Chapter 41
Charlie
M y mind is still reeling. Not only from the revelation that I may have a tracker implanted somewhere in my body, but walking into Wizard’s room to find my naked sixteen-year-old daughter through me for one hell of a loop. I knew she was crushing on him, but I didn’t know she’d go this far. Valentina is completely out of hand. I should have lit her ass on fire several times myself these last few years.
I gave her too much leeway because she took the divorce so hard. Of course, the last few weeks have been a revelation of knowledge. I don’t understand how she could blame me for the divorce when she knew her father was cheating on me. Did she expect me to be okay with their father, my then husband, sleeping with other women? That’s not how marriage works. At least not one I want to be in. To each their own. My marriage should’ve been monogamous.
In the beginning I hesitated to have a relationship with Wizard because he’s a biker. Bikers like women. They’ll fuck just about anything. At least that was my experience until the Kings. The single guys are wild. Wild enough I saw several having sex in Lagniappe last night before we left. The men that are married or in a committed relationship are a different story. I’ve spoken at length with the ol’ ladies over the last few weeks. I find them all delightful.
Wizard carries me down the hall to the elevators then through the corridors until we arrive at the infirmary. It looks like a cross between a doctor's exam room and an emergency room. He sits me on the exam table and pulls out his phone. Instead of texting he calls.
“Doc, we have a non-life-threatening emergency. I’m in the infirmary with Charlie. See you, brother.”
After he hangs up, he calls someone else.
“Need you in the infirmary. Bring your gear.”
After he hangs up, he picks me back up and sits us both back on the bed.
“Doc and Bug are on their way. If you have a tracking device, they’ll find it. Then we’ll go over everything, clothes, house, cars, and anything else I can think of until we find any and all devices.”
“Thank you. I’m sorry about Valentina.”
“Hey, baby, you don’t need to apologize for her. She’s old enough to make her own decisions and mistakes. I just hope she learns from this one.”
“I’m never going to hear the end of you spanking her.”
“I can take the heat. I couldn’t think of anything else to do to get through to her. I know I haven’t known her for long but grounding wasn’t putting a dent in her attitude.”
I let out a big sigh. “You’re right. I was overcompensating and let it go too long. She took the divorce hard. For weeks she cried in her room every night. Which I don’t completely understand. Did she expect me to stay with him knowing he was seeing others?”
“Maybe we should ask at the tribunal tonight. I also think we need to tell the girls more. Not everything.”
“What do you think we should tell them?”
Wizard
“I THINK WE SHOULD TELL them he got in business with the wrong people and now he’s in witness protection. That some of those people are interested in you and them.”
Charlie gasps.
“I don’t want to terrify them.”
“I understand and I know I’ve never been a parent before. This is all new to me. Here’s my thinking, as horrible as it is telling them they’re in danger. At least they’ll know to be on the lookout for anything unusual. I’ve also been thinking we should send something with each of them to school. A burner phone, and a couple of emergency devices that might give them seconds to get away, or us to get to them.”
“You’re scaring me.”
“I don’t mean to, but if they put a tracker in you, these people are serious. We’ll need to scan everyone in the family if we find one on you.”
“Do you think so?”
“I do, tesoro. I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault. None of this is. Including my child’s disastrous attempt to seduce you or break us up. Maybe both.”
“The important thing is. Nothing happened that we can’t walk back from. She didn’t come into the bathroom. Which means she didn’t see me naked. I averted my eyes quickly enough. I didn’t see her. The most she did was be inappropriate. Again, in a way, we can all walk back from.”
“Therapy?”
“Therapy.”
“Why do I need therapy? I just got here,” Bug asks.
Doc is standing beside him. I was so wrapped up in my conversation with Charlie, I hadn't heard them come in. That’s not a good thing. I need to always be aware. Awareness will keep all my family safe.
“Bug, there are too many reasons for me to state.”
We all laugh.
“Charlie thinks she might have a bug and not the kind you treat with a prescription.”
Bug sets a large gym bag on a nearby table. While he rummaged through it, Doc went to a drawer and pulled out a few things.
“While Bug is looking, I’m going to get your vitals.”
“Go ahead, Doc.”
I stand up, putting Charlie back down on the exam bed and step to one side, taking her hand. Doc takes her vitals with efficient speed. He’s halfway done when Bug starts waving this small wand life device slowly over Charlie, starting with her feet.
Bug moves up to her legs while Doc finishes her vitals.
“Her blood pressure is slightly elevated, but that’s all. I can draw blood for labs if you want?”
“Let’s see what Bug finds first. Unless you want labs, Charlie,” I say.
She shakes her head. “I’m good unless we need to.”
Bug slowly makes his way up Charlie’s body using the wand device. It makes a slow, steady hum. When it reaches her jawline, the device lights up and emits several shrill beeps.
“Who has a dentist on speed dial?” Bug asks.
“Seriously?” I ask.
“We won’t know for sure until a dentist takes it out. Charlie, when's the last time you went to the dentist?”
“Three months ago. I had to have a tooth capped.”
“I’ll need the name of your dentist.”
Charlie gives him the name of the dentist, while Doc makes a few phone calls.
“We have an appointment. Let’s go,” Doc says.