Chapter Six #2
Rattler sighed. “I can’t go into detail. Some shit is just club business and we don’t talk about it outside of the patched members, but we were all SEALs at one time. Some of us are good with explosives, some with computers, some with talking guys down.”
That made me feel better. There were lots of bad guys out there, and sometimes the good guys needed to fight them on their own ground. Unbidden, a picture of Tim’s rage-filled face came to mind. Things might have been different if I’d had the training to fight back effectively.
I suddenly felt exhausted. It must have shown on my face.
Rattler ran his hand down my arm. “Want to call it a night?”
“Yeah.” I looked around. “Where’s Scrapper?”
Rattler pointed to a spot by the fire. Willow was curled up fast asleep, with Scrapper on top of her. “Not sure we should disturb him. He looks comfortable.”
“Maybe in a few days, after he has time to settle in. Right now I’d feel better if he were in the room with us for the night.” I glanced at the wooded area behind the compound. “He’s not very big yet, and there’s probably things around that would consider him a snack.”
“True.” Rattler strode over to the pair and scooped up the kitten. “Sorry, Willow. Time for your friend to go home for the night.”
The dog opened her eyes and yawned, watching passively as Rattler carried the kitten over to me.
* * *
Rattler
I got up quietly and pulled my clothes on, tucking my gun into the shoulder holster I liked to wear under my cut.
Lily was still asleep with the kitten curled up beside her head on the pillow.
She’d barely stirred when I slipped out of bed, and I didn’t want to wake her.
A decent night’s sleep would be good for her.
I doubted she’d had one in a damned long time, given what she’d told me about her ex.
Church was in less than half an hour. I scribbled a note in case she woke up before I got back and left it on the pillow on my side of the bed.
My side of the bed -- how fucking domesticated did that sound?
We hadn’t even talked about shit like that.
We’d come up from the pizza party last night and made love.
Lazy, getting to know each other’s likes and dislikes kind of lovemaking.
Slow and easy, too tired to be inventive lovemaking.
Then we’d fallen asleep in each other’s arms as if we’d done it a hundred times before.
Yeah. She was in my bed, and in my heart. I’d make damn sure she never felt the sting of a hand raised in anger again.
I stopped in the kitchen to grab a cup of coffee.
The place was a mess, but Mom had cleaned it up enough to set up a coffee station on a part of the counter that had missed the fallout.
A tray of muffins and scones was there as well.
Someone must have sent a prospect to town for those.
There wasn’t a chance in hell Mom had managed to whip anything up in here.
The fact she’d managed coffee was a small miracle.
Church was just a fancy word for an official club meeting.
We held it out back of the main clubhouse in a building set aside for that purpose.
Once all the full members were inside, Ace ordered the doors closed and a pair of prospects made sure no one else entered.
Not that we expected any trouble this morning, but that was protocol.
Whether we expected trouble or not, it paid to be ready.
“Be prepared” could have been our club motto. We were practically fucking boy scouts.
Ace strode to the front of the room and held his hand up for silence.
“You all knew Jack Patterson, and you know he didn’t make it back home from his latest deployment.
He would have joined us if he could, but we have an opportunity here to honor his memory.
His baby sister needs help. Sounds like she’s had a shit time of it since Jack passed away.
Stepfather was a little too handsy so she ran away, but the guy she hooked up with turned out to be an asshole.
You saw the bruises on her face. There’s more you can’t see.
You all know how I feel about guys who use women and kids as punching bags.
Rattler here has offered her our protection, and I approved it subject to a vote, so let’s vote.
” He looked around the room. “Everyone in favor? Show of hands.”
Within moments, every single hand went up.
Ace nodded his approval. “It’s official then, Lily Patterson is under our protection.
Next item of business is the asshole who hit her.
I had Shadow here do a quick and dirty search online to see what we could find out about him.
Lily said he didn’t have any mafia or cartel connections, but we all know those guys don’t always keep their women informed.
Figured it best to check it out. Shadow didn’t find any connections that way, but something feels off, and that makes me nervous.
None of it quite adds up.” He glanced over at me.
“Rattler here will fill you in on what we have.”
I stood up and picked up the paper I’d brought with me, the one that said Lily was a missing person. A shocked murmur went through the brothers.
“What the fuck is that?” Beast growled out the question.
“Looks like the asshole isn’t willing to let her go.” Ghost spoke up from his place in the corner of the room. He liked to stay in the shadows. The fact he’d spoken up said a lot.
“The asshole of an ex is offering a reward?” Deuce shook his head.
Cyclone narrowed his eyes. “Looks like he thinks she knows too much, and he’s scared she’ll talk. Are you sure he’s not connected in some way?”
Shadow shook his head. “If he is, he hid it pretty fucking good. I’m no slouch and I found zilch to connect him to anything even borderline illegal.”
I spoke up. “Lily said he has connections to law enforcement and politicians. Could be he can’t stand people knowing a woman walked away from him. Guys like that have ego issues. Maybe that’s all it is.”
“We need to check him out in person.” Beast’s grin was downright evil. “Maybe convince him to let her go.”
“Fuck yeah!” Joker spoke up. “No point in letting him think she’s ever coming back.”
“He needs to learn to keep his hands to himself.” Preacher looked grim.
“Sounds like we’re all on the same page.
” I looked over at Ace, who motioned for me to continue.
“I figure three of us should be enough to run up there and check him out without being noticed. We can surveil his house and office. If he’s just a blowhard idiot, thinking he can get her back and scare her into letting him play punching bag some more, we can have a talk with him.
Make sure he sees the error of his ways. ”
“When you planning on leaving?” Beast asked.
“Sooner the better. This afternoon if possible.”
He nodded. “I’m in.”
Joker spoke up. “Me too.”
Ace shook his head. “I want you here, Beast. In case this is bigger than we think and trouble shows up on our doorstep. And you don’t want to leave the twins unprotected.”
Beast snorted. “Those two are more than capable of protecting themselves, but I get what you mean. Wasn’t thinking.” He gave me an apologetic look. “Sorry, brother. I’m out.”
“I would be happy to accompany you.” Preacher stood up. “It’s been a while since I’ve been on a road trip. Might be a nice change.”
“So, Joker and Preacher?” I looked around.
“Everyone okay with us doing whatever we need to on this trip?” That was a fancy way of saying if things went south, we’d do whatever we had to including making problems disappear, without actually spelling it out.
You never knew when you might need to be able to deny it.
The thought of Lily’s fear of everything and her bruised face when I first met her almost made me hope we’d need to make her ex disappear. Heads nodded all around. No need to take that one to a vote.
Ace stood up and took over. “Next item up is the kitchen disaster. We have an electrician coming in this morning to check out the wiring. All guns and anything else that might cause questions need to be out of sight. Ideally, the old ladies and the twins should be elsewhere too, as well as any of the prospects and brothers that don’t need to be here.
The guy comes highly recommended by our FBI contact but no point in taking chances.
The less he knows about the layout of the clubhouse or who lives here, the less he can tell if asked. ”
Beast spoke up. “We could send the old ladies out for a shopping trip. They’d be all over that, especially with the wedding coming up.”
I pointed out the obvious. “Lily can’t go, though. You know they’ll attract attention, and someone is likely to recognize her from that missing person’s poster.”
“We could take her with us,” suggested Joker.
I shook my head. “Too risky. How long will the electrician be here?”
Ace shrugged. “Depends on whether or not he finds any issues.”
“I could postpone the trip for a day or so if I need to.” I wanted to find out what the hell was going on with Lily’s ex, but keeping her safe was more important.
Ace nodded curtly. “Sounds good. The electrician will be here in about an hour and a half. Round up as many of the old ladies and others as you can and send them shopping. Me, Rattler, Preacher, and Joker will stay behind. Leave a couple of prospects at the gate too. Doesn’t hurt to make it look like we’re prepared for trouble. ”
Beast stood. “We done now?”
Ace nodded. “Yeah. You know how to reach me if you need me.” He glanced over at Shadow. “You get a phone for Lily yet?”
“Yeah.” He reached into his pocket. “Was going to give it to her after the meeting, but Rattler can handle that.” He tossed a cell phone at me.
I caught it, glancing at the screen. “This on our secure network?”
He raised his brows. “You think I’d put anyone on a network that can be hacked? Of course it’s on ours. I’m guessing she’s here for the long haul.” He thumped me on the back. “Good luck.”
“Thanks. I sure hope so.” I stuffed the phone into the front pocket of my cut and stepped outside.
The sun was climbing in the east, and the temperature was warming up to a pleasant range.
Typical for a fall day in Georgia. I headed back to the clubhouse, pausing to grab two coffees and tuck a scone and a muffin in my pocket before I headed upstairs.
Reaching my room, I balanced the two coffees in one hand and opened the door.