe whistles low. “He worked you over hard, didn’t he?
I’m sorry about that, my friend. He was only supposed to detain you and keep you breathing.
I guess he misunderstood.” The way he says it, I’d almost believe Gabe truly felt bad, but the snickering sounds filling the room tell a different story.
“Fuck you.” Dragon spits.
“Well, I was hoping we could be friends, you and me,” Gabe says, smirking.
“After all, I’m the one who determines whether you make it out of here in one piece or ten.
” His voice is lower now, and his nose a mere inch from Dragon’s face.
“Your choice.” Gabe taps the guy’s shoulder, then before the prisoner has a chance to speak, Gabe’s fist connects with his jaw.
“Why are you and Torch in my town? What business do you have here?”
Dragon’s head flies to the side, and spittle flies as it does.
“Simple retrieval job,” Dragon mumbles, spitting blood onto the ground at Gabe’s feet. “My job is to distract you.” He smiles. “Looks like I’m doing my job, huh?”
We all glance around at each other, wondering what this asshole is talking about, when he starts stammering.
“W-wait. N-no. I didn’t … this isn’t my fault. It was Torch’s idea!” he’s shouting now. We’re all looking at him in confusion. “Make it stop. Tell him! Tell him!” He screams at Gabe.
“What the fuck are you going on about?” We’re all genuinely at a loss as to what’s going on.
“Y-you don’t see him. You don’t see those silver eyes?
I saw them in Florida right before he devoured my brothers.
Please. Please don’t let him suck out my soul.
I’ll tell you everything. Anything you want to know.
Just please, don’t let me go out like that.
” Dragon is trembling, his face has lost all color, and there’s a puddle beneath his feet.
“What is he going on about? Do any of you know?” Gabe asks the room. Dragon’s eyes are tracking something around the room. None of us see what he’s talking about, but Caleb and Ghost look like they have some idea.
Caleb steps forward. “You see the soul snatcher, don’t you? He’s here. He’s come to snatch your soul from your body and leave your body an empty shell on the floor.”
What the hell is he talking about? I’m so confused.
Pres looks unsure too, but he doesn’t intervene. Whatever this guy thinks he sees, it’s got him terrified. As long as it gets us what we need to know, I don’t give two shits.
“Torch wants the girls. Both of them. He made a deal with the courier. Five million for both the older and the younger sister. The courier has a buyer for both.” Dragon spills everything.
The time and place of the pickup. The plan to kidnap my girls from their beds at night.
Everything. Once he’s done singing like a fucking canary, Gabe pulls the trigger, putting a bullet between his eyes.
We all glance around the room at each other, still not sure exactly what just happened, but we all go perfectly still when a cold rush of air blows through the room and out the door in what sounds like a growl of approval.
“The fuck was …” Hawk starts.
Gabe’s hand shoots up in the air. “Not. A. Fucking. Word,” he demands. “I don’t know, and I don’t want to. Whatever the fuck it was, it’s gone now and I want it to stay that way. This shit right here stays in this cell and is never to be spoken of again. Are we fucking clear?”
“Yes, sir!”
I’m with Gabe on this one. The less we know, the less likely we are to end up a hollow carcass on the ground.
“Mason, I want the prospects on watch at Everly’s tonight. We’ll catch this son of a bitch.”
“Thanks, Pres.”