CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
-:- Paisley -:-
Sitting in bed, my back to the headboard, TwoCents by my side holding a mug of coffee in one hand. He turns his head and gives me a smirk and a wink.
“Well, the fucker in town that tried to grab you won’t be trying again. We got him, and he’s with Nell. For how long I don’t know, but you have to know he’ll never be bothering you after this. We still have to find this Irvin prick, but we got the name of your buyer…” growling quietly before he takes a deep breath and continuing, “Augustus Brant.”
“I know that name.” I sit up straighter. “I’ve heard Maurice say that name.” My mind is racing. What did I hear him say? Who was he talking to at the time? Why were they talking about him? Damn, I can’t remember, but I recognize the name.
“If you remember anything just let me know, but Pais, don’t push yourself. We don’t know if it’ll mess with your recovery because you didn’t have your memory for quite some time.” TwoCents places his mug on the bedside table, and turns to me, gripping my waist and dragging me down the bed. Throwing the covers over us, he kisses my shoulder, licks my neck, nibbles my jaw, and then someone bangs on the door, shouting.
“TWOCENTS, PRES WANTS YOU IN THE OFFICE.”
“Fuckin’ cockblocker,” TwoCents grumbles as he throws the covers off us and climbs out of bed. I giggle at his disgruntled attitude, but he looks over his shoulder, then grins. “I’ll pay you back for that giggle later.”
Watching TwoCents get ready, dressing, combing his hair, I smile when he runs beard oil through his beard. He always looks immaculately groomed, and it’s one of the things I love about him. He cares about himself as well as everyone around him.
Bending down and kissing me before leaving the room, his eyes give me a promise for later, and I can’t help the grin that crosses my face because the one thing that I know is, TwoCents will deliver on that promise.
Quickly jumping out of bed, I shower, brush my teeth, do my hair and dress before rushing downstairs to take our mugs to the kitchen and get a fresh coffee.
This morning, I’ve committed to helping Silver and Eden get ready for their move. They purchased a house near Forest and Stitch, much to Meat’s annoyance at the time. Star told me Meat had wanted to purchase near them, but he was happy now they had their cabin built on the compound.
Hammer has taken on a new team for the construction crew and they have made a start on building our cabin. I can’t wait, but I know it’s going to take a while, so I’m going to clear out my house and put it up for sale. It’s a pleasant house, but I’d rather be here where TwoCents feels happiest. I have no sentimental attachment to my house, so it’s no hardship for me to sell it.
Rinsing the two mugs, I place them in the dishwasher and give Meat a huge smile, which he doesn’t return, but gives me a twitch of the lip. I suppose that will have to be good enough.
Mia has a nice round stomach, not big, but it’s noticeable now. I give her a smile and point to it. “You got a little round belly now, Mia. Looking good.”
“I know, I’m doing my exercises because I don’t want to end up with a stomach that is bloated the rest of my life, or hanging down like a bag of used potatoes.”
“I’ll do exercises with you once you’ve had the baby if you want a partner. I know I said I’d whip your butt, but hey I was joking.” I grin and wrap my arm around her shoulders. “I’m going to be helping Eden pack things ready for them moving out of the clubhouse. I don’t even know why we built that crib for it to be taken down again just a few days later.”
Hearing a grunt, I turn and see Meat nodding in agreement. Mia laughs, then comments. “Yeah, it was a bit of a time-wasting exercise, wasn’t it? Maybe we could put one of the twins” cribs in their room because my two never use them now. They like their small beds. I’m not having twins, thankfully, this time, so I only need one of the cribs.”
“That’s a good idea. I’ll paint it up if you don’t mind?” With Mia’s shrug, my mind flitters to what I could do with it. “I’ll check what is the best paint to use, and how to do the best job of it. Oh, I’ll get some transfer thingies and put a motorcycle on too.”
“You need to speak to Specs. He will give you all the information you need, and he’ll get you the supplies ordered and delivered. If you get one of the brothers to take the crib to the shed out back, you’ll be able to strip off the old paint first without it being a problem, you know, mess wise.”
“Wow, thank you, Mia.” I don’t wait for her to say more. I dash out of the kitchen and through the common room right to Specs’ office. I don’t even bother to knock. I dash inside and take a seat next to Specs, who has a shocked and surprised look on his face.
“Specs, I want to strip down and do one of Mia’s cribs as a surprise for Eden. Can you get me something to follow to do it, you know, like a tutorial? Oh, and all the stuff I’ll need to do it. Brushes, paint, oh coveralls, mask, all of it.” I give him the largest smile I can muster, and he laughs before turning to his keyboard and starts tapping.
Thirty minutes later, I walk out of Specs’ office with a pile of papers in my hand, which is a run through from step one to the final rebuilding of a crib. It’s going to be hard work, but I’m looking forward to it. Specs informed me Fox would give me advice as he has the bespoke furnishing shop and they refurbish all types of furniture.
Taking the papers to our room, I place them on the dresser before freshening up and heading to Eden’s room. I help take the crib to the shed, after folding the bedding and clothing that Eden passes to me. Amelia has taken Harrison so we can pack clothes and other things Eden wants to take with her.
“I’ll give the room a sweep and make sure it’s ready for whenever you want to come and stay over for a night,” I tell Eden and she gives me a tired smile.
“Thank you, Pais. You’ve been great. Most of the Ol’ Ladies work, so it’s nice to have you and Jo around. I shouldn’t say that because Jo is an author and although she is around, she works. That sounded like I undervalue what she does and I don’t, it just came out wrong.”
Eden is digging herself into a hole, and I laugh. “Eden, stop before the hole you are digging is so deep you’ll never get out of it. I know what you mean, and I and everyone else values all the time and expertise Jo puts into her writing. We also hear all her research, too.”
Eden and I are giggling like fools when Silver walks into the bedroom. He gives us an odd look, shakes his head and walks out carrying four bags, two in each hand. That, of course, sets us off once more.
Once Silver, Eden and Harrison have left the compound I finish cleaning their room with Lina’s help, and we close up the bedroom with a sigh of thank goodness, job well done.
I eat lunch with Mia, the twins, Jo, and Tilly, who has come for a day of talking and resting. She is nearly seven months now and is looking well. She’s glowing is how people describe it, and in Tilly’s case, they are right. She really is glowing with health and happiness.
“I’m going to the Swap Shop this afternoon, and I’ve the new guy, Garth, going to be taking me there and back again. He’s husband to Hannah, who works for the shop. If you see him give me a shout because I want to freshen up and put on some clean jeans and a fresh t-shirt.”
“Okay, will do,” Mia replies as she continues feeding Carter, who is wearing more than he’s eating, I’m sure.
Upstairs, I quickly freshen up and change, then take my phone out of my purse and sit on the end of the bed. I’ve not rung this number in one hell of a long time, but I want answers I can give to TwoCents and Axel.
Taking a steadying breath, I hit the call button and wait.
“Is that you, Paisley?” I hear the deep voice and feel nothing. You would never know by how I feel that I’d had a relationship with this man. It seems he’s kept my phone number, which surprises me as I’ve not used this phone in a long time.
“Hello, Maurice. I need to ask you a question.”
“It’s been a long time. I never thought I would hear from you again.”
“Well, you wouldn’t have, but this question needs answering, and I think only you can answer it for me.”
I hear Maurice sigh, then he asks, “What question do you have, Paisley?”
“Who is Augustus Brant, and why is he apparently my purchaser?”
“What the ever-loving…” Maurice snarls. “Brant is in the mafia. From what I know, he has been involved in snatching women and making them work in his whorehouse. How the fuck has he gotten to know of you, and how has he gotten to purchase you?”
“Well, something to do with Charles Irvin. He is behind all this, and both of us know why, don’t we, Maurice?”
He sighs again before he replies, “I told him to leave you alone, that you were disappearing and would cause no trouble. I have not seen him in a long time, but I’ll find him and sort him out.”
“No need. My husband will make sure he’s sorted out, as you call it. But when he’s found, he’ll wish he’d never heard my name.”
“You’re married?”
I can hear the shock in his voice, and although I feel nothing for him, I know that he had genuine feelings for me at one time. “Yes, I’m married. That’s not what I wanted to talk to you about. My question is, do I need to know anything more about this Brant person?”
“The only way to stop him is to have him taken out, and I mean dead. Or you need to speak to his superior, and I’m not sure if he is aware of what this piece of shit is doing or not.”
“Who is his superior?” I ask.
Another sigh. This is so Maurice. He sighs all the damn time. “Vincenzo Vitale.”
“Thank you, Maurice.” I cut the call, turn my phone off and lay it on the dresser.
Making my way downstairs, I stop at TwoCents’ office, but he’s not inside, so I walk over to Axel’s and he’s behind his desk reading some paperwork. I give a light tap on the door and looking up, he signals for me to enter.
Entering the office, I close the door behind me and inform him of my call with Maurice. He frowns and tells me when TwoCents finds out I’ll be in deep shit. But I shrug because I needed to know what Maurice knew and the fact this asshole is mafia is shocking.
It seems Axel knows this Vitale man, and it’s not going to be a problem because they are intercepting Brant when he comes to pick me up. Seems I did not need to speak to Maurice since Axel knew all that I knew apart from the whorehouse, anyway.
I leave the office after filling Axel in on what I know, and head out to the common room where I’m meeting Garth. I give him a small wave as I see him standing next to the front door.
“I’m sorry, Garth, have I kept you waiting?”
“No, I’ve only been here a minute. Are you ready?”
“I am.” I look around but not seeing TwoCents, I head out to the truck that is idling outside the front door. I climb into the passenger side and quickly put on my seatbelt.
It only takes a minute or two before we are on the road into town. “How are you liking civilian life?” I ask Garth.
“It’s okay. It’s odd having time on my hands.”
“Yeah, I can imagine. I hope you don’t mind helping watch out with all we have going on?”
“Not at all. Gives us some extra green and gives me something to do apart from the list of chores Hannah has for me.”
I smile at the chuckle Garth gives, and I can see that he’s not bothered by either doing the chores or helping at the shop, so I release the worry that I had been feeling.
The afternoon passes quickly and easily. I’m working alongside Alyssa, with it being Friday. I like her. She works quickly and efficiently. She doesn’t talk much, but it’s not like she’s being rude, she just doesn’t seem to have anything to say.
Sentry has online swaps going on through the website that has been set up. I’m not getting involved in any of that. I’ve allowed him to take over most of the running of the place now he’s the manager. But it is nice to come in and help keep the shelving straight and the shelves in the shop filled.
The young lady that Meat had given the new clothing to has been in the shop a few times now, and she seems to struggle on her own. Seems her husband ran off with a woman and never told her where he was going, leaving China, which is her real name, to bring up their child on her own.
Now, China is tall, around 5’ 8”, dark hair, brown eyes and has pale skin that looks more like porcelain. When I asked how she got her name, she said her late momma used to collect rare china, and when she had her, it seemed the natural name to give her.
“Are you ready to go, Paisley?”
Turning, I give Garth a smile. He’s been around the shop all this time, quietly, watching and listening. Sentry has kept one eye on the front of the shop all afternoon. It’s easy to see he is tense about something.
“Yeah, I’m ready.” I give Alyssa a smile and a small wave to Sentry. “I’ll see you at the clubhouse later.”
“Sure, I’ll only be about half an hour behind you,” Sentry says and starts to cash out the register as I walk out behind Garth to his truck.
I’m sitting in the passenger seat and have my eyes closed, relaxing as it’s been another busy day.
“You asleep, Paisley?”
“No, just resting my eyes.”
Garth shocks me by saying, “Well, hang on, we’re being followed.”
“Shit, is there anything I need to do?” I ask, but I’m digging in my purse, which is a bigger one than I usually carry, but TwoCents wants me carrying a weapon, so here we are. I take out my Sig and make sure I’m ready.
“Wow, I didn’t know you were carrying, Paisley,” Garth states in a shocked tone.
“Oh, I know how to use it.” Turning, I look back and see a blacked-out SUV and it’s coming up fast.
“Hold tight, Paisley.”
What happens next happens so fast it’s hard to describe. But the SUV comes up behind us fast, clips the back of the truck, spinning us hard. The truck hits something and flips, rolling twice, leaving me more than a little dizzy and panicked.
Garth shouts to hang on and I curse because as we roll I drop the Sig, and daren’t take off my seatbelt to bend down and pick it up.
Seconds later we have stopped on the roof of the truck, and I turn my head in time to see Garth unclip his seatbelt and lower himself, spinning, so he’s the right way up. Now, I’m hanging upside down and can see my Sig on the roof, but I can’t reach it.
Garth grabs the Sig, grins and says “Hang on!” Then he’s out of the truck firing my Sig in one hand and his Glock in the other. Fuckin’ hell, he looks like something out of a movie. I’m going to have to tell Hannah about him because I’m sure she’ll jump Garth’s bones at the image I’m going to paint.
“Come on, Paisley, we’re outta here.” Garth unclips my seatbelt, helps me out of the truck, and places me behind a tree. “Wait here, and I’ll have the brothers here in no time.”
As Garth walks away, I hear him speaking to someone, and then he tells them, loud and clear, “I’ll keep her safe, or die doing it.”
“HERO!” I shout, and place my head back on the tree trunk. Whispering to myself this time, “Garth, my hero.”