Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
BIG RED
“ T alk to me, Alice. What’s on your mind? You haven’t said a word since we left the diner.”
After we left the diner, I knew I needed to break down everything Declan had said to her. She was in no shape to return to work, and honestly, neither was I. All I wanted to do was chase after him and beat him until he took his last breath. When he threatened her, I almost forgot she was with me. I started to go after him, but that fucker clammed up and got the hell out of there.
It's okay, though. His time is coming. Sooner than he thinks.
Alice continues to give me silence. Her eyes are on her lap and she’s fiddling her thumbs. Lifting her chin, I bring those sparkling emerald green eyes to me. “Talk to me, kitten. I can’t fix whatever is going in your pretty little head if you won’t tell me.”
“What is there to say? Declan laid everything out already.” She shrugs her shoulders before turning away.
Oh, this won’t do.
“And what exactly did he lay out?”
“You were there. Do you really need me to repeat it?” She scrunches her nose up, and by the tone in her voice, I know she’s upset.
“Okay, let me tell you what really happened. Yes, Viper and Savannah were in bed the night Vincent caught them. The thing is, they were not dating.” Alice opens her mouth, but I raise my hand, cutting her off. I gave her a chance to talk, and she chose to give me the silent treatment.
I’m a little pissed that she would allow Declan to plant seeds in her head without giving me a chance to explain. If she’s going to easily believe the word of her shitty-ass husband, then we’re not going to make it far. I know we haven’t discussed where this thing is going, but she knows that I’m really feeling her. I would have never let her around my children if she was just a fuck. Now it’s time I get her on the same page as me.
“No. I gave you a chance to talk, and you decided to take the word of a man who means no good to you rather than let me explain the situation.” Alice's mouth snaps shut. “Yes, Viper slept with Savannah a few times. So did seven other brothers.”
Alice gasps as her eyes widen.
“When Savannah started partying at the clubhouse, none of us knew she was married. She sure as shit didn’t act like it. She hopped from bed to bed until she landed in Viper’s. When Vincent showed up at the clubhouse, he threatened to put a case on the club. That’s why she was banned. It was too much of a messy situation.”
“Wow. I don’t know what to say.”
Grabbing her hand, I pull her into my lap. Alice squeaks but doesn’t make a move to get out of my lap. “Say that next time you’ll at least ask me before assuming I’m up to no good.”
“I can do that,” she whispers.
“Good. And know, baby, I really tried to stay away from you. I didn’t think now was the time to try to pursue anything with you, but I just can’t. I want to see where this thing goes with us, and I would not have you around my kids if that wasn’t the case.”
She smiles and nods her head. Grabbing my hand, she links our fingers together. The gesture causes me to return the smile. “I tried too, Red. But I really like you.” Her cheeks turn rosy as she tries to turn away from me. Gripping her chin, I turn it right back.
“Don’t do that. Don’t break the connection. I’ll always be honest with you. No matter what. If the time ever comes and you say you don’t want this anymore, I will respect it. I won’t like it, but you deserve to be happy, and that's all I want.”
She shocks the hell out of me when she leans forward and places a gentle kiss on my lips. Although it wasn’t anything like the kiss we shared in the parking lot, the gesture means a lot to me.
We stare into each other’s eyes for what feels like a lifetime before my phone rings, breaking the trance. Pulling it out, Will’s name flashes across the screen. I answer it on speaker.
“What’s up, Will?”
“Hey, Red. I know I was supposed to come and watch the kids for you later tonight, but I have a family emergency, and I won't be back in time.”
Fuck! That really puts a damper on my plans tonight. Tech finally got back to me with information on Tommy’s dad, Zack.
“Is everything okay, Will?” Alice asks.
“Alice? What are you doing at Red’s house in the middle of the day? Hmm?”
She covers her face in embarrassment. “What are you talking about?” she tries to deflect.
“Oh, don’t try and play me. I saw Red’s truck parked outside his house as I was leaving. Now I have to go, but I want all the tea when I get back and remember, do any and everything that I would do. Chow, bestie!”
Will hangs up, and I throw my head back laughing. Alice stares at the phone in disbelief. “I can’t believe he said that.” She shakes her head before looking up at me. “If you’re okay with it, I can watch the kids for you.”
On instinct, I almost turn her down. I don’t like pawning my kids off on others. At least Will was being paid for his time, so there was no need to feel guilty. Sensing the turmoil, Alice places her hand on my chest. “I don’t mind, Red. As long as you’re okay with it.”
“You sure?”
“Absolutely. Cindy and Colt are great kids. And since it's Friday, we can watch movies while eating our weight in sweets.” My face drops, and she bursts out laughing. “I’m just kidding. Well, mostly.”
After eating at the clubhouse, I informed the kids that Alice would be staying with them for a few hours while I headed out. Both of them were stoked. We walked home, and a few hours later, Alice came by. Her hands were full with bags. She had popcorn, cookies, chocolate, and a variety box of candy.
The kids practically pushed me out the door.
Little traders.
Walking over to my bike, I find Viper waiting for me. “I know what you’re about to do, but you aren’t rolling alone. I have to pay a certain someone a visit myself. So, it's going to be a two-for-one deal.”
“Vincent?”
“Not just yet. Soon though. Tonight, we’re about to show a certain officer what happens when he touches what’s mine.”
I chuckle, knowing Viper is about to unleash hell tonight. I honestly expected him to go after the officer who frisked Cara sooner than this.
“Okay, well, let’s get out of here, man. Zack should be wrapping up with his mistress soon. I want to catch his ass in the parking garage of the hotel.”
“Hold up a second.” Viper makes a call, and in two minutes, Bear, Blade, Torch, Thor, and Smoke are on their bikes at the end of my driveway. After I mount my bike and start moving, the guys follow me to the hotel.
The folder Tech gave me had a daily schedule of Zack’s everyday life. He meets up with his mistress on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. He normally leaves the hotel around ten before heading home to his wife.
By the time Zack enters the parking garage, I’ve been waiting by his car for ten minutes. He’s so engrossed in his phone he doesn’t notice six burly bikers surrounding his vehicle until it’s too late. He tries to run and collides with Bear.
“L-look, I don’t have much cash on me but here. It’s yours.” He opens his wallet, pulling out a few hundred-dollar bills. He’s in for a rude awakening tonight. Money can't fix this problem. Not bothering to say a word, I slam my fist in his face. Again and again.
“P-please, I’ll give you whatever you want. Just stop, please!” he begs.
“This is embarrassing, man. At least try and bite his ass. You just gonna take that ass whooping, begging, and crying like a little bitch,” Thor chastises.
“W-what? I don’t fight. I’m a well-respected businessman, and I don’t need to result to violence?—”
“Okay. We got it. You’re a little bitch. It explains why your son thinks it’s acceptable to bully a little girl.”
Zack opens his mouth, and I deliver another punch, effectively shutting his ass up. “You don’t talk. Now is the time to listen because if I have to come back, your mother is going to be picking out her black dress. Your son, Tommy, needs to leave my daughter alone. If she even hints he’s still bothering her, it's lights out for you.”
“Wait, I recognize you. Your daughter is Cindy. She broke his nose, so of course he’s not going to get along with her?—”
I whip my gun out and he shrieks. He tries backing away, but he’s surrounded. Crouching down, I place my gun to his temple. “Do we have an understanding?” I ask. He nods his head frantically. Standing to my feet, I tuck my gun back into the waistband of my jeans. “I don’t need to tell you what will happen if you try going to the police, do I?
“N-no. You have my word. Tommy won't say another word to your daughter.”
Not needing to say anything else, we mount our bikes and follow Viper. He did his homework for this little mission. He knew where Office Smith's spare key was and everything. Viper let us know we would wait for him in the kitchen. Every night, Officer Smith takes off his duty belt as soon as he walks through the door, and then he always goes to the kitchen and fixes himself a drink.
Needless to say, Officer Smith almost shit his pants when he saw us standing in his kitchen. He tried to make a quick getaway, but Bear snatched his ass up, slamming him into the seat across from Viper.
“Look, man. I’m an officer. You’re not going?—”
“Shut the fuck up! We’re just here to talk. I want to know what the Langley's have up their sleeve.” He takes the bottle of Jack that Officer Smith loves so much and pours a healthy shot into the tumbler in front of him. He slides it over, and Officer Smith takes a healthy swallow.
I shake my head, silently laughing. This man is dumber than I thought. I wouldn’t trust a drink from an enemy. I don’t care if they poured it right in front of me or not.
Let me rewind a little bit for you. When we first entered the house, Viper crushed a hefty amount of Xanax, Klonopin, Valium, and Zopiclone and mixed it in the bottle. It seems that Officer Smith has had problems staying sober in the past. When his body is found, it’ll look like he had a relapse and went off the deep end.
Officer Smith shrugs his shoulders with a smug smile. “I don’t know. Those two don’t tell us anything other than they’re going to take the club down. You all think you run this town, and we blame the chief for it. He should have run you and your little club out of this town a long time ago.”
By the time he’s finished speaking, his words are slurred. His eyes droop by the second. He takes a look at the tumbler before looking up at Viper, who gives him a wide smile.
“Checkmate, asshole.” Viper nods at Bear, who grabs Officer Smith and drags him to the back of the house. He’s so out of it, he can’t even fight back. Bear gets him in the bathroom as instructed and strips him out of his clothes. Viper turns the water on to fill the tub. Once it's full, Bear throws his ass in and steps to the side. Viper kneels next to the tub and pushes Officer Smith under the water.
As if the water snaps him out of his high, he fights against Viper's hold. Viper could have easily drowned his ass, but he’s getting a kick out of torturing him. When Viper's phone rings, he pauses before looking over his shoulder. “Blade, can you grab my phone out of my pocket?”
“You really want to answer your phone now?” He looks at Viper in bewilderment.
“Yes. It could be Cara calling about the kids or something.”
Shaking his head, Blade steps forward and pulls Viper's phone from his pocket. He shows us the screen, and sure enough, Cara is calling. He answers the phone on speaker.
“What’s up, hellcat? Everything okay?” Viper asks as if he isn’t holding a man underwater, taking his life.
“Yup. Everything’s good.”
“Okay, well, I’m kind of tied up with something, so let me call you back.”
“I know exactly what you’re up to.”
Viper pauses and looks up to the rest of us. We shrug our shoulders, not knowing what to tell him. That woman knows everything. There is no such thing as keeping a secret from her. Before Viper can say anything, she speaks again.
“Now, why don’t you hurry things along and get home. I need to reward you for taking out the trash, ” she purrs.
Grinning, Viper licks his lips, causing Blade and Torch to groan. I don’t know how those two deal with hearing the things Viper, Bear, and Armor do to their sisters. I would probably end up killing one of their asses if it was me.
“You got it, baby. I’ll be home in twenty.”
“And I’ll be naked and waiting in five.” She ends the call.
Viper turns to Officer Smith, who’s still trying to fight his way from under the water. Gripping both his shoulders, Viper shakes his body. “Hurry up and die, fucker!”
Thor booms with laughter as Blade and Torch walk out of the bathroom, grumbling. “I swear I’m booking a therapy session Monday and sending his ass the bill!”
That only causes Thor to double over, trying to catch his breath. Smoke shakes his head with a smile. “When should I be expecting another grandbaby?” he asks Viper.
“Soon, Pop.” He smiles and stands to his feet once Officer Smith stops moving. He stands over him for a few minutes, making sure the deed is done. Grabbing the tumbler from the kitchen table, he wipes his prints from the glass. Viper is making it seem as if he came home, indulged in a drink and a few pills, before he fell asleep in the tub.
It probably isn’t the way he wanted to take him out, but with Smith being an officer, it had to be a clean kill. As we walk out the door, Viper has a little pep in his step.
“Let's get out of here. I gotta go blow my woman’s back out.”
Thor, Bear, and I roar with laughter as we mount our bikes.
“Shut the fuck up, Viper! I swear to God, I will run your ass off the highway if you say one more word about fucking my sister!” Torch snaps.
Viper chuckles before starting his bike. “I can't help it, man. Your sister is a freak,” he shouts over the rumble of his bike. Viper takes off with Blade and Torch hot on his heels.