Torment
Creed
I never felt so needed in my life. As Morgan greeted everyone that came to pay their last respects, she leaned against me and tightly held my hand. I wore an earpiece that put me in communication with Drakos, who was keeping watch and giving orders outside. The first of a few announcements I was expecting came, so I had to brace myself. I didn’t believe bikers would be the biggest threat during the funeral, but I did believe a psycho fan, the media, and paparazzi would be a problem.
“Kenny, Allison and Jake Meadows have arrived.”
“10-4” I whispered in my earpiece.
Morgan looked up at me curiously and I leaned down to whisper in her ear. “Your other best friend has arrived with his parents.”
She squeezed my hand. “Are you okay? You don’t have to do this if you’re not ready. I promise I will be okay.”
I lifted her chin to look at me. “I’m not leaving you for any reason.” I made myself clear. She squeezed my hand, and another tear fell from her eye, so I reached up and caught it.
“Thank you.” She whispered.
Within a week of Morgan staying with me, I knew there wasn’t a war I wouldn’t fight to keep her safe. I was already battling over how I was ever going to let her, and Addie leave my home when the time came. At first I wanted Morgan, but with time I had to admit the truth. I didn’t just want her anymore, I needed her. I needed her in my arms, in my bed, and in every aspect of my life. I needed to surround myself with her presence, and I wasn’t going to be able to fight it much longer.
Morgan was grieving and vulnerable. She needed to sort her life and decide what she needed and wanted. I couldn’t force her into needing me, she needed time more than anything. Time wasn’t always something I had to give, but for Morgan, I would make the time.
Morgan continued to thank people for coming while standing in the receiving line. I kept watch as usual, until a familiar pair of eyes that resembled my own came into view. Shit! Of course, Nicole would be visible attending the most talked about funeral services in the media. Fuck!
I squeezed Morgan’s hand. Not to alarm her, but to silently communicate I may have needed her patience and strength in the coming minutes. The most unbelievable moment came when Nicole looked straight at me then looked away. She had no fucking clue that she just looked at her own son. Un fucking believable. As far as I was concerned, I had no relatives left in this world.
Suddenly, Morgan jumped and quickly moved in front of me, like her small frame was going to hide my large one. I had to internally smile at the fact that she was flipped into protective mode…over me.
“Oh Morgan, my sweet girl.” Nicole forced Morgan into a hug that Morgan did not return. Her hand was still squeezing mine behind her, and an anger hit me. I didn’t want my bitch of a mother anywhere near Morgan.
Nicole pulled back and looked Morgan over. “When I heard what happened to you, my inner momma bear came out. I hopped on the first jet to make it here, but it seems you’ve been hiding.”
Momma bear? Who else smelled bullshit?
Morgan nodded. “I heard you gave a few phone interviews about what happened.” Morgan said, which I hadn’t heard that tidbit.
“Of course I did, sweetheart. You’re like a daughter to me and I had to step in and ask the media to respect your privacy.”
My mother…A tall blond with beautiful eyes that just happened to be the worst of the worst in Hollywood. Proof of that came when she stood by her oldest son and didn’t know him as anything more than a stranger.
“Jonathan couldn’t be here, but he sends all his love.” Nicole continued.
“I would have more to say, Nicole, but there’s an entire line of people behind you that actually knew Callie.” Morgan deadpanned.
That was when I saw a hand grab on to Nicole’s arm with force and no other than Jake Meadows stood behind her. He leaned in to her ear. “What the fuck are you doing here, Nicole? Get the hell out of here, now.” He whispered in a growl.
Nicole rolled her eyes. “Oh, my darling nephew. Always such a ray of sunshine.” She fake giggled.
“Come on, you have no business being here.” Jake pulled her away quietly, trying not to cause a scene, but her eyes met mine and she paused.
“Alis?”
Jake stopped and looked at me, then to Nicole, then to Morgan. “Surprise.” Morgan whispered.
“Oh, my sweet boy!” Nicole lunged at me, but Morgan stopped her.
“Do not touch him. Not now and not here.” Morgan stood tall.
“Oh my God, Alis…you mean my cousin Alis?” Jake asked Morgan.
“Jake, its Creed, and do you mind not now…” She looked at the people around us. “Maybe not here?” She asked.
He gave her a nod as he still had a grip on Nicole’s arm. “I’ll be back in a few minutes. I have some trash to take out.” He gave us both a wink and Nicole gasped. He then looked at me and stuck out his free hand. I reluctantly shook it. “Alis, dude, it’s a fucking pleasure. I will be back.” He let go of my hand and pulled Nicole out of the parlor.
“I have never been treated so poorly. That man is my son!” Nicole protested. She complained until she was out of earshot. Thankfully she wasn’t screaming it for everyone to hear and finally walked away with Jake.
Morgan turned her head and looked up at me. “I am so sorry.”
I bent down and kissed her temple. “Don’t worry about it. I’m just sorry she crashed Callie’s visitation.” I whispered.
“Don’t ever apologize for that woman. You didn’t bring her here.” She leaned her head against my chest and stayed that way for a moment until she had to greet the next person.
Then I saw Kenny and Allison. They knew me the moment they saw me, and Kenny tilted his head in confusion before he even made it to give his respects. Morgan hugged both of them then Kenny shook my hand and patted my arm. “Its good to see you again, nephew. I hope we get a chance to talk later.”
I nodded. “You’re on the guest list for the wake.” They walked away without causing any kind of scene and the next person walked up to greet Morgan.
It wasn’t long when Drakos spoke up in my ear. “Creed, there’s some crazy bitch out here claiming to be your mother.”
I silently groaned and turned away from everyone and spoke softly. “That’s because that crazy bitch is my mother. Tell her to leave and I will contact her tomorrow. If she doesn’t leave now, I will not be calling her at all.”
“No shit? Damn, 10-4.”
I turned back around, and Morgan tilted her head. “Its fine. All is good outside.” It really wasn’t a lie.
Morgan was becoming exhausted. More people came just to meet her than give their respects and she tried to be kind, but I got Mr. Rhys attention and told him we needed to cut it short and start the services. The doors to the outside were locked and everyone inside in the line were allowed to give their respects then exit the building.
Drakos spoke up once again. “Sniper is out here demanding to be allowed inside. He’s causing a scene. What do you want me to do?”
I stiffened. “Let me check with Morgan.”
I pulled Morgan off to the side. “Sniper is outside. We haven’t had much luck finding him, but he showed up here and he wants to pay his respects. I can allow him in alone and have him searched. This might be our last chance to finally arrange a meeting. What do you want me to do? I don’t think he will do anything here.”
She bit that bottom lip of hers then her eyes met mine. “We closed the services early. If he wants to see Callie, then he can talk with me first. Callie said she loved him, and I need answers. I know he wants to hurt me, but I feel safe with you, and I need to ask questions. Is there a quiet place for us to talk with him before he sees Callie?”
I gave her a nod. “I’ll make it happen.”
I got Axton’s attention, and he approached us. I promised Morgan I wouldn’t leave her side, and I meant it. “What’s up?” He asked.
I answered in a whisper. “Sniper is outside. If he has anyone with him, make them leave the premises. You can let him in the foyer and search him thoroughly. Have Magnus speak with Mr. Rhys and find a quiet place for us to meet with him. Morgan will be joining us, and if he answers our questions truthfully, he will be allowed a moment with Callie. I want a one on one meeting with him, and this might be our only opportunity to make that arrangement.”
He nodded. “I will make it happen.”
I then led Morgan over to her family and explained what was about to happen. Mr. Rhys was to hold off the services until after everything was done. It normally wouldn’t have been something I would chance with Morgan, but we needed answers, and I couldn’t have him taking off again.
We waited until I was assured that Sniper was searched and agreed to our terms. He was in the office and watched over by Axton and Magnus. I guided Morgan to the office and asked her one more time if she was sure about it, and she was determined to speak with him. I opened the door and entered first. What I saw was not what I expected, sitting down in a chair with Magnus and Axton standing at each side of him was a broken man. I let Morgan in, and Snipers eyes met hers, but I didn’t see someone that wanted to hurt my girl, I saw warmth and grief in his eyes. I directed Morgan to a seat then stood behind her with my arms crossed.
Sniper shut his eyes and whispered, “Thank god.”
I tilted my head. “What for?” I asked.
His eyes went from Morgan to me. “She really is okay.”
“Why? So, you can kill her over some fucking drugs?”
He tilted his head in confusion. “What the hell are you talking about?”
Morgan spoke up. “Shane said he told people he hid stolen drugs and hid them in a place I would only know. That your gang was coming after me.”
He looked at me then back at Morgan. “Drugs? Who gives a fuck about those damn drugs? I was cleaning up the MC. I wanted to join ours with the Fallen Angels. It was all for Callie and Addie. My men were getting fucking tired. Some worked against me, but most wanted to join with us. I never wanted the bullshit that came with my fucking dad. I never wanted the damn club. It was only for survival then I met Callie, and my world changed.”
Who cared about the drugs? Obviously whoever Shane stole them from, but they also may have been Morgan’s saving grace. Callie’s cause of death was Exsanguination with the manner of death being homicide. Shane’s on the other hand was the opposite. The cause of death was drug overdose. The manner of death was suicide. Morgan did not take his life. Darren informed me of the conclusion of their investigation. Shane never planned to let Callie ever walk out of that room. He had a large amount of heroin on him, there were also gas cans in the motel room closet. They presumed that it was all planned. Shane would give Callie a lethal dose of heroin and then burn down the motel, giving him time to kidnap Morgan and get money out of her. The best anyone could guess would be that he planned on running with Addie but dumping Morgan along the way. Instead of overdosing Callie, he took the fatal overdose himself. I presumed he took it because he knew he was dying, and the pain was too much. Nobody ever said Shane was a man with much intelligence.
“Where are the drugs and who do you owe for them?” I asked.
He shook his head. “What drugs? Sure, we had a run planned but our warehouse was empty. If Shane got ahold of anything it wasn’t from my MC. We were cleaned out. Making room for the next fucking run I didn’t want to make.”
Morgan crossed her arms. “He lied about the drugs and stealing from you?”
He shrugged. “If he did then nobody caught him, or at least nobody reported it to me.”
Morgan leaned forward. “I need to know everything that happened from the moment you met Callie until right now.”
He rested his elbows on his knees and looked down at the floor. “Not long after I got out of the Army, my dad got sick with cancer. I had no intention in staying in the MC, but when he got sick I didn’t feel right about leaving him. He was the President of the Devil’s Rejects since the 1980’s. He knew everyone and was powerful because the MC was the biggest in the Midwest. He ran drugs from Mexico to Chicago, and nobody ever crossed him. He wasn’t a good man, but then he got sick. He met Callie at the bar she worked at. He liked her, genuinely liked the girl. He didn’t like Shane, but she wouldn’t leave him. So, when he got sick, he offered her an opportunity. She was starting to go downhill. Shane had hit her one too many times. She was starting to drink, and my dad didn’t like what he was seeing. He asked her to come to the compound and become his caregiver. He paid her well, but Shane didn’t like it. His dad was once a member of the MC, but when he was arrested for child molestation, dad kicked him out. He really should have killed the bastard, because that son of a bitch had dirt on my dad. Callie, of course.” He rolled his eyes. “Needed Shane’s permission to take the job dad offered. Shane confronted my dad and promised to hand over what he had on him if he allowed Shane to become a prospect. Shane would never have made rank, and we were all just dealing with him until after my dad’s death. Dad was fine with it because he could keep an eye on Shane. His men were told if he touched her or Addie one time, we were to put him down. Shane fell in with the men who now want to split from the MC and take over the drug runs. Callie was spending more and more time at the compound. Dad’s health was deteriorating, and he wasn’t noticing the bruises she was getting when she went home at night. I began spending more and more time with Callie and Addie. We fell in love, and she was finally going to divorce him. Then my dad died, and I became President. I never wanted it, but there were some circumstances that kept me on the compound that aren’t related to what you are asking. Callie was my rock, and she helped me try to clean up the MC. Shane found out about the divorce and went rogue with the group I told you about earlier. Now that my dad was dead, he couldn’t blackmail him anymore. He got ahold of Callie one night when she was closing up the bar and beat her down pretty good. I learned what happened and put a price on Shane’s head. I was so angry, not just with Shane but Callie as well. She refused to give up her job and let me take care of her. By this time, we had been together for a year, and we couldn’t marry until Shane was located and taken care of. We couldn’t take the chance of letting Addie go to school until she was safe from Shane. I took Callie and Addie under my protection. Eventually, we learned there was an Amber alert for Addie, so we knew we had to get our hands on Shane. One night, I had to go out and left the girls with someone I shouldn’t have trusted. He gave the girls to Shane, and it was the night she was killed.”
Morgan sat back in her chair. “She told Shane that night. She told him she was in love with you. She also said you guys just wanted the drugs back.”
He broke down and cried then looked at Morgan with wet eyes. “She wasn’t talking about us, she was talking about the rogue men. I don’t know what happened there, but those men were still claiming to be a part of the MC. He might have stolen from them.”
“So, Morgan isn’t safe until you find these men and take care of them?” I asked.
“I don’t know anything beyond what I told you, but my MC will do whatever we can to help.” He promised.
“How many men?” I asked.
He shook his head. “I found all but four.”
“We need to arrange a formal sit down and plan how to find these men.” I believed his story.
He gave me a nod then looked at Morgan. “Addie, is she okay?”
Morgan gave him a nod. “She’s okay.” That was all she was willing to give him.
He looked relieved.
“Where have you been?” I asked.
He looked me dead in the eyes. “Hunting.”
I gave him a nod, knowing he was hunting down every man that had a hand in helping Shane.
“Why did he go so crazy that night?” Morgan asked.
Sniper sat back in his chair. “Why do abusive men kill when the wife tries to leave? He had her by the throat since they were just kids. He also knew what was happening with the men he followed. They went without him to Mexico, but the Cartel didn’t buy their story. Their deal was with my dad, and they knew he died, and the drugs would only be handed over to me. I had already started negotiations to make it my last run. I was buying the freedom of the MC. That was where I was that night. I was visiting our other Chapter in Ohio to get the money I needed to buy our freedom. Half of the rogue traitors to my MC were killed in Mexico, and Shane knew the game was over. He didn’t have a dime and was probably just paranoid enough that the cartel gave a shit about him. Let me guess, he wanted money from you and a getaway somehow?” He asked Morgan and she confirmed it with a nod.