Chapter 10
Ten
Charlie
I hold my smile until I’m in the closet.
My nervousness at whatever Raider needs from me grows.
I’ve done nothing. I haven’t been anywhere.
Shit, I never even got my phone back. So, I truly have no idea what he might need from me.
It takes me no time to get dressed and ready to face Raider.
I slip my shoes on and head for the door.
“Hey, are you just going to leave without giving me a kiss?” Blitz grumbles coming out of the bathroom with nothing but a towel around his waist.
The smile that stretches across my face is real and happy. “I would never dream of doing such a thing.”
Blitz comes over to me, grabbing the back of my head and tilting it so he can get to my mouth.
The kiss is short, but toe-curling all the same.
I pull away and then peck him one more time on the mouth before heading for the door.
Walking to Prez’s office, I’m lost in my own thoughts so I don’t see the hag before I slam into her.
“You stupid bitch,” Ivy screams.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t see you there,” I step away from her with my hands raised.
“God, all you bitches are the fucking same. You think because you're sleeping with a brother, you're something special. I hate to break it to you, sweetheart, but we all sleep with the brothers. You, Ainsley, and even fucking Tasia aren’t anything special. I haven’t seen a single property patch or property tattoo. Meaning none of y’all are shit.
” Ivy’s words sting, hitting their mark.
I swallow the bile trying to rise. “As fun as this conversation has been. Prez, wants to see me.”
“You’re not special, none of you are,” Ivy screams at my back.
I shake my head, waving over my shoulder. I walk down the hallway that leads to Prez’s office. Standing at the door, I take a steadying breath, raise my hand and knock on the door. He calls for me to enter, and with a trembling hand I grab the knob, twisting and pushing the door open.
“Oh, Charlie. It's so good to see you,” he calls out when I push into his office.
I make my way over to the chair across from him and take a seat. “Twitch said you wanted to see me.”
“Yes. How do we get NOS on the phone to set up a meeting?” Raider asks, getting straight to the point.
Slumping back into the chair, I sigh. “Umm, the guy who was here the night of the party said I would know how to get in touch, but I haven’t thought about it since.”
Raider’s hands steeple in front of his mouth, and he seems lost in thought. “Can you do me a favor and think about it? I’ve tried several times to reach out to them with zero luck.”
I sit there running everything I could remember about how to contact Lucifer's Knights. A single thought hits me. “Have you tried Six’s old phone number?”
“What do you mean?” Raider asks.
“NOS wanted more than just the clubhouse. He wanted Six’s life. He wanted our lives. NOS would rage about how it was unfair that Six always got everything he wanted while NOS never did.”
“Interesting. Do you think you would feel up to making the call?” Raider sounds hesitant.
My jaw drops open in shock. “You want me to talk to him?”
“If you would make the call, we would all be right here and tell you what to say,” Raider speaks in a hurry.
“Have you talked to Blitz about this?” I question.
“I haven’t, and to be honest, I don’t know that we should talk to him about it,” Raider says cautiously.
“I want to respect you and the club, but I made a promise that there would be no more lies. Making that call without talking to Blitz feels icky,” I grumble, picking at the skin on my thumb.
“Icky,” Raider repeats back to me.
“I will make the call, but only if Blitz knows what's happening,” I tell him with my chin up.
“As the president of the club, I could make you make the call and demand that you don’t tell him anything.” Raider watches me for a reaction.
His words make my stomach turn. “Well, at that point I would ask you to give me the ability to leave. I will not do something I know would upset Blitz and then lie about it. That’s how I got into the shit I did a month ago, and I will not go back there.”
We sit for a long time in silence before he lets out a long breath. “Fine.”
I watch as he pulls his phone from his pocket and shoots off a text.
We sit there waiting for whomever he texted, not saying a word.
I finally build up the courage to ask him for my phone when the door opens, and in walks Hermes, Terro, Anvil, and Blitz.
As soon as he sees me, he instantly comes over, picks me up and sits us both down in the chair together.
Once we’re seated, he rubs circles on the outside of my thigh.
“Alright. Now that everyone is here, I’m going to get to the point,” Raider kicks off. “I want Charlie to reach out to the Knights. We’ve gotten nothing but silence from them, and I’m thinking her reaching out might get us an in.”
“No,” Blitz growls without pause.
“Do you have any idea how we might get a hold of them then?” Raider snarls.
“Why don’t we do the same thing they’ve done to us several times? Just show up at their club and start firing,” Anvil throws out, chuckling.
“Well, as helpful as that idea is, let's think of something that might actually not end up with us getting killed. I’ve got an Ol’ Lady that would be fucking pissed if I showed up with extra holes in my body,” Raider deadpans.
I turn to Blitz. “Let me make the call. I’m not going to be talking to him. I would just be making the call.”
He searches my face, then nods. “Fine. Make the call, but you're not going anywhere near them. There is nothing you can say to change my mind about that. A phone call is one thing, but you being anywhere near those assholes is nonnegotiable.”
“I do not plan to leave this clubhouse until they’re dealt with,” I whisper leaning into him.
Blitz growls low, placing his forehead to mine. “I can’t stand to watch you be hurt or upset.”
I reach up, running my hand through his hair. “You’ll be right here, and as long as you’re here, nothing can ever hurt me again.”
He kisses me hard on the mouth, a kiss meant to claim and show ownership. We eventually pull apart when our lungs are starved for oxygen.
Turning to look at Raider, I nod. “Let's do this.”
“Hermes, are you ready?” Raider asks.
“I’m always ready.”
“Go ahead, Charlie,” Raider nods at me.
“How would you like me to do this? I don’t have my phone.”
“What do you mean you don’t have your phone?” Raider snaps.
“No one has given it back since it was taken to check and see if I was hiding anything.” I shrug.
“Charlie, why haven’t you asked for your phone back?” Hermes' voice is full of surprise.
“I figured that when y’all were ready for me to have it back, you would give it back. You never did, so I just figured you found something of interest,” I answer honestly.
“Fucking shit, Charlie. You need to speak up when you need something,” Blitz says behind me.
“I wasn’t leaving the club. So, there was no reason for me to have it. Instead of you guys fussing over me not having it, can I have it now so I can get this done?” I finally ask.
“Yes, you're getting your phone back, and here is a burner you’re going to use to get in touch with NOS. He does not need your actual number,” Hermes answers me, handing me both phones.
I shove mine in my pocket before touching the screen of the burner. It lights up and I pull up a text message window to send a message to NOS.
ME: I fucked up and I’m ready to come home
NOS: And which one of my lost little things would this be?
Looking back at Blitz, I say, “Nothing that I’m about to say means anything. Please know that.”
ME: The one that loves when you leave your bites everywhere.
NOS: It’s been so long
ME: It's been way too long. I’m sorry.
NOS: It’s not time for you to come home. You have a job to do.
“What job?” Anvil asks.
“To listen around here and provide him with information,” I tell them.
“See if he’ll answer the phone,” Terro suggests.
With a deep inhale, I dial the number. Not all expecting that he cares enough to answer the phone. On the third ring, he picks up the phone, “Well, well, well.”
His voice causes a surge of memories and pure, unabashed fear to steal my breath for a moment. I open my mouth, trying to find the words.
“You called me, Ice, but you have nothing to say?” NOS taunts.
“NOS, it’s Raider, the president of the Kings of Anarchy. I’m here with Ch-Ice and we wanted to talk about getting together to talk some things over.” Raider steps in when I can’t make my voice work.
“Ice baby, what have you done?” NOS ask ignoring Raider, showing complete disrespect.
“She’s doing exactly what you asked her to do. She is reporting information,” Raider says smoothly.
“Oh, is the new president going to share all the great and powerful Kings’ secrets?” NOS continues to taunt.
I finally find my voice, and because of the fear my voice shakes. “NOS, they’re willing to let me come back to you. All they see is a traitor, and this is my only chance to leave.”
“Oh Ice, it's been so long that I just don’t know that I could trust you,” NOS’s tone is down turned.
“How about this,” Raider cuts in. “We'll meet up somewhere between us in a neutral location. Ice can come and after the meeting you can do whatever you want with her. Think of it as a peace offering. The Kings want peace with the Knights.”
NOS scoffs. “You want peace? We had peace and everything was perfectly fine until you all decided to do away with Relic.”
A growl from Mercy causes me to jump.
“I understand, and we’re willing to work something out. Not take part in what you're doing, but possibly turn a blind eye to things for the right price,” Raider grits out through gritted teeth.
“Now you’ve gotten my attention.” The creak of a chair lets everyone know he’s relaxed.
“Good, you pick the place and time.” Raider rubs his temples.
“Okay, Raider.” NOS concedes. “I’ll be in touch with the details.”