Chapter 21
CHAPTER
TWENTY-ONE
Julie
I watch my dad yawn for the millionth time.
“You know you can go home, right? You don’t have to stick around here.”
“I like spending quality time with my daughter. Is that a crime?” Dad quips, giving me a tired smile.
“It’s never a crime, Dad. You know I like spending time with you too, but we both know it’s past your bedtime, and you have an early day tomorrow,” I point out.
He sighs. “You know today was serious, right?”
“You didn’t even find anyone. It was probably tripped by accident.”
At least that is what I’m telling myself. The truth is, there wasn’t a camera that caught whoever set the alarm off. All they know is that someone tried to breach a locked door at the back of the building. Or at least that’s the theory. We don’t even know if it was related to me or Henry.
Dad rolls his eyes. “If I didn’t know any better, I would think you were trying to push me out. Are you going to sneak someone over?”
Now it’s my turn to roll my eyes. “Last I checked, Dad, it’s my place, so I don’t have to sneak anyone over anymore.”
Dad groans. “Don’t remind me that you’re a fully grown adult. I can’t take it.”
I laugh softly, shaking my head.
As nice as it is to have some one-on-one time with him, I’m ready for him to head home.
I’m antsy to see Yak, and I have a feeling he’s feeling just as needy as I am right about now.
I wanted to tell him to come to me earlier.
I wanted it to be his arms I found safety in, but logic won.
I’m not ready for my dad to know about him.
Not yet.
Not because I’m ashamed, but because I know my dad will react badly. When you’re a daddy’s girl, you never want to disappoint them, and I know this might just push him over that edge.
Dad yawns again. “Okay, maybe you’re right, and I should head home.”
“Can you repeat that?” I tease, making him chuckle.
He slaps his thighs and stands. He holds out a hand and pulls me up as well, pulling me into a hug.
“I love you. I’m glad nothing happened to you today,” he murmurs against my hair.
“Me too. Thank you for coming so quickly,” I say against his chest.
He squeezes me tightly. “Always, sweetheart.”
We step away from each other and move toward the door.
“Lock the door behind me,” he demands.
“Yes, Dad. I always do.”
I watch as he walks down to his car and gets in. I wave as he drives away and then shut the door. After flipping the lock, I head over to the coffee table and pick up my phone.
Me
My dad left. You can come over if you want.
Yak
I’m wrapping up some stuff and then I’ll be on my way. I’ll be there in less than an hour.
Me
Take your time.
Sighing, I slip my phone into my pocket and pick up the glasses Dad and I were using. As I start to walk toward the kitchen, someone knocks on my door.
Frowning, I set the glasses back down and head toward it.
“Hey, did you forget something?” I ask as I answer, expecting to see my dad.
Instead of my dad, though, Aragon pushes his way into my place.
“You’re the chief of police’s daughter,” he growls, making me stumble back.
“You need to leave,” I demand, my eyes darting to the camera in the corner of the room.
Aragon scoffs. “I’m not going anywhere, Bambi, not now that I know your secret.”
“What do you want, Aragon?” I ask, voice wavering.
“I want you to tell me what you know.”
He must see the confusion on my face because he laughs darkly.
“Come on, Bambi, don’t play stupid. We both know Yak likes to run his mouth. I’m sure he’s let some shit slide in bed, and I want to know what.”
“You want to know about our pillow talk?” I ask in disbelief.
He scoffs. “That man has done nothing but stick his nose where it doesn’t belong since he got here. He’s making my life hell, and I need to know what he’s up to, what he knows, and you’re going to help me.”
“I don’t know anything. Anything club related, Yak doesn’t talk about it with me.”
“Bullshit,” he snaps. “He seems like the kind of man who confides in his bitch. He’s had to have told you something.”
My heart races as he takes a step toward me.
I hold up my hands in surrender. “Look, all he’s said about the club is that he transferred in from the lower forty-eight. That he loved Colorado but he likes it here more. He likes being reunited with his brother.”
I feel bad for telling him that much, but I had to tell him something. Something he would believe. Something that he couldn’t use against Yak.
He turns away from me and paces. My eyes dart to the camera once more.
Please be watching. Please. Please. Please.
He turns around and walks toward me, crowding me against the wall.
“This is what’s going to happen. You are going to ask him some questions. I need to know exactly how much he knows about what I have planned. I don’t care if you have to do it while down on your knees, you’re going to get answers out of him one way or another.”
“Okay, okay,” I mutter.
His hand comes up and he touches my hair. “Such a good Bambi. You listen so well. Once you’ve gotten me what I need, I’ll reward you.”
“Please don’t hurt me,” I murmur.
His eyes fill with delight. “Bambi, I’m going to show you just how good pain can be.”
“Step away from my daughter,” Dad growls.
At my father’s voice, I have to stop myself from crying.
He’s here.
Aragon smirks as he takes a step back, raising his hands. “This is all a misunderstanding, officer,” he says, not looking away from me.
“Is that right? Julie, did you invite this man in?” Dad asks.
“No, I answered the door because I thought it was you,” I say truthfully.
Aragon’s eyes narrow. “Wrong fucking answer, Bambi.”
“You’re safe now, sweetheart,” Dad says as he handcuffs Aragon.
Dad’s words should reassure me, but they don’t. Because if there is one thing I’ve learned about Aragon in the little bit I’ve been around him, it’s that he doesn’t give up. Not when he doesn’t want to, and that terrifies me more than I’m willing to admit.
Yak
“Your girl’s dad finally bounce?” Sap asks as I put my phone back in my pocket.
“Yeah, took him long enough,” I mutter, making them laugh.
“Do you need to leave?” Poutine asks.
I shake my head and look at my brother. “Nah, we need to finish planning this run first.”
“The last one went perfectly,” Yooper adds.
I nod. “It helped switching shit up. Asking for a different rep. The different mode of transport.”
“Aragon fucking hated it,” Poutine says.
Sap scoffs. “Of course he did. He’s fucking dirty.”
“What are you thinking for this one?” Yooper asks.
Before I can say anything, my phone rings.
“Your girl that antsy to see you?” Poutine quips.
I pull out my phone and frown when I see the name. “It’s Predator,” I mumble as I answer. “Yeah?”
“We got a problem. He’s in her neighborhood,” Predator says, cutting to the chase.
I don’t bother asking who because we both know.
“Son of a bitch, I’m too far away,” I grumble as I start moving toward the truck.
“What do you want me to do?” Predator asks.
“I’ll drive,” Yooper says, pushing me toward the passenger seat.
Sap and Poutine jump in the back as I get in.
“As much as I hate to say this, I need you to send in an anonymous tip to the chief of police,” I tell him.
“Wait, what?” he asks in disbelief.
I feel the others tense around me but don’t elaborate as Yooper pulls onto the road.
“Just call in the tip. Trust me,” I tell Predator.
“It’s done,” he says after a minute. “I hope you know what you’re doing, kid.”
You and me both.
“Let me know if you hear anything,” I say before hanging up.
“Uh, care to fill us in?” Poutine asks.
“Aragon is at Julie’s house, and she’s there alone,” I tell them.
“Son of a bitch,” Sap mutters.
“And Predator just happened to call you with that info?” Poutine presses.
Yooper and I share a look before he turns back to the road.
“Look, after Julie’s last run-in with Aragon, I went to Predator. I told him about Sap finding her cornered by him. He pulled up the cameras and saw it for himself. Said it was wrong and offered to make sure Aragon stayed away from her. He tracks all of us, so I said yes.”
They don’t need to know that I asked Predator to keep an eye on him.
“Son of a bitch, the guy just doesn’t know when to stop, does he?” Sap mutters.
“No, no, he doesn’t,” Yooper growls.
“Has he always been this bad?” Poutine asks, looking at Yooper.
Yooper sighs. “I want to say no, but at this point, I don’t know.
I know he wanted the pres patch, but even his father voted for me before he stepped down.
I backed him for VP because he is a legacy.
He was good, but for a while now I’ve been second-guessing everything where he’s concerned.
I can’t tell if I was just blind before or what. ”
“I don’t think he’s always been like this. Don’t get me wrong, he’s always been power hungry, but I feel like something happened a few years ago that made him change. I just don’t know what,” Sap adds.
Before anyone can say anything else, we pull onto Julie’s street and immediately see flashing lights.
“Is it fucked up I’m happy to see a brother in cuffs?” Yooper asks softly as we stare at Aragon being marched toward the police cruiser.
“Not if all of us feel that way,” I mutter.
When Yooper comes to a stop, I jump out. The others follow, and we take a few steps toward Julie. When she sees me, her eyes widen, and she shakes her head rapidly, making my heart sink.
Son of a bitch.
She doesn’t want me here. Not right now.
Her father turns toward us after he shuts the door, locking Aragon into the back of his car.
“If you’re here for your man, you can’t have him. He’s under arrest,” Chief Corday says.
“I got this,” Yooper mutters before breaking off to talk to him.
“We aren’t here to cause problems.” Yooper says, holding up his hands.
“Are you okay, ma’am?” I ask.
I watch as she visibly fights herself. I can tell she wants to run to me but doesn’t.
“I’m fine. Outside of forcing himself into my home and cornering me, I’m okay,” she says softly.
“Are you sure?” I press, my hands flexing at my sides.
“Yooper, I need you to get your men away from my daughter,” the chief growls.
Yooper whistles, getting our attention. “You heard the man.”
Reluctantly I listen to my brother.
“I’m sorry,” Julie mouths.
“Julie, go inside,” her father demands.
I watch as my girl nods and listens to her father.
I bite my tongue to stop myself from telling him that he shouldn’t talk to her like that. All I want to do is remind him that she’s a grown woman, an adult, and she can do whatever the fuck she pleases, but I don’t.
Because that’s the last thing we need right now.
“Look, Yooper, I don’t know what the fuck is going on, but I need you and your club to keep your dirty fucking hands away from my daughter. You have beef with me, not her. Leave her out of this,” Chief Corday snaps as soon as the front door clicks shut.
“We don’t have a problem with you, Corday,” Yooper says calmly.
“Yeah? Then why did one of your men break into my girl’s house?” Corday asks.
“That’s a question we want an answer to as much as you do,” Yooper tells him.
Aragon laughs darkly but keeps his mouth shut, which makes my stomach sink.
He’s not spilling what he knows right now, which means he’s up to something. Playing more fucking games.
“This ends now, Yooper. Leave my girl out of it,” Corday snaps.
“Yes, sir,” Yooper says coolly.
We watch as Corday walks toward his cruiser and gets inside. He doesn’t leave until we drive off.
“So she’s the chief of police’s daughter?” Poutine asks casually.
“Who her parents are doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters is that she’s mine,” I tell them.
“That’s something we should have been made aware of,” Yooper growls.
“Maybe, but it doesn’t matter now. She’s mine. Do we have a problem?” I ask.
“You’re really going through with it?” Yooper asks quietly.
“Without a doubt. She’s my old lady, Yooper. I’m not walking away.”
He studies me for a moment before he nods. “Okay, then let’s figure out what the fuck Aragon was trying to do by coming here. He is becoming more unhinged. This is dangerous.”
I look in the rearview mirror. Don’t I know it.
I should be with her right now, but instead, I see her house growing smaller as we drive away.
It’s fucking killing me.