Chapter 45 – Mattie #2
“It doesn’t mean we can’t contribute, Grant. You can, too, but in a different way.”
“Funding the meth lab?”
She nodded, then remembered he couldn’t see her. “Yes. Would Pop still disown you?”
“Probably not,” Grant said, sighing. “But who knows? He doesn’t want me to be a full-time biker.”
“Why do you want to be? Do you know all the boys jockeying for position to be close to CJ? It will be literally impossible for him to appoint them all to a position that puts them in his orbit.”
“I thought the officers are elected.”
“They are, but that means he can’t endorse anyone if most of them are his family members.
” Daddy and the rest of her uncles did, but CJ would be a very different leader than Uncle Christopher.
Not as ruthless, so he’d need methods to minimize conflict.
“Conflict of interest, ya know?” she said lightly.
“I don’t need to be an officer to cook meth.”
“Will you kill Narci?”
“What? No!”
“Unless he bites it, he’s the resident drug dealer. That makes him perfect as the club’s drug lieutenant who runs your meth lab.”
“Could I trust him?”
“You can start prospecting now, while Uncle Christopher and Uncle Mort are still officers. You can learn from them. If they think Narci’s trustworthy, then your question will be answered.
I think he’s a pompous jackass and only worried about profit.
If you were paying him to cook and run the lab, in addition to sharing in the profits, he might not be as cutthroat with his own brothers. ”
Grant was silent for a moment, then he shifted. “You know a lot.”
“I’ve been around the club my entire life. Rebel isn’t the only one who wants to be a part of it. She’s just the most vocal.”
“Your plan is sound except for the part where I wanted to earn my patch with CJ.”
“Who says you can’t? Earning a patch takes anywhere from one to three years. CJ turns eighteen next year. If you begin prospecting now…see where this is going?”
More laughter wafted from him. “I do, sweetheart.”
“As for your law degree—”
“Law and finance,” Grant said. “I’m a double major. Dad has always wanted me to drop both and become a business major.”
“What does Lolly want?”
“Me to attend school nearby. Otherwise, she doesn’t care.”
“What do you want? That’s important, too. Outside of cooking meth.”
He laughed again. “CJ seems so lost, Matt. I just thought if I supported him…”
“CJ is coming around.” Mattie knew because she was still lost, so she was aware of someone who’d been in her shoes and was finding their footing again.
“Even if he isn’t, you cooking meth won’t make a difference.
It will leave you and him at risk for jealousy, violence, and death.
He has to work through his problems. You can’t do it for him.
So I’m asking you again, what do you want to do? ”
“I don’t know if I want to join the legal team at the firm or follow the Harrington tradition and become President and CEO.”
“I think Axel will convince his men to become attorneys,” Mattie said.
“Ryder, Ransom, and Axel are three peas in a pod. But imagine heading a powerful corporation with the ears of equally powerful people especially in government and law enforcement? You want to help CJ? Wield the type of influence that will shield him and the club, and you’ll achieve your goal. ”
“You might be right,” Grant said after a stretch of silence. “Besides, Roxy is so fucking upset. Rebel’s pissed with me. Harley didn’t say much, but I know she’s upset, too. Hearing your opinion just sealed the deal and underscored what they’ve been saying.”
“I’m sure you were about to fold anyway with all that pressure. Lolly is formidable.”
“She is, but I was going to be a supreme motherfucker and ignore her just to show my dad he can’t control my life.”
“Did she know?”
“She has a collapsible baton and I’m still fucking walking. What do you think?”
Mattie giggled, really wishing she could see Grant and hating the way butterflies swooped in her belly every time he laughed.
“Rebel guessed, though.”
“She would. Uncle Christopher and all her brothers try to control her.”
“A disaster in the making, but you didn’t hear that from me.”
“I agree, but you didn’t hear that from me.”
“She said I’ve lost my fucking mind.”
“Same thing Pop said.”
“Nope. The quote was ‘have you lost your motherfucking mind?’ End quote.”
“I have never heard Pop lose his temper like that.”
“You and me both. He shocked the fuck out of me. Rebel thinks it was warranted.”
“I do, too,” Mattie said with a little sniff, smoothing the volumes of material in the skirt of her nightgown.
“Little sisters.” Grant’s amusement warmed Mattie. “What am I going to do with you two?”
“You’ve forgotten Harley.”
“That’s my niece.”
“Oh my God! I forgot. Our family tree is insane.”
“Fuck, tell me about it. Did you know Jana Reynolds was possibly your half-sister?”
“Instead of my great-aunt?” Shifting her weight and folding her arms, Mattie rolled her eyes. “Refer to the insanity of our family tree.”
“How’s Aunt Kendall holding up?”
How could Mattie have been so insensitive? Of course her mother was walking around like a zombie. Finding out about Jana must’ve been a shock. If not for everything else going on, Mattie probably would’ve been acting just as Mama was for the same reason.
“That bad, huh?”
“I don’t know honestly,” Mattie responded, wrapping her arms around her waist to contain her rapidly fleeing warmth. It barely helped and she shivered. “I didn’t see much of Mama or Daddy today. I think they are both suffering from the fallout of what the DNA revealed.”
Grant didn’t respond, but she heard keys jingling. Suddenly, his flashlight beamed against her face and body as he slowly moved his phone down.
“You’re cold? And shoeless,” he added when the light landed on her exposed feet. The hem of this particular nightgown ended at her ankles. He held out his phone. “Hold this.”
Taking his phone and glad she was committed to manis and pedis, she shone the light on his face. She’d wanted to see him since she barreled into him.
He settled his varsity jacket around her shoulders, then snatched his phone from her and clicked off the flashlight.
Her heart beginning to pound for an entirely different reason, Mattie slid her arms into the sleeves, enveloped by the residual heat from Grant’s body and surrounded by his scent.
“I’ll give it back to you tomorrow.”
“It’s no rush, sweetheart. I know where to find you.”
She shoved her hands in the pockets. “Okay,” she said shyly.
“Come on. I’ll take you back.”
“I didn’t come through a door,” she admitted. “The voice would’ve announced it opening.”
“When you say you snuck out, you were not kidding.”
“I will be in so much trouble if I’m discovered.”
“A phone call would’ve worked, Matt.”
“I guess, but I wanted to talk to you in person. See your expressions.”
“Aww, sweetheart. I’m sorry. You need to tell boneheads like me. I wasn’t even thinking about our lack of light.”
“It’s okay. Really.”
“I’ll make it up to you. I promise.”
Pleasure swept through Mattie. “Yeah? How? When? My schedule’s completely free. Saturday would be perfect.”
“Saturday afternoon is out for me and that night is Diesel’s volleyball game.”
She wanted to know his plans for the afternoon, but that would totally give her crush away, so she remained silent and asked another question. “You’re going to the game?”
“Sure am. I’m on CJ’s team. I also heard Tennysee will be there.”
Mattie bit her lip, holding in her disappointment. Of course Grant liked the club girls. He was a grown man and only saw her as a little sister. He was also a nice guy. She hoped he was ready for the treachery of the club girls.
“What about Sunday afternoon? I can take you out for ice cream.”
“You’re downgrading me already,” she blurted, then laughed nervously. “From that delicious meal to ice cream. Not even a pastry shop.”
“I’m returning to Boston Sunday night,” he told her. “Since you, Rebel, and Roxy have made me see the error of my ways, I’ll complete the semester, then come home.”
“You’re leaving?” She didn’t mean to sound so distraught, especially because Grant had barely paid attention to her until recently. She’d just been one of the girls. “When…when are you coming back?”
“June. Maybe to move back home or to get my own place. I’m not sure. It all depends, but I need to talk to my dad.”
“Right.”
“I’m just a text or a phone call away, Matt. If you need me to tell Roxy to check on you, let me know. Just remember that we support you and we love you.”
“Thanks, Grant,” Mattie said softly.
Without warning, he swept her into his arms. “Tell me where to stop so I don’t activate the lights, but you’ve been standing in your bare feet long enough to help me. The very least I can do is carry you back to your window.”
Giggling, Mattie nodded, knowing she’d remember this night for the rest of her life when her own knight had swept her off her feet both literally and figuratively.
Even if he didn’t know it.