Chapter 20
CHAPTER TWENTY
Delaney
Music plays as I scrub at my baseboards. My fingertips are tender from all the cleaning products, but I keep working.
“I don’t want no scrub,” I sing along.
The only good thing to come out of my firing is that all the little jobs I’ve been putting off here around the house are being checked off.
I painted the guest bedroom, I wiped down all the cabinets and changed out the handles, I put together the shelving unit in the guest bathroom, I sat down and plotted out how I want the front landscape to look instead of the current rock bed situation where weeds pop through all year long, and now I’m giving my dusty baseboards the attention they deserve.
Maybe I should have taken Tank up on his offer to stay home with me.
To distract me from all this nervous energy.
He even offered to let me come to the shop to hang out with Jane, but I refused.
I know if I had gone, Sloane would have ditched the shop and hung out with us girls.
Then nothing would have gotten done. As cool as Smoke is, the last thing I want to do is distract his employees while working.
I could always call Erica. She’s got sick days hoarded up like candy. Somehow the woman never gets sick, so she never uses them unless she has a trip planned, but even then she keeps more than enough stashed away in case of an emergency.
No.
I won’t burden my friends. My problems aren’t theirs.
Come on, Delaney, you are capable of entertaining yourself for a while without anyone’s assistance.
My phone rings, and I smile. Saved by the phone.
I drop the rag into the bucket. Groaning, I stand up and head into the kitchen where my phone lies.
Worry fills me as I take in Mrs. Stephensen’s name flashing across my screen.
Why is she calling? Is everything okay with my students? Did something else happen that I don’t know about yet?
“Hey,” I say as I answer the phone.
“Delaney, I just heard what actually happened. Are you okay?” she asks, worry coloring her tone.
“I’m fine, Mrs. Stephensen.”
She scoffs. “Call me Lydia, and let’s be honest, you’re far from okay.”
I sigh and admit, “It’s rough, but I’m trying to keep busy.”
“It’s absolute bullshit. They shouldn’t be able to fire you over something out of your control. From what I’ve heard, it was clear as day that it was taken outside of your home. That someone was watching.”
“That’s exactly what happened,” I admit.
“Then they shouldn’t be able to fire you over this! You have to fight it. I’ll help you. I can round up the others and tell them the truth. They will be on your side.”
Disbelief fills me. “I…thank you.”
“Girl, did you really think we would side against you?” she asks, sounding appalled.
“I’m dating a biker. Some would think that this was deserved.”
“Which is a bunch of bullshit. Bikers are people too. Hell, we teach some of their children. This is discrimination, straight up, no questions asked. I’m serious, Delaney. You don’t deserve this, and we will back you, one hundred percent,” she rants.
“Lydia,” I say, but before I can say anything else, she cuts me off.
“I mean, come on! You are one of the top teachers in our district. The students and parents love you. Most people fight to get their kids into your classroom. People love you, really. No bullshit. If you weren’t so sweet, I’d kind of hate you for it, but I don’t.
I mean, I get it. Your ex is bitter that he lost you, and honestly, I can’t blame him, but this is next level crazy. Tell me you reported him.”
I can’t help but smile despite the situation.
“Yes, I reported him shortly after the first incident with the school. They encouraged me to keep a record of everything, so I have been. The issue we are coming up with right now is that I can’t prove it was my ex who’s behind this.
The cops are trying to go through official channels, looking up IP addresses and whatnot.
They are hitting a roadblock right now, though, because the site doesn’t want to give them the information. ”
“You would think that would be the kind of thing they would want to hand over. This could be a scandal for them.”
“My best friend said the same thing,” I say, smiling as I remember Erica’s reaction when she found out.
She was ready to go to his place and light it on fire.
She mentioned something about flaming dog poop and fish in vents.
She even ranted about slashing three tires instead of four so that way insurance wouldn’t cover it.
Where she comes up with half the shit she says, I don’t know, but I calmed her down.
The last thing I need is for her to fly off the handle and for the cops to turn their attention onto her and away from Blaine.
Not only that, but right now I really couldn’t afford having to pay her bail since I’m without a job.
God, how am I even going to pay for everything? I have some savings saved up, but it’s not enough. At least not enough for the long term, and especially not if I have to pay for a lawyer.
“And the club? Are you having them work on it? I’m assuming where your old man is part of it, they are going to try and deal with it in-house,” Lydia asks, pulling me back into the present.
“I don’t know what they are doing, but they are aware of the situation. They did set me up with a lawyer to sue the school district for wrongful termination.”
I honestly never even thought about having them step in or that it would be an option.
Should I?
“Ugh, someone’s calling my line. Probably a parent who’s not thrilled about the grades I just posted.”
“Go answer. Have fun and thanks for calling.” I chuckle.
“Of course. If you need me as a character witness, you let me know. I’m there.”
“Thanks.”
Hanging up, I smile. It’s nice to know that someone is on my side. That someone who isn’t close to me also realizes that this whole situation is bullshit.
Sighing, I look across the room at the soapy bucket, calling my name.
I guess I better get back to work.
Tank
It’s midday, and the shop is in full swing. Rock music blasts through the speakers but is drowned out over the sound of the air compressor constantly kicking on. I’m fighting with a nut underneath a Pontiac G6 when I hear the sound of a wrench hitting the cement floor.
“Kelly, what’s wrong?” Sloane demands, making my heart squeeze.
I slide out from under the car and move to join the women, just like the other guys. Gunner, Bear, and I share a look as we approach.
She’s crying.
Kelly is crying, which can only mean one of two things. They are happy tears, or someone hurt her.
“I-I need Smoke,” she hiccups.
Jagger breaks away to run and grab our president as we stand around, trying to figure out what’s wrong.
“Kelly, what are you holding?” Bear asks carefully.
She holds out a sheet of paper I never noticed. Bear takes it from her, and I watch as his face darkens.
Shit.
Whatever is on that paper must not be good.
“Dollface!” Smoke yells as he approaches.
Sloane steps back so he can pull his old lady into his arms.
“Who do I need to kill?” he asks, running his hand over the back of her head.
When Kelly immediately doesn’t tell him that murder isn’t necessary, I know it’s not just bad, but worse. Kelly’s the kind of girl who doesn’t approve of violence. She’s all sunshine and roses, the polar opposite of our president.
Bear holds the paper out to Smoke, and I watch as his face darkens.
“Church. Now. Call everyone in,” Smoke demands.
Wordlessly, he turns, pulling a sobbing Kelly along with him.
“What the fuck did that paper say?”
“Kelly is being sued for misrepresentation and failure to disclose,” Bear murmurs.
“What does that even mean?” I ask.
“It means someone thinks Kelly knowingly lied about the condition of a property and failed to disclose defects on a home,” Gunner says.
I scoff. “That’s bullshit. Kelly would never do that.”
“She’s being sued based on two property sales. Both addresses have ties to Crow’s construction company,” Bear says quietly.
I squeeze my eyes shut. “Blaine,” I say, already knowing who’s behind it.
When I open my eyes, both men nod.
“Come on, we better get to church,” Bear says, clapping me on the shoulder.
Quickly, we shut down the shop and head to the clubhouse. We head right to the chapel, bypassing the brothers who are lingering. Probably wondering why Kelly walked through crying her eyes out.
As soon as the door to the chapel shuts, Smoke bangs the gavel.
“What, the fuck is happening?” Smoke demands.
Fox clears his throat. “I looked over the papers, and they are official with the city. The realtor board has been contacted, and her license will be temporarily suspended, awaiting trial.”
“It was Blaine,” I rasp, making everyone look my way.
Fox nods. “His name is in the file, but a female is listed as the lawyer on file.”
Smoke looks right at me. “He’s gone too far. It was one thing to fuck with you and your girl and another to mess with the club, but now he’s crossed a line I can’t look away from while shit gets in order.”
“I’ll kill him,” I offer, meaning every word.
Taking a life doesn’t affect me like it does some people. For me it’s just another thing that needs done, and I don’t lose any sleep over it.
“I’m sorry. None of this should have come onto us. I’ve been putting this off when I shouldn’t have,” I tell my brothers, looking each of them in the eye.
“Killing him would cause issues. The cops would immediately know where to look,” Bear says thoughtfully.
“Fuck it. I can go to jail. We just need to make it look like self-defense.” I shrug.
The thought of being away from my girl for any time makes my heart ache, but I could do it.
Besides, they have conjugal visits and shit, right?
Smoke runs his hands over his face. “I can’t have you being locked up. Your role with the club is too important for you to check out for a couple of years if you were convicted.”
“Someone could always take the fall,” Fox muses.
I shake my head. “This is my mess. Someone else shouldn’t have to do the time for my crime.”
“Stop being noble and shit. We can’t lose you,” Gunner grumbles.
“Fox, were you able to get the cops any information? Last I asked, they were stalled trying to get information from the porn sites,” Smoke asks.
Fox nods. “I sent them reports anonymously, but that doesn’t mean they will use them. That’s the tricky thing about evidence. They can’t be handed it but have to find it themselves to verify it.”
I turn toward Smoke. “Just let me take him out. I can make it look like an accident, and then all this bullshit goes away.”
“That’s not true. The footage would still be out there of you and your girl.
She would still be without a job. Kelly’s trial would still happen.
I would still be under investigation. Both Kelly’s and my reputations tarnished.
There’s too much red tape for it to be that cut and dry,” Crow says quietly.
Guilt eats at me.
How do I fix this?
“This isn’t all on you. You know that, right?” Preach murmurs.
“If Delaney had never came up to me…” I trail off, unable to let the words leave my mouth.
“Is she worth it? Is she worth all the bullshit, and does she make you happy?” Smoke asks.
“Yes,” I say with no hesitation.
“Then stop apologizing. This isn’t on either of you or any of us,” Smoke says.
Taz clears his throat, making us look his way. “I think we should lock down and close all the doors. Give this dickhead no more access to hurt us. At least until we can make our move.”
“That’s not a bad idea. If he can’t find us and we have our heads to the ground, he can’t reach us,” Gunner says thoughtfully.
“The girls will hate it. The kids will love it, though. Any excuse to skip school,” Mac muses.
“Is everyone in favor of locking down?” Smoke asks.
All of us say, “Aye.”
“Then that’s settled. Let’s go break it to everyone. Then once our families are here we can reconvene to figure out how to safely kill this guy without Tank having to be locked up,” Smoke says.
“I’ll do it. I don’t mind.”
“Yeah, but we do,” Smoke says before banging the gavel.
“Good luck convincing your girl to pack a bag and move in here for a few days.” Bear chuckles.
Shit. I didn’t even think about that.