Chapter 20
CHAPTER
TWENTY
Julie
“Ugh, I swear I sent the email to Bart, but he just emailed me saying he didn’t get it. I’m so screwed,” Lisa groans.
Not looking away from my screen, I reply, “Did you check your sent folder?”
“Why would I do that?”
I turn to look at her, raising a brow. “I don’t know. Maybe to verify that you sent it?”
She smacks her forehead. “Duh, why didn’t I think of that? Thank you.”
Shaking my head, I turn back to my computer and finish typing up an email to a potential client. Mr. VanDuran doesn’t take many cases like this one, but for some reason, I have a feeling he might. He has a thing for single parents who are getting raked over the coals.
“Julie, can you come in here please?” Mr. VanDuran says right as the phone rings.
“One second,” I tell him before picking up the phone.
“This is Mr. VanDuran’s office, Julie speaking. How can I help you?”
“Hi, I apologize. I think I have the wrong number,” a male voice says.
“That’s okay. Have a great day.” I hang up.
I grab the files on the edge of my desk and my phone, then head into Henry’s office.
He looks up when I enter.
“Everything okay?” he asks as I shut the door behind me.
“Yeah, wrong number, apparently.”
He frowns. “That’s strange.”
I take a seat across from him and shrug. “Not that strange. It actually happens about once a week. Either someone calls the wrong number or they press the wrong extension line.”
Henry shakes his head. “I don’t know half of the things you deal with.”
“And that’s the way it’s supposed to be.
Now, I need your signature on these,” I say, handing a stack of the folders over.
“Then these are the reports and research you asked me to handle. Oh, and the Johnsons called. They would like to meet for dinner. He was vague on what he wanted to discuss, but that’s typical for him. ”
Henry groans. “I wonder what they got into now.”
My eyebrows raise. “Do you want me to cancel?”
He sighs deeply. “No, it’s fine, but five bucks says he is just looking for an investor for something.”
“Or a sponsor,” I add.
“Probably.”
Before the conversation can continue, an alarm sounds throughout the building, making me tense.
“What’s that? That’s not the fire alarm, is it?” I ask, concern bleeding into my voice.
Henry’s jaw clenches as he shakes his head. “No, that’s the intruder alarm. It means we are going into lockdown.”
“What?”
Henry stands and rounds his desk, holding out his hand. “Follow me,” he demands.
Standing, I let him guide me into his personal bathroom.
He winces as he shuts and locks the door. “Sorry, I know it’s a tight fit, but my office is all glass, and God forbid they make it up here, I want us out of sight.”
“No, it’s fine,” I say, trying to calm my racing heart.
Who the hell would try to get past security here? It’s not like we are at the courthouse.
As my mind starts to race with possibilities, my phone rings.
“Hi.” I breathe a sigh of relief.
“Angel, are you okay? Are you safe?” Yak demands.
“I’m okay. Mr. VanDuran pulled me into his private bathroom, and the door is locked. We were having a meeting when the alarm went off,” I tell him quietly.
“I’m trying to get to the truck. I was out helping Sap and…fuck, Angel,” he says breathlessly.
“I’m scared, but fine. I promise,” I say, trying to reassure him.
“Still, I’m on my way.”
“I got the camera feed. Police are here,” Henry says.
“Tell me what you see,” Yak demands.
I put the phone on speaker as I scan the camera and suck in a breath when I see who’s here.
“Yak, whatever you do, do not come here,” I hiss.
Henry’s head snaps back, and he looks at me in shock.
“Excuse me, Angel? I think I heard you wrong, because there is no way in fuck I just heard you say not to come to you when someone tried to force their way into your office building,” he says in disbelief.
“Trust me, Yak. It’s for your own safety,” I sigh.
It’s for Ray’s safety too, but I don’t say that part out loud.
“Explain it to me, Angel,” he demands.
“And me too,” Henry mutters, reminding me that this isn’t exactly a private conversation.
“Because Officer Overstreet is downstairs, and the last thing I need is you two meeting right now,” I tell him bluntly.
“Julie…”
I shake my head even though he can’t see me.
“I’m serious. I need you to sit this one out and let the cops handle it. If Ray is here, then that means my dad isn’t far behind. If you show up now, it will only create more problems than whatever is going on right now.”
“I don’t like this,” he mutters.
“Neither do I, but you know it’s for the best, just like I do. You have a lot going on right now, Yak, and we both know if my dad and him knew about you, it would only add more to your plate,” I say softly. “Besides, Henry won’t let anything happen to me, right?”
My boss nods. “She’s safe with me. She’s the best paralegal I have. I’ll guard her with my life.”
“You fucking better,” Yak barks.
“Watch your language. Jesus,” I hiss.
“Julie, isn’t that your dad?” Henry adds, tipping his phone screen back toward me.
I look at the screen and nod.
“Yak, my dad is here. I’ll let you know when the situation is clear and call you later,” I tell him.
“I’m coming over tonight,” he informs me.
I sigh. “I wouldn’t expect anything less.”
“Take care of my girl, VanDuran,” Yak mutters.
Henry nods. “I won’t let anything happen to her.”
“Bye,” I say before hanging up.
The words “I love you” are on the tip of my tongue, but it’s too soon. I can’t say that. Not right now.
“Well, that was interesting,” he sighs.
“Sorry about that. I usually try to keep my work and personal life separate but…”
Henry shakes his head. “Hey, don’t sweat it. If I had a woman I was crazy about, I would do whatever I could to make sure she was safe at all times too.”
“Yeah, well, let’s hope my dad sees it the same way too,” I sigh.
Henry winces. “Yeah, how did the chief of police’s daughter end up dating a one-percenter?”
“Trust me, it wasn’t planned.” I pause. “But I don’t regret it.”
“Well, if it comes to it, let me know if you need a lawyer. I have a feeling things might get messy when this all comes out.”
“Thank you. I just might have to take you up on that.”
Yak
It’s been hours since shit went down at Julie’s work, and I have yet to hear from her again.
Pulling up the cameras again, for what feels like the millionth time anger courses through me when I see that her dad is still lingering at her place. He comforted her, then took her home. He’s the one who’s been soothing her fears when it should be me.
Me.
It’s my job as her old man to take care of her, yet she won’t let me. If I didn’t know better, I would think she was ashamed of me. Of us.
She won’t let me in, not completely, not yet at least, and really, who could blame her?
We’re new.
“This is bullshit,” I mutter to myself.
Sighing, I stare at Sap’s place. He’s inside, working on boiling down the sap to make syrup while I’m in here stewing. I should be in there helping, but I can’t force myself to leave the truck. Not when her dad could leave at any minute, giving me the opening to go to her.
I hear a buzzing and look down at my phone but frown when I see the screen is still black.
What the…
My heart rate kicks up when I realize it’s the burner phone. Only one other person has that number. Dropping my phone in my lap, I grab the burner from the center console. Opening Swift’s message, I chuckle when I see it’s just a link.
“Man of few words,” I say quietly.
Opening it, I start to read, and as I do, my anger spikes.
Of course, Aragon’s accounts show large amounts coming in and going out. Just like I expected.
Then I move to the next person, and my anger surges for a whole new reason.
Sap.
One of the brothers I trusted, one of the few I thought were clean, gets money monthly from an unknown source.
The brother I trusted with my woman has a secret.
How could I have gotten it so wrong?
Without thinking about it, I jump out of my truck, burner still in hand, and rush into his sugar shack. He turns around quickly but relaxes when he sees me.
“Jesus fuck, Yak, you about gave me a heart attack.” He breathes deeply.
“You’re a traitor. You’ve been working against Yooper,” I accuse.
Confusion fills his eyes as he turns to face me. “What the fuck are you talking about?”
“I know, Sap.”
“Well, I’m glad one of us knows, because I sure as hell don’t, so how about you clue me in?” he snaps.
“I had someone look into you. I know you get a large amount of money monthly from an unknown source. What I don’t get is why you would do that to the club. To Yooper? And here I thought you were one of the good ones. I fucking trusted you with my girl,” I scoff.
“Hold on a goddamn minute. You had me investigated?” he asks, anger bleeding into his voice.
“Don’t get all pissed at me when it’s you who’s messed up, man.”
Sap scoffs as he runs his hand through his hair. “This is unbelievable.”
“Tell me why,” I demand, rather than ask.
His eyes narrow. “You know what? Fine, I’ll tell you the truth, even though it’s none of your business.”
I cross my arms over my chest and wait.
“I’m a goddamn trust fund baby, okay? The money you see coming in is my monthly stipend.
The one I don’t use. Half of that money that goes out goes to charity while the rest goes into a separate account that I have no plans of using.
Ever.” He throws his hands up. “Happy now that you know my big dark secret?”
“Wait, what?” I ask, feeling caught off guard.
“I’m rich, Yak. Like really fucking rich, and if that gets out, I know it’s you who spilled,” he says, pointing a finger at me.
I run a hand over my mouth.
Dammit.
This is why you finish reading reports before flying off the handle.
“I’m sorry, the shit with Julie earlier had me seeing red, and when I got the financial report back, I wasn’t thinking clearly,” I tell him honestly.
“Why are you digging into brothers, Yak?” he demands.
“Because there is a traitor in the club. Someone who’s trying to ruin everything Yooper’s built. I mean, come on, it’s not normal for runs to have as many issues as ours do or be constantly shorted products. You know it. I know it. I just need to prove it and make sure I catch the right person.”
“Aragon,” he says, without hesitation.
I nod. “That’s what I think too.”
“And you thought I was working with him? I fucking hate that guy,” Sap scoffs.
“Yeah, well, can you blame me?”
He shakes his head. “So did you get reports back on anyone else before you came in here, guns blazing?”
Unlocking the screen, I hand him the phone. He steps toward me and takes it. I watch his face as he looks it over.
“I think there are two more involved, helping him. I just haven’t figured out who yet,” I tell him as he reads.
Sap frowns. “Did you make it further than me?”
“No.”
He steps up next to me, showing me the screen. “The next two names below me, Krill and Beck, they could be who you are looking for. Aragon recruited them himself about two years ago. They follow him around like he’s a god. They’ve been patched in for about a year and a half.”
“I haven’t interacted with them. In fact, whenever I get close to them, they scurry away.”
Sap raises a brow. “And you didn’t think that was suspicious?”
“Not really, considering half the club can’t stand me,” I mutter.
“That’s because they don’t like the circumstances of you joining,” Sap says, shaking his head.
“Story of my life,” I sigh.
“So now that we think we know who’s behind the bullshit happening, what are we going to do about it?”
“Well, we need to tell Yooper we think we figured it out. Then we go hunting.”
Sap nods. “Time to exterminate the pests before they can take over.”
“Exactly.”