Chapter 42
Poison
Peace doesn't last for long
D ays later
In recent discoveries, it is our deepest condolences and saddest to announce that Mayor Richard was found murdered in his home just a couple of days ago. Sources are saying it was foul play. His wife, Maria Ramirez says when she arrived home Friday night, that she had found his body, and what she saw, she could not believe her eyes. Now, the details are too graphic to display here, but she says it reminded her of a head being crushed on a tire. Maria could not speak with us today, she wants to honor her daughter's and her privacy at this time, but she left us a message:
She says that she hopes that Detective Gear and the HCPD find his killer and get justice for her selfless husband.
We hope the family of Richard Ramirez finds solace during this hard time, and we will all miss our wonderful mayor. A memorial will be held after New Years...
Click
The moment we stepped into the data room, all eyes were on us. I get it, they haven’t seen us in days. Two days to be exact. Instead of checking in on the team like a good boss, I took the time to get a damn break. And not feel fucked up or selfish for it, either.
In Anita’s words with her charming smile. ‘It won’t hurt if you take time for yourself.’
So, I used that time to make the most out of it before the chaos came. Spent that time soaking in her warmth and exploring all aspects of her will. She’s exquisite. Compelling.
And I’m hooked.
She’s a remedy for my addiction, and I’m delighted to take a dose of her any chance I can. Not only that, but she’s better company than she lets on. I’ve never spoken so much in life. It’s been a shitload of eating, sex, games...which mainly consisted of a homemade target practice made from baking sheets and kitchen knives and a game of hangman where we remove a body part after every word we get wrong. It was...fun.
And I know for a fact, every surface in my house has been tainted with our coitus.
So, when we walk in, I’m not the least bit uncomfortable. I'm used to my team turning their heads and looking at me. Now she was beside me, hands tucked into her leather jacket and her chin tipped up like the fierce woman that she is. She has her normal expressions, unfiltered, tweaked with an ‘I don’t give a fuck’ mentality. Exactly how I like it.
However, I love being behind closed doors with her. I can see that gorgeous smile and melodic laugh, the walls that she put up tumbling down freely.
She didn’t become alarmed with the eyes on us, she walked ahead ignoring the prying curiosity, then eventually they got back to work like there was nothing to be seen.
Bedford and Mal sit at his desk deep in conversation while Mal fiddles with the little trinkets he has on display. He slaps her hand away. “No touching.” I hear him say as we approach.
I pull out a spare swivel chair from the desk directing it to her, she sits down on it crossing her leg.
I grab my own chair before taking a seat, getting myself back into business mode. It's been a lot going on with this new head explosion, my father calling non-stop, and this mystery message that I had forgotten about until now. “Alright, where are we at?”
Mal looks between Anita and me in a dry state. “Oh, nice to finally see you two after years of not speaking to me.”
Bedford snickers, swiveling in his chair to avoid eye contact.
She huffs, shaking her head. “First Boone, now you guys.”
I can’t help feeling partially guilty. I am all she’s known for years; I never want to make her feel excluded.
“Boone will be back,” I say, hoping that fixes her mood.
“Aww, did you miss me?” Anita chimes in, swirling her chair over to her, her legs sticking out playfully as she stops next to Mal. Anita wraps an arm around her shoulder, her brow lifting. “I didn’t miss you at all. I didn’t even think of you. It was actually nice not seeing your face.”
Oh, shit .
Then Mal twists her head slowly to Anita, a smile gradually creeping on her face, until she nudges Anita lightly with her elbow. “Fuck you.”
“Oh nice, there she is,” Anita says with a soft grin.
I sit there watching them interact like they’re sisters. I’ll be lying if I said it didn’t affect me. There was a time when Mal would’ve blown a hole straight through her head. Or Anita would have sliced Mal’s head off with no remorse.
“Headman.”
I twist in my chair to Chris walking toward me with a device in his hand. “We have a visitor.” He hands the tablet to me, revealing the view of the outside camera to me.
I nod. I look at Bedford and the ladies. “I’ll be back.”
Anita's head snaps to me instantly, her brows dipping with a pause. Then hesitantly, she nods to talking back with Mal.
I stroll off, my eyes still down at the tablet, my steps not hurried but quick enough to make it to the new guest.
By the time I get to the compound through the lower level then back to our makeshift cabin, he’s facing the forest, leaning on the pillar with a foot over his ankle and a duffel bag over his shoulder.
“Looks like you changed your mind,” I call out, the cold wind brushing to my nose and cheeks.
Jax turns around, his expression blank, like he’s withdrawn from life. The crisp fall air not even affecting him.
“Yeah. I figured why not,” he says, raising up the metal card I slipped in his bag.
I nodded for him to come in. “You made the right choice.”
We make it through the chambers, back to the surface, and toward the entrance of the academy.
“Damn,” he says under his breath as he enters the school. He doesn’t say anything else, but from the look on his face, I can tell he’s never seen anything like it.
One of my men approaches us. “Nick will take your bag to your room.”
Jax one ups them before eventually giving him his bag. Nick walks off up the stairs, lifting the bag like it didn’t weigh a ton.
I shift, walking back to the data room. Jax follows. “I hope you’re prepared because you caught us right at the best time.”
“Why is that?”
“Because tonight we are going to the casino. The meeting is tonight.” I bust through the door, everyone looking at Jax now, some confused with frowns.
“Back to work,” I say out loud, heading to my group. They don’t look disgusted—they look stunned, even though they were aware I offered Jax to come.
The energy is thick, awkward even, until Jax clears his throat and extends his hand.
Anita tilts her head, eyeing him, before her gaze softens and she stands. She uncrosses her legs, stands, and steps forward, clasping his hand. “Welcome.”
Mal and Bedford follow suit. “I would say it’s good to see you...” Mal ventures off, giving a stiff smile.
I narrow at Mal, and she catches my eyes piercing into her face.
She clears her throat. “Welcome to the GenCre,” she says quickly, stepping away and sitting back down.
“Alright, we know tonight that meeting is happening. I know this is my issue. You all don’t have to come along, but since you are, I appreciate your loyalty.” The other team will stay back. It shouldn’t take a horde of mercs to do this. I sit back down, placing my elbows on my knees and clasp my hands together. Jax continues standing.
“Your fight is our fight, and it's also much bigger than that,” Anita says firmly, looking at me with her pretty, dark eyes.
A tiny bit of weight falls from my shoulders. Your fight is our fight. I never would've thought the day—
“Wait.” Mal sits up quickly in her seat, eyeing me and Anita. “Does this mean this you're staying, Cinderella?”
Anita's gaze stays on me, and she nods with a small smile on her lips. “Yes. I am.”
Mal face stretches into a smile that, I can admit, I have never seen before. It's not shrill and eerie, but it’s...pretty. Bedford gasps, joining in when a gleam on his face. He scoots Mal’s rolling seat out the way to perk in the middle. “You’re really staying?”
Anita nods again. “I just said—”
He jumps in his seat. “Oh, can I hug you now?”
My muscles tighten, and I glare at him. “Bedford,” I warn. I have no reason to react this way, but anyone touching her intimately like that doesn't sit well with me. I want to be the only one to have that experience. No one else. She’ll say no, anyway. My body loosens.
Anita’s brow perk. “Uh. Sure.”
Now it's my turn to be surprised. Bedford reaches over and wraps his long arms around Anita's neck, practically crushing her to his cheek. His eyes close, as if it's the best gift he could ever receive.
It is.
I investigate the entire thing with a snarl, eyeing his arm placement, and how close his face is. I don't like it.
And she looks uncomfortable. “Okay, that's enough.” She pats his arm. I smile at the situation. Not from Bedford getting a chance to touch her, but the fact that she's speaking openly about us. Do I say girlfriend, or is that too childish?
Childish.
She’s something and a redundant title isn’t it. The mark she put on my chest with her letter says it all.
Mal kicks her legs out, leaning back in her seat. “Now you can do my nails whenever I tell you to.”
“You won't be telling me to do anything.” Anita rolls her eyes at Mal.
My head cocks back. “Nails?” Mal has never wanted her nails done. I thought that was just decoration for the gala. Everyone is just full of surprises, today.
Mal whips her head to me, and she grins sheepishly, scratching her scalp. “Yeah...uhm sometimes...I like. Forget about it.” She waves me off, then changes the subject. “Are you getting your own room then? I know how suffocating it can be living under the bosses' roof, am I right?” Mal chuckles, jerking her thumb at me.
I dull my eyes at her with a head shake.
“Actually.” Anita fluffs her bangs from her face. “I’ll be staying there.” She eyes Mal strangely with a few eye blinks.
Mal nods, doing the same strange gesture. “Oh! You two are together?” She gasps, clutching her chest. “I did. Not. Know. That.” Her face says it all, although her voice sounds convincing.
“I hope you’re never taken for interrogation, or we’re all fucked,” Anita grumbles.
“No, I think they’ll be fucked. Mal style.” She grins and there it is. That eerie fucking smile that matches her eyes. And the shitty pun.
Anita's face twists, confused. I can feel the debate unfolding, so I hop in.
“Alright, let's get down to business.” The conversations stop and they all look at me. “The meeting is at 8:00 p.m., so I say we get there right on time. Go in guns on fire and kill whoever comes at you. I have a strong feeling they know we are coming.”
Anita crosses her legs, while shaking her head. “I don't like this.”
“For once, I agree with Cinderella,” Mal says, crossing her arms.
I graze the scar on my lip. “I don't either, but there's no other way. And Bedford has found nothing else connected to the chip in the mayor's head, and no other news besides the ones we know who are already involved in the cult.”
“Cult?” Jax hops in, confused.
Mal shrugs, waving her hand. “Yeah, the mayor is dead.”
“What?”
“Long story,” I add dryly.
“They're calling him wonderful,” Bedford says, swinging his seat back to his desk.
“Wonderful enough to be involved in human trafficking. Great.” Fucking bastard.
“What!?” Jax voices louder. I look at him and his eyes are wider. The most emotion I have seen him give.
“We’ll catch you up to speed. For now, this is what's happening. We know some members of this group may be there. That means it's time for those fuckers to get exposed.”
“But I don’t understand. Why would this all date back to you and Carter? Why would traffickers want blueprints? It's like we’re missing something,” Anita says, looking off into the distance.
The coded message pops in to my mind, and I'm tempted to speak about it until the last words come up. Or else. I’m not one to hide valuable information, but this seems too risky to say. My gaze travels to the data room. It can be anyone playing games with me. I need to alert Bedford, but it's not just me on the line, it's everyone I care for. So, I push it away and pretend I didn't think of it.
I shake my head, leaning my chin on my knuckles. “I don't know, but I have a feeling we’ll find out tonight.”