CHAPTER TEN
-:- TwoCents -:-
It’s thursday and I have financial reports to complete ready for church on Sunday. I’m behind with everything else going on, but if I close the door and concentrate, it shouldn’t take over five hours to wade through it all.
Club Whisky–Profit up 2%, the new line of meals on the lunchtime menu is proving to be successful. If the profit goes up another percent, I’ll speak to Axel about a salary increase for the staff. Office needs decorating, only a coat of paint, but it needs doing.
Shooting Range–We have a new supplier for the merchandise and it’s selling like hotcakes. Bringing in a small profit. On the whole, the range is highly profitable. Taken on more staff members because Target, Chaos and Winter were inundated with clients. No property repairs needed.
Coffee House–Liam is due a raise in his salary. He has taken on managing the place and he’s increased profits by 14%. No repairs to the property needed.
Construction–Hammer suggested a warehouse for all their gear as the small yard and office building they’ve been using is too small and the crew were struggling to store everything.
Hot Hogs Cages–More than enough work and profits are high.
Bespoke Furnishings–High profits and enough work for at least a year or more.
Wood Supply–Profits up 30% and salary increases need to be given.
TJs–Profit margin was the same, although had been down for three weeks, but now back to normal.
Garage–Same as always, nothing to report.
Rolling Thunder Tattoo–Clients building nicely and although it has not made enough to repay the purchase of the building, it will happen within the first eighteen months.
Bike Recovery/Web–Pays for itself, salaries, and has a nice 20% profit margin. The website is bringing in a lot of business and at a minimal cost to the club.
Wine Shop–75% up on profit since Cork started the wine tasting evenings. He has spoken to vineyards about carrying exclusives and that is bringing in higher profits per bottle than most others. Barons Bordeaux is another top earner and one of Meat’s better ideas.
Okay, done, and that’s enough information for church on Sunday. Nobody gives much of a hoot, anyway. All they want is the pay in their bank each month.
Placing the information in the top drawer of my desk, I lock it and head out to speak with Axel if he’s in his office. He had been following Mia around like a puppy until she lost her temper with him. He either wants to carry her around, or have his wicked way with her. It’s highly amusing, I have to admit, but with Axel and Knuckles, it’s like sex central around here.
Knocking on Axel’s door because nobody wants to just walk in and catch them at it after Drag nearly got his ass shot for doing just that. Catching Mia over the desk with Axel, ‘giving her it good’, well, that’s what Drag kept saying and earned Axel”s anger in the process. But when Drag stated, ‘Oh, more twins could be on the way’, Axel puffed his chest up and Mia stormed off, mumbling about asshole men and freaking twins.
“Come in.”
Thank goodness I interrupted nothing, is my first thought, but I open the door and step inside, quickly taking a seat and reporting what is happening.
“Pres, I’ve spoken with Forest and he’s sent Dep and another to see what they can find on the Senator because his FBI friend Aaron has gone quiet. Forest will let us know what he finds as soon as he has more information.
“I went to visit Nell. It was interesting, and she is going to speak to Vitale on our behalf, see what he knows about DeSantos and even the Senator. She didn’t look like she was going to enjoy the interaction with Vitale. It seems he’s been chasing her although he’s not been able to catch her.”
Axel chuckles. “They would suit each other, don’t you think?”
“Yeah, they probably would. But I always thought she would end up with Tank or Richie, or even both.”
“No, that was not ever likely. They are both like brothers to her. They have created their own family and Graham joining the team, so to speak, has given Nell that sense of home she needed.”
“Maybe so. Did she ever resolve her issues with her father?”
“No, but he is a piece of shit. He thinks he’s something special, but he’s not, and his new wife is a gold-digging whore, but he’s the only one that can’t see it. Losing both your kids over a skank like that is ridiculous, but Nell and Graham are better off without him.”
“Anyway, Nell’s going to get back to me as soon as she has some information.”
Axel leans back in his seat and steeples his fingers, placing his chin on the top, giving me a serious look. “When are you going to come clean and tell Paisley you were not married before, but you are now?”
“I’ve been thinking sooner rather than later, but it is difficult to know how to tell her. I don’t want her bolting back to her house in a fit of temper and leaving herself wide open when we don’t know what she is hiding. She has to know something or she wouldn’t have got such a large payout or such a fast divorce.”
“I agree with that, but don’t leave it too long if you want to keep her as your wife. Nothing worse than a woman who has a grudge. I just kiss the shit outta Mia, and she forgets what she’s mad about. You could try that.” Axel gives me the grin that tells me he’s gonna go find his woman and do just that when I leave here.
“Oh, keep it in your pants for five minutes.” I stomp out of the office, but with my back to him Axel doesn’t see the smile on my face, but I hear him chuckling.
Walking into the kitchen, I stand in the doorway watching Paisley as she is working with Amelia and Sybil. She has her hands in a bowl of something and has a patch of flour on her cheek. The look is adorable, and in that moment I know I’m not going to let her walk away.
“Oh, look who has turned up, our very own TwoCents,” Sybil smirks. Now the Stooges are pulling my strings as they know what I’ve done as far as getting married is concerned, and just at that moment a light bulb moment happens. She doesn’t have a wedding ring!!
“I’ve gotta run into town, but wanted to let you know I’ll be back in around an hour.” I step over to Paisley, kiss her gently, smack her ass lightly and walk away whistling. I obviously didn’t give any of them the chance to give me grief.
Rushing into town, I push my hog to the limit where I can. I tear into Paisley’s house, search her bedroom until I find a jewelry box and find a ring. Now this one is a wedding ring, so I can’t go wrong with the size.
Taking it with me, I lock up and make my way to the jewelry store and, walking inside, I smile at the man behind the counter. He’s giving me a look like he stepped on something, and if he doesn’t get it off his face fast, I’ll wipe the fucker off for him.
“How can I help you, sir?”
“First, you can take that look off your face or I’ll go to another store. Second, I want you to size this ring and third, show me wedding rings in that size.” I give him another smile, but this one has an edge to it.
Spluttering a moment as he didn’t expect to get called out, I’m sure. He grabs something to get the size of Paisley’s ring, then shows me the rows of wedding rings.
My eyes roam over the top, but at first glance, there is nothing special among these. “Is this all you’ve got?”
“We have the more expensive ones over here.”
Now, the fucker is pissing me the hell off and I give him a nasty look, which has him taking a step back. Stepping over to the showcase, I notice immediately these are nicer rings. Pointing at a rose gold with a filigree pattern running through the center. “I want to see that one.”
Opening the case, he looks at me dubiously as he places it on a black padded square of velvet. Leaning down, I can see how pretty this is and it’ll look lovely on her finger.
“Do you have a matching engagement ring?” I ask, “Oh, and a man’s wedding ring to match?”
“We do.” The asshole places the two matching rings on the pad of velvet and I think they are stunning. The engagement ring has a diamond in the center and three smaller ones on the left and right of it. They are set in a filigree frame that matches the pattern on the wedding rings.
I pick up the man’s ring, much to the asshole’s worry, and try it on. The fit is damn good and I can see myself wearing it with no problem. Taking it off, I place it with the other two and give the asshole a nod.
“Are they the right size for my wife?”
Checking, he nods, “Yes, they are and as they are only a limited edition, you are lucky.”
“Okay, I’ll take them.”
Now, his head snaps up and looks at me shocked, maybe because I’ve not asked the price. But I’ve plenty of money, I hardly spend a dime and over the years with my military payout, and my MC earnings I’ve a pretty damn lot saved.
“That is a total of $75,500.00.”
“Yeah, okay.” I hand him my card and wait for him to take payment, but my eyes rove the store and think I could get Paisley a rose gold necklace later to place the tracker in. Specs will get a tracker in the engagement ring, for now, I’m sure.
The fucker has such a shocked look on his face when the payment goes through. He packages the rings and hands them to me, and gives me a genuine smile for the first time. I, however, give him a snarl and sour look, turn my back, and walk out of the store. I’ll probably not shop here again.
Back at the clubhouse I hand the engagement ring to Specs and he goes to work placing the tracker inside the framework of the ring, and I’m thankful that it fits without being obvious that it is even there. Mind you, I will have to admit to Paisley it has one inside because if she finds it, it will be another black mark against me. The one for marrying her is going to be the largest black mark anyone’s ever seen.
Walking into our room, I’m surprised to see Paisley sitting on the bed reading a book. Shit, it’s one of Jo’s, and I hope she doesn’t want to practice scenes from it. Not until she knows the circumstances of our marriage, at least.
“Hi, how long have you been back from town?” Paisley asks.
“I just got back. I had our rings cleaned, and the tracker secured in your engagement ring. When you were in hospital, I took them off so they didn’t get stolen, and it was an ideal time to get them cleaned.” Holy shit, I’ve gotta stop this shit, ‘cause I’m gonna get caught out, eventually.
“Oh, okay.”
I step over and take out the rings for Paisley and hold her hand as I slide the rings on her finger. They look beautiful and they fit perfectly.
“They are beautiful. I love them. I’m sorry I don’t remember them at all.”
Shit, shit, shit, she looks sad. Goddammit, I’m digging myself into a massive hole here. “It’s okay. Do you want to put mine on, or shall I do it?” Fucking hell, what is wrong with me? I can’t seem to stop myself.
“I’ll do it.” Paisley takes the ring out of my hand and gently slides it on my finger. Then she reaches for me, kissing me gently.
I’m a dead man. When she finds out what I’ve done, she’s gonna kill me. But I’m not going to divorce her no matter what. No how, no way is that happening. She’s mine legally, and I’m keeping her.
Now I just have to get her to fall in love with me!