Chapter Fifteen
Cleo walked down the stairs and into the main room, headed toward the kitchen.
She usually waited until most of the brothers left before making herself breakfast. She made a point of avoiding most of them since her meeting with the club yesterday.
She hadn’t been shocked by their decision but she was disappointed. She really wanted that little house.
“Cleo.”
She glanced up to find Ghost moving toward her. He was coming so quickly, on instinct, she backed up.
“Is something wrong?”
Ghost shook his head and glanced toward the empty doorway. “No, but just listen to me.” He turned back and leaned closer, lowering his voice. “We’re heading to Lawry. First stop is Olson’s. That’s a few blocks from Inez.”
Okay.
“Well” —she smiled with a shrug— “Have a safe trip.”
Ghost rolled his eyes. “Ask to come with us.”
What?
“Why?”
“Because like I said, Olson’s place is only a few blocks from Inez. You come with us, we’ll leave you there while we go to the other meeting. You pay Inez a visit once we leave. He ain’t gonna stop you. Old bastard will be asleep before we even roll out of his driveway. I’ll make sure of it.”
Cleo was having a hard time following him. She wanted to avoid the club, especially Wraith. Why on earth would she ask to go with them? More importantly, pay Inez a visit? That wasn’t exactly how Cleo wanted to spend her afternoon. Inez hates me.
“I don’t understand. What does…”
Ghost abruptly cut her off. “You want Grizz’s place?”
That got her attention, and she perked up.
“The club said no.”
The corner of his mouth curled. “Inez didn’t.”
“Do you think she’ll say yes?”
“Only one way to find out.” Ghost inched forward. “But you’re not gonna tell her about Grizz’s place right away. Tell her you want to rent an apartment in her building.”
What? Cleo loved visiting, but she wasn’t cut out for city living.
“But I don’t want to live in Lawry.”
Ghost snorted. “I know that, and you know that. But Inez doesn’t. She’d never fucking agree to it anyway, but it gives you the chance to plant the idea of living at Grizz’s.”
This sounded like a great plan but flawed.
“But she’ll call Ace when I show up without the club.”
“Yeah but it’ll take us at least fifteen minutes to get to her place. Plenty of time to plead your case.” Ghost turned to the doorway when the voices in the main room got louder. “Listen to me. You’re gonna ask Cross. Not Wraith or Ace. Cross.”
That was a horrible idea. She snorted, shaking her head.
If she had any hopes of getting to Inez, the VP was the last person she should ask.
His demeanor with Cleo had always been standoffish and indifferent.
Protective, yes. But Cross always kept his distance from her.
Just like Inez, he doesn’t like me either!
“I think I have a better chance with Ace.”
“No,” Ghost snapped, sharpening his glare. “You ask Cross directly. He’ll say yes.”
Cleo trusted Ghost but she doubted him on this. “But how can you be sure?”
Ghost scanned her face, hesitating then shifted his gaze across the room. “’Cause he thinks he owes you something.”
Why would he think that? Cleo never got the chance to ask.
Ghost turned and walked out the door. Cleo only had a few seconds to gather what she’d say. It was important no one suspected anything. It was a decent plan, and if Ghost had faith in it? It might work. But she’d only have one chance.
Cleo walked to the doorway. Cue, Oak, and Cypher were grabbing their helmets from the shelf in the corner. Wraith was adjusting his cut. When he glanced up, she immediately looked away, turning her attention to the back hallway. Ace and Cross walked out, heading toward the front door.
Do it.
“Good morning.” She lifted her hand in a short wave and smiled.
Both men stared back at her, Cross looking away first but sidled up next to Ace.
She specifically eyed the VP. She always expected a tighter bond with Cross because he was so close to Knox.
But he seemed to make an effort to avoid her.
Especially after Knox died. Ah Ghost, are you sure about this?
She pointed to the kitchen. “I was going to make breakfast. Do either of you want anything?”
Cross lifted his gaze, and she again smiled, thinking he was going to take her up on the offer. Instead he started through the room. Shit! Cleo stepped into the room, knocking into the side table.
“Where are you all headed?”
Cross stopped and glanced back at her. “We’re taking a ride to Lawry.”
Cleo raised her brows and slowly nodded.
Ask!
“Can I come?”
Clearly, it had caught him off guard. He knitted his brows and shifted his gaze to Ace. But Cleo kept her eyes on him. Maybe Ghost knew something she didn’t. Cross turned slightly in Wraith’s direction. He was seeking permission or refusal.
“Please, Cross.”
His head jerked, and he stared back at her. The man was impossible to read, but her gut was telling her he’d refuse. Turns out, the gut isn’t always right.
“Yeah, you can come.”
Holy shit, it worked. She smiled, sharing a look with Ghost, who turned away from her. The last thing she should do was out his assistance.
“You ride with Wraith,” Ace said, and she glanced across the room.
Wraith was staring back at her as if expecting she’d object.
“Okay.” Cleo rushed through the room and pointed to the ceiling. “I’ll be quick.”
She took the stairs two at a time and practically ran down the hall with only one thought in mind.
Thank you, Ghost.
*
Cleo sat in the corner of Olson’s couch staring at the television.
They’d been hanging out for at least thirty minutes.
She’d known him since she’d arrived at Killcreek.
He was older and ran a fairly large transport group.
He resembled someone’s grandfather or possibly Santa.
He was well into his eighties, and by all accounts, very kind and sweet.
And one of the biggest drug dealers in the state. Nobody’s perfect.
The club had a short meeting with Olson before leaving. She was given strict instructions not to leave the house. Cleo had pushed a little, asking Ace if she could go grab lunch on Main Street. She received a firm no and was told to order food to be delivered.
Once they left, she and Olson settled down in the living room watching an old Western movie. It came as no surprise when she heard him snoring fifteen minutes later. Just like Ghost promised. Olson was in a deep slumber. Making her escape was easy.
She walked to the end of his road and peered up to the right.
It was Main Street. To her left was an industrial area.
I know exactly where I am. She walked the short block, glancing across the street at the dance club.
It wasn’t open for business. But that wasn’t her main interest. She dropped her head back to her shoulders, looking up at the high-rise next to her.
Cleo walked through the open parking lot.
There were only a handful of cars. It made sense because while the complex could house over a hundred people, there were only a few residents.
She opened the door, eyeing the men in the lobby.
Security. She smiled and waved, knowing their faces as she’d seen them a few times before.
None of them returned her greeting but watched her as she walked to the elevator and waited.
Cleo wasn’t sure if her arrival would be announced, but they knew she wasn’t a threat.
When the bell pinged, and the doors opened, she walked inside, tapping the button for the seventh floor. It wasn’t until it started going up that a wave of butterflies swarmed her belly, and her heart rate picked up its pace. An impromptu, unannounced meeting with the Queen herself?
Maybe this isn’t such a good idea.
****
“That went better than expected,” Cross said, staring straight ahead.
They just made another deal for transport. It was a smaller haul but came with greater risk which would bring in a lot more money. It was a solid connection, and more importantly, Fraser was trustworthy. The same couldn’t be said for Satan’s Hex.
“We heading straight home?” Oak asked.
It had been the plan. They’d go back to Olson’s and pick up Cleo then get on the road.
Wraith was still surprised she’d asked to come along.
Though, not as shocked as when she agreed to ride with him.
Maybe giving her time had been exactly what she’d needed.
Cleo still wasn’t making conversation with him.
But this was a small step in the right direction.
“We stopping for something to eat? ’Cause I’m fucking starving,” Oak said as they made their way to the bikes lining the curb.
“After we get Cleo.” Wraith said.
Knowing Olson, he was probably passed out and she was bored out of her mind.
He was walking beside his president when the phone rang. Ace reached into his jacket pocket, and pulled it out, glancing down at the screen. When Ace stopped, Wraith continued to his motorcycle.
“Yeah?” There was a long pause.
Wraith mounted his bike, looking over at his president.
“Jesus fucking…” Ace’s voice trailed off, and he clamped his lips, shaking his head. His jaw squared, and his temple pulsed rapidly. He hit the screen and shoved it into his jacket, stalking to his bike. He pointed to Cypher.
“Check Cleo’s location.”
Wraith straightened, eyeing his president. What the fuck was going on?
Cypher sighed. “It’s turned off.”
“Problem?” Cross asked.
“Yeah!” Ace snapped, turning his glare on Wraith. “Cleo’s fucking gone.”
What the fuck?