CHAPTER TEN
– SABLE –
No wonder this woman doesn’t say more than a single word around others. Motherfucker, talk about having trust issues after the shit she went through. Let alone all the things going on behind her back.
I tighten my arms and let her cry against me.
There hasn’t been one time in all my life where I’ve comforted a woman.
Though, the bundle I’m holding is tugging at my heartstrings in a way I’ve never experienced either.
She’s managed to crawl under my skin in such a short period of time.
The need to protect her and spread a havoc of vengeance in her name is running like wildfire through my veins.
Mercy pulls back and stares up at me with puffy eyes, eyelashes stained with tears. “She gave me a key.”
Rushing to her backpack, I watch how she snatches a small key from a hidden pocket in her backpack.
She places it on my palm, and I recognize where it’s from. “This is a key to a safety deposit box of the bank in town. There might be owner papers of all the property and who knows what else is in there.”
I hate to tell her, but she can’t go right now.
Placing the key back in her hand, I tell her, “Makes sense your mother reached out to Otto since the cash is in the properties. He should have given her money to keep the clubhouse, but that greedy bastard had other plans. They want you back or dead. From the car bomb they set off I’m guessing they don’t care how and might prefer you dead.
Otto being the only living relative means he might be able to claim your inheritance.
Or leave it how it is now and no one would give him shit.
Meaning you’re a loose end to him. I can’t let you go out there and check the safety deposit box. I won’t fucking risk losing you.”
She looks thoughtful for a moment.
Grabbing my hand, she turns it and places the key on my palm. “Then you go check.”
Fuck. The trust she freely gives me hits me straight in the damn chest. She’s so damn kind and good-natured, allowing for others to take advantage.
I shake my hand and give her the key back.
“It means more than you’ll ever know to see you trust me with such a massive gesture, sweetheart.
Though, don’t ever give anyone a chance to take advantage of you again.
In fact, I’ll make sure no one will ever get the damn chance.
We’ll go to the bank together. I’ll find a way to make it safe enough. ”
Her arms glide around my waist and she hugs me close.
I pull her tighter against me and bury my nose into her hair.
Damn. I like the way she even smells like me with her using all my stuff.
Yet, she might want to have her own shit.
I make a mental note to have a prospect swing by a store to get her anything she likes.
Pulling back, I give her a chaste kiss and say, “Come on, let’s return to the main room so I can talk things through with my prez.”
She bobs her head and I hold the door open for her. Once we’re back in the main room Kujo instantly zooms in on Mercy.
“Why is she upset? What did you do?” he growls and goes toe-to-toe with me. “Why’s she fucking crying?”
I keep my calm and state, “She’s not crying anymore, but became emotional due to everything we discussed.”
“Discussed?” Kujo scoffs. “Try again, ’cause there’s not a whole lot you can discuss in a short period of time unless you ask the right questions where she can reply to with one damn word.”
Clearly, Mercy catches her father by surprise when she snaps, “I say more than one damn word to Sable.”
However, the surprise is on me, along with the pain when the fucker punches me in the face without a hint of warning.
“Motherfucker,” I growl.
Mercy gasps and a look of horror glides over her face.
Anger gets the better of me when I shove my prez hard against his chest and snarl, “Anxiety along with a shitload of triggers prevent her from things, along with the fact that every damn time she speaks more than one word others get hurt. And what the fuck did you just prove?”
Kujo jerks his head back and bounces his gaze between me and his daughter.
“Fuck,” he mutters.
The look in his eyes tells me he knows he’s the one who fucked up and why.
This shit isn’t helping anyone.
I turn to face a prospect behind the bar and grunt, “Go get me some ice.” Facing my prez, I tell him, “Mercy thought the bank owned the house due to all the bills. She didn’t know there would be any money or property in her mother’s name.
Which is probably why Selene reached out to make her brother pay, knowing she had the power to sell their damn clubhouse.
Otto told Mercy to pack a bag when her mother died and took her with him to the clubhouse where he gave her to Linus.
Later she was told she was his property.
That’s when she escaped, but not before they beat her ’cause she didn’t want to fuck Linus. ” I swallow back the “again” part.
“They’re dead,” Kujo roars. “All of them. How dare that asshole not only steal from her but hand her off to one of the brothers against her damn will? Dead. He’s living on borrowed time, and I will make damn sure to shove a broomstick up both their asses to make them suffer first.”
“Prez,” Barge rumbles. “My cousin says they’ll be here soon.”
I frown and hold my arm out when Mercy steps closer to me.
“Who will be here soon?” I question while tugging my woman against me.
Barge takes the ice from the prospect and hands it to me. “I offered Prez to let my cousin help and he made me reach out. They had a video call earlier and made a deal.”
“The deal is off, I want them dead,” Kujo snarls.
“No going back now, Prez,” Holt states. “Wisely Dicey MC is coming and know the details about everything. We can’t simply head over and kill them now. They’d be on our doorstep in no time to put our asses in jail.”
“Wisely Dicey? What the hell did I miss?” I ask.
I’m well aware Barge’s cousin, Lenz, is a member of the motorcycle club Wisely Dicey MC. Over the past few years, I’ve met him a few times, but that’s it. We’re on good terms with them and they live a few towns over.
Kujo turns to Mercy and tells her, “Lenz, Barge’s cousin, he’s a member of a different motorcycle club, Wisely Dicey.
Earlier this year the government offered them a contract and they took the offer.
They’ve been working for the government to solve criminal cases.
Mostly organized crime like cartels, and also motorcycle clubs who deal in drugs, weapons, women. ”
Mercy slowly bobs her head.
“Barge thought they could help get those fuckers evicted from the property you own and somehow get the money back they stole from you when they sold your mother’s house.
Your house.” Kujo shrugs. “It’s a clean option for us not to get our hands dirty.
I’m sure those fuckers haven’t cleaned up their act and still deal in drugs.
Hopefully they have some stashed at the clubhouse so most of them will end up in jail. ”
“Yeah,” Van snaps. “And once they’re out we’ll sell the warehouse and Otto’s home so they’ll have nothing. You will have the cash the way it should be. And if they come back here? We’ll fucking kill them. So, don’t you worry, princess. We’ll handle it.”
Van glances at me and lifts his chin. I dip mine in a silent appreciation, knowing his statement just now was to give his approval and show respect to my old lady. He called her princess, acknowledging the fact Mercy is the president’s daughter, a biker princess.
Kujo takes a step closer to me and Mercy. “I’d like you to join the discussion once Wisely Dicey gets here. If you want to say anything, step out of church and let your old man know, okay?”
“Thank you,” she murmurs so fucking soft.
Kujo swallows hard and gives his daughter a gentle smile.
I think Mercy has reached a point where every single member of my club stands strongly behind her and has accepted her.
Hopefully we’ve reached a turning point where things will finally go in a positive direction for her.
It’s something I’ll personally guarantee.
“They’re here,” Holt states.
“Everyone, church,” Kujo bellows. “Barge, get your ass out there and welcome those fuckers.”
His voice turns gentle when he addresses Mercy. “Come, grab a chair to place between us or stay near Sable.”
“Okay,” Mercy whispers, and gets a huge smile from Kujo in return.
I know the man is working hard and it must suck to know his daughter talks to me and not to others.
I also know these things take time. She’s been with me from the minute I caught her in his cabin.
We already established a bond and I’m sure everyone will work hard to make her feel right at home here.
..once we’ve dealt with the darkness her past is wrapped in.