Chapter Eleven
TRAVIS
“W hat time did he say he was getting here?”
I look up at Dean. Sitting in the van, we wait for Sparky, the one supposedly already in the know about the house we’re breaking into this weekend. We’re here, we might as well do it. We don’t wait for him, though, and shit will hit the fan with Sonny, the peacekeeper whenever shit flares up. We need to keep him sweet. Once we secure what we need, Sodom Saviours will undoubtedly come after it. We’ll need Sonny onside for that.
My mind hasn’t let up since I left Mollie. Dressed in my shirt, she was everything I didn’t know I needed. Hot headed. Fiery. Her passion and confidence is something I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of. Still can’t believe she pushed me, though. I’ll make sure she pays for that when I’m sure she’s ready. I have no doubt she can take what I want to give her, but the way she shut down when her past got brought up, almost ended what was a perfect night.
The non-existent machine in my chest kicks, and I give a mild shake of my head, realising she’s the reason for it.
Every. Fucking. Time.
“Fucker should have been here five minutes ago,” Dean snaps, pulling me back to the now.
I sense his unease. He’s been back long enough to fit right in, but not quite long enough to know everyone properly yet. “He’ll show,” I say confidently, knowing Sparky doesn’t care much for punctuality. Apparently, he doesn’t care much for secrecy, either.
“Who the fuck’s that? ”
I shake my head, just as confused as Dean. “Fuck knows.” My hand instinctively reaches for the key in the ignition, ready to leave if needs be. “But he shouldn’t be here—”
Before I can finish my sentence, Dean’s out of the van, his knife in his hand.
“Fucking, Christ,” I mutter to myself, fumbling to catch up to him. “Dean!”
My shout has Sparky’s head turning to us, as he and whoever the fuck he decided to bring along with him on our very incon-fucking-spicuous trip, both climb out of their vehicle.
Dean squares up to both of them, and they both look wide eyed at me.
Honestly? I have no idea what Dean’s thinking, either. But they sure as shit don’t need to know that. “You gonna tell us who this is?” My deadly stare is locked on the newcomer. He’s shitting himself. I see his hand shaking as he looks at Sparky for reassurance. “Or does he have to drag it out of you. Because I know which one he’d fucking prefer.”
They both look scared. “Travis, my guy,” Sparky holds up his hands, “this is Elvis. He’s helping me this weekend.” I don’t say anything as Sparky steps closer.
Dean and I are standing stock still, both of us taller than these punks. I try to gauge why Sparky would be so careless when he knows the importance of what we’ve got to do. I look the man standing to his left, up and down. He’s scruffy, sporting a black eye. His hat’s on wonky. He certainly doesn’t look like anyone who could be a threat.
“Elvis. Like the singer?” I ask seriously, warranting no answer, just a few confused looks. I see Dean smirk. Pulling out my own knife, moving slowly, I hold it up in Elvis’ face. “Then sing for me, King,” I say darkly.
He laughs, looking at Sparky.
Sparky knows better.
“He said, sing, Elvis,” Dean says, reinforcing my desire to know what this bastard’s intentions are. There’s no reason for him to be here. So, either Sparky is actually dumber than he looks, or this clown is here for another reason.
“Sing,” I repeat one last time.
Elvis takes an unsteady step, then his lips part. He sucks in a shaky breath, humming his first note .
Dean and I exchange a look, seeing the fucker sweating and hearing his voice quake. I swear I hear him stammer like he’s about to cry. We let him go on for a whole song and as much as this will teach him for showing up unannounced, we’re now wasting time.
Plus, I have someone waiting for me.
“Enough,” I shout over Elvis, who’s slipping into his stride.
He stops, wiping his presumably sweaty hands on his trousers.
“Why the fuck are you here?” I aim my knife at him again before turning it to Sparky. “And why the fuck did you bring him?”
“He’s got some gear I thought you might want to see,” Sparky answers, his own voice shaky. Now I get it. He’s not much younger than me, still, the little shit shouldn’t have assumed we’d be interested in this. Not tonight.
“You should have called. You know why we’re here. This aint no place for an outsider.”
“Do you trust him?” Dean asks before I can tell him to get the fuck out of here. No way we should go any further with someone who’s not even involved.
I quickly shut my mouth, not looking at him.
Sparky takes a few steps toward Dean. “With my life.” He nods his head, his eyes wide, hoping Dean buys it. He’s wondering whether we’re going to kill him and his friend for being so fucking careless.
“Then he can come. Might be good to look at the gear later.”
I turn my head, my teeth grinding. “Dean,” I say calmly. I’m anything but. Yeah, we need new drugs, but from real dealers. Not amateurs.
Sparky and Elvis can’t believe their luck. They advance on us, both nodding and thanking Dean for being so understanding.
“It’s all good,” he says hushed before he turns, making his way toward the path we’ve to walk down. I watch him open a packet of cigarettes, slipping one between his lips and lighting it. He’s smoked a lot in the past few weeks. Adjusting to life back here must be harder than he’s letting on.
Lifting my hand still holding the knife, I silently instruct the two muppets to go first. I’ll go at the back where I can see them. Keep an eye on them.
The walk down the path is quiet. Tense. The tall overhanging trees make it pitch black. I can’t see shit. It’s only because the moon’s shining brightly, that I don’t need the torch I brought with me. The only sound that can be heard are our boots against the gravel. Constantly checking my watch, it takes five minutes to walk the path to the house. Once there, we stay in the shadows, our watchful eyes scanning the area. The path we came down appears to be the only way in and out. “I’ll go around the back.”
“Okay,” Elvis replies.
I slowly look at him. “I was talking to him.”
Dean smiles, and I see a flash of something I don’t recognise.
“You stay here. Watch for anyone coming and going. Check the garages. We need to know how many people have access to the house.”
Dean nods, and I leave, working my way around the grounds. This place is fucking huge. The guy living here sure has more than he needs. A local member of parliament, this cunt holds the power to sign off on handing over a plot of land we need. Will he do it willingly? No. Money didn’t work. Threats didn’t work. The guy has too much power, and it’s gone straight to his fucking head.
Unfortunately for him, Mop caught said respected member of our government leaving some local dive bar late one night with an underage girl. Scumbag.
This weekend, we try bribery. And if that doesn’t work, Rocco will take what we need with no fucks given. To be honest, I haven’t ever questioned the way things are going to play out. Never had a reason to realistically think about the weight of the things we do. Not until the night at the clubhouse with Mollie. Only then did it occur to me, the quicker we establish our pipelines, the more time I can spend with her. The more time I can put in to getting mine and Dean’s new business off the ground.
We need it. I need it. Need a purpose away from the club.
I need her.
After ten fucking minutes of dodging the hedge row, I make it back to the three amigos. “Anything?” I ask, my foot crunching a branch underneath me.
Dean turns as I step closer. “Only appears to be him and his other half. Two cars in the garages.”
“We’ll have to sit tight. Make sure.”
Dean nods, knowing what I’m getting at. We need a stake out. Last thing we need this weekend is someone we’ve missed showing up with access to the house .
Sparky shifts on his feet. “No one else was there when I met with him.”
Dean and I both look at Sparky.
“Was just him and the Mrs. Both of them talked me through where everyone would be and what time I could arrive. Didn’t see any signs of anyone else being in the house. They said the house would be locked to all guests, only staff would have access.”
“What about kids? Security? Are there cameras inside?” I ask.
Sparky shakes his head. “None that I saw. He did mention invitations being checked upon arrival. My guess is he’ll place whoever’s checking them further up the track we came down.”
My eyebrows knit. “What makes you say that?”
“Because if anyone shows up unannounced, they won’t disturb the guests. That, and it’ll take longer to get away if they do get in.”
I ponder what he’s saying. And it only leads me to my next question, “How the fuck are we going to get in then?”
“His van,” Sparky pipes up.
I can’t help my scowl as I look between him and Elvis.
“That’s why I brought him. They might check it, but Elvis’ van has hidden compartments to store the equipment. You two can hide, and we’ll drive you straight in.”
It could work. I just don’t like the idea of a slow getaway should we need one.
“We still need to make sure no unexpected visitors will use the house once we have the prick inside.”
“Elvis,” Dean starts.
My eyes fix on him as the dickhead’s ears prick up.
“How’d you fancy earning a few bob?”
I scowl, and Elvis nods, way too fucking eagerly. “Fucking right I do,” he says quietly at least, but still way too keen for my liking.
“Stay here.”
“For how long?”
“Until I tell you otherwise.” Dean’s voice is placid. Flat.
Dead.
Elvis can’t speak, and I wonder what Rocco will make of this. I don’t like it at all, but I’m not questioning Dean, especially in front of Sparky. I need to appear to be on the same wavelength. Last thing we need is Sparky feeding a fallout back to his crew and that getting back to the wrong person. Our very own party boy has family on the opposite side of our war. They hate each other, but that doesn’t mean he wouldn’t help them one day.
Regardless, I see what Dean’s doing. He’s smart enough to know that Sparky knows he messed up tonight. So, we have him in the palm of our hands. “You check in with Sparky if anything changes.”
Left speechless, Sparky and I follow Dean as he leaves, leaving a dumbstruck Elvis on his own. We make it to the vehicles, and almost as if I knew he wasn’t quite done, he kicks Sparky’s car door shut the moment the guy tries to open it.
Sparky spins, his back flat against the door. “Dean, what the fuck?”
“Don’t fucking give me that. You’re not going anywhere.”
Sparky flinches, realising his fate is the same as Elvis’. “What?”
Holding him by the scruff, Dean slams him back, getting Sparky’s full attention again. “You’re fucking lucky I didn’t kill him back there. If it wasn’t for the fact we might actually need his van and your fucking skills, the pair of you would be hanging from one of these fucking trees. Understand what I’m saying?”
Sparky flashes me a look which I don’t react to.
“Got it?!” Dean shouts.
“Yes, I get it!” Sparky’s voice is shaking.
Dean eventually lets him go and storms his way to the van.
I keep my eyes on Sparky, trying frantically to calm my own nerves before I come face to face with the beast possessing my mate. Turning around, I pause and look back at him. “Sit tight. I’ll check in with you later.” I don’t owe him anything, but the last thing we need is these two not showing up this weekend.
Sparky nods submissively and gets in his car.
It’s then I turn, steadily treading away from him. I open the van door and climb in.
Dean lights up, cracking the window. “Let’s go,” he says before I can question why we’re not the ones staying.
I drive for twenty minutes in silence, my mind flitting back and forth between Mollie and the club.
“You going to ask?” Dean flicks his smoke out the window before turning his head to look at me .
I tilt my chin, tossing him a look before looking back at the road.
“You think too loud.”
I grip the steering wheel tighter. I could ask what the fuck he’s thinking. But it won’t change anything. So what’s the point. I have to trust he knows what he’s doing. “He won’t like this,” I say simply.
Dean shifts in his seat. “Leave Rocco to me.”
Fine.
The silence that drops around us says it all. He knows. But I’m not sure at this stage he cares.
We make it back almost an hour later. Following Dean in, there’s no one downstairs. Both of us know just to head up to the table where everyone else must be. Question is, why? I look down at my watch. It’s late now.
Pushing open the door, Rocco sits with his elbows resting on the table. The rest of the guys look up when they see us. “How’d it go?” Rocco asks.
Dean sits opposite me.
I take a seat next to Skitz. His eye is still black from our punch up. Or more so my punch.
“Fine. The guy lives there with his wife,” Dean informs him.
Rocco nods, listening. “See anyone else?”
“No.”
“Entry points?”
Dean lights a smoke, flicking the lighter to the table once he’s done. “One track, that’s it.”
Rocco muses. “The grounds sheltered? Gated?”
I lean forward. “No, none. The grounds are plenty big enough, though. There’s one route in with hedgerows and trees surrounding the property. Plenty of places to hide, but I don’t like the access road if we need to get out quickly.”
As if looking for him, Rocco looks to the door. “Where’s Sparky?” he asks, his eyes going between mine and Dean’s.
I don’t look at Dean as he speaks. “Sparky’s still there making sure no one else has access to the house. He said he saw no signs of kids or security last time, but it can’t hurt to make sure.”
Slowly, Rocco nods his head. I wonder if Dean’s going to tell him about Elvis? “Can we have a minute?” he asks the room, and we all exchange a few looks.
One by one, the men start to filter out, and I stand, if not a little reluctantly, wondering what the fuck he’s up to. “I’ll check in with Sparky. Catch up with you in the morning?”
“Leave Sparky to me. I’ll sort it,” he fires back.
“I got it—”
“I said, leave Sparky to me.”
What the fuck? I pause, but eventually give him a nod.
“When’s your new business starting?” Rocco asks, stunning both of us. He didn’t like the idea when I first broke it to him. “What?” he asks, looking between us, seeing us both confused.
“Uh,” I scratch my head. “As soon as we can.” I look at Dean.
Rocco clicks his teeth. Thinking. “Get it going as soon as possible. Might give you something more than the farm to think about.”
Something more?
Rocco cocks a brow, his eyes noting my hesitation at his sudden keenness. I know he’s hinting towards Mollie as well. He saw how I left with her. Maybe he thinks pursuing anything with her is a bad idea? He wants us all focused on the club.
“Right.” I walk to Dean, holding out my hand.
He takes it, embraces me, then I leave, closing the door behind me.
Swapping the van back for my bike, I head back to the farm. It feels odd not staying at the clubhouse when we end on such a late one, but knowing Mollie will be waiting for me, eases some of the tension I’m carrying. It also makes me ride with purpose for the first time in fucking ages.
We need this weekend to run smoothly. Fuck, do we need it. Branching out business takes time, muscle, alliances. We’ve done well, but the sooner we have something bigger set up, the more money we can start earning for the club.
The more time I can spend focusing on Mollie.
Once back, I make my way upstairs quietly, contemplating sleeping in my room. My body doesn’t even question where it’s going, though. I’m opening her door before I know it, peering inside to see her asleep on one side.
More.
I’m so tired, yet, somehow I just know I’ll sleep better with her in my arms. Plus, how can I be this close to her and not do anything? Seeing her is freeing, but fucking terrifying. She doesn’t know what she wants yet. Maybe I should give her some distance, let her find that out?
Closing the door behind me, I stalk closer to the bed, removing my clothes with each step until I’m down to my boxers. I pull back the covers and slide in behind her. Wrapping my arm around her waist, I tuck her body close to mine.
“Travis?” Mollie’s sleepy voice groans.
“You expecting someone else?” I kiss her head.
She laughs, her head lifting so my arm can tuck underneath her. She’s still in my shirt, her bare legs bending as her body melts into mine. “You’re warm.” She nestles herself, her head ducking to my arm.
It’s like nothing I’ve felt before. I close my eyes, pulling her closer to me. I take a breath as she relaxes, her breathing turning heavier as she begins to drift off. With a small breath, Mollie asks me a question I never thought I’d hear. “Can we go on a date?” Her voice is hushed, serene and sleepy.
With another tug of her body, I land a kiss on the back of her head. “A date?” I question, my mind wondering.
She yawns. “A date.”
A date? Never had one. Never wanted one. Never would have considered one until now. The idea of taking her. Spoiling her. I teased her for it when we first met, but I know deep down she won’t care for the finer things. She’ll want one thing. Me. And that thought alone is enough to set my heart beating uncontrollably once again. “Whatever you want, baby.”
I feel the small twitches of her body as she finds sleep.
Everything I want to do comes into focus. What I want now seems so clear. I just need to figure out what the fuck I do with that realisation, because I have never felt like this before, and I’d be lying if I said I knew what the fuck I am going to do next.