Electra Chapter 16 #2
Diablo paused to allow me to answer. I made sure to connect with his gaze.
“Despite how quickly it happened, yes, I’m in love with Swerve and falling deeper.
It seems too much to hope that we can have a life together, but if I can be sure that I don’t get anyone here hurt or killed by my enemies, then I do want us to have a life together.
I understand what he alluded to about the club.
As long as my conditions are not broken, then I don’t see that as an impediment. ”
Rhodes twitched. Not knowing what I meant by the latter would drive him crazy. He hated secrets. But this was one he shouldn’t know.
“Good. Our brother Swerve deserves nothing but happiness for the rest of his life. He’s had enough ugly shit for two men.
If you can give him that and remain open to the club’s inner workings, then I’ll consider granting his request to make you his old lady.
So you know, it takes the club to vote on it, not just my say to make it happen. But we’ll get to that later.”
He turned his head to face Rho. “Agent Boone, you want to remove Electra to protect her from enemies, according to you. But I get the feeling it’s partially to get her away from Swerve and the club.
You say you found a place for her. What makes you think it’ll be adequate protection?
Did you find the traitor who leaked her identity to the organ traffickers? ”
“I want only what’s best for Ellie. She’s like a sister to me.
I only have her left. And yes, I do want to get her away from Swerve’s influence.
If I’d known she was developing feelings for him, I would’ve pulled her out already.
I feel confident that she’ll be safe because only I will know her location.
No, I haven’t found the one who betrayed her, but I will.
I have a few friends I trust in the Bureau who’re working to discover who, while I take care of her. ”
“While I applaud your desire to keep her safe and try to find who betrayed her, I can’t support you removing her from this compound to do it.
My brother, Swerve, has requested to claim her.
I’ll bring the club together as soon as everyone is available later today.
We’ll present his request and take a vote.
Swerve has assured me you understand us, Electra.
I hope that’s true. It’s better to say now if you have objections rather than later.
Once you’re in, it wouldn’t be easy to part ways. ”
I clearly heard the undertone of Diablo’s words. He was warning me that the club wouldn’t tolerate me changing my mind and betraying them later. I held his stern gaze.
“Diablo, as long as my conditions are maintained, you have nothing to worry about. And while I understand you have club business, I hope you will see me as a resource or a sounding board if the need arises. I’m more than willing to do that.
My biggest concern is endangering anyone here, but particularly Jauhnna, Paige, and the children.
I won’t trade my safety at the expense of theirs,” I stated firmly.
Warmth entered Diablo’s face. “And that’s one of the reasons I feel you’re perfect not only for Swerve but for our club. As for your concerns, I have the solution, or at least the solution is in progress.”
Before I could ask what that was, Rhodes jumped into the conversation. Honestly, I was surprised he stayed quiet this long.
“What the hell is all this secret talk? I want to know what the conditions are and what you mean by understanding this club?” he growled.
“My conditions are between me, Swerve, and his club, as well as the understanding. All that matters is that the Horsemen aren’t a one-percenter club out here causing problems and running illegal businesses.
If they were, no matter how I felt about him, I wouldn’t be able to be with Swerve.
” I attempted to explain without giving up any of the details.
“Ellie, I’m not standing for this. If you won’t tell me, then I have no choice but to order you to come with me,” Rhodes demanded.
Swerve’s entire body tensed. I turned my head to find him staring at Rhodes with a ruthlessness I hadn’t imagined he had.
“You attempt to take her from here, and I’ll ensure it’s you who never leaves.
She doesn’t want you hurt. I don’t want that to happen.
But push me into a corner where it’s hurt you or lose her, and you’ll forfeit that protection.
” His tone was stern. There was no doubt about his resolve.
I shivered on the inside. His arms tightened around me, and his lips pressed into my neck.
“You’re threatening a federal agent. I can have you arrested and sent to prison for that,” Rho stated menacingly.
A loud bang made me jump, and our eyes went to Diablo. He’d slammed his fist down on his desk. He was scowling.
“We don’t have time for your empty threats, Agent Boone.
We’re in a time crunch. We’ve got to get ready to protect Electra here.
There’s no time to waste. The one her name was leaked to is making plans to acquire her in St. Augustine any day now.
We’re going to stop that person and those with them. We’ve got to get planning.”
Diablo was prevented from saying more when his phone rang. He picked it up, and a satisfied smile twisted his mouth when he read the caller’s name. He held it out to Rhodes.
“I believe you should take this call. It’s for you.”
“Who is it?”
“You’ll see. Take it and then we’ll see if you still want to play who has the bigger dick.”
Muttering under his breath, Rhodes snatched the phone from Diablo’s hands, earning him a growl from Scorpion and Swerve. Ignoring them and not bothering to look at the name on the screen, he answered it.
“Hello. Who the hell is this?” he barked.
We couldn’t hear what the person on the other end said, but it was electrifying.
I watched Rho go from angry and confrontational to disbelief, then to shock, and finally to respect and resignation.
It wasn’t a long conversation, maybe five minutes or so.
He was doing a lot of head nodding and making affirmative sounds, but not talking.
At the end, he said, “I understand, sir. I’ll do as you wish. ”
When he hung up, he stared at the phone for several moments before he made eye contact with Diablo.
“How the fuck did you do that?” he asked.
“Do what?” Diablo asked.
“How did you get the Director of the FBI to call and order me to do whatever I was directed by the Horsemen of Wrath and their colleagues when it came to protecting Agent Prescott and ensuring those coming after her were unable to hurt anyone again? Who are you?”
“I’m a man who has many friends, and some of those have a high reach. If you’re staying here, then you do as we say. Or you can leave, and we’ll take care of Electra.” Diablo’s tone said he would force Rho out if he had to.
I was stunned, to say the least. The Director of the Bureau had called Diablo. What the hell? I knew Swerve said the club had connections to some people in the government, but I never imagined this.
Swerve cupped my face. He turned me to face him, then his lips met mine. His kiss was tender and filled with what I could only think was love. He took his time. When he was done, I was dazed and wanted to go back to my room or his and make love. But that would have to wait.
“What’s it to be?” Scorpion asked Rhodes.
“What do you think? I’m staying.”
“You’ll only be involved in what we approve you to be in. There are aspects of our club that are for members only. Don’t fucking make us regret this,” Diablo told him.
“What do we do now?” I asked, trying to cut the tension and move us along to the planning stage.
I wasn’t one to sit and wait for an enemy to come after me. I was an offensive kind of woman. I wasn’t helpless and in need of the men to do all the fighting. I hoped Swerve was ready to see the full Electra.
“First, we’re having Jauhnna, Paige, and the kids move to a safe location.
I know you’re worried about them being hurt.
We’re not about to allow that to happen.
Associates of ours have offered them a safe place.
They’ll be completely protected. I’d like to say you should go with them, but I have the feeling you’ll balk at that,” Diablo said with a smirk.
“Oh, you bet your ass I will. If we don’t have to worry about them, all the better,” I muttered.
As soon as I did, I thought of how disrespectful I must’ve come across to Swerve’s president. I knew how respected Diablo was by his club and my man. I opened my mouth to apologize, but his laughter stopped me. Diablo chuckled deeply, then nodded at Swerve.
“You’ve picked one with fire. Good. We don’t want our women to fight or have to defend themselves, but it’s reassuring when they can.
Alright, I think we’ve gotten the personal stuff almost out of the way.
We’ll begin planning as soon as I get the club members gathered for church.
Since it’s Friday, I’ll ask the brothers to report when they can get off for the day and return here. I want us to hold church ASAP.”
“I’ll take care of sending out the text and coordinating, Pres. Once I have everyone’s answer, I’ll let you know, and you can set the time,” Scorpion stated.
“Thank you, VP. Ask for help if you need it to get everyone accounted for. I know you’ll want time to get Paige sorted for the move. Rest assured, they won’t be far away. We’ll get them moved by this evening.”
“Diablo, may I ask who is taking them in?” Swerve asked.
“Why, the O’Sheerans are. It seems that Darian has been giving tats to some interesting people. It was his idea to ask them. They were happy to do it. If you change your mind about joining them, Electra, just let Swerve know.”
“I won’t, but thank you. Will I be allowed in any of this planning, or is it all under the heading of club business?”
“There will be some aspects shareable so we can coordinate and not get each other hurt or killed. Let us have our church first, then we’ll go into the details with you and him, if he wants to play.”
Diablo directed the last part to Rhodes, who didn’t have anything to say other than, “I want to help.”
“Good. Okay, let’s get a move on. We have work to do. Get work covered however you can, and then we’ll be racing the clock.”
As Diablo rose to his feet, I stood up from Swerve’s lap.
His hand on my waist wasn’t needed to steady me, but I loved the caring it implied.
Rhodes got up. Scorpion had remained standing.
As a unit, we headed for the door. Scorpion opened the door and waved us out before turning to speak to Diablo.
We went back toward the hall where the bedrooms were.
Swerve and I needed to talk, and then I’d let Rhodes voice his final objections to me in private.
Pausing at Swerve’s door, I saw Rho hesitate, then he said calmly, “I’ll be in my room or the common room if you need me. ”
“I’ll see you in a bit,” I assured him.
He gave Swerve a chin lift before walking off.
We were in the same hall, just a handful of doors away from the rooms we’d been given.
Swerve unlocked his door and swept it open, gesturing for me to enter ahead of him.
I did so eagerly. I was still trying to process everything that had happened since last night.
Time alone with him would help on several fronts.
I had questions I refused to ask in front of the others.
At the top of my list was the question of who the club knew that would have the clout to get the FBI director to issue orders to Rhodes.
Right after that, I had to verify that the O’Sheerans Diablo mentioned weren’t the O’Sheeran family I was familiar with.
Anyone living in Florida or with law enforcement ties was familiar with the infamous O’Sheerans.
They were an Irish family living outside St. Augustine who were heavily rumored to be mobsters.
They owned numerous businesses, which, despite frequent investigations, consistently turned out to be clean.
However, the rumors about them persisted.
Surely, that wasn’t the one they meant. Though if the club had pull with someone in the government, why not a billionaire family suspected of Mafia ties?
Yeah, I had a lot of questions for my man.