Chapter Thirty-One
Grizz
I barge into the club house, the door nearly coming off the hinges.
“What the fuck’s going on?” Shark asks, getting to his feet. He and the other guys are sitting at the table, eating breakfast.
“We have a problem,” I growl. “Someone was at my house.”
“The fuck do you mean?” Shark asks.
The guys that are sitting at the table have stopped eating and are listening carefully. A quick look at them tells me we’re missing a bunch.
“Tommy said he heard someone walking around in the middle of the night. Thought it was me. Didn’t see anyone. This morning, there’s footprints in the snow.”
“Who the fuck would be so ballsy?” Ghost barks.
“Pretty sure I know exactly who it was.” I glance down the hall toward Coyote’s office. “He here?” I ask.
“Haven’t seen him all day,” Shark says with a shake of his head.
“Who was it?” Snapper asks carefully, but something in his tone tells me he already knows.
It’s rare he gives a fuck about anything, but I know he gives a fuck about Anastacia.
Or maybe it’s just the baby. Either way, I appreciate it.
If there’s anyone in this club I want on my side, it’s him, the crazy fuck.
Though I’m pretty sure I’m about to put his crazy to shame with what I’m about to do.
But the more people who care about my family, the better. That’s what this club is about, after all. We’re a family too, and we are there for each other, all the time, no matter what.
Staring down the hall, with my hand in my hair, I glance back at the guys. Every single one of them looks concerned and like they want to help. But will they help if I tell them what I’m about to do? Yeah, I think they will, but maybe I don’t want them involved.
The less people who hear this, the better. I have no idea how this is going to turn out, and it could really fuck the club over. I don’t want them going down with me if this shit goes sideways.
“Let’s talk just the three of us,” I say, then move down the hall. I hear heavy footsteps after me, and I’m sure it’s only Shark and Snapper following me. Who else would I be talking about?
I turn into Shark’s office, and he closes the door once all of us are inside.
“It’s Dorothea’s father,” I ground out. “That fucking Iron Runner prick.”
“Are you sure he’s still with them?” Shark asks.
“Oh, come on, Shark! Don’t tell me you actually believe all that shit,” I bark.
“What shit?” he asks with a frown.
“Them breaking up. Parting ways. Whatever the fuck bullshit they said. They’re playing us to get to the border.”
Do I believe that? I don’t know. But I also don’t believe the shit they told us either. At least, not completely.
Shark’s eyes widen, and he looks at his brother, who gives away nothing.
“Grizz—”
“No,” I growl, holding up my hand. “Don’t tell me that you trust all those pricks. I sure as fuck don’t. How the fuck are they going to kidnap women, rape them, force them to have their babies, and then act like they’re good guys? They ain’t like us!”
“We never said they were good guys, but they told us half of them left. It was part of our deal. The only reason we considered it was because of that specifically,” Shark says.
“I’m not saying they’re perfect, and a treaty doesn’t mean we’re partnering with them, it just means we’re keeping things cool.
We don’t have to like them, and we don’t have to do them favors. ”
“But we have to play nice,” I hiss.
“Look, obviously you’re pissed—”
“Damn right I am!” I throw my arms up, barking out a humorless laugh.
“As you should be,” Shark adds. “I’d be just as pissed, man, trust me. But if we’re going to handle this, we need to think rationally. And if the IR are playing us, they’re going to fucking pay for that.”
“But…” Snapper adds carefully, walking closer to us and keeping his voice low.
“We need to consider what this means if he is no longer part of the IR. If those who left are now doing their own thing, that’s dangerous for a whole other reason.
” He looks between us. “We need to think of all the angles here.”
I growl, digging my hands through my hair. “Fuck. What the fuck!”
Someone’s hand is on my shoulder, and I’m surprised when I see it’s Snapper’s. He isn’t a touchy-feely guy, definitely not the consoling type. “We will not let anything happen to her. Tommy is there, right?”
“Yeah, of course.”
“Maybe one of us should be there too. Just in case.”
“I don’t want her to know about this. She’s finally in a good place. She doesn’t seem to worry about shit the way she used to. I can’t tell her this and see her scared again.”
“Then you do it,” Shark says. “We have a lot of planning that needs to be done with all these new businesses and runs and shit. Snapper and Rhino were going to handle it all, but I’m sure they won’t mind you helping out from home until we can figure this out.”
“Or I can go find the prick and kill him. Then we won’t have to worry at all,” I say.
“Yeah, we could,” Snapper adds, which has Shark groaning.
“As much as I appreciate both of you wanting to murder that scumbag, we need to be realistic.”
“I am being realistic, Shark. Did you think I was just going to let this guy keep walking around this earth like nothing is wrong?” I try to keep my voice down, but it’s not really working. “This isn’t the first time I’ve thought about it. I’d planned to do it anyway. This just lit the fuse.”
“That much is clear,” Shark says.
I can tell he isn’t arguing with me, and I know he’s just trying to do his job as the VP of the club. There’s a reason he’s the VP. He’s more levelheaded than most of us, even the Prez. Though, if he were in my position, I’m not sure he’d be the voice of reason.
“What would you do if Cora stayed up at night, terrified to sleep because of what some prick did to her?”
He gives me a sympathetic look. “I’d do the same thing you are, but I hope that someone with a clear head would talk me out of it.
” He steps closer to me, looking me in the eyes.
“If you do this messy, and you get caught, she’ll be alone.
You are all she has, and you can’t go to jail for this—or worse. You have to think clearly.”
“I’ll make sure that happens,” Snapper says. “I’ll figure it out. If anyone can get away with murder around here, it’s me.”
Shark mutters something under his breath that I don’t make out.
“I don’t doubt that for a second,” I say.
“You both know, officially, I can’t condone this.” He looks between us, and both of us just hold his stare. “But as your brother, not just in the club, but outside too, I don’t disagree with what you’re saying. But I have a duty to this club.”
I put my hand on his shoulder. “You are a good man, Shark, and one day, I’ll pay you back for this.”
Snapper’s gaze is still on me when I drop my hand from Shark’s shoulder.
I have no idea what I should do but I know what I want to do.
And I’m pretty sure I know what’s going to happen.
I thought of this when I was clearheaded, before he came onto my property.
I’m not the one who started this. He is.
“Okay. I’m gonna head home then. But I’m telling you right now, if I see that asshole on my property, he won’t be leaving alive.” I step toward the door, then look at them over my shoulder. “Maybe one of you should go warn the sheriff.”
“Fuck,” he hisses. “Yeah okay.” As I’m pulling the door open, he says, “Someone will be by with a security system. Just tell her we’re all getting them.”
“I hate lying to her.” I shake my head. “I already had to lie to her about all this.”
“Then I guess we’re all getting new security systems.” He grins, then comes over to me and gives me a hug. “Don’t worry, bro. We’re going to get this figured out. We all have your back.”
“Thank you,” I say, letting out a shaky breath.
For the first time in my life, I am fucking terrified.
Shark gives me a good pat on the back then leaves the room.
“Before you go,” Snapper says, gesturing to the hallway.
We walk out together to the main space. “Lucian wanted me to tell you that he got in touch with his doctor friend. Some lady in New Hampshire.” He unlocks the cabinet he leaves his shit in, since he doesn’t get his own office—much to his dismay—and pulls out a folded piece of paper that he hands to me.
“She agreed to see Anastacia, and maybe taking a trip to New Hampshire right now won’t be a bad idea. ”
“Thank you,” I say sincerely, then I’m out the door and heading home.
The drive home is a blur. It’s a wonder I get home in one piece, considering the roads are icy as hell, and I don’t remember a damn thing of how I got here.
The driveway is completely plowed, which only makes me feel guilty.
I’ll have to thank Tommy for that, because I told him it wasn’t necessary, but of course he did it anyway.
He’s the kind of guy that likes to stay busy, which is why he gives Kelsey whatever she wants—like the bird feeders and the garden.
We have big plans to build a porch when the snow melts, but I already know he’ll do the brunt of it.
Though, if I can get him to join the club before then, maybe not.
He may be as busy as me next spring, especially with all this new shit happening.
Of course I want Tommy to join, but now I really need someone here with Anastacia.
I can’t leave her alone after what we found out today—and Tommy would agree.
Anastacia is in the kitchen, stirring something in a large pot. She looks at me over her shoulder, and I realize she has Dorothea cradled in her other arm.
“My god, you are Superwoman,” I say as I lean down to kiss her. I slip my hands under Dorothea’s back and bum and pull her to me.
“Just a mom,” she says with a smirk.
“Superwoman,” I reiterate, as I cover the baby’s face in kisses. She looks up at me with excitement in her eyes, her little legs kicking and a smile on her face.
“I’m glad you’re home,” Anastacia says.
“I love hearing you call this home.” I kiss her again. Sometimes I feel like I can’t stop. “What are you making? And where is everyone?”
“Chicken soup. Kelsey hasn’t been feeling well all day. She’s upstairs sleeping. Tommy just went to check on her.” She gasps then, spinning toward me. “Guess what!”
“My god,” I say, putting my free hand on my chest and laughing.
“Sorry. But I have good news!”
“What is it?” I ask with a chuckle.
“My financial assistance was approved! My card should be coming soon.”
“Angel, that’s fantastic. But you know you don’t—”
She holds up her hand, shaking her finger at me. “Don’t start with that.”
“Fine,” I mutter, going over to the table to sit. I lay Dorothea on my lap and tickle her belly. “Were you good for mommy today, sweet pea?”
“She sure was,” Anastacia says proudly.
“Of course you were, because you’re an angel just like your mama.
” I kiss her left foot, then her right. Then I gently bite it and she smiles at me.
“I love when she smiles at me. It’s the best thing in the world.
” I bite her other foot and she keeps the smile on her face.
“Fuck, she’s so damn cute. I just wanna eat her up. ”
I keep her occupied while Anastacia finishes dinner.
Tommy comes down and sits at the table with me, watching me with the baby.
He tells us Kelsey feels really tired, has a headache, and is nauseas.
Anastacia suggests a bug and swears the chicken soup will help.
Tommy brings her a bowl when it’s finished, then comes back down to eat with us.
“So, I was thinking,” I begin as Anastacia clears my plate from the table, then Tommy’s. I’m pretty sure she’s just trying to make a point or maybe see how much she can get away with before I stop her from doing anything. I’ll hire a damn maid if I have to.
“That’s never good,” Tommy jokes.
“If I didn’t have a baby in my hand, I’d punch you.”
He laughs, then says, “Wouldn’t hurt anyhow.”
I wave him off, then continue. “What do you think about going to New Hampshire for a few days?”
Anastacia turns toward us. The sink is running and she has the sponge in her hand. “Me?”
“Me, you, and this adorable little munchkin right here.” I poke her belly. “Lucian was able to get you in to see the doctor. Thought a trip would be nice.”
She looks at Tommy, then back to me. “When would we go?”
“Tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?” she repeats, looking skeptical. “Why so soon?”
“Why not?” I ask.
She holds my gaze for a moment, then turns back to do the dishes. Tommy gives me a look that says are you an idiot? I shrug, not knowing what I did wrong.
“I’d like to get a cell phone,” she says suddenly, turning off the faucet and drying her hands.
“Yeah? I think that’s a great idea,” I say. “I can add you to my plan, if you want.”
Her eyes narrow.
“If you want,” I say again. This time more slowly. “You don’t have to.”
“I’ll give you the money for it.”
“Of course you will.”
She’s quiet for a moment, then says, “Should I start packing?”
“Absolutely.” I grin as she walks by, reaching for her arm to pull her to me. She giggles as I tug her down to kiss me. Then she leaves the kitchen.
“Way to go, Captain Obvious,” Tommy says quietly.
“What?”
He shakes his head and leans back in his chair.
“Someone will be by tonight or tomorrow to install a security system.”
“Shit,” he mutters, pulling out his phone. “Guess I should cancel the one I ordered.”
I laugh, looking down at Dorothea who looks like she’s about to fall asleep.
“Two won’t hurt. You know? As like a back up or something. In case one fails.”
Tommy stares at me, then puts his phone on the table.
“We’ll see how good the one you get is first.”
“Good idea,” I say, as I grab Dorothea’s little feet and clap them together, then kiss each one again. “The safer, the better.”