Chapter Five Deacon #3
By hiding his brokered deals, Preacher Man had gone against all the charter rules that forced a vote by the officers.
Like a sacrificial lamb to the slaughter, he had selflessly worked to ensure the safety of the club, even if all along it was going to cost him his life.
Deep down, I knew that he had instigated Sigel’s imprisonment to keep me from any revenge that would come from his probable death.
He must’ve feared I would be killed or imprisoned and wanted to protect me.
He never would have fathomed my next move.
“Deacon,” a voice implored, jerking me out of the past and into the present.
“What?” I croaked. Staring down at my hands, I thought of a movie Rev had made me watch.
Some bullshit Shakespeare stuff that I had slept through back in high school.
Like the deranged chick, I rubbed my hands furiously together trying not to see the blood I imagined on them—the blood of Sigel’s only son.
The son I had strung up and then proceeded to torture like something out of medieval times.
The son who bore the wrath of the bottomless quicksand of grief for Preacher Man that I found myself trapped in.
The son I’d left to bleed out on his apartment floor after I did a final act of degradation—I stripped him of his cut and took it with me.
Over the years, I’m sure Preacher Man and Case had rendered the same kind of revenge as I did.
I’m not sure if they outdid my level of violence.
Grief can bring a man who refuses to acknowledge emotion to his knees.
It warps you into a shadow of your former self.
It manipulates you into succumbing to the mental anguish you try so hard to escape from.
It makes an emotional cripple out of even the strongest man around.
That was the intensity of my loss for Preacher Man. Salvation out of hell was rarely granted, but Preacher Man had been mine. So far I’d lived three lifetimes—the life before Preacher Man and the Raiders, my life with him, and now my life without him.
What I didn’t want to acknowledge then or now was the grief that I had brought to Sigel would have a price. He’d left me alive once, but when he was free, would he do it again? Now that he was out I was staring down the barrel of a gun again.
The deep baritone of Case’s voice once again dragged me from my thoughts. “Sigel killed Lacey,” he said.
“Did he know who she was?”
Case shook his head. Then with a grimace, he added, “But he knows who Willow is.”
My heart twisted as if a giant’s hands had clenched around it. “He’s the threat.”
What I hadn’t told the nosy ass Miss Evans was a week ago I’d received a package.
Within it were pictures of Willow on the school playground, eating lunch in the cafeteria, and skipping out to Mama Liz’s car.
While there had been no note, the message was clear—someone was after my daughter.
That’s when I had put Willow on lockdown within the compound.
She didn’t go anywhere outside, and even when she was inside, a prospect was on her ass every moment.
Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined Sigel was behind it.
But now that I knew who it was and his involvement in Lacey’s murder, the why wasn’t adding up.
Not from Willow herself, but from the school psychologist, we knew what Willow had seen.
She’d drawn pictures with a “Mean Man” who had hurt her mommy.
She had been within Sigel’s reach of revenge, yet he let her go. I didn’t understand.
As if he sensed my confusion, Rev said, “He let her live because he realized you didn’t know anything about her.” When I flicked my gaze to his, Rev sighed raggedly. “He wanted to wait until you could have feelings for her. Then it could be personal.”
“Motherfucker,” Bishop muttered.
The knowledge of what Sigel intended sent jagged pain through my chest the same as if he was standing over me and stabbing me.
The calculating bastard was fucking with me from a distance, just waiting until the time was right to strike.
“If Sigel’s truly using Willow to get to me, it could be months, even a year, before he and the Knights come at us.
” I glanced around the table at my brothers.
“The more time that passes, the more I can get attached to Willow. Then the greater the revenge.”
“Sigel has never impressed me as a patient guy. He bided enough time waiting to get to you when he was in jail,” Mac argued.
“But he didn’t know about Willow then,” I replied.
“I don’t think he intends to stop with her,” Rev said.
I jerked my chin in agreement. “No, I’m sure after what I did, he won’t be satisfied until he puts me in the ground.”
“These aren’t some racist upstarts anymore. My informant says that the Knights have been stockpiling weapons. The feds have been allowing the purchases to build a stronger case,” Case said.
“So what do we do? Smoke them before they can smoke us?” Bishop questioned.
Mac shook his head. “With the feds breathing down the Knights’ necks with RICO, we’d be offering ourselves up on a silver platter. Any way we could fuck them up is just going to fuck us over worse in the end.”
“If we’re supposed to be worried about the feds, then that would mean the Knights would have to be too. I don’t see Sigel giving two shits about jail time. When it comes to revenge, he’ll take the risk,” Boone argued.
“As long as Sigel breathes, both Willow and Deacon are in danger,” Rev surprisingly said. The implication of his words was clear, which went against his usually non-violent character. But when it came to the lives of his brother and beloved niece, Rev wouldn’t hesitate to break a commandment.
Lacing my fingers behind my head, I countered, “While I’m inclined to agree with you, Rev, we can’t just play into his hand.
He knows once word gets around that he’s out, I would be on edge, waiting for him to come after me for what I did to his son.
He’s banking on the fact that Willow hasn’t talked or that I have no idea he’s tied to Lacey.
He’s getting his rocks off on this little game he’s playing. ”
We all glanced anxiously at Case who continued stroking his beard in thought.
“I say that for appearances, we play it cool—no going in after Sigel with guns blazing. But I want us to reach out to each and every one of our allies for added protection as well as any shit they can get us on the Knights. If we’re lucky, the feds and RICO will take the fuckers out long before we have to act.
Sigel is one conviction away from life. If the right side of the law can put him away, we’ll ensure he dies once he’s inside. ”
“That addresses Sigel and the Knights, but what about Willow and Deacon?” Rev questioned.
I threw up one of my hands. “What about us?”
Ignoring me, Rev stared straight at Case. “I think Deacon should have an escort at all times he’s outside the compound.”
I groaned. “Come on, man. You’re acting like I’m marked man.”
“You are,” he growled.
“With our cuts, we’re all marked men every moment of the day,” I countered.
Slamming his fist down on the table, Case barked, “That’s enough.
” Rev and I both eased back in our chairs.
“I agree with Rev. Until we can get a better handle on all this, you’re not to leave the compound without an escort.
” Before I could protest, Case swept up his gavel and then banged it. “Meeting is adjourned.”
When I started to rise out of my chair, Case shook his head. “You stay.”
I knew the other guys were just as surprised as I was by his request. Reluctantly, I let my ass fall back in the seat. After the rest of the guys filed out of the room, I glanced expectantly at Case. “What’s eating at you now, Prez?”
“I’m worried about this teacher.”
My brows shot up in surprise. “With all the shit going on with the Knights, you’re thinking about her?” When Case nodded, I asked, “You worried for her or for the club’s safety.”
The flame from Case’s lighter illuminated his face as he lit his pipe. After taking a few puffs, he replied, “She’s an outsider.”
“Yes, I’m aware of her status,” I replied, as I dug in my pocket for my own smokes.
“Just having her here in the clubhouse or at your house is trouble waiting to happen.”
I hastily lit a cigarette. As I inhaled sharply, I let the sweet nicotine sting fill my senses. “She’s more trouble if we keep her out.”
“I know. It’s the only reason why I’m letting her in here. But my issue with her isn’t just the fact that she could bring CPS sniffing around in here.”
“What is it then?”
He slid a manila folder over to me. “I had someone look into her background.”
“Is it that serious?” I asked, as I flipped the folder open.
“If you consider the fact her uncle is a retired state trooper.”
I grimaced as I glanced over the papers regarding Alexandra’s life.
Of all the teachers I could have had snooping around, I had to have one who was tied to the law.
And this uncle wasn’t just someone she saw on the holidays.
He had become her guardian when she was seventeen and her parents died in a car accident.
“He’s a lifer here in town and so is his wife. It won’t take long for him to put two and two together about who Alexandra is working for,” Case said.
“Did he ever put any heat on us when he was active?”
“No, he didn’t. He even collected toys from his fellow officers for our charity runs.”
I flipped the folder shut. “Then I don’t think he’s going to be an issue.”
“I hope not.” Case took a thoughtful drag on his pipe. “She’s a very beautiful woman.”
I snorted. “Better not let Kim hear you say that. She’ll have your balls on a platter.”
Case grinned at the mention of his possessive wife. While there was amusement in his eyes, he still pinned me with a hard look. “Beautiful women like Alexandra are trouble for a man like you, Deacon.”
“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” I demanded, stubbing my cigarette out in the ashtray.
“It means a woman like her can get under your skin. She’s smart, independent, and good-hearted. She loves your kid, and your kid loves her.”
“Jesus, Case, you sound like an old woman.”
“I’m trying to give you something to think about.”
“Trust me when I say that regardless of how ‘beautiful’ Miss Evans is, I’ll have no trouble keeping my dick in my pants around her.”
Case shook his head. “It’s not your dick I’m concerned about. It’s your head and your heart.”
Shaking my head, I said, “Jesus man, when did you grow a fucking pussy and start talking about your ass with head and heart bullshit? This is me we’re talking about, Case. Not Rev.”
“I am serious.”
“I don’t know what I should worry about more. Sigel or the fact that my club president thinks I’m going to let some white-bred piece of ass turn me soft.”
“All I’m saying is just be careful. And for fuck’s sake, don’t say or do anything to piss her off. We need her on our side.”
“Fine. Anything else?”
“She doesn’t go anywhere in the compound without someone watching her. She doesn’t need to be hunting for the john and accidentally stumble onto something she shouldn’t. Got it?”
“I’ll put the prospects on her.”
As I rose from my chair, I patted Case’s back on the way out of the room.
I didn’t know any other way to put the man at ease.
I mean, he had nothing to worry about with Miss Alexandra Evans.
The woman was beautiful, yeah for sure, but that little sweet-ass chick and I were never going to tumble in any sheets.
I’d stay away for the same reasons I’d warned Bishop away.
I was far less considered about her getting a rise out of my dick than I was about her making waves for the club.