Astrid Chapter 12
Mayhem and I were kicked back at the house, relaxing on the deck.
We had cool drinks, and the fans overhead were on, creating a decent breeze.
It was hot and humid today. We were being lazy and recapping our week.
I was happy that, in addition to hiring Bianca and Aubrielle as dancers, he had also lucked out in finding a replacement bartender.
The bartender starts tomorrow, and the dancers today.
“It’s a good thing you found people, or I’d have to go to work for you,” I teased with a straight face.
“Fury, like hell you’d strip in our club or any club. No one is seeing your sexy, beautiful body but me. I’d be in prison after the first night from the killing spree I’d go on,” he growled.
I laughed. “Babe, I wasn’t meaning as a dancer. I meant a bartender or even a waitress if you needed someone.”
He got a hold of me and was in the process of pulling me over onto his lap, wearing a determined expression, when he was interrupted.
“Hey, up there, should I come back later?” Spawn called out.
I twisted around to see him. He smirked up at us.
“That depends on why you’re here,” Mayhem answered.
“I have the information on Radley Baker that you wanted,” Spawn said, raising his brows in question.
“Well, what’re you waiting for? Get your ass up here,” Mayhem told him.
As Spawn made his way up, I rose to my feet. “I’ll get us more to drink. It’s hot. Spawn, what can I get you?”
“If you have it, a tall, cold glass of tea, water, or lemonade.”
“You’re in luck. I have all three, so which one?”
“Surprise me. Thanks,” he answered.
I had no idea what they were talking about while I got our refreshments. I hoped nothing about Radley. My overprotective man might get it in his head to hide things from me. I wouldn’t tolerate it. When I returned, I was hauled down on Mayhem’s lap after I set the tray with our libations down.
“What did I miss? I hope you weren’t telling Mayhem things that you guys don’t want me to know. I need complete honesty and transparency. Leaving me in the dark on anything is dangerous,” I warned. They exchanged glances before my man spoke up.
“Baby, Spawn did tell me something, but he’ll include it in his briefing. I was tempted not to tell you so that you wouldn’t worry, but you’re right. It leads to a higher risk.”
“Thank you, honey. I know it goes against your alpha maleness, but it is for the best. It’ll help me prepare. Go ahead, Spawn. What did you find?”
“This Radley guy is a piece of work. Yes, he was a Navy SEAL, but he was often disciplined and sent to captain’s mast.”
Captain’s mast was what the Navy called being brought before the captain of the ship or command to receive non-judicial punishment.
It was done whenever a sailor violated the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
It was used when other attempts to correct deficiencies in the individual haven’t worked or the violations are fairly egregious, such as DUI, adultery, integrity issues, assault, and unauthorized absences.
Those were what ran through my mind when Spawn said captain’s mast. The person ends up losing rank, being made to pay fines, and so on. I wondered what Radley was guilty of.
“Why did he go to captain’s mast?” I asked.
“He refused to follow commands from his supervisors. I guess both brothers had that problem. He was disrespectful to superiors repeatedly. One time, he was gone for four days and was penalized for unauthorized absence. He got into fights with both civilians and his fellow sailors.”
I wasn’t shocked, considering what his younger brother had done.
“Go on. What else?” Mayhem asked. His arms tightened just a smidge.
“He was eventually told he couldn’t re-enlist, which pissed him off.
After he got out, he was a hothead who continued to pick fights and do stupid shit.
He spent six months in jail after he was charged with assault.
It seems he was close to his brother. They talked often and would meet wherever they could.
“His contempt for women in the military was also documented. That’s his history in a nutshell.
Now for the present. He’s been pushing and demanding to know how his brother died, and if there are survivors, he wants to talk to them.
You knew that. Over the past few weeks, he’s been talking to a lot of people officially, but I can’t track who he might’ve talked to unofficially.
He’s not stopping, Astrid. The chance he might discover your name and come looking for you is increasing.
If anyone with access talks, he’ll know where you are.
You’ve changed your address with the VA and the military, so they’re aware.
It’s in their system if he can get someone to give it to him,” Spawn warned.
“Christ, so what do we do? Wait for him to get someone stupid enough to talk or that he can intimidate into doing it? I almost wonder if it’s better to contact him and get the talk over with.
I can lie and tell him only part of the story.
Maybe it’ll be enough to appease him,” I offered as an option.
“No, that’s not the answer. Baker’s personality won’t let him accept it.
I read the notes on his mental health evaluations.
The guy isn’t gonna do that. Honestly, I don’t know how the fuck he passed the mental evaluation to be a SEAL.
He must’ve been good at hiding his true nature, and then didn’t give a fuck later, or it developed after he joined.
Regardless, you having any kind of contact is a no.
He’ll take the fact you’re female and immediately blame you,” Spawn added.
“I can’t sit here and wait, wondering when he’ll come for me. What else can I do? I’ll go crazy doing that.”
Mayhem had remained unusually quiet. I glanced over at him. He had a determined set to his jaw, and his eyes were blazing.
“Mayhem, babe, what do you think? You haven’t said anything,” I prodded.
“I agree with Spawn that contacting him is a big fat no. As for you waiting for him to pounce, that’s not happening either.”
“What else is there?”
I watched the two men exchange looks that seemed to convey nonverbal messages. He remained silent.
“Don’t do that. You promised to tell me everything,” I reminded him. Mayhem sighed, then shifted me so I faced him more directly. He cupped my face between his big hands.
“Fury, there’s only one option, well, two if the first fails. We locate Baker, and a few brothers, and I pay him a nighttime visit. We’ll scare the crap out of him and give him a beating to help it sink in.” Mayhem paused to see my response to that plan.
“Okay, I can probably get behind it. Though the beatdown should only be if he’s resistant.”
“Of course,” Mayhem agreed.
“Okay, say that you do that, and he still pursues it. What is the second option?” I asked. I had a suspicion, but I had to hear it from him. Spawn watched us expectantly.
“Babe, we’d try to find other ways to make him comply.
I’m not above threats or blackmail to make it happen.
However, if all that fails, and it might, then if we determine he’s a mortal threat to you, he would be put in the ground.
Before you say we can’t, know this. We wouldn’t make that decision lightly.
That’s reserved for egregious shit such as murder, rape, child molesters, and that type.
I believe we can find a way to back him down and to leave us alone without the ultimate solution. ”
With my suspicions confirmed, my heart pounded.
I hadn’t asked if the club hurt people or killed anyone.
However, I wondered, especially with Mayhem being the enforcer, and my knowledge of motorcycle clubs from the media confirmed many did.
But the Iron Punishers weren’t what was known as an outlaw MC.
I’d told myself that meant they wouldn’t do that.
Finding out they would, raised another question, along with my apprehension.
Mayhem’s arms were holding me even tighter.
“I know what you told me is your job within the club. And based on what I know from reading and the media, I heard that enforcers in certain clubs are the ones to inflict punishment on those who wrong the club. Those clubs are outlaw MCs. It sounds like you’ve done this before.
Tell me the truth, Mayhem. Do you do those things for the club, and are you an outlaw MC? ”
“Spawn, thanks for letting us know. If you find anything else, give me a holler. If you’ll excuse us, I believe Astrid and I need privacy to discuss this. You understand,” he told his brother.
Panic grew at his words. What did he not want a witness for? Oh God, have I made a terrible mistake? Spawn got to his feet. He gave me what I thought was a reassuring look, but I couldn’t tell for sure. My head whirled.
“Astrid, listen to what Mayhem has to tell you. There’s no simple answer. Then weigh what he says against what you’ve seen and experienced with him and us since you met the club. We’re not here to hurt you. I promise. Thanks for the refreshments. Let me know if you need me or Kimera,” Spawn said.
Before I could beg him not to leave, he was gone. I wiggled to get loose. Mayhem held onto me.
“If you want to talk, you have to let go of me. I can’t do this when I feel like a captive,” I snapped at him.
Instantly, his arms were gone. “Baby, I’m sorry. I never meant to make you feel that way. Do you want to stay put here or go into the house?”
His giving me options made me feel a tad more at ease, but it wasn’t enough to be trapped in the house alone with him.
“I want to remain out here,” I told him as I moved to a chair on the other side of the table from him. The way his mouth tightened, he noticed and hated it, but he didn’t object.
The silence was heavy. He seemed to be struggling with how to answer me.
“Mayhem, just say it.”
“What the fuck?! Mayhem? So you’ve already decided without hearing me out,” he growled darkly.