Chapter 15 Land Holdings #2
“I wish you would have just asked me the minute you found out. I would have put your concerns to rest. The majority of my family’s land went to me when my father died, but the five acre tract at the furthest point from the house was given to Tiffany because it held no value as it had no water rights with the land when it was broken off.
If she had received any other chunk, she could have fought for the rights, if she didn’t own them outright because of where the wells are on the property. ”
“Shit,” Bigfoot mumbled as my still-sluggish brain tried to process what I’d just heard.
“Yeah, Tiffany fought me for more of the land and the house, but she didn’t have a leg to stand on.
I’ve owned the house and the twenty-five acres it sits on since my mom died.
Dad Willed the other half to me, minus that five because he figured giving her something would keep the courts from saying she was owed more.
He was right. Had he cut her out completely, they would have awarded her something.
It was all my mother’s family land to begin with, so I’m a bit miffed that the bitch got any of it, but I swear I had no knowledge that she was even trying to sell or I would have given you a head’s up.
I haven’t talked to her in person since I left for the Army after graduation.
The whole eviction and battle in court from her contesting my dad’s will took place through my lawyer.
I can give you his information, if you need it. ”
“That won’t be necessary, but I appreciate you taking the time to come talk to me about this when I asked.”
“Sure. I don’t know what they’re up to, but…
” Cassidy’s voice trailed off and when I finally wrapped my head around the fact that I heard her voice because she was in the clubhouse, the rest of the world came back into sharp focus and I had Tay-Tay sitting on my fucking lap.
Correction, I had Tay squirming on my fucking lap to get my attention.
Cassidy had a great poker face and didn’t let on how she was feeling other than the fact that she never picked up whatever she had been saying to Bigfoot again. Instead, she marched straight for the door and didn’t stop for anything or anyone.
“Hey, wait!” Sammy called out to her. “Grunt’s birthday is coming up, can I trouble you to get some pies made for him?”
“Text me the info,” Cassidy called out without turning around and then she walked through the door as though a fire nipped at her heels.
“Thought you had a thing for Cassidy?” It took a minute to realize Bigfoot stood in front of me and the glare on his face dared me to lie.
“Thought she was working with Simone to sell that land.”
Bigfoot shook his head as he crossed his arms over his chest. “That’s how you lose the girl for good.
You’re still letting Simone destroy every potential good thing to come into your life without even realizing that not everyone is like her.
Grunt filled me in on your past, so I get that you spent a lot of years thinking that girl had something to do with the bullshit your ex-wife pulled.
You know better, yet the first mention of their names in conjunction and you run with a worst-case scenario.
I don’t get it. Cass is a cool chick. Sammy really likes her and they have a lot in common with the Army shit.
We all enjoy the fuck out of her food, too.
Why in the hell didn’t you go and ask her about it in person? ”
“I-” Fuck. He was right. It never occurred to me go straight to the source and ask her what the fuck was going on. I rolled right back into bad habits where I didn’t have access to ask questions first and get the answers straight from her. She was always out of reach to me before.
You’re going to keep your distance from her for a while because we don’t need you to screw the pooch with her again,” Bigfoot ordered.
“We need to have this conversation in your office,” I told him as I stood and placed Tay on her feet.
I was well aware that the club girls had their ears open and listened to everything that was said.
Some of the brothers trusted them. Others, like Prez, simply forgot they were there.
It was as if the girls were nothing more than furniture or background noise at best. I was always conscious of them being a potential plant by our enemies or just loose-lipped with the wrong people.
Once we got to the office, I explained how we needed to dig deeper into Simone and whoever the hell they were trying to sell the land to, especially since it had become clear in the last few hours that there was a potential buyer for the land and they wanted to pay well above market value for land that was all but worthless.
That could only mean one thing - they wanted it for the location and our club’s property was the only thing that made the location valuable to anyone.
“I had our realtor put in a counter offer with a higher bid. I’m willing to overpay for the land, since we got yours free and clear when you joined. Besides, I don’t like the idea that someone’s that interested in land next to where our families live.”
I nodded. “I’ll check back in with Dime.”
“No need. I wanted you on that run to New York before because you’re my Sgt.
at Arms and I needed your opinion on the assholes we’re selling to there.
Grunt is just as good, but it ain’t his job.
I’m sending you to Phoenix for a few days to get eyes on another situation there.
You won’t be able to pass this one off. I’m sending Grunt to babysit your ass while you’re gone.
No calls to Cassidy Billups. Get there, do what you’re told, and then get home. ”
“I need to set her straight about what she saw out there,” I argued.
“I think Cass’s eyes work perfectly fine.
Too bad you showed her exactly what you thought of her.
Now, get your head in the fucking game. Once you’re back, we’ll figure out what to do about the fact that you have no fucking clue what to do with women.
” Bigfoot turned to stomp off as his wife snickered in the background.
“Holy fucking hell, isn’t he the one the women are always drooling over? It should be easy.”
“If it makes you feel any better, you’re the one I’m always drooling over,” Sammy teased.
“You’re damn right I am.” He threw her over his shoulder, slapped her ass, and took off for his office.
I envied the asshole even as I hated him in the moment.
If I had to go away to Phoenix, I couldn’t do it without explaining things to Cass.
Not that my explanation would make things better.
It would make me seem like I still hadn’t learned my fucking lesson.
I hated Simone for the way she fucked with my head for so long that it was still my first inclination to go there.
I hated myself for being unable to snap the fuck out of that mentality when it counted.