Chapter 67
Rachel
For the next four days, things remained calm.
Dante gave me all the details about what happened during Church, his revenge, and the meeting he had with Nico, leading to the new peace agreement.
I listened without saying a word, knowing it wasn’t my place to get involved with club business whilst the contract was in place.
I couldn’t afford to break another rule whilst I had the Vienna situation hanging over my head.
And, if I was being honest, I was grateful that Dante was willingly telling me about what had happened, rather than shutting me out, or fighting with me over it.
I couldn’t say I completely agreed with his methods, but it was nice to see him take a calm approach to things, rather than fly off the handle like Crash would have done, causing untold death and destruction.
Dante and Nico also agreed to do monthly phone calls. There was no expectation there, but they were going to do their best to try to communicate a bit better and try to work as better enemies. “Frenemies” as Bee informed us, making us feel fucking ancient when both of us asked what it was.
In return for him sharing club news with me (technically, another contract breach, but at this point, who’s counting?
I was just happy not to be the only one breaking the rules.) I filled him in on the Vicky situation and the shit she had said to his mother.
He wasn’t happy, but much like I had with the Nico situation, he listened, he remained calm, and he put his trust in me that I had it handled.
We were trying to work on our communication and to not hold secrets from each other. And minus the massive one regarding Vienna, I think we were doing amazing. We weren’t arguing, we were actually enjoying each other’s company, and had fallen into a nice, easy routine.
Even our nights were much better. We still weren’t having sex, but we had stopped fighting the basic urges and were finding new ways to have fun.
The night in the bar had shown me there were more ways to have the time of your life without direct sex, and I was more than enjoying this new exploration.
Things seemed great.
But there was one thing that was bugging me.
And that was Greg. AKA Malfoy.
He had been suspiciously quiet since my return, and I didn’t like it.
If anyone was going to betray the club, I would have expected him.
We had heard from Nico that Tyler had been blackmailed into helping the Riders.
They threatened to murder his mother, younger sister, and newborn nephew if he didn’t help them.
But why go to that much trouble to get someone to help you, when you had Greg just sitting around and waiting for the perfect opportunity to get his revenge on me?
Or, at least, that’s what I assumed he was doing.
Either way, I wasn’t going to let it sit and fester in my mind any longer.
I was about ready to be done with this contract, and these games of pretence.
I wanted to open up to Dante and tell him how much I wanted to be here, and that I did, in fact, love him.
That was painful for me to admit, because I had been adamant that I wasn’t going to fall for that brute of a man.
But fallen I had, and it was time to stop denying it, and it was time to try to forge a sliver of happiness in this fucked up situation.
And I wanted all loose ends tied up before I did so.
Which is how I found myself driving to The Greasy Spoon at an ungodly time in the morning, knowing Beth would be up getting ready to open the café and Greg would be by her side, since he spent most of his nights there.
As I was driving, my car lit up with an incoming call, and I smiled as I answered, seeing my dad’s number on the screen.
“Hi, Dad. What are you doing up so early?”
“I’m old, Rachel,” he said simply, and I could practically hear the shrug in his voice.
“Is it… is it the law that you have to wake up before the sun?”
“No, smartass. But apparently it is a law that my bladder shrinks to the size of a pea, making me need to piss four hundred times a night.”
“Four hundred, eh?” I grinned to myself. “That’s not an exaggeration at all, I’m sure.”
“It’s not. It was four hundred and six last night. I counted.”
“Wow, look at that. Your old brain is still capable of those big numbers.”
“Ha, ha. And how is Dante?”
“Oh, he’s… you know. He’s Dante. He always comes out alright in the end.”
“Trouble in paradise?” He asked, his tone growing more serious.
“No, not at all. Teething issues. We’re adjusting to our new relationship. Axel called him dad the other day,” I said with a sigh.
“Did he? You don’t sound too happy about that.”
“No, I am. It’s just… I don’t know. I’m being silly.”
“Of course you are. When have you ever been anything but?” My dad asked in an attempt to lighten the tone. He knew I would come to him if needed, and he could sense this wasn’t the time.
His tactic worked, as I felt the beginning of a smile play around my lips.
“Ha, ha,” I mimicked his earlier words. “At least me and Dante always have sex. No matter how bad things between us get, there are never any complaints in that department. Did you know, he has this amazing technique where—”
“Nope, nope, we’re not going there,” my dad interrupted, making me laugh out loud. “Where are my grandchildren? I don’t like talking to you,” I heard the playful huff in his voice and rolled my eyes.
“They’re sleeping, Dad. And I’m not home, anyway. I have some business to deal with.”
“Safe business?”
“Depends how much they piss me off,” I replied, only half joking.
“That’s my girl,” he said, followed by an awkward silence.
“Is everything okay, Dad? You don’t quite seem yourself today.”
“Yeah.”
“Try again,” I frowned.
“Rachel… Everything is fine.”
“Well, that was believable. If you don’t tell me, I’m turning the car around right now and coming to see you.”
“I’m not at home either, so good luck with that.” he sounded completely deflated and my frown deepened.
“What? Why? Where are you?”
“A hotel.”
“I’ll repeat: what? Why? Where are you? And don’t you dare lie,” I warned before he had the chance to try palm me off with more excuses.
“Rachel…”
“I’m a big girl, dad. You don’t need to protect me anymore. Whatever you have to say, I can handle it. Let’s face it, I’ve probably done worse,” I said, trying to lighten the mood.
“That’s true… Fine. Your mother and I have decided to split,” he said. I slammed my foot on the brakes, sending the car skidding to a halt.
“Give me your location. I’m coming to get you. There’s not a fucking chance you’re staying in a hotel.”
“You’re not even going to ask why?”
“Have you truly split up?”
“Err… yes. Why would I say it otherwise?”
“Then I don’t need to know why,” I said simply. “It’s your business, and no less than she deserves. I’m not interested in the why, I’m interested in the where. So, let me ask again, where are you?”
“Rachel… As much as I appreciate you wanting to take care of me, just… Give me a few days, okay? I’m still processing things, and that compound of yours is very… full on.”
“You can say that again,” I interrupted with a scoff. I can’t believe only a few days ago I was complaining about it being quiet.
“I just want some time to myself. At the end of the week, you’re welcome to come and get me. But for now, leave me be. Please.”
“Dad—”
“I’m serious, Rachel. Time alone sounds like heaven right now.”
“Fine,” I snapped reluctantly. “But I want daily updates. Morning and night. And if you need me, you ring me straight away and I’ll drop everything.
I’ll get one of the old ladies to have a house made up for you.
Unless you’d prefer to stay in the clubhouse with us?
The main bar is there, so it can get quite hectic.
But the upstairs of the house has soundproofed rooms, and members aren’t really permitted to be wandering around the living quarters, anyway.
Dante’s rules. Plus, the kids live there, so you’ll see them all the time, too. ”
“The clubhouse sounds great,” he said, his tone brightening at the mention of the children.
“And the rest of my conditions?”
“Daily updates, Rachel. I promise,” he said as I pulled the car into the car park of Greasy.
“Morning and night?”
“I’ll push the boat out and do morning, afternoon, and night.”
“That might be a bit too far. I’d have to block you if you contact me that much.”
He laughed then, sounding much more cheerful than he had at the beginning of the phone call.
“Duly noted. I’ll let you get back to your business. Safe business.”
“Couldn’t be any safer than if I was wearing a condom.”
“And, yet, you were conceived that very same way,” he laughed.
“Should have named me Houdini.”
“Should have named you pain in the fucking ass. Now, go give them hell. I love you, girl.”
“Love you, too, Dad.”
I disconnected the call and then took a deep breath before pushing open the car door and walking into Greasy, my eyes scanning over the familiar interior before they landed on Beth behind the tills.
“We’re not open…” she called, her words trailing off when she saw me, her face paling. “Rachel! What are you doing here?”
“I come in peace, I promise. Scouts honour,” I said, raising my hand in what I assumed was the Scout gesture.
“The Scouts don’t do that. That’s Spock,” she laughed at me.
“Tomato, tomato,” I shrugged, taking a seat on one of the round barstools.
“So… What can I do for you?” She asked, keeping wary eyes on me.
“Oh, straight to business?” I tried to joke as Greg came out of the back room. He took one look at me and immediately drew his gun. “Whoa. That was an extreme overreaction. Can you put that thing down? I don’t know how steady your grip is, and I’d rather not put it to the test.”
“Leave,” he barked. “This isn’t the clubhouse, Rachel, and you don’t rule here.”
“Well… technically…” I said, sucking my breath in between my teeth.
“What?”