Chapter 17 #2
“I’m working my way through everything, looking for contacts, documents, and anything that will help to identify who else is a part of their organization: top clients, bettors, anyone they use to set up the fights with.
It takes time, so it’ll be a week or more before I have everything.
There’s a lot stored on there, including the electronic versions of the real ledger.
I’ll download and send it to you, Tink.”
“Thank you, man. I want to spend time picking through it,” Tinker stated.
“Welcome. At the moment, that’s it. Is there a particular place you want me to concentrate on first?” Spawn asked Reaper.
“I’ll leave that to you. If you need more hands, see if Benji has time.”
“Benji, you mean Fortress of Bravery Benji?” The words slipped out of me.
“Yeah, that one. He’s a computer whiz like Spawn. It’s what he’s taking in college,” Maniac said, sounding proud.
“I’ll check with Benji,” Spawn acknowledged.
“Has there been anything particular on Truce you’ve found online? Or that you can find now that you have access?” Shadow asked.
“Online, no, which makes me think Truce isn’t his actual name, or at least not the one he uses officially. I’ll see what I can extract from their computers,” their secretary promised.
“What is it you’re looking for about him?” I asked.
“I want to know where he came from. Who is he? What did he use to do? Pretty much, I want to know what he eats for breakfast and how many times a week he takes a shit. Does he have anyone important in his life?” my man stated.
As I sat there staring at him, his brothers chuckled.
“Elle, haven’t you figured it out? Your old man wants to take Truce apart with his bare hands. After his drop-in at Eden and the way he stares at you, Shadow wants to hurt him in the worst way,” Lash explained.
“Truce has always been weird. He stares, doesn’t say much, and gives off creeper vibes, but he’s never done anything. Not once has he made an overture toward me. Or even said something sexual. Admittedly, I haven’t been around him much, but still.”
“I don’t care. There’s something off about him. And you don’t leave someone like that at your back. When we take down your family, he has to go with them, Ellie.” Shadow muttered.
“I’m not saying he shouldn’t be taken down with them. I just don’t want you to let his behavior cause you to lose focus or do something that gets you hurt or worse,” I told him.
I heard the guys all say, “Ahh,” and chuckle as Shadow leaned toward me.
“I’m not going to get hurt or worse. I’ll be careful. It’s you we need to worry about.” Shadow finished off by kissing me, which made the guys switch to a cheer. My cheeks were pink when he let go. Reaper, I noticed, sat there grinning.
“If you’re done mauling her, are there any questions or concerns we need to discuss about this before we let poor Elle go?” Reaper asked.
The guys asked a few minor things, but nothing too major in my book. When I shook my head, I was thanked for being there, and Shadow escorted me to the door.
I went to the common room and took a seat. Haven was there with baby Ryan, and Astrid was with her. We sat there catching up on work, and what I saw at the brewery while we waited for the guys to finish church.
???
I was relieved to be at school today, and the week had been filled with working at Eden and helping out at the compound, including some babysitting I enjoyed.
Troian showed me what she did for work, which I found fascinating.
It made me more eager to get started on my career.
And I waited to hear that something major had been discovered that would allow the Punishers to make the move on my family.
The one thing that I could’ve done without came yesterday.
I received an unexpected and unwanted phone call from Dad.
Even now, it kept running through my mind.
Seeing Dad’s number on my screen, I hesitated, but it kept ringing.
“Who is it, Ellie?” Shadow asked. It was six in the evening. We weren’t due at Eden for a couple of hours, so we were relaxing.
“It’s Dad.”
Shadow raised an eyebrow. “Answer it, but put it on speaker,” he insisted.
I did.
“Hello,” I said.
“Hello, Aubrielle, I was afraid you wouldn’t answer,” he replied.
“Why would you think that?” I asked.
“You seemed off the last time we saw each other. And then you didn’t attend Truce’s fight or the visit to see the paperwork.” There was that tinge of accusation in his voice. It was almost always there when he spoke to me.
“I didn’t go to the fight because I have no desire to watch such barbarianism. The dogs were more than enough. Besides, you got your introduction to the Punishers. There shouldn’t be any reason for me to be there. It’s between you and my old man’s club.”
There was a long pause before he continued. “I want to see how you’re doing. If you’re happy. Are the Punishers treating you well? Can’t a father check in on his daughter?” The fake concern in his voice did it.
I hit the mute button so he wouldn’t hear me laughing.
“Kind of late for the concerned father shit, isn’t it?” I said to Shadow, who rolled his eyes and nodded. I unmuted the phone after choking back my laughter.
“Dad, I’m doing well. Shadow and his club treat me great.”
“What about your work at the strip club? I’ve never liked that you work there. But I guess if Shadow’s club owns it, you don’t have a choice.”
He had never objected to me working there. I loved how he rewrote history to serve him. Dad loved the money I make that goes into his pocket.
“Shadow isn’t making me work anywhere. He knows I do it to support myself until I finish school.”
“Surely, he’ll support you if you’re his woman. When are you due to finish school?”
I clenched my fists before answering him.
“He has offered numerous times to support me. I like to be independent. Shadow allows me to be myself. As for school, it’s not until next May,” I lied.
“Well, if you need me to talk to him or if you decide being with him isn’t what you want, let me know. I’ll protect you regardless of whether we’re partners with his club or not.”
His tone sounded sincere, but I knew how good a liar he was. So I lied, too. It was a necessary skill I’d learned the hard way growing up: how to lie convincingly.
“I appreciate the offer, and I’ll keep that in mind if it becomes necessary, but I don’t see that happening.”
“Okay, well, it’s there if you need me. Oh, by the way, have you heard if your man’s club is going to enter into the partnership?”
“No, but I wouldn’t. They don’t discuss things like that in front of their women,” I told him.
“Oh, well, that’s probably smart. Okay, I’ve got to go. Take care of yourself, Aubrielle. And remember, your family is here if you need us.”
“Okay, goodbye,” was all I said before hanging up.
After I did, I slumped back on the couch where Shadow and I had been seated when I answered the call. I looked at Shadow.
“Can you believe him? God, he lies so well. Acting like he gives a damn about me just to pump for information,” I snapped.
“I’m sorry that he isn’t a father you can be proud of and rely on, Ellie, but you have the club and me now. He and the rest of your family won’t be an issue for much longer. You did great, by the way.”
His words made me relax, and I cuddled up to him. We pushed thoughts of Dad away and spent time just being us, together.
Today was the club’s due date to let my family know whether they wanted to enter into the partnership.
They’d made them wait, just to fuck with them.
The Punishers intended to say yes so they could get close to my family and be strategically positioned when it came time to burn down their world.
I couldn’t wait. Reaper was to call Dad today and tell him they were in.
Shadow told me last night after he updated his president about the call.
However, all that was forgotten as I went to school.
Shadow took me as usual. Jonas accompanied us.
When Shadow dropped me off next to where Jonas parked his bike, Shadow ran through his usual reminders before he kissed me until I was dizzy.
Then he unnecessarily reminded Jonas not to take his eyes off me, which the prospect had promised.
With this ensured, my man rode off, headed to work.
Jonas was true to his word. He stuck to me like glue.
We arrived early, which gave us time to stop for coffee, relax a bit, and get ready for class.
He and I were discussing the assignment we’d been given last week.
Jonas and I had worked on aspects together, which made it more enjoyable, and we helped each other in different ways.
We were deep into the discussion when we were interrupted.
“Hey, Aubrielle, I hope I’m not interrupting. I just wanted to say hello.”
I smiled as I turned to greet Leigh. She stood there, a tentative smile on her face. She glanced at Jonas, then back to me.
“No, we were just talking about our homework. Please join us. We have about thirty minutes until we have to go to class.” I told her.
Her shoulders relaxed as she went to sit. Jonas was up and pulling out a chair before she could do it herself. Leigh gave him a stunned look.
“T-thank you,” she murmured
“You’re welcome. I’m Jonas.” He held out his hand to her.
Leigh shook it as she introduced herself. “Hi Jonas, I’m Leigh.”
“Nice to meet someone around here that Elle likes,” he said.
Leigh snorted. “Yeah, there seems to be a shortage of decent people you’d want to be friends with around here. Believe me, I know. So, you two are taking that computer class you told me about?” Leigh asked.
We’d barely gotten finished telling her yes, and she was explaining what she was taking over this summer session, when we were interrupted again, only this time it wasn’t anyone we wanted to acknowledge. Unfortunately, they were people who didn’t care about people’s boundaries.
“Well, look who we have here, Leigh and her friend, Aubrielle, the stripper. Who’s this?
Another biker you’re sleeping with? Oh, wait, you sleep with the whole club.
That’s what women like you do,” said the snide voice of Cleo, the fake friend Leigh had inadvertently introduced me to.
I’d enjoyed the past weeks not seeing her or her three sidekicks.
Jonas rose to his feet. His gaze narrowed on them.
“What do you think you’re gonna do? It’s two against one,” Danny sneered as he puffed out his chest.
Jonas scanned them, then turned toward me. “Is this the trash you told me about? The ones who think they’re clever but are really idiots?”
I chuckled as I nodded and replied, “Yeah, that’s them. I doubt there’s more than four functioning brain cells between them.”
“Oh, Elle, you’re being generous. Two max,” Leigh added.
The quartet’s superior expressions faded, replaced by anger.
“Shut up, Leigh. You have no right to say shit about us. You and these two are the stupid ones,” Vickie spat out.
“Wow, you’re right about them being dumb. Not even a double-syllable word among them,” Jonas stated, smirking.
I laughed, and so did Leigh. Nate and Danny stepped closer.
“Go ahead, I dare you,” Jonas said, low and mean. “You’ll be spending the next couple of weeks in the hospital.”
“You think you can take on the two of us?” Nate scoffed.
“I don’t think. I know. And if those two bitches with you try to interfere, I know who’ll take care of them,” Jonas said calmly.
Leigh and I had stood. I positioned myself to defend us. Leigh looked daggers at them.
Suddenly, because the quad area was so close to the parking lot, we heard a bike’s engine roar. The four of them exchanged slightly panicked glances, then, before scurrying off like cockroaches, sneered as they issued a final threat.
“This isn’t over. You think you’re so tough. You wait,” Danny snapped. Then, as a unit, they turned and rushed off.
We weren’t expecting Shadow until later, so I watched the front drop-off area curiously.
Moments later, I saw it. A lone rider, definitely not my man or any of his brothers, slowly cruised by.
And just like that, the three of us burst out laughing and retook our seats.
We had fun picking those four apart and then finding out how Leigh had been since I last saw her.