Chapter 21
-:- VICTORIA -:-
Winter is in the lead. I’m quietly following her, and Jack is behind me.
We have sneaked into the mansion of Senator Sterndale.
Wow, it is an enormous place. There are guards dotted around the estate, but it seems none are inside the mansion itself.
It is quiet, too quiet when you want to sneak around.
The slightest noise would echo and give away our position.
"I'm sure he's already in bed," Winter confided in a whisper to both Jack and me. Without a word, we simply nodded, choosing silence over a reply.
Sneaking up the stairs, we quietly open one door after another, looking for Sterndale’s bedroom.
When we hear scuffling, we rush forward to the end of the long hallway.
Winter opens the door, and we three stop dead in our tracks.
“How the heck did you get here before us?” I mumble, more to myself than to them.
By them I mean Meat and Star, who are both dressed like ninjas and even have Katanas on their backs.
I side-eye Winter who is now looking pissed as all hell. She has her arms folded over her chest and is glaring at Star and Meat. Sterndale is tied in bed with a gag in his mouth, and I mean a ball gag. Oh, dear God, I really didn’t want to see this.
Jack chuckles while doing his best to cover it with his hand over his mouth. I give him a deep frown and he shrugs, but it is easy to see he is enjoying the sight in front of us.
“Okay, we’ll leave this asshole to you,” Winter snipes before turning and walking out of the bedroom. I shrug at Star and follow Winter, along with Jack, who is still chuckling under his breath.
The next hour is fairly chaotic as we bump into Chaos and Dice as we leave the property. It’s a bit of a whirlwind I find myself in as I’m quickly placed in the truck Chaos is using. Dice is now with Winter and Jack. I look at Chaos who is driving and taking us back home to the apartment.
“What do you think you were doing?” Chaos asks, and I can sense he’s holding back the best he can, but he is furious.
Looking out of the side window of the truck, I quietly reply, “I was doing what I felt I had to do. I was getting revenge for Bethy, and I got it. I don’t feel bad about it at all, so don’t even try to make me feel guilty about what happened.
Joe Tizwald and his disgusting friends needed to be removed from the planet. ”
Chaos snorts. “Removed from the planet? That’s dramatic isn’t it?”
“Yes, the planet. I don’t think they should be breathing after murdering Bethy. I’m glad he’s dead, and I’m going after Art next.”
“He’s dead already. I hope he has to answer for all his sins,” Chaos states, and I can see he is as disgusted with Art as I am. I have no sadness for the man Art became, but feel some for the young Art that both Bethy and I loved as the brother he was at that time.
“That’s it then…I can arrange Bethy’s funeral. I know she made a will as we both did them at the same time.” I rub my hands down my face.
****
Walking into the apartment, the first thing that hits is the fact that it is so quiet. I look at Chaos who is behind me and ask where Corey is.
“He’s with Mia and the other women at the clubhouse. He’s safe and we’ll go get him later. First, let’s get your punishment over.”
“What the hell are you talking about? Punishment! Nobody is punishing me for anything. I’m my own woman and I’ll answer to no one except myself.”
“You are my woman and I’ll be the one keeping you safe…”
Now, that is not how things are going to work for me.
I turn to give him a mouthful of sass when he takes my shoulders in his hands.
Oh, no…I let him get close enough and I knee him in his crown jewels as hard as I can and he drops like a brick.
Leaning down I snap, “I said no punishment. Never tell me that shit again. When your balls have dropped back into their position, let me know and we’ll have a proper discussion. ”
What I didn’t expect was Chaos to recover as quickly as he did, and when he roars as he surges to his feet I bolt for the bathroom knowing it’s one of only two rooms in the apartment with a lock on.
Slamming the door, I lock it and lean my back against it.
My heart is beating so hard it’s a wonder it doesn’t punch a hole in my chest.
The threats Chaos is sending from the other side of the door for some reason have me giggling. I’m not sure if it’s hysteria or amusement, but it’s not helping the situation one bit.
“When you come out, I’ll be waiting!” Chaos eventually says, and I slide down to rest for a while. It’s been a difficult time, and all the running around has left me drained.
Bethy would find this highly amusing, and I imagine her giving me ludicrous advice on how to get out of the mess I’m in.
More than likely her advice would land me in more hot water.
I’m going to miss her so damn much. She didn’t deserve to die.
All for a debt Art had, and for being my friend. She’d done nothing wrong to anyone.
Feeling movement, I open my eyes a crack and realize I’m being carried. “Go back to sleep.” I snuggle closer to Chaos and drift back into slumber. The dream of Bethy and me swimming when we were younger plays in my mind. When Bethy speaks to me it feels like it’s happening now, and not in the past.
Live well, sister of my heart. Don’t be too sad. Live for us both, live well, have children, and one day I’ll see you again.
The dream drifts and I reach for Bethy as she is melting away in front of me. I can’t grab hold of her, and I wake with a gasp and a tear trickling down my cheek.
Sitting up, I realize I’m in bed, in my apartment bedroom. How did I get here? How did Chaos get into the bathroom?
The door opens and the man himself walks in carrying a tray with a plate of pancakes, bacon and sausage. He’s even brought me a glass of warm milk.
“Good morning, sleepyhead. I’ve got the bathroom window to mend while you eat breakfast. Then we’ll go to the clubhouse and pick up Corey. Specs wants to speak to us about something, so don’t take too long.” Chaos bends and kisses my forehead, not mentioning the fiasco of last evening.
An hour later we walk into the clubhouse, and Corey throws himself at me. I give him a huge smile, kiss the top of his head, and hug him fiercely. “Are you okay, Corey?”
“I’m good, Mom.” Corey throws that out as though it’s already a done deal, and for once I don’t correct him.
“We have to speak with Specs, but you are coming home with us today,” Chaos informs Corey. “Make sure all your things are ready to go with us.”
“Will do, Dad.”
We both watch as Corey runs to the playroom. “He’s one hell of a kid,” Chaos states as he takes my hand and leads me to Specs’ office.
Stepping inside the office, Chaos guides me to a seat and then takes the one next to me. “Specs wants to talk to you about working with him. I don’t know enough about the tech side of watching over the club, but it appears Specs needs someone else here with him.”
I look at Specs who is smiling softly at me.
“Yeah, I am thinking your expertise would help me immensely. I watch all our businesses. Check anything we need information on. Keep ahead of anything that may impact the club. That means watching town movements, particularly gangs or groups that start to appear.”
“I can do that. But I don’t want to let my current clients down. I have someone working with them, and if they say they are more than happy to stay with them, then I’ll step back. But yeah, I can work with you. Let’s do it on a month's trial period to start with. Just in case I don’t fit.”
Specs nods. “I’m okay with a trial period. I would want to start with general things and build on what you know and can do as we go along. I don’t want to overwhelm you. BaronsSecure has taken some of the steam out of the security side as they patrol our business premises now.”
“Do you have an issue?” I ask.
Specs looks at Chaos, and when Chaos responds with the smallest of nods, Specs continues, “We do. Someone is watching the wood supply business. It’s a lucrative business and the four that run it are now brothers.
They are new brothers so feeling their feet within the club, but not in the business.
They know everything that needs to be known about supplying wood.
I don’t know what anyone would want with the supply yard, but we are watching closely. ”
“Do you have cameras?”
Specs responds with a smirk, “Yeah, motion detection and high-res lights that would blind anyone if they came on.”
Before I can say more, the door opens and Star walks into the office. I’m a little surprised she isn’t in something dress-up, or role-play if that’s what you want to call it. She is in jeans and a t-shirt, which for her I would think is boring.
“Hi all,” Star smiles, and I mean a huge smile. “We’ve got rid of the trash, and we went to cover asses up when they left bodies in a van. Honestly, sometimes we have to babysit.”
Looking at Chaos, he has a guilty look on his face. “Oh!” is all he says, and Star gives him a look I’m not understanding, but you know they are all so weird I’m not even going to try to unravel what’s going on.
“Specs, Meat said he’s in the armory and he’ll be there for the next twenty-four hours.”
“Okay, Star. I’ll make sure the Stooges know he’ll not be in the kitchen.”
I’m watching both of them and wondering why she’s telling Specs this, but you know what! Never mind… I jump to my feet. “Thanks, Specs. I’ll work after I have Bethy’s funeral arranged, and I have her things sorted.”
“I’ve given the death certificate to her lawyer and he wants to read the will.
I can arrange a meeting with him if you want?
I also told him Art is dead,” Specs asks, and I see the care he is giving and the way he is trying to ease the situation for me.
“Mia has arranged things with the funeral home to take care of Bethy. You need to speak with Mia about that.”
“Okay, I’ll do that. Star…thank you.”
She knows why. She and Meat had no reason to help me, but to be my friend at this time means more to me than she’ll ever be able to imagine.
“Hey, we are besties now. Don’t forget Winter is a bestie too. She wants you to report for training in two days, and she won’t take no for an answer.” Star is bouncing around with excitement, which is strange because I’m not finding any of this exciting.
Turning to leave the room I look back when Star speaks again, “We are having a girls’ night. Find a Cleopatra dress, it’ll suit you.”
Chaos guides me out the door. “She’ll get one. I’ll take her to Lily’s costume shop.”
Finding Mia in the kitchen, I sit next to her and give her a weak smile. “Thank you for all you have done for Bethy.”
“It’s nothing. I was becoming friends with Bethy, and I really liked her. We had arranged for her to ride with me on my trike. I am still struggling to believe she’s gone, even though I’ve spent time with her body.”
I grip Mia’s hand, and she squeezes it back. “She was my sister in all but blood, but more than that, she was everything to me. Friend, confidante, sister, stability and family.” Chaos says nothing, but he places his hand on my thigh, giving me support without being overbearing.
“I left all arrangements for you to make. I just wanted Bethy to be cared for and respected until you could do that. Are you going to see her lawyer before you make plans? Just in case she has set out what she would like if anything happened to her.”
“Yes, I think I will do that. Chaos, would you ask Specs to get me an appointment as soon as possible, please?”
Kissing my forehead, Chaos steps out of the kitchen, and I watch him leave. I turn to Mia when she giggles. “That man is gone for you. I’ve never seen him so focused on one person. He is a great man, and he deserves to have found you. I hope you will be very happy with him, and Corey, of course.”
Mentioning Corey has him appearing as if from nowhere. “Hi, Mom. Are we going home soon?”
“We are. Do you have everything ready to take with us?”
“Yeah. Mrs. Amelia got me some new jammies and things. I have them in a bag ready.”
“Jammies,” I laugh, and Mia smiles. “That’s a good name, Corey,” I continue because I can see I’ve embarrassed him a little.
“Yeah, pajamas. Jammies. It is a good word. I’ll get my things.”
Before I can say more Corey has dashed away. I look at Mia, and she smiles. “Boys, honestly, they are hard to keep up with. You’ll get used to it. I do it in double, and if I can do it, so can you.”
“Double? Oh, good luck, because I’m only just starting and I’m behind already.” We both laugh, knowing I’ve a lot to learn, and a lot to go through. But you know, I don’t mind being Corey’s mom or being Chaos’ woman. It is my family now, and I’m going to protect it.
Dropping me at the apartment with Corey and Jack, Chaos goes to the range where he’s going to check in with clients and find out what is happening. He also said he has to find out what is going to happen with the FBI taking over the laundering that’s been uncovered.
For the next hour, we're cleaning Corey's room, raiding the nearly empty fridge for food, and planning our next steps. I'm also waiting on Specs to get back to me about my lawyer meeting.
I’m not sure what the heck all this talk is about Cleopatra, a night out, and a costume shop!