Hostile
Travis
I glanced over and saw mom pointing at the computer screen as she spoke with Wrenly, then turned back and started the deletion process.
“What the hell are you doing?” Charlie was alarmed.
“Deleting all your files.”
“What?” Charlie asked.
“You’ll be provided with specialized devices. Someone from Creed’s Lake will be bringing you all new equipment in the next few days and one specialist will be moving here to handle all your electronic needs and monitor your activities.” I knew Magnus was doing the same thing. Wrenly was only deleting anything to do with their whole vigilante thing within their finances.
“What the fuck? I’m not even sure we’re going to join with you!”
I heard Clint yelling at Magnus, so I smirked as I looked up at Charlie. “I don’t think you have a choice now.”
“What the fuck?” Charlie was steaming pissed.
“I’ll protect Clint first and foremost.” I looked back down at the screen, and it was at 95%. “Now we have control.”
“This was not!! Fuck!” Charlie went to storm out, but Clint was storming in at the exact moment.
“What the hell, Travis?”
I smiled as I watched the progress and held my finger up for him to wait. It hit 100%. I looked up just as Wrenly and Magnus stood near the doorway with their arms crossed. They both gave me a nod.
“What the hell? That was thirty years of work!” Clint’s voice bellowed through the office.
“If one of you go down, you all go down.” I stood. “Your equipment will be replaced with far better technology.” I looked at Charlie. “A desktop? Are you shitting me? What is this, a Dell?”
“What the hell is going on?” Charlie stood with his hands on his hips, still stewing with anger.
I stepped around the desk. “As of seven on Friday night, Creed’s Lake has been hacked into your computer systems. We extracted everything, even your encrypted files. You should really be more careful. They didn’t just hack into your system here but every device that stepped into this building. You’re all wiped out, so unless someone has other forms of evidence, it should be all gone. Even your GPS histories. You will destroy all forms of communications, and smart phones will also be delivered with the other equipment.”
“Why?” Clint wasn’t amused.
“I just told you why, Clint. If Creeds Lake could do what we did over the last few days than anyone else can do it. We just saved your asses. The audit has been happening over the last few days. I need to interview every member, and we have operatives arriving at your other chapters clubhouses now.”
Clint turned to Wrenly. “You took part in this?”
“We’re just trying to protect you, dad. Creed’s Lake has been in control of your systems for a few days now and you didn’t even know it. They’re on your other chapters systems now, deleting all the files. They transferred everything over to our systems. The United States Government couldn’t crack our systems. It would take an act of God. So, unless there’s other evidence floating around out there or you’ve left DNA at any crime scenes, you all should have a clean slate.”
“What the hell does this mean?” Charlie asked.
“It means we need to talk.” Wrenly answered.
“That little act we just put on was just for fun.” I said as I walked toward the conference room. “I need the names of every active member of the Dark Knight’s MC. We will start conducting interviews today and we have a lot of paperwork to go over.”
Charlie and Clint were pissed, but oddly enough my mother was still seated in the conference room with a slight smirk on her face. We all took a seat, Wrenly next to me and I reached over to hold her hand as I prepared to explain everything to them.
“What is this? Some sort of hostile takeover?” Clint asked.
“Something like that, but more like doing what’s best for you kind of takeover.” I replied.
“Let me guess, it’s a total take over?” Charlie asked.
“Not totally, but kind of, I guess. We will interview all of you and make some decisions. We now have control of your finances and you’ll be given a monthly budget, on top of contract pay.” I gave Magnus a nod and he pulled out his laptop.
“The equipment you will use will only be connected through Space X, it’s our own satellite and internet server.” Magnus said as he fired it up. “You’ll get internet everywhere, and it's durable equipment. I have a few electronic forms here for each of you to sign before we get started.”
All three signed non-disclosures before we got started.
“Dad, Paula led us to believe Heather doesn’t know about this side of you. Is that true?” Wrenly asked.
Clint sat back with his arms crossed and shrugged one shoulder. “She knows what she needs to know.”
Magnus slid a few pieces of paper toward him to look at.
Wrenly spoke up. “You’ve been compromised more than once. Creed’s Lake has found footprints of at least one past hacker, and they made their way in more than once. We believe it was likely Alexander, but I can’t take a chance with you, dad. You’ll need to read over that offer for both you and Heather.”
I watched as Clint looked it over and his eyes grew. “You’re shitting me.”
Wrenly smiled. “It’s not the first time family members have been asked to join Creed’s Lake. This was at Travis’s request, and the Originals approved due to your service history. Typically, we only take former members of the Military, but sometimes there’s something a non-military citizen can offer to the community. Especially a law enforcement officer. In fact, we have a fire fighter living in the community as a first responder. We have two private jets now and a flight attendant would be nice, especially when returning with injured and exhausted operatives. We have a difficult time finding female operatives, and she could help with the rescued women and children. You’ll see her offer on the second page. Creed and Travis talked, and they decided to offer you a position as a case coordinator. You have six chapters of the Dark Knight’s MC, and we have a few other MC’s doing work for us. Plus, we have the Domestic Violence division, which is where the Dark Knights will fit in to Creed’s Lake. All cases the Dark Knights are tipped off on needs to be approved by Creed’s Lake. We will also have cases and it’ll be your job to coordinate them and communicate orders.”
“You expect us to just pick up and move?” Clint asked.
“Yes.” Wrenly didn’t go into more detail.
I knew Clint would want the job. He would be an idiot to turn it down.
“Our community is still new, and we are constantly building and expanding. That’s why we have slowly been developing new positions as we grow. We are building a school at Creed’s Lake that will offer a homeschool type of setting, or Jacob could go to public school. It’s up to you and Heather.” I added.
“You’ll be about a mile from me.” Wrenly said but I cleared my throat.
“Three miles.” I gave her a wink. She knew what I was saying. She blushed then looked at her dad.
“All these benefits?” Clint pointed at the paper and was looking at Wrenly.
“Those and more. Creed’s Lake is its own community and can run effectively enough to be completely independent. There’s even a medical center, a lake for swimming and fishing, a community center that offers everything from sports teams, a movie theater, and a bowling alley. There’s also kids Jacob’s age there as well.”
“You’re saying I don’t have a VP now or what?” Charlie was still stewing about the takeover.
Magnus spoke up. “Like we said earlier, we will be speaking with each member and making changes as we see fit.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” Charlie was still pissed.
“Things will no longer be like they were. There will be no more vigilante killing. That’s not what Creed’s Lake does, we do things a lot different. We rescue, and the only time we support murder is if it’s in defense of a client or yourself. We do not kill fellow Americans without a good reason. It’s defense or last resort only. If you have a case of rape or molestation, Creed’s Lake Investigations will take a thorough look. We have ways to make the law work for us, and if we can’t get a conviction and the person is a threat we will consider our options. When a case comes up, you will remove the victims and get them to safety. There’s more to saving people than just removing the threat. Every case will be different, and we won’t abandon the victims after they are safe. They need other services as well.”
Charlie sat back and considered it.
Magnus spoke up. “You will also need a front to explain some of this cash flow. Since we are already expanding Creed’s Lake Motorsports and we do a lot of business in the west, we’ll be building a shop on this property, and of course Creed’s Lake will purchase the space from you. We have a mechanical engineer and artist named Victor that has agreed to transfer out here.”
I was as happy as hell to see Victor leaving Cold Springs. I glanced at my mom and she was looking at me weird. Like she was proud or something and it made me feel uncomfortable.
I spoke up. “Brock and Emma are moving to Indiana. She is in bad health and will live in an assisted living center. Brock will be helping us expand into restoring cars for private buyers and as movie props. Tricia is selling grandma and grandpa's house, and Clint, I’d suggest you sell yours. I will not renew the lease on Tony’s house. Creed’s Lake would like to give you an offer that I feel is fair, because we are sending our people out here and they’ll need homes.”
“You’ll be home more then?” My mom asked with a light in her eyes and a smile on her face.
I looked at her. “I’ve never had a home in this town.”
Her face fell. “I guess that’s fair.”
I looked at everyone. “Let’s get this show on the road. I’d prefer to address everyone at once then do individual interviews. They will all sign non-disclosures and by tomorrow evening I’d like to have them all wrapped up. Some members will choose to stay, and others may choose to separate from this MC. That’s okay, we can still grow membership.”