Chapter 16
CILLA
“This lunchtime thing is busier than I imagined,” I turn to Jo as I speak, and see her eyes sparkling with amusement at my comment. “Stop laughing. I really didn’t know it took so much time to do lunch.”
Jo shakes her head but replies, “Well, we have the guys at the two businesses we cater to. The prospects take food over for them. We never used to, but you know when they haven’t eaten all day and come at suppertime devouring food so fast that they never actually taste it.
It brings out the motherly feeling you know. ”
“I can imagine that happening. I tend to be a carer, if that is what we should call it. I enjoy helping and being able to make people’s lives better.
I have to put up with the visitors, of course, but you get used to it.
” There are people walking around here unseen, and I am determined to ignore them.
I don’t want to get involved in any more sessions where they freaking line up to talk to relatives or friends.
“Cilla, if you can peel potatoes and carrots for supper that would be a big help to me,” Jo asks, sounding tired already. The day is going to be a long one if she is tired before lunch!
“Yes, I’ll get to them now. Do you want them in that large pan?” I point to a huge pan that had been laid out on the counter.
“Yeah, that would be great. Do the entire batch of vegetables I left next to the sink, Cilla. Thank you.”
My eyes nearly burst out of the sockets when I see the number of potatoes and carrots sitting on the side. But, you know, while I’m doing them, I’m doing nothing else. So, here goes!
By the time I’ve finished peeling all the vegetables, my hands are aching. They are also blue from the cold water I’ve had my hands in for the last ninety minutes. I have to admit I’m proud of myself for getting down to it and helping as I can.
“That’s it, Cilla, you are done. Grab a sandwich or something to eat.
You can either come back in an hour or two, or that is you done for the day.
Entirely up to you, but I’m thankful for the help.
Bessy will be here in a while to help with supper.
I’m leaving at three, so if I don’t see you before you leave, have a pleasant afternoon and evening.
” Jo squeezes my shoulder as she passes me to get to the pantry.
Taking a seat in the common room with a BLT, I sigh as my back aches from standing over the vegetables for so long. Tank appears, and I do my best to ignore him, but he’s dancing around in front of me.
*Listen, Cilla, you've gotta go listen*
Sighing, because these dead people think I have nothing better to do than do their bidding. I’m ignoring him because I want to eat my sandwich and enjoy it in peace.
*Cilla, Cilla, you've gotta go out there and listen. Please go listen*
“I’m trying to eat my lunch, Tank. It will have to wait,” I sigh, and give Scalpel a shrug as he walks past and raises an eyebrow. Probably because it looks like I’m talking to myself, again!
Looking up, my mouth drops open because Tank is doing a freaking striptease in front of me. “Stop! What the hell are you doing?”
*I’m going to do what is needed until you listen to me*
Placing my BLT onto my plate, I look at Tank, lift an eyebrow, and wait.
*Cilla, you have to go listen to what he’s saying. Take your phone and record it*
Picking up my phone from where I’d placed it next to my plate I give a lingering and longing look at my sandwich, then glance once more at Tank. “Lead the way.”
I follow Tank out of the common room, out the front door of the clubhouse, and around the side of the building. Tank holds his hand out for me to stop and then points to the corner of the building next to where I’m standing.
Hearing a voice, I flick my eyes to Tank, who in turn nods. I realize this is what he was trying to tell me. I open my phone and start recording, then edge closer to the corner so I can hear and pick up what is being said.
“They have taken out Denning and his men. The warehouse has gone too, burned to the ground. You have to hurry, or you will not have the opportunity to take them by surprise.”
I look at Tank, who is about steaming with fury. If he could he would roast whoever this asshole is.
“Yeah.”
“Not soon enough.”
“I’ll take out the prospect on the gate.”
“ZeBach, remember what you promised me.”
“I’ll speak to you soon and update you.”
I quickly turn and rush back into the clubhouse and dart to where my sandwich is still sitting, though it looks like it’s curling at the edges.
Tank is standing next to me, arms folded over his chest and watching the door.
When it opens and an older brother walks inside, I give Tank a side-eye, and he nods that this is the brother who was on the phone.
As he passes me to walk into the kitchen, I catch the name on his cut that states clearly, Snake!
I don’t hang around. I take my plate into the kitchen, watch the asshole speak with Jo about something to eat before I hightail it out of the kitchen and to Tracker's office.
Now, I’m not sure if I’m a fool or not, but I don’t think twice.
I storm into the office, slam the door shut and lock it.
Tracker is sitting behind his desk, and Cap is sitting near the window.
Tracker recovers quickly and leans back in his seat before drawling, “Well, I never knew you cared, Cilla. I thought you were Finger’s woman, but hey, I’m always up for a feisty woman. ”
Cap is smirking like a fool, and I give him my best shut-it look, before fiddling with my phone and replaying what I recorded. I place my phone in front of Tracker and watch as he registers what is being said.
Tracker plays the recording three times. Cap has stepped up beside Tracker, and they look at each other, both with murder in their eyes. Now, usually I’m up for saving lives, but this asshole is trying to get people killed. Me included, but now Denning has gone, that threat thankfully is over.
Pyro appears and for some reason has no fire with him. I don’t ask because over the years, I’ve learned that it is always best to mind your own business where these dead are concerned. They can lead you into all types of shit if you ask questions.
Knuckles are being tapped sharply on the desk and looking at Tracker I can see he’s more than pissed. “Who?”
It’s the only question he asks. Swallowing hard, I see Pyro grinning and nodding, waiting for me to answer. “Snake.”
“Thank you, Cilla. I’m going to keep your phone for now.
I’ll get it back to you as soon as I can, okay?
” Tracker states, but asks, all at the same time.
I give him a nod and turn to leave the office.
Unlocking the door and stepping out, I hear Tracker speak to Cap.
“Get him into the shed. Update the officers and let’s see if we need to call church. ”
I head up to Finger’s room where I can take a minute to myself. Relax and close my mind to what is going to happen with Snake. He is a snitch, no doubt about it. This is an MC. They have their own rules by which they live. But you know, I hope they get rid of the asshole.
*Are you okay?*
Looking up at Tank, who has followed me here, I nod. “I’m okay. I hope they get rid of the asshole. Who snitches on people who are family? It makes no sense to me.”
*Some people are just fuckin’ nasty, Cilla. He has a blackness to his soul. It shows me he has been rotten to the core for a long time*
“If they get rid of him. You know, rid of him. Will you see him?”
*I’m counting on it. When new over here, it gives us an opportunity to make him regret it all. So, he can get it from your side, and then from ours. Pyro is waiting. He’s resting his fire as he used it so much that he’s exhausted his energy*
“No, I’m not going to ask you who or why he did what he did. Let me rest for a while. I’m tired and could do with building my own energy up again.”
Two hours later, I walk into the common room. It is quiet, yet there are a lot of brothers sitting around. Finger walks over when he sees me and throws an arm around my shoulders and kisses my forehead.
This is weird because we’ve not known each other that long, yet I feel I should be with him.
Bono and Tank know what I’m thinking and are nodding in agreement.
I’m just going to roll with the flow and see where it takes me.
The worst that can happen is I’m on my own again and move towns to start over.
That has happened to me so many times that it’s not even a chore anymore.
“Did you sleep okay?” Finger asks and I nod whilst yawning.
“Yeah, I did.” I look up at Finger, and he leans down and kisses me lightly before leading me to a seat and settling me into it.
“You did a good thing regarding Snake. We knew he was acting shifty, but never expected him to snitch. He’s our longest-serving brother. He should have been solidly behind the brotherhood.”
Nodding because I agree totally. He should have been loyal, yet was taking some form of profit for his own advantage at the cost of his brothers. It could have been at the cost of their lives.
“When was the last time this room had a spring cleaning?” I ask, and no idea where that came from. One of those moments when something pops into your head and out of your mouth.
Finger chuckles, “Well, I’m not sure it ever has had a spring cleaning since the cleaners stopped doing it, but the club women clean it now and again.”
“It is time it was done thoroughly. I hope you will get the club women onto it because you will have vermin wanting to come visit if the rotten food, stale chip packets, and things I’m not even going to mention are left under seats.”
“Ask me to get it done, Cilla,” Finger says, taking me by surprise.
“Finger…”
“No, I’m not Finger to you, now you know that. So ask again.”
Sighing first, I speak again. “Mason, please get this room cleaned properly.”
Taking me by surprise, Mason slams his mouth over mine and kisses me thoroughly, earning us a round of applause from the brothers in the room.
“I love it when you call me by my given name.” Kissing the tip of my nose, he bellows.
“Trix, Daisy, Rita, Flick, get this room spring-cleaned. Do it right, or you’ll keep doing it until I’m satisfied. ”
The club women who had been lounging around the bar groan, then give me a nasty look before walking out of the room. Mason kisses my nose again before walking away.
As Mason leaves the clubhouse, the brothers follow him out. I walk into the kitchen and see Bessy looking out of the window as the brothers walk up to the top of the compound.
“Are they going to do what I think they are going to do?” I look at Bessy.
“Probably they are going to do what you think they are going to do,” Bessy replies.
“Oh!” That is all I say because I really don’t want to know what they are going to do to the man. Whatever it is he deserves it, but I hope if they do, you know, get rid of him, they can do it leaving no evidence.
*Don’t worry, Cilla. They have an acid bath*
“Bono, you didn’t have to tell me that. No, you did not have to tell me that. Now you have planted that image in my head, and it will never leave.”