Chapter Twenty-Seven
Addison was waiting on her front steps when Cross picked her up. She’d renewed the rental house for another month. Well, I renewed, and someone else had paid. Cross claimed knowing the owner gave him a discount.
They’d talked about her staying at the clubhouse, but she wanted her space, and after a few nights sharing a wall with Gent and his women, she was done. She was far from prudish, but Gent had some interesting and obscene fetishes.
Addison tightened her arms around his waist and locked her thighs against him. She was getting a little more comfortable on the motorcycle but at a snail’s pace. Cross had gotten her a full-face helmet, which helped ease her fear. A little.
Cross pulled into the driveway, but instead of parking at the clubhouse, he drove past onto a dirt path, about a car’s width. She angled her head to see past him. She’d never ventured beyond the yard of the clubhouse and didn’t know there was anything back there except the woods.
As they rode farther, it opened up to what could only be described as a hidden neighborhood. The land was cleared, and there were stakes marking out property lines. At the entrance were three houses, and Cross pulled up in front of the second one.
She was in a trance, glancing around, but got off the bike when he tapped her leg.
She grabbed his shoulders and swung her leg over the seat, dropping to the ground.
Addison lifted off her helmet and stared at the house in front of her.
It was beige with white shutters and two dormers on the second floor.
There was a dirt walkway leading up to a porch big enough for two rockers.
“What do you think?” He lifted his chin to the house. “Promised you normal, right?”
Her brows dipped, and she darted her gaze between Cross and the house.
“This is your house?”
He shrugged. “Ours.”
She widened her eyes, stepping in front of him. “Ours?”
The corner of his mouth hiked, and he glanced over her head. “Probably won’t be done for another few months. We’ll stay at the rental until then. But yeah, it’s ours.”
It took a minute to process everything. Addison had made up her mind, and she was staying in Killcreek with Cross. But she hadn’t envisioned a home outside of the rental. They didn’t really talk about the future. They just knew they had one together.
She circled around the yard, glancing over at the house next to Cross’s then to the other two properties beside him. Directly next to him was undeveloped but the neighboring house seemed closer to being finished. The walkway was paved, and there was a soft glow on the porch.
“What are you thinking?”
Addison had a lot of thoughts racing through her mind but none more prominent than what stemmed from her meeting with Inez a few weeks ago.
They hadn’t really talked about it. There had been a brief conversation that night, the two of them.
Cross wanted to make sure she was really okay and not traumatized from the ordeal.
She wasn’t, not in the end. But other than that, they kind of moved on, and she hesitated broaching that conversation again.
It was digging into his past, which was sad.
Addison didn’t want to drudge up old memories and force him to relive his grief.
“Addison?”
She tucked her hands in her pockets and turned to face him. He raised his brows, waiting on her.
“I don’t want to upset you.”
“You won’t.” If she had to guess, Cross sensed where this was going. And then he confirmed it. “Ask.”
She smiled, not for the subject matter but that he knew her so well in such a short time.
“I like normal.”
“But?”
“Is this the same normal your mom had?”
Cross stared back at her without much expression. He was impossible to read, though she was relieved he didn’t appear angry.
He grasped the back of his neck, looking over at the house. “We didn’t have normal. Never lived in a house, always apartments, and we moved a lot. Back then, things were different. More dangerous for my father and his position with Inez.”
“Which was?”
“A close ally and head of her security. She was still working up the ranks in her business under the organization.”
“What business?”
“If I tell you, then you become part of it.”
She furrowed her brows. “I’m with you, Cross. That makes me part of whatever…”
He shook his head. “No, it doesn’t.”
“But…”
“You’re not part of that world. I am, along with the club and Inez. Not you.” He smirked. “But you’re gonna reap all the benefits.”
“Is it illegal?”
Addison was sure he’d sugarcoat it trying to protect her, but he did the opposite.
“Very.”
“But you won’t tell me?”
“Like I said, if you know, it makes you a part of it. If you don’t, then it’s just me and you.” He gestured to the clubhouse beyond the woods. “Our family. And this sense of normal.”
Addison was reading between the lines. If she didn’t know anything, she couldn’t be held accountable for anything involving Cross, Inez, and the MC. It was protection to ensure her safety.
“Not gonna sell you a dream that it’s always gonna be good. We’ve seen some dark times.” He arched his brow. “But isn’t that part of everyone’s normal?
It was true.
“What else?” Cross asked.
He was being open and as honest as he could be. She would take advantage of his offerings.
“When Inez was talking about your dad and him dying?”
“Yeah?”
“What did she mean by your dad lost his life saving hers?”
“He took a bullet intended for her.”
Addison had assumed it was something like that, especially after hearing about his mother’s tragic death. His father was in deep. Was Cross?
“Would you take a bullet for Inez?”
“Yeah,” he said with zero hesitation. He curled his finger. “Come here.”
Addison closed the gap between them, and he cupped her face in his hands. “I’d do it for Inez. And I’d do it for you.” He leaned closer. “And our kids.”
The topic of children had her smiling. “Is that your way of telling me you want babies?”
“As many as you want.” He glanced above her head. “It’s a decent size house with room to expand.”
She wrapped her arms around his waist. Addison was all in with this man, this life, and the future he was promising. Their very own version of normal.
“So?” A small smile played on his lips. “You want the house?”
“Depends.”
He stilled. “On what?”
“Our neighbors. Because if you say Gent, I’m out.”
Cross laughed, pressing his lips against hers.
I’m serious.
****
Things had quieted down in the last few weeks.
He’d gotten word from Oz that Sal had personally spoken to Rogue.
Addison wasn’t in any danger of retaliation though he suggested Rogue and Addison keep their distance.
Not a fucking problem. Cross still maintained his concerns about the Satan’s, and they’d monitored their dealings, but nothing proved suspicious. Not yet! They’d continue to watch them.
That wasn’t the reason for the meeting today involving all the members. When Ace had debriefed him earlier, Cross was intrigued. He hadn’t thought much about Jekyll’s request via Penny, but apparently there’d been some new developments.
Cross was seated in his usual spot next to Ace at the table. Wraith, Cue, and Ghost were standing against the wall with Oak and Gent taking up two other seats. Cypher threw down a file on the table, and it slid in front of Ace.
“This is the intel on the woman Jekyll wanted us to look into. She’s the librarian at the prison.
It’s a volunteer position that she’s been doing for about three years.
Puts a lot of hours in, never misses a day.
Runs the library, and as of last year, started teaching a few classes for the inmates. ”
A few brothers shared a look. They hadn’t been privy to the initial meeting with Penny.
Ace clasped his hands, addressing the brothers. “A few weeks ago when Penny came by, she had the name and an order from Jekyll to have Cypher look into a woman working at the prison.”
“Why?” Ghost asked.
“Jekyll didn’t say.” Ace flipped open the folder and Cue, Ghost, and Wraith stepped closer to the table.
“Who is she?” Cue asked.
Cypher’s lips twitched. “Imogene Peppercorn.”
Cue smiled. “That an alias?”
Cypher shook his head. “That’s her real name.”
“Wait, hold the fuck up.” Gent laughed. “Her name, the one her parents gave her, is Imogene Peppercorn?”
Cross flattened his lips, holding back his own amusement. It was definitely different and one he hadn’t heard of.
Ace held up his hand. “What do we know?”
His president was trying to get the meeting back on track, but Gent refused to let it go.
“Tell you what I know. That girl’s parents fucking hate her. You got that last name, and you strap Imogene onto it. That girl was fucking doomed since the day she was born.”
Ace slammed his fist down on the table, silencing the room. “Enough with her fucking name. What do we know about her?”
The soft knock on the door had Cypher turning and opening it, as if expected. From where Cross was sitting, he could see the prospect.
“She’s here.”
Cypher nodded. “Alright. Keep her out there for another ten minutes. Then bring her back.”
He shut the door and turned to the table.
“Who’s here?” Cross asked.
“Penny.”
Audible groans filled the room. Hyde’s affection for his old lady didn’t extend to most of the club members.
“Oh, this day keeps getting fucking better,” Oak said but Ace ignored the comment.
“Why is she here, Cy?”
“Because I know everything on record for Imogene. Penny knows her personally. Kind of.” Cypher moved toward the table. “I looked into her and came up with the cleanest record I’ve ever seen.”
“Too clean?” Cross asked. Anytime someone came up with no infractions it always sent up red flags and was a cause for concern, especially with their associates or those with a connection. However, this woman didn’t have ties to their world. That we know of.
“No, I expected her to be an upstanding citizen. The volunteers are usually strongly vetted at prisons.”
“But there’s an issue.”