CHAPTER EIGHT
– NORIE –
Heart turns to me. “What caught your attention when you went through the bookkeeping for the brewery?”
“A chunk of money was transferred to an account I didn’t recognize.
It was written off as packaging costs, but it didn’t reconcile to the recent order.
It also didn’t make sense, like I said..
.there was a recent order. Anyway, there was another withdrawal mentioning marketing while my uncle.
..” I sigh and hate the reminder of who Swade apparently really is.
“While Swade never differs from the marketing strategy.”
“How much money in total are we talking about?” Fatal questions.
“Two hundred and fifty thousand. Oh, and the amount of glasses for the taproom was changed recently.” I shrug and add, “I always make an automatic backup, and it doesn’t write over the last one but saves a different file if changes are made.
Swade’s Bitchy Bitch, also known as Lace, who I now kinda understand has a reason to hate me, used to make changes so she could steal from him.
It’s why I always check the books every once in a while, so he knows how much she took. ”
Heart and Fatal glance at one another, and it’s Fatal who says, “Not only is Gilpin stealing money from the club, he and Melon were also embezzling guns. So, they got the cash from the gun deal as well.”
“Or the guns were a little taste. You know, good faith and all to butter them up and place a bigger order. Maybe that’s why Gilpin needed the funds, to buy new ones.” Shit, me and my big mouth.
Fatal and Heart are staring at me, and the look on their faces makes me blurt, “I won’t be allowed to leave any time soon, will I?”
Fatal dismisses me and my question when he turns to Heart. “I’m going to call Big Daddy.”
What is it with these bikers and their names? “Sounds sexy, is he coming in here too? I haven’t unlocked a daddy kink yet.”
Fatal narrows his eyes.
I smirk. “Ah, now your ears work. Great. Me. Leave. Yes, please, and right now would be awesome.”
The annoying man grabs his phone and yet again acts as if I’m not here. He’s holding the phone between him and Heart and I hear the call go through.
“Since ignoring me is your new play, I’m gone. Your cock wasn’t worth a second bounce anyway,” I snap and get to my feet.
“Shut the fuck up,” Fatal roars.
A male voice comes through the phone and rumbles, “Easy enough,” right before the line goes dead.
Fatal curses. “Keep an eye on that one. I’ll call back and fill Big Daddy in and then I’ll handle her.”
I wait till he has the phone by his ear and is about to speak when I loudly state, “I bet Big Daddy is big in all places.”
“I said, shut the fu...,” Fatal grits through his teeth and is about to turn when his voice cuts off and then changes. “Not you, sorry. Hey, listen...” He strides out the door and lets it fall shut without looking back.
“Asshole,” I mutter.
“Stop yanking his balls and he might warm up to you,” Heart states.
I barely manage to hold back the words, “Speaking from experience?”
Taking a calming breath, I turn to face Heart. “Big Daddy, is he like the boss’s boss?”
Heart crosses his muscled arms in front of his chest and leans against the table. “Normally I’d say it’s club business, meaning it’s not meant for a cunt’s ears. Though, you’re cunt-deep in all this shit anyway.”
“Heart?” I beam up at him and wait until I have his full attention to let him know, “The word cunt is crude, disrespectful, and makes me doubt your brain capacity. Meaning it makes you sound fucking stupid.”
He rubs his mouth, but the hint of a lip-twitch I saw lets me know he is holding back laughter. “Big Daddy is the president of the Kings of Anarchy’s founding chapter in California. Hero is their VP, and...”
“You should probably stop rattling club business because it gives me the impression I’m going to end up as a brain-speck on Fatal’s boot,” I grumble.
Now the man does bark out a laugh. “Judging from the necklace he branded on your skin with his damn mouth? I’d say he’ll want you alive and in one piece.”
My hand goes to my neck, and I can feel my cheeks heat. “So? The man likes to latch on during sex, it doesn’t mean it’s a public statement.”
Heart smirks. “The man never leaves his mark, not after what happened to the one that earned him his road name.”
Completely intrigued, my mind starts to run with different scenarios.
Except, it doesn’t make sense. “Fatal? As in Fatal lovin’? Right. When I met the man he had brain on his boot, I’d say his road name is more complicated than a pink cloud.”
“I’m pretty sure I told you to keep an eye on her,” Fatal states. “Gossiping like cunts...”
I mentally cut him off by leaning in and telling Heart, “He missed my cunt remark, but clearly his brain capacity is affected too. You two should sniff menthol. Did you know inhaling the scent has a powerful effect on the brain? Well, you can’t believe everything you read, but I’m pretty sure I’ve read multiple articles about it. ”
“Sniff what now?” Fatal rumbles. “No one is snorting anything up their damn nose. Unless you want my cum up there. I’d be happy to throat-fuck you so you’d either choke on it or come all over your face.”
Sperm up your nose? It would eventually end up in your throat...but...yuck.
I blink very slowly and whisper, “Thanks for the heads-up, Heart. I lucked out with the man’s Russian roulette sex.”
Heart barks out a laugh. “I’m starting to like you, Norie.”
I shake my head. “Don’t get attached. I’m not planning to stick around.”
“Your days are indeed numbered here. Sevrin already reached out to Big Daddy and called in a marker. I’m supposed to hand you over next week when Sevrin returns, no questions asked.”
“That’s insane,” I snap at Fatal.
He slowly shakes his head. “It’s just business. We still have one week, and we need to focus on the shit at hand.”
I can feel my eyes go wide. “Great, you guys focus on that, leave the door open and I’ll slip right the fuck out.”
Fatal huffs out a deep breath. “I’m not going to simply hand you over, Norie. But I am having bigger issues here with almost getting killed, rats in our brotherhood, along with missing merchandise and fucking money.”
“Yeah, but you know who did it,” I state with a hint of a ‘duh’ tone.
Fatal nods and steps closer to tower over me.
“We do, but when we killed Melon, we thought that was the end of it. It surprises the fuck out of me that Gilpin is involved. He’s been with the club for years, even when my father was still the prez.
So, you’re going to sit right here and go over our books and check everything.
For now, we’re keeping this between you, me, and Heart. ”
“And Big Daddy,” I add.
Heart’s mouth twitches. “I’ve never met a chick as sharp as she is.”
I roll my eyes. “You should really do something about your standards. Start with women who won’t tolerate you calling them the c-word.”
Heart shrugs. “Twat, bitch, slit-animal, everything comes in variations. Besides, if a woman doesn’t like it? She’s free to leave.”
“Except for me, I’m not free to leave,” I huff. “Fine, give me those books. I’ll help you guys, but if I end up...”
“You’re not ending up on Prez’s boot, Norie,” Heart sighs.
I raise my eyebrow. “Right, because you’re starting to like me and know I’ll be gone this time next week.”
Fatal glances at his VP. “Heart, tell the guys church in an hour. I need to have a word with Norie.”
He only nods and leaves the room, closing the door behind him.
“I’m not going to have sex with you on the table again, and there’s no way I’m going to snort your sperm,” I warn.
Fatal smirks. “We’ll see.”
I’m about to enlighten him on what I really think about his arrogant, asshole idiocy, when he says, “I’m not done with you yet and I’m willing to make a deal.
You’re going to help me unravel if Gilpin is the only rat left in this brotherhood, and I’ll make sure Sevrin can’t take you away next week. ”
I stare at him and want to say, “Deal,” and yet there’s something ominous about him making sure Sevrin can’t take me.
Does this mean Fatal will keep me locked up in the clubhouse?
Death by sperm infecting my brain through my nose?
Hell, the warning Heart gave about Fatal’s road name still lingers inside my head.
Though, in the end? What choice do I have?
I hold out my hand. “Deal.”
His palm glides over mine and engulfs my hand completely with his. Sparks of lust tingle through me when he leans in.
He places his lips right by my ear and lets his rugged rumble caress my ear when he states, “You’re mine now, Norie.”
Wait...what?