Lakelyn Chapter 16
It had been a couple of days since we met with Crypto, Cobra, and my brother to discuss what had been discovered. Since then, I knew Tyrant had at least two calls with the president of the Ohio chapter, Scythe. When I asked if they would help us, he said they would happily do it.
During these talks, I discovered that things that fell under club business weren’t typically discussed with non-members like River and me. Even the prospects didn’t know all the details. I thought it was ridiculous, so I told Tyrant that. It had been our first major disagreement.
“What do you mean you can’t talk about it? That it’s club business?” I asked in disbelief.
“Just what I said. Anything deemed club business, such as the runs we’re making or other activities like the Jacquots, isn’t discussed with non-members. The fact that you even know we plan to deal with them is an exception. Don’t expect it to happen again.”
“That’s utter bullshit, Killian! First of all, the Jacquots are being dealt with partially due to the situation my brother and I are in.
We have every right to know what is to be done about them.
Second, I’m your old lady. I should know what my man is getting into.
What is the risk to him? How else do I prepare? ”
“You don’t prepare. Excluding you from knowing what we’re doing is to protect you. If we’re caught, the authorities can’t pin anything on you, and you can’t give them any information if you don’t know it. It protects you and us.”
“If you’re caught, I would never tell them anything!”
“What if we had kids, and they threatened to take them away if you didn't? Would you allow them to do that?” he countered.
That made me pause. I knew it would kill me to lose him and our kids. “I’d find a way not to lose them or tell on you,” I said weakly.
“You’re too loving to do that. And I wouldn’t want you to choose me over our kids. However, if you don’t know anything, you can’t be blackmailed that way.”
We’d argued back and forth for a while. He’d also told me there would be no communication while they were on a run or working one of their illegal businesses.
I’d gone to bed still thinking about it.
I saw his point in the kids’ example, but I feared that not knowing where or what he was doing would drive me crazy. We’d come to an impasse.
I didn’t know precisely when their confrontation with the Jacquots was to take place. It made me sick to my stomach with tension, but I didn’t mention it to Tyrant. I figured it wouldn’t make any difference to him. I wasn’t happy with them bowing to the Jacquots' demands.
So, to stay sane and distract myself, I’d been working on looking for a job.
If they handled this soon and we moved our things here, I would need to find a job.
I’d told River he should see which colleges had the program he wanted here in Turmoil or nearby.
Kearney wasn’t terribly far, but it was better to have more options.
I jotted down the information on a likely job.
I jumped when the doorbell rang. No one used that thing.
I got up to see who it was. If any brothers were home, they’d know Tyrant was at the garage.
My curiosity was piqued. When I opened the door, I was surprised to see Alice standing there. She had a hesitant smile on her face.
“Hi, Alice, this is a surprise,” I greeted her.
“I know, and I’m sorry. I didn’t have your phone number to text you. I hope I didn’t come at a bad time. But if I did, please tell me.”
“It’s not a bad time. Come in.” I stepped back so she could enter.
“I don’t know if Tyrant will like that. Could we sit outside or maybe go to the clubhouse?”
“Tyrant said this is my house, too. And if so, I can invite whoever I want inside. It’s fine. We can relax here,” I insisted.
She crept inside. After assuring her she could keep on her shoes and asking if she wanted something to drink, I got her seated in the kitchen at the table where I’d been working.
“Oh, you’re working. I’m sorry.
“No, I was looking for work. Tell me what brought you here. I can tell you’re upset.”
“Remember the night at the clubhouse when Mera came in and went off?”
“Yeah, who could forget that?”
I hoped Mera wasn’t giving her trouble. I’d been told that she was instructed that she was out if she did or said one more thing. I wouldn’t be heartbroken if Mera left. And it wasn’t because she slept with Tyrant.
“I’m sorry that my talking to you got you jumped. I hope you’ll still give me some advice. I need it.”
“I sure will help. It wasn’t your fault for how Mera behaved. Did you talk to your friend like I suggested?”
“I did, and she blew up like you said she might. I tried to reason with her, but she refused to listen. She said she didn’t have a drinking problem and that I was a jealous bitch who was trying to ruin her life by saying she did.
I told her that wasn’t true. She screamed at me, called me terrible names, and then kicked me out of her house.
I was told not to come back. I don’t know what to do, Lakelyn.
She’s going to hurt herself or someone else badly, maybe even kill them, if she drives drunk again.
What do I do?” There were tears in her eyes.
“Hey, I know it’s upsetting, but don’t cry.
You still have options. I did print out several resources I found for you.
I had hoped to see you this week at the clubhouse to give them to you.
What you do is you keep pushing her to let you back in.
However, I need to ask. Does she have family?
Are they supportive and someone you could talk to about your concerns?
Find out if any of them have the same ones.
Maybe all of you can stage an intervention.
It’s pushy, but you can’t make her go. She has to admit she has a problem and wants help.
If she becomes self-harming, then that opens up other options. ”
“She has parents and a brother. They’re pretty close, I think.
She has contact with them, but not as much as before.
Her drinking didn’t become an issue until she broke up with the asshole she was with.
I never liked him, but she was head over heels for him.
I never trusted him. I knew he’d cheat on her.
Eventually, she caught him in a lie and then found out he was seeing other women even though he was living with her.
When she confronted him, he tried to lie but then broke down and admitted it.
I was so happy when she kicked him to the curb and told him never to contact her again.
But after that, she began to drink more and more. ”
“It’s not uncommon for a stressor to cause the drinking issue to start.
A death, marriage, childbirth, losing someone, or losing a job.
Take these resources, and if you talk to her family, share them with them.
However, the one who’ll get her into rehab and counseling is your friend herself.
We can pray she doesn’t hurt or kill herself or others.
I wish I could tell you there’s a magic pill, but there’s not. ”
“I know, but I can still wish. Thanks for listening and giving me ideas. I so appreciate it. I’ve got something else to tell you that’s totally off this topic.”
“Go ahead,” I said.
“Tyrant never gave any of us a bit of encouragement that we might mean more to him than someone to get off with. I know Mera acted like it was more between them, but it wasn’t.
She wanted to be his old lady. She told the rest of us that, but we thought she was dreaming.
I thought you should know. I hope she leaves.
Bailey might go with her, but that’s because they’re cousins, and she usually does whatever Mera tells her.
Honestly, it would be better if Bailey got away from Mera.
She could start to think for herself and see how toxic their relationship is. ”
“Thank you for telling me, but I knew he hadn’t. As for Bailey, it’s a shame if she lets anyone, family or not, lead her. She should try to make her own decisions. We all need to do that.”
“True. Alright, I’ve taken up enough of your time. I’ll let you get back to the job search. I hope you find something fast. They sure could use you around here.”
As we rose, I put an arm around her and squeezed.
She seemed surprised, but she did it back.
I had no reason to hate her. As I told her before, I could deal with her and the others as long as she stayed away from Tyrant.
However, I was finding that I liked Alice.
I hadn’t expected that. I waved goodbye to her at the door, then closed it and returned to my laptop.
???
Dinner was almost done when I heard the roar of a motorcycle stop outside.
I thought it was Tyrant, but it was hard to tell with the townhomes so close together.
I was in the middle of pulling the roast out of the oven, so I couldn’t see if it was him.
I heard the front door open no more than a minute or two later.
I was smiling when he eventually came down the short hall to the kitchen.
His scowl surprised me, and my smile slid away. I went to him.
“What’s wrong, Killian? You’re upset. Did anything happen at the garage?” I tried to wrap my arms around him, but he held up his hand. I checked him over to see if he had grease on his clothes, but I didn’t see any.
“The garage was fine. What did you do today? Anything interesting? Or something I should know about?” he asked abruptly.
“Nothing too strenuous. I researched the job ads to see if there were any positions I could apply for. I found a couple and sent my resume off. And I cooked dinner. Why?” Why was he asking me this so curtly?
“That’s all?” he countered.
“Killian, why are you pushing me away? And what’s with the questions?”