Chapter Twenty-Six
Addison cupped the glass of vodka in her hands. She was tucked in a chair in the corner of Inez’s apartment. She hadn’t asked for a drink. In fact, she’d tried to decline when Inez handed it to her. That didn’t go over well.
“I offer you top-shelf fucking vodka in my home, and you’re turning it down?” The threat in her tone was enough for Addison to take the offering and stay silent.
She wasn’t the only one who’d been quiet. Jane hadn’t said a word in the last hour or two. Addison had completely lost track of time.
Two men were stationed in the kitchen near the hallway. They hadn’t said much either, but she saw a lot of whispering among them and Inez. She was too far away to hear them. That was probably a good thing. Her nerves were completely shot; she couldn’t take any more talk of death.
“How far out are they?” Inez took a drag from her cigarette.
“Pulled into Lawry five minutes ago.”
She sighed, glancing over at the clock on her stove. “We got about fifteen minutes until they storm this fucking place.” She gestured to Jane, who was leaning against the wall. “Get her to the house on Market. And stay with her.”
“Am I going back to Killcreek?” Jane asked, and Inez looked as if the girl had sprouted another head.
“Have you lost your goddamn mind?” Her hand shot out, pointing to Addison in the corner.
“You took that girl hostage by gunpoint from their territory. They would’ve already been pissed about that.
But knowing who she is? Baby girl, I’m gonna be lucky to keep your ass alive.
” Inez cocked her brow. “And the only way to do that is to make sure you’re not here when my boys come. ”
Jane bowed her head. “I’m sorry. I was never gonna hurt her.” Jane glanced over to Addison. “I swear, I wouldn’t have.”
In the moment, of course, she didn’t know that. But…
“I know, Jane.”
“Oh…” Inez snorted. “You knew that?”
Addison shrugged. “I know it now. And that’s good enough for me.”
Inez scoffed. “Well, it’s not gonna be good enough for Cross or the club. Get her out of here.”
Jane pushed off the wall and followed the men down the hall. When the door locked in place, Inez stood at the counter pouring vodka in a glass.
It wasn’t her place to ask and none of Addison’s business. But from the vague conversation between Inez and Jane compounded with her obvious fear from the man at the clubhouse, a picture was formulating in Addison’s mind. And it wasn’t pretty.
She scooted to the edge of the chair. “Did someone hurt Jane?”
Inez stilled with the glass at her lips. “A lot of people hurt her.”
“The man at the party?”
Inez scowled and flattened her lips.
Addison held up her hand. “I’m not trying to pry. But I got a decent look at him so,” She drew in a breath. “If you need me to identify him, I’d be happy to help. For Jane.”
Inez circled around the counter, heading straight for her with a glass in her hand. Inez pulled the wooden chair out, placed it in front of Addison, and took a seat. They were only two feet apart.
“Her crazy ass takes you hostage, by gunpoint and you’re willing to help her?”
Addison didn’t hesitate. “Yes.”
Inez laughed, shaking her head. “Another bat shit crazy girl in my life. That’s exactly what I fucking need.”
She lifted her drink, and her gaze drifted to Addison’s chest over the rim of her glass.
“Got my boy’s heart in there, huh?”
There was a softness in her tone. Almost motherly. Addison didn’t know her connection to Knox, but it was clear there was a strong one.
“Yes.”
“He was a good one.”
Inez drew in a breath and settled in her seat, raising her glass. Instinctively, Addison did the same and clanked the glasses together. It was an unspoken toast. To Knox.
*
Ten minutes later, the door flew open without any warning, and a crowd of bikers flooded the tiny apartment. Cross was leading the pack and scanned the room until his gaze locked on her. He rushed over, bending down in front of her and cupping her jaw.
“You okay?”
She drew in a breath. “Yeah, but I’m still waiting on that normal you promised me.”
His heavy breath sounded like a soft laugh. But his expression wasn’t giving the same read. He strummed his thumb over her jaw. It was silent for a few seconds. But only a few.
Cross stood to face Inez, who was standing at the breakfast bar. “Where the fuck is Jane?”
His tone was venomous. Addison dropped her glass on the side table and stood, grabbing his hand.
Inez had called it. While this was Jane’s fault, Addison had a better understanding of why she’d done it.
A man from her dark past had come back. Jane was scared and felt threatened.
She did the only thing she could think of to keep herself safe.
“Cross, I…” He tightened his hold on her hand but ignored her, aiming his glare at Inez. “Where the fuck is she?”
“Hidden far away from you, baby.” Inez’s voice didn’t match the tension in the room.
Ace stepped up to Inez. She wasn’t sure of the dynamic of the club to Inez, but they were universally and united in their anger.
“We took her in” —he pointed to Inez— “on your fucking request, and this happened.”
Inez sighed. “She had her reasons.”
“Then fucking enlighten us, Inez.” Ace turned to Cross. “Take her outside.”
Inez waved her hand. “She knows.”
Cross whipped his head, and his brows furrowed.
“I heard everything Jane said,” Addison said.
“Do we get to hear it?” Wraith snapped.
Inez took a drag of her cigarette. “She said there was a guy at the party who she knew from back then. When she tried to leave, he grabbed her and asked if she remembered him. She panicked and ran out of the clubhouse, and that one” —she pointed to Addison— “Followed her out to check on her, I guess. Said she was scared. Thought you all knew something and didn’t trust you.
Addison was there, had a car, so Jane forced her to drive her here. ”
“At fucking gunpoint, Inez,” Cross snapped.
Inez held up her hand. “I know.”
“Where’d she get the gun?”
“I gave it to her,” Inez said.
“What the fuck, Inez? And you don’t tell us?” Ace grasped his hips and paced in front of the counter.
“Well, I didn’t think she was such a fucking wildcard. I underestimated her.” Inez shrugged then veered her gaze. “Your girl said herself she wouldn’t have hurt her.”
It put Addison on the spot with all eyes in the room on her. She hadn’t known it at the time, but to the depth of her soul she knew Jane was never going to hurt her. She needed an escape. And Addison was her only option. It was desperation. We’ve all been there.
“I really don’t think she would’ve, Cross.”
“I don’t fucking care. She pulled a gun on you!” Cross shouted.
“She’s sorry.” Addison said in hopes of easing the tension in the room. It didn’t help.
Cross narrowed his gaze. She rested her hand on his chest. His heart was beating so fast her only goal was to calm him down.
“It could’ve been worse. I mean” —Addison forced a snicker— “Jane was the one who had my back and told Inez who I was. If she hadn’t, I’d be in a van going God only knows where and how many feet under.”
Cross along with the others spun around, glaring at Inez.
“What the fuck?” Ace snapped.
“I didn’t fucking know who she was. You know the protocol.” Inez waved her hand nonchalantly.
Cross released her and drove his hands through his hair. Obviously, he did.
“Look, your girl is fine. Jane won’t be going back to Killcreek.” Inez shrugged. “It all worked out.”
Thank God for that!
****
The club had left fifteen minutes ago, but Inez had her and Cross stay behind. He watched her make three more vodkas and hand one to Addison and then Cross. It almost seemed like a peace offering. A prelude to a private apology from Inez. But Cross knew better.
“He ever tell you about his father?” Inez asked, and he immediately stiffened.
Cross hadn’t shared much about his past with her.
In time, he would, but it had been so different from hers, he didn’t want to lay it on her all at once.
It was heavy, raw, and tragic. Cross loved his dad.
Most honorable man he’d ever known. But he wouldn’t be seen in the same light to most people outside of their realm.
Cross could feel Addison’s eyes on him, but he continued to stare at Inez. He had no idea where she was going with this trip down memory lane.
“A good man. Loyal to his last fucking breath.” She took a drag of her cigarette. “You know how many can say that? Not a lot that I know.”
“I wish I could’ve met him,” Addison said. It was a sweet and polite answer without being intrusive. It was as if she could sense his tension and was verbally trying to settle him.
Inez scoffed and smirked. “No, you don’t.”
Cross hardened his glare.
Inez pointed to him. “His father would’ve tried to talk him outta” —she waved her finger between him and Addison— “this right here.”
Cross clenched his jaw but remained silent. He was now well aware of where Inez was leading this conversation. If Addison didn’t already have concerns, this would put her fear on another level.
“You don’t think he would’ve liked me for Cross?”
His gaze shifted to Addison, and he felt an unexplainable ease.
“Oh babygirl, I think he would’ve liked you a lot. Still would’ve warned Cross to get rid of you.”
She knitted her brows. “Why?”
“Because he wouldn’t want his boy to share the same fate as him. Nothing worse than watching history repeat itself knowing you could’ve prevented it.”
The room was drowned in silence. Cross sucked in a breath and hardened his features. Inez was going to give it all to Addison.
“He tell you about his mama?”
Addison glanced up at him, and her gaze softened. “No. But if he wants to, he’ll do it in his own time.”
Inez stilled and a small smile emerged. “Or I can tell you.”
This was one of Inez’s games, which he knew well. It was a test to see where her loyalty landed. Addison would be curious. If she remained quiet, the answer was yes.
“I can wait until Cross wants to share.”
Inez peered over at him and slapped her hand on the counter, grinning. “Your dad would’ve loved this one.”
Yeah, he would’ve.
“She was gunned down in the parking lot of the grocery store.”
Addison gasped and shifted in her chair, wide-eyed with shock clouding her features. Inez didn’t mince words, and he’d expected her delivery. Addison had not.
“What?” she muttered, asking him.
But it was Inez who answered.
“Retaliation for a deal gone wrong. Darker time back then. No one was off limits, and with the power shift in the organization, lots of casualties.”
Too many.
“Cross was” —she paused— “about seven, right?”
He gave a curt nod, keeping his eyes on Addison. He squared his jaw, reigning in his need to go to her when her eyes welled.
I’m sorry, she mouthed.
“Thought for sure I’d lose his dad in my security after that. But he stayed.” Inez snorted. “He wanted that revenge so bad.”
Yeah, he did.
“Did he get it?” Addison muttered.
“Yeah,” Inez said. “Stayed with me for years, working up the ranks. No one more loyal.”
It would be hard for anyone to wrap their head around his father staying with the organization that, essentially his involvement with, had gotten his wife killed.
Cross was too young at the time to know any of the details.
But when he was old enough, his father shared everything.
Even for him, it was hard to understand why he wouldn’t walk away, especially having a young son.
His father had his reasons. Revenge being the first and foremost. Years later, his dad’s explanation finally made sense.
“If I left, I couldn’t do anything to ensure it didn’t happen again. So I stayed, and it didn’t.”
The Underground became a powerhouse in all illegal endeavors. Untouchable, for most. His father was part of the protection. And in the end, sacrificed himself. In a shot that would’ve ended Inez instantly, his father took the bullet.
“Like I said, good man.” Inez’s tone had shifted to somber. “Lost his life saving mine.”
It wasn’t a sight many got to see from the cold, hardened leader. But Inez did have her soft spots reserved for those she respected, loved, and owed.
She grabbed her glass, chugging the remainder of her vodka, slamming the glass on the counter. She looked over, staring back at him.
“Lost your dad and Knox.” She slowly nodded. “Not gonna let that happen again.”
Cross had been with Inez long enough to know what she was saying. But he wanted the words anyway.
“Taking her on as one of yours?”
She lowered her chin. “Guaranteeing her safety.”
Addison scoffed. “Nothing in life is a guarantee.”
The corner of his mouth hiked. This is!
“Yeah for most people, but baby girl” —Inez narrowed her gaze— “I’m not most people.
” Inez walked around the counter, stopping in front of him.
Affection was never part of their relationship.
Or anyone’s with her, for that matter. She rested her hand on his cheek and slightly patted him.
“Now, take your girl and get the fuck outta my place. I got a whole new crop of bullshit I gotta handle with my newest problem child.”
Jane Doe.
Speaking of problems. He and the club could handle protecting Addison, and Cross didn’t think the incident would lead to anything further. But just in case…
“One more thing, Inez.”
She sighed and grasped her hips. “Oh, for Christ sake, what?”
He gestured to Addison. “She pissed off Rogue.”
Inez snorted. “Everyone pisses off Rogue.”
“Yeah, but not everyone handles him the way she did.”
Inez jerked her head to Addison, and she held up her hands. “He started it.”
Inez laughed, shaking her head. “I have no doubt he did. Arrogant little fucker since the day I met him.” She turned to Cross. “I’ll call Sal. Consider it handled. Now go!”
Addison rushed to his side and clasped his hand as they walked out.
It was finally over.