25. Poker
CHAPTER 25
POKER
When it’s over, I’m still going to love you, and I’m still going to want you.
“Shut the hell up so we can get started!”
I shove my fingers between my lips and let loose a loud whistle after Crow’s shouted order. All eyes turn to our president.
“That’s better, now sit. We’ve got a lot to cover.”
I pull Meri onto my lap, needing her close. Crow approved her being in church since she’s as deep in this as the rest of us. I hate that we still need her to help figure this out, but we do.
“Poker, go ahead,” Journey instructs.
“We got a sixth message last night,” I start. “This time it was signed ‘S’. We still think this is one person, but we don’t know who.”
“I’ve done deeper dives into your security team, Meri,” Tracer says. “I’m not finding anything that stands out.”
“So, we can rule them out,” she says, relief in her tone.
“Not necessarily,” Ghost states. “It just means they aren’t likely suspects. But until we know for sure, we aren’t ruling anyone out one hundred percent.”
She nods in understanding.
“Tracer, can you put all the notes up on the screen so we can see them all side by side?” I ask.
He connects his laptop to the projector, and it’s only moments before we can all see what he can see.
“We’ve all gone over these letters many times, but we’re missing something,” Screamer says, frustration in his tone.
“I’ve run them through different programs to see if there’s a hidden code, but nothing pops,” Tracer explains.
The room grows quiet as we stare at the notes, but then Meri’s hand goes to her mouth, and she jumps to her feet and races to the screen.
“What’re you seeing?” Crow asks.
“I don’t…” She shakes her head. “Look,” she orders, pointing to each note one at a time. “A-N-D-E-R-S.”
“That mean something to you?” I ask.
“It’s a name,” she says. “Specifically, a last name.”
“Spit it out, woman,” Python snaps, and I whip my head in his direction.
“Speak to her like that again, and you’ll have no hands left to tattoo with,” I seethe.
Python lifts his hands. “Sorry.”
“It’s fine,” Meri assures him. “He’s just cranky.” I growl, and the little minx grins. Then she sobers and takes a deep breath. “Anders is Malcolm’s last name.”
“Malcolm, from your security team?” I ask, and she nods. “It makes sense that it would be him. All of the notes were signed with an initial that could’ve matched a player. Wait… The ‘A’? Who did you think that was?”
“Addison,” Meri admits. “I got them right after she came with you, and since it just said ‘thank you for an entertaining evening’, she was my assumption.”
“I can see that.” Shifting my attention to Tracer, I ask, “Nothing popped with Malcolm?”
“Not a damn thing. He was raised by his father, got good grades in school, and was captain of the football team. He enlisted right out of high school and served four years in the Air Force. I’m assuming that’s what made him a good hire for the security team. Dude doesn’t have so much as a parking ticket.”
“I find that hard to believe,” I muse.
Tracer shrugs. “Malcolm could just be your run-of-the-mill creep.”
“This actually makes me feel better,” Meri says, returning to my lap.
“You feel better about this?” Crow asks.
“Yeah, I mean, think about it. If he’s a run-of-the-mill creep, that means we can use run-of-the-mill ways to get him, right?”
“Whaddya have in mind?” Journey questions.
Meri scoffs like it should be obvious. “Get him at the next game. There’s no way he knows we’re onto him. All I have to do is tell him that we’re returning to business as usual, and he’ll be there.”
“I’m not leaving you there without club protection,” I bark.
“I figured you’d say that,” she says sweetly. “You’ll be there, of course, and we
can put two brothers in the game as well. He doesn’t know who all of you are.”
“Why can’t we just use all club brothers play? That way we don’t put anyone else in the crossfire,” Jackyl suggests.
“Because he needs to see people he’s familiar with,” I explain before Meri can. “He’s not stupid, which he’s proved with all of this shit. If he even suspects that something is off, it could all go to hell in a handbasket.”
“Okay, we’ll have Poker, Stunner, and Ghost participate in the game,” Crow says. “The rest of us will be on coms down the road in case things go sideways. All in favor, thump twice.”
Every man in the room pounds the table twice. Belatedly, Meri does the same, eliciting a round of laughter.
“As far as being down the road, you don’t have to do that,” Meri explains. “There’s another part of the warehouse that I did nothing with when I bought it, and at the back ar?—”
“Wait, you own the warehouse?” I ask.
“Yep. I didn’t want to risk the cops showing up and adding squatting to my list of crimes.” She shrugs like it’s nothing. “I’m a rich woman, Poker. Get over it.”
“I’m not… I don’t…”
“It’s okay, I’ll be your sugar mama,” she teases.
Another round of laughter breaks out.
“Oh my God, that’s the best thing I’ve heard in a long time,” Screamer says between laughs.
“Shut the fuck up,” I snap.
“Anyway,” Meri says like she’s speaking to children. “There are large sliding doors at the back of the building, so you can easily get your bikes inside to hide them. Malcolm sometimes walks the perimeter with Conrad, but none of the guys ever go into this other section. It’s also accessible through a hidden door in the wall. I’m the only one who knows about it.”
“A hidden door?”
Meri grins. “Yep. I did some research on it when I bought the place, and apparently the factory that used to operate there was in its prime during prohibition, so the workers installed the door so they could smuggle booze to the good people of Marble Falls.”
“That’s brilliant,” Python says with admiration.
“And beneficial for us,” Meri quips.
“Sounds like we’ve got a plan,” Crow says. “Anything else we need to discuss?” When no one says anything, he continues. “Church dismissed.”
When Meri and I are alone, I hold her close. “Feeling better?”
“I am. It’s finally going to be over.”
“Yes, it is.”
Insecurity passes over her eyes. “What’s wrong, babe?”
“What if this all ends and so do we? What if this is what brought us together? What i?—”
I silence her with a quick press of my lips. When I lean back, I level my gaze on hers. “I love you, Meri. This entire situation doesn’t define us. It never has. It’s a bump in the road. When it’s over, I’m still going to love you, and I’m still going to want you. I guess the question is, are you still going to love me?”
“Always.”