Chapter 36 #2
“She sounds like a wonderful woman.” I’d love to meet her, but I don’t know if she comes up to visit Loki or not.
Loki grins widely. “Elle est la meilleure. She’s the best.”
“Is she coming up next summer?” Punisher asks and Loki nods.
“Ouais (Yeah), it’s her year to visit.”
Huh. Do they trade off and on since we’re pretty far from New Orleans?
Loki must see the question on my face because he tilts his head toward Punisher.
“Every year, Maman (Mom) and I trade off for who visits who and it’s usually for a week or two.
Sometimes my siblings and their kids join her, other times, I just see them when I’m down there.
This year, she’s coming to see me. She hasn’t pinned down exactly when she’s coming yet, but it’s usually in the summer. ”
“I could see that. Mama Astrid told me you grew up in New Orleans and that it gets really hot and humid down there. That must be a nice break for them.”
He nods and seeing the muscles in his shoulders tense, I switch the topic.
“So, you said there’s a party tonight?” I ask Reaper as a different ball of worry forms in my stomach.
“After this, we’ll go out to light the firepits, however, the party will probably migrate inside as the night gets colder.”
“Speaking of it getting colder, when are you wanting to get her gear?” Punisher asks Reaper and it takes a moment to realize he means my riding gear. Excitement thrums through me at getting to ride with Reaper.
Reaper turns to me. “Wanna go tomorrow? A Prospect could drive you to the dealership and then I can take you on a short ride.”
I pause as I think about what all I need to get.
“Well, everything but my boots are at Uncle Mark’s.
He’s the only one I’ve ridden with before.
I’ll need a warmer coat for sure since the one I have is meant for summer, though I think it might be time for a new helmet. I’ve had it for four years already.”
Reaper frowns at me for a moment before understanding dawns on him. “Fuck, why didn’t I make the connection that Mark is your uncle before now?”
Now it’s my turn to frown.
Reaper smirks. “I own the garage Mark works at. I just never put two and two together that he was your uncle.”
I groan. “And I don’t know how I never made the connection that you guys own Steel Garage. What other businesses do you guys own or have a stake in?”
“Beside the garage, we have the Harley Davidson store and garage—Punisher runs the store side while Odin manages the motorcycle garage that’s attached to it.
Loki runs The Steel Bars and we’re thinking of buying the building attached to it to make it into a lounge.
Smithy runs Steel’s Forge and Cannon runs Steel Fitness.
We also own a couple of apartment complexes—one of them being low-income. ”
“Nice. I didn’t know about the forge, gym, or the apartments but knew you all ran the others.”
Movement behind us has me looking over my shoulder to see everyone getting up and taking their dishes into the kitchen.
“Looks like we’re making our way outside,” Loki says as he gets up with his plate and empty bottle.
I do the same and kiss Reaper’s cheek as I stand. “I’ll help Mama Astrid put everything away and then I think I’ll run to your house to get my hoodie. I didn’t think to bring it earlier.”
Reaper stands and then digs something out of his pocket before handing it to me. “Here, Darlin’. That way you don’t have to always ask for mine. One is to the house and the other to my room here at the clubhouse. I’ll get you the code to the alarm in a minute.”
My chest warms and I can’t stop my smile as I pocket the keys. “I’ll need to get you copies as well on Monday when the hardware store opens.”
It takes me a moment before I realize what I just said, and my smile widens. I never even gave Aiden a key. Whenever he came over, Ma, Granny, or Pappy was there to let him in if I couldn’t be there.
Taking my plate into the kitchen, I feel like I’m walking on a cloud. Not even the glares from the bunnies dampen my good mood.
Twenty minutes later, Mama Astrid and I are walking down the path to the houses when my phone rings. Thinking it’s Anthony asking me to get him something from the house, I answer it without even looking.
“Hello?”
Not hearing anything, I frown as I pull the phone away from my ear. It’s not a number I recognize. My frown deepens, and when I put the phone back to my ear, I hear deep breathing over the line.
“Hello?” I ask again.
The breathing picks up and chills race down my spine, giving me goosebumps that have nothing to do with the crisp October night air.
I catch a feminine voice before the line goes dead.
“Lark?” Mama Astrid asks and it’s then that I realize I’m still staring down at the phone in my hand.
“I… I think someone’s trying to prank me.”
My gut knots. The feminine voice sounded familiar, but it was muffled. Who was that?
Mama Astrid looks around and ushers me into Anthony’s house.
“Go get your sweatshirt, Sweetheart. It might be nothing, but I’d rather be prepared,” she says as she digs out her own phone and texts someone.
Prepared? Prepared for what?
Mama Astrid shoos me upstairs again, and I decide to go along with it for now. I need to talk to Anthony. Did something come up in their meeting earlier?
When I come back downstairs, I frown at seeing Anthony waiting by the door. Where did Mama Astrid go?
“Darlin’, I need to fill you in on some stuff.”
“Okay,” I drawl out.
He sighs as he takes my hand and pulls me over to the couches.
“Last night, Granny told me about Zac keeping tabs on you at work.”
My skin crawls at his name and I can’t help the shiver that runs down my spine as he repeats everything Granny told him. Most of it I’d already known, but it still gives me the creeps.
“Yeah, and it’s almost like clockwork too.
About an hour after I start, he’s there.
Either by himself, with his brother, his cousin, or some of his friends.
I try to ignore them as much as possible and make sure he can never corner me.
I don’t know why he’s so fixated on me. I mean, he’s dating my best friend!
” I throw my hands up in the air and get up, needing to pace.
My gut churns as I think back to the phone call. I debate about telling him, but if this person keeps doing it, he’ll be pissed that I didn’t tell him.
“Anthony, a moment ago, I got a phone call. I think someone was pranking me because I heard heavy breathing over the line.” I hesitate as I chew nervously on my lip.
His body stills as a hard look comes over his face. “Did you hear anything else?”
I nod. “I could have sworn I heard a familiar feminine voice right before the line went dead but it was really muffled. It almost sounded like Khloe, but I can’t be sure.”
“Did you recognize the number?”
I shake my head. “No, I didn’t.” I pull my phone out of my pocket, unlock it, and hand it to him. “Do you recognize it?”
He shakes his head. “Would you be okay if Python put something on your phone that will let him trace the call if this happens again?”
I hesitate, but nod. “I mean, I hope it doesn’t happen again, but if it does, then I want to find out who is doing it.”
He gets up and hands me back my phone. “I’ll ask Python to do it when we get back to the clubhouse.” He looks like he wants to tell me more, but he doesn’t. I decide to let it go for now. He’ll tell me when he’s ready. If it’s not club business, that is.