Chapter 16
Vex
We all file into Church, the kids off giggling and dancing around in the common room with Loyal, Nell, Joe and the prospects. I’m sure Damian will keep things light and fun while we find out just what the Matrix twins know.
“What you got?” Dex says as my ass has barely touched my seat.
Theo, the one without glasses, looks around the room, “Do you have a screen or a large TV I can cast the info to?”
We sit and stare at him. The Keep is still pretty much set up the same way it was when my father was in charge.
I mean we did splash out for wifi and that cool ass bar, but other than that this room looks the same.
Bright heavenly white, long wooden table in the middle and comfy chairs for the council members.
What’s not part of the room is a projector screen or a TV.
I think it’s safe to say we’re not really that tech savvy. Thank fuck for Chewy’s geeks.
Jay must get the picture because he mumbles something to himself while his brother lets out a long sigh as Omen frowns at them.
“Problem, gentlemen?” my brother growls.
“No. You’ll all just have to squish up to see the laptop screen is all,” Theo answers drily.
I try to cover my snort as I look around the room at my brother’s faces. TumTum would be the smallest of the Keep Chapter brothers, but even then the man is still 6’ tall and lanky.
“Fine. Just tell us what you know,” Dex says, waving a hand to get the twins talking.
They share a look before nodding once at each other. “From what we understand you’ve got two problems. You got Hitchens who was originally on the DRMC radar in Texas before he went to ground, and thanks to your woman’s friend-” Theo nods in my direction, “Hitchens now knows where the kids are.”
Flack goes to open his mouth but Jay beats him to it. “No, Joe has no ties to Hitchens other than his fist found her face. From what we could tell through CCTV footage of the day she arrived here, she did a lot to evade him. The problem is the guy has ties to black market military security.”
“He put a tracker on her?” Omen growls.
“On her car. She did a good job of leaving it in town and managed to hitch a ride out here, but still. Hitchens is clever enough to know that a beaten woman like Joe will end up at the Keep. Everyone in Adonner knows that this place is a sanctuary now.”
I scrub my hand down my face. It was wishful thinking that he would have gone back to Rose Grove for the originals to take care of him.
“We upped our security after Chewy found gaps in it, so hopefully that’ll hold,” Sniper says in a low voice.
Jay looks thoughtful for a moment, sharing a look with his twin. “How many of you are from Eden’s Keep originally?”
“Five counting Loyal,” I answer. “Why?”
“Well, there’s security that someone like Chewy would put in place. She’s good, real good, but she will never know the hidden ins and outs a place like this has,” Theo says, hitting me with a raised eyebrow.
I look to Omen, and then Saint, running through all the passages I remember as a kid. When I was little they were fun places to play, it wasn’t until we were older that we were taught to use them should the government come to visit. The routes were drummed into us.
“Fuck, the tunnels,” Omen says, turning to look at Chef. “After Church you’re with me.”
Chef tips his chin at Omen before settling his eyes on me. “We’ll make sure your girls are safe.”
“Wait, how would Hitchens know about hidden cult shit?” Flack asks, TumTum nodding in agreement.
“Well, that’s where things get a little murky.
We haven’t quite figured it all out yet, but he’s been in contact with someone the dark web calls ‘Ashfall’.
We did a deep dive and it would seem that Ashfall knows a lot about Eden’s Keep.
” Theo says rather blandly considering the bomb he just dropped.
“Wait, are you telling us that the fucker who spray painted Eden’s Keep shit on the wall of the murder house is working with Hitchens? How in the fuck did THAT happen?” Omen barks.
“We’re working on that.”
“I’m sure I don’t need to tell you that we need that information yesterday,” Dex says, knocking twice on the table. “How much did Chewy tell you about what we do here?”
“Just that you’re the new MC chapter and you’re based out of an ex-religious cult compound,” Jay answers.
“And some of you grew up here,” Theo adds.
“That’s all correct. What she didn’t tell you is that we’re a haven for those who need a place to deprogram and get all their paperwork for a new life.
We have rescues from a cult from up north on site and the twins that the DRMC sent here for hiding.
I’m sure you can appreciate that we need you all over this shit.
Whatever threats are out there we need to know about them so we can shut them down.
We can’t let any of this shit touch the people in our care, got it?
” Dex hits the Matrix twins with a dark stare and again I’m thankful that Marx saw the potential in Dex to lead us.
“Understood,” The twins reply at the same time, creepy as hell.
“With that said, it’s time to get cozy.” Jay moves his seat a little, taps a few keys and pulls up what looks to be video footage in the corner and three mugshots on the screen. “Do you recognize any of these people?”
My brothers and I side eye each other, before Sniper sighs and moves to stand behind Jay. The rest of us all gather around, pushing and shoving a little to get a good view of the tiny fucking screen we’re working from.
“That one there is Hitchens,” Flack points out, leaning forward to jab a stubby finger at the screen, completely squashing Jay and fucking up his screen. “Shit, sorry.”
“It’s touch screen, so if everyone would please refrain from touching it, I’d appreciate it,” Jay says drily.
“What about the other two on the screen?” Theo says, obviously wanting to move shit along. I don’t blame him. Both brothers are hunched forward as the collective weight of the Keep chapter breathes down their necks.
I concentrate on the grainy footage, Hitchens in some cafe booth with two other men. There is something about one of them that tickles the back of my brain but for the life of me I can’t put my finger on it. Glancing at Saint and Omen, I notice they’ve spotted the same thing I have.
“Do you see it?” I ask them, not bothering to explain as I know they’re on the same wavelength as me.
“Something about the hair,” Saint mumbles, leaning even closer to the screen, Theo shrinking down until he’s almost nose to table.
Omen frowns at the laptop screen as if he wants to punch it before letting out a breath, “Prez, we need Justice and Loyal. They spent more time in Eden’s Keep than we did. They might be able to ID them.”
Prez nods once and Sniper makes his way to the door.
His low mumbling tone makes it impossible to eavesdrop, not that it matters as Justice and Loyal file in.
Justice stands just off to the side and my woman comes straight to me, hooking her pinky with mine as she settles her weight on me.
It’s not a huge display of affection, but coming from Loyal it’s equal to her jumping into my arms and humping me like a dog in heat.
She’s modest, my woman and I wouldn’t have her any other way.
“Quick recap - Hitchens seems to be working with someone called AshFall. We believe this person, or persons, has in-depth knowledge of Eden’s Keep,” Dex begins.
Loyal’s quick intake of breath is let out slowly, “So the two bad guys are working together?” she asks, voice a little shaky. One bad guy she could handle. One bad guy with Eden’s Keep? That’s something none of us want to see.
“That’s the theory we’re working on,” Theo answers before turning his screen toward Loyal.
Justice steps up behind her and they both lean a little closer. My girl stiffens and Justice lets out a curse.
“Well, I guess that answers it then,” Chef murmurs.
“Babe, can you tell us who that is?” I ask her gently, pressing my lips to her temple and smiling into her hair when she relaxes immediately.
“That’s Elder Goodson’s brother. I’m not sure what his name is, I was never allowed to address him, or make any eye contact,” Loyal says quietly.
“He’s a sadistic mongrel,” Justice growls and I have a feeling he knows this man in a way that he wished he didn’t. “Came to Eden’s Keep just before you left. Was friends with our father,” he spits.
“That explains why we recognized him but couldn’t ID him,” Saint says.
“I was part of your sister’s team when we ended Eden’s Keep. How’d he escape?” Sniper mumbles, turning to look at me.
“His role was to spend time out in the communities or that house,” Justice shudders.
“Twins, can you-”
“Already on it. We’re pulling all information on Goodsons in the state between the ages of 55 and 75. If we can’t find anything we’ll bump it up the chain to Chewy,” Jay says earnestly.
It’s funny, they come across as aloof hackers for hire, but I’ve been watching their reactions since they stepped into Church and it would seem these fuckers are as affected as we are by what is going on around us.
Dex taps the table twice with his fist then walks back to the head of the table, flopping down in his seat, his fingers laced casually over his stomach. He frowns hard for a moment, then his gaze catches mine before traveling around the room.