Chapter Twenty-Three
This is what we both needed. Time out, fresh air, the roar of the engine, and distance from everyone and everything.
We stepped into the cool air of the pub, and headed for the bar, where we were encouraged to pick a table for our food to be delivered to.
It was fairly busy, almost loud enough in there to provide that comforting buzz of background noise, something I knew Claudia couldn’t hear.
We found a table and sat down with our drinks, an alcohol free beer for me, because I’d found one I liked, and I wouldn’t drink it in front of the guys, but it was perfect for a warm day like this, and a cider for Claudia.
“This place is nice, you’ve eaten here before?
” She asked, sipping her cider as she glanced around us.
I had, but only once because the food was a little pricier than I could normally manage.
Not something that was a problem with all that extra money from the Bennetts in my account.
When you think about it, it wasn’t a bad life.
So I have to beat up some people, and maybe they’re not all bad people, but maybe it was better me than one of their others.
I could go a bit easier on people, and give them a chance.
That Marco asshole probably broke their bones even when he was going gently, if such a thing existed.
“Once,” I said, remembering her question, “I liked it, but this is my first time back specifically to eat. The food’s really good.”
Claudia sat back to glance around some more, taking in the warm beige and brown décor, and the wildly patterned carpets, while I dug out my phone which had been buzzing now and then during the ride. Oh hell.
Micro: That bitch was back here looking for Claudia. We called the cops this time, so she’s been warned to stay away.
Fuck. What was her problem? Even with Claudia out of there, her sister was still causing trouble.
“What?” She asked, probably reading the frustration on my face.
Deafness wasn’t a disability at all. It’d just led to her having honed her other senses to pick up things we probably all overlooked.
Maybe it made her more dangerous than any of us.
I found I liked that thought, because it suggested she was safer than I’d realised.
“Your sister’s been back to the clubhouse.”
“Oh god. What happened?”
“They had the cops warn her off. I don’t think it’s gonna work though, that bitch is fucking insane.” I froze and shook my head. “Sorry, that’s a dick thing to say about your flesh and blood. This can’t go on though.”
Claudia sighed, watching me type a message back to Micro. She’d left the burner we’d given her back at the house, and I wondered if that’s because she was feeling weird about her sister having been tracking the phone she gave her. We could talk about that later, I guess.
Me: Sorry, Pres. Hope she didn’t cause too much trouble.
I checked my other messages while I waited for a response.
Henley: Hope you guys are settled in okay. Feel free to use the mancave if you can figure out how to open it.
He added a winky face after that, but I appreciated the challenge. I bet I could find the fucking thing. Couldn’t be that hard, right?
Me: All good, thanks brother. I slept in your bed in the end, because I miss you.
I grinned as I waited for the fallout of that message, and leaned forward to show Claudia, because I felt like I was ignoring her, and that wasn’t my intention. It also turned out to be the worse possible moment for the Bennetts to message, because she saw that too.
Bennetts: Bruv, got another job for you. This one’s not quite so rough. Big guy like you can handle it. Call for deets.
Jesus fuck. She looked as nervous as I suddenly felt. I hadn’t mentioned their name, but she could read between the lines, and she knew this message probably scared the crap out of me too.
“It’s okay. I don’t have to call them.” I knew I was lying, but surely I could eat my damn lunch before I called them.
“What was the last job?” Oh god.
“No, you don’t want to know. I’m hoping it was like hazing, like the rest will be easier. It’s all fine. I wasn’t hurt or anything. Just kinda freaked out.”
Claudia shook her head. “That’s bad enough! What were they making you do?”
I couldn’t tell her. The last thing I could do was tell her shit like that.
For a start, I’m pretty sure talking about it would be a sackable offence, and I was even more sure a sacking could have me ending up in that place I never wanted to see again.
Worse than that, I didn’t want her knowing what I’d done, what they made me do.
It was twisted, twisted enough that I was surprised I hadn’t had nightmares about it. What did it say about me that I didn’t?
“Just grunt work, that’s all. Hey, there’s our food.”
We waited until the food was delivered to us, and we’d made the obligatory responses to the server, and then Claudia fixed me with a glare.
“I don’t like lies, Stag. If you can’t tell me because it’s a risk, that’s fine, but don’t lie. That’s not how we build something together.”
Being verbally spanked almost feels worse than if she’d done it physically. Mind you, if her hand touched my ass, I’d probably lose my mind.
“Sorry, you’re right. I can’t tell you, but I won’t lie again. It’s just stuff I can’t talk about. I’ll call them after we eat. Hey, you want to try some of this?” I pointed to my roast chicken and she shook her head, at least with a smile on her sweet face again now.
“Maybe next time.”
Ilifted the phone to my ear, feeling a little edgy as the bastard answered it.
“Well, well, well. Look who deigned to answer his fucking messages at last. You think this job is an optional thing, bruv? You do what you feel like and we pick up the slack otherwise? Is this the kind of worker you are?”
Fuck me. I was pissed already. Five seconds talking to this fucker and I hated him even more.
“For the record, boss, I was in a place where I couldn’t make a call. I had no option.”
He chuckled. “Pretty sure The Horny Goat doesn’t have a no mobile phones policy, bruv. Don’t forget we always know where our people are.” I don’t want to be his people. This shit is terrifying.
“What’s the job?”
“Oooh suddenly he’s all about the work. There’s a bellend we need watched. You’ll be on duty with Danno, and you’ll be there in one hour. Plan to be there all evening.”
What the fuck.
“I can’t just leave C… I can’t just disappear all evening!”
“Your lady will be fine, bruv. She’s very resourceful, I’m sure. Tell her you need to work for a few hours, and as a result she can buy a new fucking car or something. We pay well, don’t we?” He knew I couldn’t argue with that. Fucker.
“Fine. What’s the address?”
“Do I look like your fucking day planner? Danno will message you. Don’t be late.”
Did I flip the phone off a few times once the call ended? Sure? Did I know for sure that they couldn’t see it somehow? Not really.
I watched Claudia returning from the bathroom, and dialled Micro.
“Hey, brother. Don’t worry, she didn’t break anyone. To be honest, I think she’s the broken one.”
I reached for Claudia as she approached me, tugging her close.
“I’m sorry about all that, Pres, but I’m calling because I’ve been given another job for the Bennetts.
I need to be there in about an hour, so I’m dropping Claudia back at Henley’s, and I need to be gone all evening.
I’m a bit worried about dumping her all that time alone in a strange place though. ”
He didn’t need me to elaborate, because he’d grown into a fucking amazing President, and man.
“I’ll see if Harley and Rocket can swing by with their old ladies, yeah? Kind of a welcoming party. Probably one involving a very bitey pup too.”
“Nixie?”
“Yeah, still doesn’t like me. I got bit. Enough said.”
Geez. That dog was weird about men. She didn’t like me either.
“Thanks, Pres. I’ll let Claudia know to expect them. They’ll have to text when they’re outside. She won’t hear the door.”
Claudia
Imagine my surprise when I found out that Stag wasn’t ditching me all evening, his words, but that he’d arranged for a few friends to stop by and hang out. He kept stressing that it wasn’t babysitting, but I didn’t see it that way anyway.
I wanted to meet more of his family. Henley and Glory were lovely, I mean, they were letting us stay in their home, so maybe the others would be nice too.
When my phone buzzed in my pocket to say they’d arrived, I got up and let them in. Two large bikers and two women, plus what turned out to be a sweet little dachshund pup in one woman’s arms.
“Oh my god, what a cutie!”
One of the men waved to catch my eye and grinned. “Thanks, love. I like to think so.” That led to the woman beside him punching his arm, and him turning to grumble at her. I missed the words, but I put my focus back on the pup.
“Sorry, I’m being so rude. Come in. I’m Claudia. You probably know I’m deaf, so tap my arm or hand if you need to talk to me.”
The girl holding the pup offered me a warm smile. “I’m Caroline, and this is …” I had no idea what word she’d just said. Nicky? Nissie?
“I didn’t catch that. Her name is Nissie?”
Caroline lifted the tag on the pup’s collar and showed me. Oh. Nixie. How cute.
“Is she friendly?”
I looked at all of them, and the biker who hadn’t spoken to me yet, but I think I recognised from the bike shop, shook his head, but quickly explained.
“Not with me, no. I’m sure she’s safe for you.”
A moment later, the cute little squirming warm bundle was being pushed into my arms, and started licking my chin.
“Okay, definitely friendly,” I said with a giggle, watching the familiar-looking biker guy kiss Caroline’s forehead and wait until I looked at him.
“I’m gonna go get us some drinks, that okay? We’re all regulars at Henley’s place.”
I shrugged, and he headed into the kitchen, the other biker following him, while the two women stayed with me, all of us standing in the hallway still.