Chapter Fourteen #2
Cleo smiled, looking up. It was weathered and clearly hadn’t been updated or cared for in years, but she could see the potential.
A little power washing, some paint and minor repairs, was probably all it would take to make it livable.
The idea sparked in her head like a flash.
It was as if all the dominos were falling in place.
“Have you ever thought about renting it out?”
He scoffed, grabbing a rag from his back pocket and wiping his nose. “The only thing fit to live in this shack are the critters burrowing underneath the floorboards.”
I see something different.
It probably wouldn’t take much more than an exterminator to set up traps. Cleo inched closer to the house and heard the crunching of leaves under his heavy boots.
“I bet if you cleaned it up a bit, it would shape up to be livable. I’m sure you could get decent rent for it.”
“Not putting my money or time into this place.”
Cleo spun around with a burst of energy racing through her body. “I can do it for you.”
He furrowed his brows. “Why would you want to do that?”
Cleo shrugged. So I can live here.
Grizz shook his head. “Don’t want strangers living on my property.”
She pressed her hand over her chest. “I’m not a stranger.”
Grizz jerked his head, clearly taken aback. “You wanna rent this place?”
Cleo shrugged, losing a little bit of her confidence. If she wanted this, and she did, Cleo would have to sell herself.
“I’d be a great tenant, Grizz. I’m very responsible, neat and quiet.”
“Sweetheart, I can’t…”
He was shutting her down without even hearing her out. Cleo rushed toward him, halting a few feet away.
“I’ll pay for all the repairs, painting, and even new appliances. You won’t have to put any money out.”
He raised his brows. “Sweetheart, this place would take a few thousand just to be livable. More if you want it to be comfortable living for a woman.” He shook his head, sighing again, “Cleo, I….”
“I’ll pay for it all. I have the money.”
He knitted his brows. “Why do you wanna put money into a place that ain’t even yours?”
It was true. She could spend tons of money on the house just to have him turn around in a year and not renew her lease.
He would be well within his rights as the owner.
It would leave Cleo in the same position she was in now.
But… At least she’d get a small slice of life on her own, in a home she could make all hers. Even if it wasn’t going to be forever.
“Please, Grizz.”
He cupped his jaw, peering over at the house. It was hard to get a read on where his head was at. She didn’t know him well enough to know what he was thinking. More importantly, which direction he was leaning toward.
Movement across the property had her angling her head.
Cypher was walking out of the house and down the stairs.
Her time was up, and she hadn’t gotten an answer.
She was set to give one more desperate plea for his reconsideration.
But she didn’t have to. Grizz turned and started walking back to his house.
“Talk to Ace. If he gives the okay, you can have it.”
Cleo froze, only blinking her eyes as she mulled over what he said. He glanced over his shoulder, then he stopped mid-step.
“What?” He asked.
“You’re really going to let me rent it?” Cleo was stunned in disbelief. And excitement.
“If Ace says yes, then it’s yours. We’ll work out a fair price.”
And like the past few years, her fate lay in the hands of the Killcreek Drifters.
****
“We got Olson’s pickup tomorrow. While we’re out there, need to meet up with Fraser.
He’s got something for us. Didn’t give any details but gave a number.
And it’s pretty fucking high.” Ace took a drag of his cigarette, eyeing all the brothers.
“We’re all on this and heading out early so don’t get stupid tonight. ”
The club was always looking for new associates to expand their reach. They’d done a few transfer of guns for Fraser but not on a regular basis. If that changed, this deal could be lucrative.
“Is that it?” Oak asked.
The meeting had lasted a little longer than usual.
“You got something better to do than hang with your brothers, Oak?” Gent asked.
“Yeah.” The corner of his mouth hiked. “Her name is Cara.”
“The waitress from Barry’s?” Gent’s brows spiked. “Our boy likes them older.”
“Yeah, well, they don’t need instructions on how to suck my dick, so I’m down for it. You know, less talking, more fucking.”
Wraith folded his arms, sighing. Everyone had their thing. Older women was Oak’s.
Cross glanced over at Ace. “We good?”
Ace took another drag and tapped out his cigarette in the ashtray. “Got one more thing.” He looked to the door. “Joker?” The door opened, and the prospect peeked his head inside. “Get her.” Ace said.
Joker lowered his chin, walking away, leaving the door slightly open.
Get her? There was only one woman in the clubhouse.
Usually Wraith was given a heads up with anything regarding Cleo.
Not this time. He eyed Ace who was solely focused on the door.
He shifted his gaze to Cross who seemed just as surprised as the rest of them.
“What’s going on?” Cross asked.
Ace settled back in his chair with his eyes pinned on Wraith. “Cleo asked for a meeting.”
What the fuck? It was obvious the topic wasn’t going to be a surprise to his president. From the sharp scowl, Wraith wasn’t going to like it.
Cleo walked through the door. She only made it two steps when she halted, her smile disappearing instantly and her gaze darting around the room.
“Sit down,” Ace said.
Cleo didn’t move. She was frozen, and he watched the signs of slow panic set in.
“Cleo.” There was an edge to Ace’s tone. He was losing his patience.
She jerked her head to their president, widening her eyes. “I j-just thought.” She stopped mid-sentence, clearing her throat. “I thought the meeting was going to be between you and I.”
Ace arched his brow. “You thought wrong. You want a discussion that affects the club? You get the whole club.”
She ambled forward, offering a jittery smile to the men. He noticed her gaze slip past him, never making eye contact. I’m not gonna fucking like this. When she reached the first chair closest to Ace, she grabbed the back, pulling it out.
“That one.” Ace pointed down three chairs. It was a strategic move. It would put Wraith directly in line with her back. She’d have to fully turn to see him. And my reaction. She moved down the line and sat, clasping her hands in her lap and sitting on the edge of the chair.
Gent, who was seated directly across from her, smirked. “Is this an HR complaint?
“No,” she whispered.
“Floor is yours, Cleo,” Ace said.
With all eyes on her, Wraith could feel her tension. He wasn’t attuned with many people, but he was with her.
“Well.” She fidgeted in her seat. “Um, I was thinking that maybe, um, if you” —she gestured to Ace, then waved her hand across the table— “I mean, um, all of you are open to, um…”
Cross lifted his hand, silencing her. “If you take the ums out, we can cut this meeting time in half.”
She subtly nodded, bowing her head. “Sorry.”
Wraith squared his jaw and clenched his teeth, glaring at his VP. When Cross looked at him, he held out his hands and scowled. Wraith was reading his thoughts. It was a little fucking torturous listening to her stumble and stall.
“What do you want, Cleo?” Ace asked with an edge in his tone. Cross wasn’t the only one losing his patience.
She jerked her head, her hair swinging over her shoulder. “I want to move out!”
Every muscle tightened through his body while his blood pumped swiftly through his veins. This was the last thing he expected to hear. He had given her space. Waited on her to come to him. Maybe he’d waited too long. Wraith fisted his hands, forcing himself to remain silent.
“Move out of the clubhouse?” Ace asked.
She nodded, inching closer to the edge of her seat. Her back was to Wraith, and he couldn’t see her face except for the reflection in the glass behind Ace and Cross.
“Well, if I leave that’ll open a spare room, and with Joker getting close to patching in…”
“Who the fuck said we’re patching in anyone?” Cross snapped.
“Oh well, he’s been prospecting for over a year, so I just assumed…”
Cleo was observant, more so than most people with exclusive access to the Drifters.
There wasn’t a set time for how long a future brother had to prospect, but the timeframe was usually a little over a year.
There’d been talk about it, and Wraith knew he’d get all the votes.
Aside from a few fuckups, his most recent being with Cleo, he’d make a solid brother. Loyal to the club.
“So where you headed, darlin’?” Gent asked.
Wraith steeled his features and sent a scathing glare in Gent’s direction.
She’s not going anywhere, motherfucker.
“Well, Grizz has a little one-story cape next to his house.”
“The broken-down shack?” Cypher asked, sharing a look with Wraith. He was tighter with a few, and Cypher was one of them. “It’s not livable, Cleo.”
She shifted in her seat to face Cypher, which in turn gave Wraith the perfect view of her profile.
She licked her lips, and her throat bobbed. “But Grizz said if it’s okay with Ace that I could fix it up.”
It’s not fucking okay.
“It would take thousands,” Ace said.
She turned in her chair and quickly nodded. “And I have it. I’ve saved up everything I’ve made. And I’d still work and continue to make money, so if any new repairs pop up, I can cover them.”
Wraith folded his arms. This wasn’t some whim or wild hair. Cleo had thought about this, working every angle. She wants it.
“Why would you want to invest your cash in something that ain’t yours?
“I mean, it would be mine for as long as Grizz lets me live there.” She shrugged. “You told me to fix this, right? That’s what I’m trying to do, Ace.”