17. Forever is a Long Time
Seventeen
Forever is a Long Time
Bullet
Guard waits for us all to gather, then looks each and every one of us in the eyes before settling on Ghost’s face. “What do you think?” he asks.
“I think Sal got into business with some shady characters and got himself killed. I also think these guys are trying to clean up their mess by getting rid of the only witness who can identify them,” Ghost says.
“Why didn’t she run to the cops?” War asks. “The natural instinct of any normal person is to go to the police. Violet came to us.”
“Another question is the car that’s been circling the area around the compound. I let my guard down.” Orion is obviously pissed at himself. He says to Guard, “I let you down. Won’t happen again.”
“We didn’t think we were being watched by anyone but the cops.
I don’t like that we missed that, but we’re moving on.
You and Wildcard get a description from Violet, or even better, get her to sit in and watch the footage with you.
Once she identifies the car, I want a name associated with it,” Guard demands.
Demon steps forward and says, “I searched the closet and found hair strands that I’m sure belong to Violet, with her prints on the door.
She was definitely in there that night. I searched the rest of Sal’s office.
The place was scrubbed clean. That’s not normal.
This was premeditated. Whoever did this went with the intention of killing Sal that night.
” Demon stops and turns to me. “Tell him the rest.”
Guard and my brothers all turn to me. “We found a loose floorboard under the desk. I pressed against it, and when it moved, I could see the board didn’t fit smoothly.
When we popped it open, there were envelopes inside.
One with Vance’s name, and one with Violet’s name.
We didn’t open them, but they’re thick and probably held a wad of cash.
” Guard raises his brows, taking them from me to be given to Vance at a later date, but waits for me to continue.
I take out the leather booklet from my jacket.
“We also found this. There are names and some kind of coding beside each of them.” I hand it over to Guard.
Guard opens the black leather-bound journal and flips through the first couple of pages. Demon says, “Page ten, Prez.” Our president turns to that page, and when he sees what we saw earlier, he lets his gaze fall on us.
“This is why she didn’t go to the cops,” he says. “Call Crush in here. Now!”
Blade moves fast, and both men come into the room. Crush seems confused. “What’s going on?”
“Violet’s holding back. She didn’t go to the police because she knows there are dirty cops on the payroll.
She’s either in on the plan to implicate us in the murder, or she’s seen more than just Sal’s murder.
This is a dangerous situation for the club, brother.
If she’s a plant, I’ll put a bullet in her head myself,” Guard states.
“She’s not. I know she’s not. I know evil. I’ve lived, eaten, and breathed the same breath with evil. Violet’s not that. I know it.” He inhales, then lets out a breath as he looks around the room. “If Violet is the enemy, you won’t have to pull the trigger. I’ll do it myself.”
“She doesn’t leave this compound. Violet either tells us everything, or I’ll make sure she lands on the station steps, one way or another.
Put her in my office and stay with her until I get there.
It’s her choice to trust us or not, but we’re not sticking our necks out any further than we need to,” Guard says.
Crush gives a curt nod and leaves with Blade on his heels. Not long after, we hear a ruckus and the women getting louder.
Guard’s the first one out the door, his loud voice causing the women to stop in their tracks.
“This is Satan’s Pride business. Stand down, or this will be the last time you’re allowed in this club.
” Crush takes Violet by the arm, not hard, but firmly enough for her to be forced to go with him.
Blade gives Emryn a look, but the women are all too stunned to say anything.
Ava looks at her man in shock, and murmurs, “Baby.”
“I am Guard. The president of this club. My job is to protect all of you. That’s what I’m doing. Until I’m sure Violet can be trusted, she remains where she is,” he tells them, then storms past them all to his office.
Amelia’s stunned, her mouth gaping. She comes to me and grips my arm. “Do something. This isn’t right,” she pleads.
This is do-or-die for Amelia and me. She’s either going to play by the club rules, or this could be the end.
“Trust is earned, Amelia. Violet left out a very important part of her story. What she hasn’t said could cost any one of us our freedom, or worse, our lives,” I say.
The tension in the room is palpable. It’s not often the Lady Pride are this quiet.
Vi looks directly at her husband, Orion, but he doesn’t have time to waste.
He has a job to do, so he bends down and whispers something in her ear.
Normally, that’s not enough to placate Vi, but whatever he said has her nodding.
She returns to the other women and sits beside Ava, holding her hand.
Amelia
Bullet looks down at me, searching for my response.
I’m struggling with what’s just happened.
Violet’s scared. She came to the club for help.
Seeing her hauled into Guard’s office gives me a horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach.
Guard’s determined and harsh little speech has left us all stunned.
I heard a lot about Satan’s Pride when I first arrived in town.
The idea of living with an MC club right around the corner worried me, but everyone I spoke to told me how the club has provided jobs and that the men in the club are proud of what they’ve built here.
Many people even made a point to say that Guard has made donations to local causes.
The school, for instance, has a new computer lab for students, thanks to the club.
But the way Guard spoke just now sent a chilling shiver down my spine.
Violet left out a very important part of the story, Bullet said. The missing pieces could cost him, War, Roscoe, or Blade their freedom. I can’t imagine Bullet being taken away from me. The thought is like a punch in the gut.
“Okay, Bullet. I don’t like it, but I understand,” I say quietly. He pulls me closer, his arms coming around my waist. I hold him to me as he kisses the top of my head.
“Hold on, baby. We’ll get to the other side, and this will be nothing but a bad memory,” he says. God, I hope he’s right.
“Can we go home?” I ask.
“Not yet.” He lifts his head. “The Lady Pride are hurting. Maybe you can go shine some of your light and love on them while we wait for Guard.”
I come up on my tiptoes and touch my lips to his. It’s only a whisper of a kiss, and yet I can see that this calms my man. He needs to know that I’ll stand with him and his brothers. Bullet slowly releases me, and I go back to sit next to Quinn, Priest’s fiancée.
An hour turns to two before Guard emerges from his office to join the rest of us. Ghost is with him, but Crush and Violet are not. My heart skips a beat when I don’t see Violet with them, and I glance over at Bullet. He’s focused on Guard.
Guard looks around the room, his eyes settling on his wife, who is still very upset. “Ava,” he says. When she doesn’t move, he asks, “Are you with me?” Ava gets up and walks to stand beside her husband. Relief flashes over his face.
Guard clears his throat before beginning.
“Violet’s safe and will remain under our protection until this mess is over.
Crush’s job is to make sure she stays out of sight.
Later tonight, he’s going to take her to another club and will stay with her while we extricate ourselves from something that should never have landed on our doorstep.
Violet’s seen too much. That makes her a target.
She didn’t go to the cops because she knows the names of the cops who are being paid off by the mob that Sal got himself mixed up with. ”
“Why didn’t Violet just tell you?” I ask, coming to my feet.
“Unfortunately, this train wreck stretches further than we could have imagined. She didn’t want to admit to knowing more.
The Irish mob is already looking for her, and the crooked cops would be after her too,” Guard answers.
“Violet needs to disappear for a while. Having her here with you women and our kids makes all of you targets. I’m not risking this family. Ever.”
Orion interrupts. “Violet identified the car, and I got names for you. You might want to get Risk to make a call.”
This all sounds very ominous, and I don’t understand any of it. I’m learning quickly that being Bullet’s girlfriend isn’t always going to be easy.
“Right,” Guard answers. “For now, I want the women home and going about their business as usual. Men, make sure each of them is covered. Hawk’s willing and ready to send men to help out. His men will stay with us at the club.”
Guard makes no apologies for his behavior or terse words, but I can see that taking the time to explain the severity of the situation goes a long way with everyone in the room, including me.
“Can I see Crush before he heads out?” Bullet asks.
“Yeah. He’s in his room with Violet,” Guard responds. “It’s been a long night. The rest of you, go home.”
The room disperses, and Bullet comes over to me. “Give me a few minutes. I want to check on Crush.”
“Of course,” I answer. I plunk myself back down on the sofa and drop my head on the armrest. I’m emotionally exhausted. It’s not every day I find out that the men walking our halls at the local school are either dirty cops or mob hit men.
A gentle hand on my shoulder wakes me. “Where am I?” My head is muddled with sleep.
“At the club, babe.” Bullet doesn’t wait for me to get up but lifts me into his arms.
“I can walk.”
“I like you in my arms,” he answers, and takes me out into the evening air, before settling me in the passenger seat of his Ford Bronco.
He holds my hand all the way back to my house.
I’m so worn out that I don’t even have the energy to make dinner.
Bullet helps me make omelets, and instead of eating at the table, we snuggle on the couch.
“Tonight, without knowing it, you promised me forever,” Bullet says.
“Forever is a long time,” I tease.
“Not long enough for you and me,” Bullet replies, then leans into me for a long, sweet kiss.