Chapter 12
CHAPTER TWELVE
Delaney
Things with Tank have been great. In fact, they’ve been perfect, and I honestly don’t know if I’ve ever been happier. It’s almost as if he had the key the entire time to unlock my true self that I never knew was missing.
To top it off, Blaine has been silent. Nothing has happened. No run-ins, no phone calls, no middle-of-the-night knocks on my door. Just peace and quiet. I honestly don’t know if life can get any better.
That’s a lie.
I have a feeling things with Tank will when he finds out about my latest purchase.
“Miss Harris, why are you smiling so much?” Bobby asks, pulling me out of my thoughts.
“Because I’m happy.” I smile.
“Why are you so happy? Do you have a boyfriend? Mommy started smiling like that when she got a new boyfriend,” Alyssa, one of my students, says.
“I’m just happy,” I tell her, shooting her a smile.
The last thing I need is for the kids to go home and tell their parents that I told them about my dating life. That would go over like a lead balloon.
Taking a deep breath, I change the subject. “Okay, class. The bell will ring in ten minutes. How about we clean up real quick and then you can grab your bags.”
The kids shove their supplies in their desks and then hop up and rush around the classroom like a pack of wild monkeys, making me laugh at the sight.
If I weren’t just as excited to head home, I would be offended.
A knock on my door has me turning, but when I see who’s there, my smile starts to fade. Natasha, one of the school aides, stands at my door with two people I recognize behind her.
“Hey Natasha, everything okay?” I ask.
She shoots me a regretful smile. “Mr. and Mrs. Croff asked for a moment of your time.”
“Of course.” I turn back to the kids. “Okay guys, that’s good enough for today.
How about you grab your things and head out with Miss Natasha, and remember, we have a spelling test tomorrow.
I put the spelling list in your folders and put them in your bags already,” I say, my voice getting louder as they talk over one another.
“Mommy, Daddy, what are you doing here?” little Connor asks as he skips over to his parents.
“We just need to talk to Miss Harris, baby. Why don’t you wait out in the hall for us?” Mrs. Croff says.
Connor waves at me over his shoulder before slipping out of the classroom.
Once everyone is gone, I turn toward the couple. “Is everything okay?”
Mrs. Croff shoots me a regretful smile. “I’m sorry to just barge in here.”
I wave away her concern. “It’s no problem. What can I do for you?”
Mr. Croff clears his throat as he shoots his wife a look.
“We just wanted to tell you ourselves that we are pulling Connor from your class.” Her words make my stomach sink.
“I’m sorry, did something happen?” I ask, feeling hollow.
In all the years I’ve been teaching, I’ve never had a parent ask for a child to be removed from my classroom.
“I work with Blaine, and he brought it to my attention about the company you’ve been keeping.
My wife and son have had nothing but nice things to say about you, but I cannot let you be around my child.
I refuse to let someone who spends time with criminals influence my child.
I’m sure you understand,” Mr. Croff says.
As soon as the words leave his mouth, I put two and two together.
Blaine used to bitch about a Richard Croff every chance he got.
He hated when he had to work with him. Not because Mr. Croff was a hard-ass or a bad lawyer but because of how much of a family man he was.
Blaine couldn’t understand why the man refused to stay in the office past five p.m. every night.
“You’re a lawyer,” I say.
He nods while his wife looks down at her shoes.
“I’m sorry you feel that way,” I tell them.
They look at me in confusion.
“That’s it? You aren’t going to try and fight us on this?” he asks.
I shake my head. “No. I’ve been doing this job long enough, Mr. Croff, that I know when a parent makes up their mind about their child’s safety, there is no changing it.
Which I respect. Am I sorry that you feel the way you do?
Absolutely. Your son is a fantastic kid, and I will miss him in my classroom.
What I’m not sorry for is the fact you feel like you are doing what’s best for him, even if it’s under some misguided notion. ”
“It’s really not personal,” Mrs. Croff says, wringing her hands together.
“It is,” I say, gently correcting her before I look back at her husband. “Have you spoken to Principal Marshall?”
“We were going there after we spoke to you,” he murmurs.
Judging by the look on his face, he’s feeling caught off guard by my reaction. Serves him right throwing his judgmental bullshit onto me.
Fucking Blaine. Just when I think he’s crawled into whatever hole he came out of, he surprises me.
If only I could spray him with something and make him disappear from my life for good.
“Let me walk you to the office,” I say, pointing my hand to the door.
They walk ahead of me, collecting their son as we go. When we step into the office, Principal Marshall looks up at us with concern.
“Everything okay?” he asks.
I offer him a brittle smile. “Of course. Mr. and Mrs. Croff would like to remove Connor from my classroom.”
“What? No!” Connor cries in protest.
“It’s okay, baby,” Mrs. Croff says, trying to soothe him.
It breaks my heart as he pulls away from them, face red as tears fall down his face.
“Is there a reason for the removal of your son from her room?” Principal Marshall asks.
“Clearly our son loves her, but we have a belief difference when it comes to lifestyles,” Mr. Croff says.
Principal Marshall looks over at me with pity. “You know that this will go on your record, correct?”
“I do.”
He nods before turning back to Mr. Croff.
I feel the pitying stares from the office workers but refuse to make eye contact.
Just when I thought things were looking up, Blaine has to go and prove to me that I’m not safe, no matter what I do.
I’ll just have to document this like I have everything else.
Goddammit, Blaine.
Tank
“Dude, it’s fucking concerning how happy you are nowadays,” Jagger says.
“Don’t be mean. He’s in love…” Sloane singsongs.
“And you think teasing him isn’t being mean?” Smoke asks with humor in his voice.
“Why are you guys talking about me like I’m not even here?” I ask.
When I turn to face them, I see half the shop standing together and staring at me like I’ve grown a second head. The only one minding their own business is Gunner, which frankly, is on brand for the guy.
“We’re just happy that you’re happy. Even if you whistle poorly without even knowing it.” Smoke smirks.
Sloane moves and jumps up onto the workbench and starts swinging her legs.
“So when are we going to meet her?” she asks.
“Trouble, stay out of his business,” Gunner says, not looking our way.
“Make me, daddy,” she teases.
Jagger makes a gagging sound while Smoke and I chuckle.
The two of them couldn’t be more opposite if they tried, yet they work. Kind of like Delaney and myself. She’s all soft and sweet, whereas I like using my fists when given the chance.
“Earth to Tank, are you going to answer the question?” Sloane asks.
“Kelly is excited to meet her,” Smoke adds.
My eyes fly to our president. “Your old lady knows about her?”
He rolls his eyes and points his thumb at Sloane. “Do you really think this one would keep something like that to herself?”
Sloane dramatically gasps and places her hand over her heart. “I’m offended.”
Jagger scoffs. “Bullshit.”
“Don’t talk to her like that,” Gunner tells him with no heat.
“Anyway…” Sloane drawls, looking back at me.
“Soon. Hopefully. I just need to talk to her about it and make a plan,” I say.
Smoke frowns. “Does she know about the club?”
“Of course. We just haven’t talked about it in detail.”
“Which is smart if you don’t know for sure that it’s going to work out.” Gunner adds his two cents.
“It’s going to work out,” I tell them adamantly, making their eyebrows raise.
“What does she do again?” Sloane asks.
“She’s a teacher. Like kindergarten,” I say, smiling.
Jagger whistles. “First this one robs the cradle, then Mac finds himself an instant family. Now you find yourself a girl who rocks the cradle. What the fuck is in the water?”
“What about me and mine?” Mac asks, walking into the shop.
“He was just talking shit about all of us being happily off the market. His bitterness was showing.” Sloane smirks.
“I would never talk shit,” Jagger protests.
“Bullshit,” we all say in unison.
I look back at Smoke. “I’ll talk it over with her, and I’ll let you know when we have a game plan.”
He nods. “Sounds good. I’ll let Kelly know so she and the girls can make plans.”
“I’m fucking hungry. Trouble, do you want to go get lunch?” Gunner asks as he walks toward her, wiping his hands on a towel.
“Depends. Are you hungry for food or me?” she quips, making all of us groan.
“I’m going to spank your ass. You know better than to say shit like that,” he mutters to his woman.
A throat clearing has us looking toward the opening of the garage bay. Two people in suits stand there, looking uncomfortable, along with three cops close behind them. Two of the cops are familiar, guys we’ve had interactions with in the past and know they are on our side.
“Can we help you?” Smoke asks, sounding all professional and shit.
“I’m Detective Morris, and this is Detective McMillin. We had a report that you had stolen car parts in your possession, and we would like to look around,” the detective says, making us all tense.
“Do you have a warrant?” Smoke asks.
When he steps forward, both detectives tense, one even placing their hand on their sidearm.
Smoke raises his hands. “I mean you no harm. It’s just easier to speak while standing near each other than shouting across the shop.”
“We don’t have a warrant, but we were hoping that you would cooperate and let us look around. If we need to get one, we will,” Detective McMillin says.
Smoke nods. “Let me show you our parts room.”
The two detectives wave for one of the cops to join them. The one I’ve never seen before steps forward and follows them as they disappear into the parts room.
When the coast is clear, the two cops step forward.
“What do you know?” Gunner demands quietly.
“A lawyer stopped by to talk to a client. When he was finished, he went straight to McMillin and started whispering in his ear. Next thing we knew, he was rounding us up to come with him.”
Tipping my head back, I groan. “I should have broke his fucking jaw,” I mutter.
One of the cops sucks in a breath as Sloane slaps me in the stomach.
“Don’t say that shit out loud,” Sloane hisses.
“We will move over there and let you guys discuss this on your own,” one of the cops says.
“Appreciate it. If you hear anything, let us know. We will reward you, of course.” Mac smiles.
When they are far enough away, everyone turns toward me.
“Do you think it was him? Your girl’s ex?” Mac asks.
“I would bet money on it. I mean, come on. We just broke up his side hustle, and I fucked him up. This has retribution all over it,” I murmur.
“I’m surprised you didn’t just feed him to the pigs,” Sloane says lightly.
I shoot her a dirty look. “Trust me, I wanted to. Hell, I might still if we find out it really is him.”
“Smoke’s going to be pissed,” Jagger adds.
He’s not wrong. Smoke fucking hates it when people stick their noses in our business where it doesn’t belong. He hates people who play dirty even more.
“He won’t get away with this. I can promise you that,” I tell them darkly.
Blaine doesn’t know it yet, but he fucked with the wrong club not once but twice. By doing so, he just sealed his fate.
I can only hope that Delaney will still want me by the time this is all said and done.