Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
Tornado
She’s so much stronger than I ever gave her credit for. -Tornado
The clubhouse, usually the center of our world, is oddly quiet as we walk inside. Blaze and Scar, two of our enforcers, stand guard outside one of the rooms.
I give them both a handshake and then turn to Blaze. “He in there?”
I know I don’t have to say who. Her father was always the goal. He’s the one with all the power.
Blaze nods. “He was staying nearby. Got here a couple minutes ago.” He hooks his thumb over his shoulder, indicating the closed doors.
“Silver’s in there with him.” Brick switches his dark-eyed gaze to Cat.
“I’m sorry, Cat, but your dad is one hell of an asshole.
The way he talks to Silver…” he shakes his head.
“Let’s just say if he wasn’t related to you, I would have to hurt him. ”
She bites down on her lower lip and nods. “I know, Blaze, I appreciate it. He’s never been the softest guy. I don’t particularly like him either.”
I place a hand at the small of her back. “We don’t have to go in there, sweetheart. We can turn around right now.”
She shakes her head profusely. “No, I’m not running anymore. It’s time to face my monster.”
I hate that she thinks of her own father as a monster, even though he is. I wish I could change things for her. I hope one day I can give her the kind of family she deserves.
Blaze opens the door for us, and we enter one of the back offices of the clubhouse. On the wall, a mural of a silver snake slithering his way through tall grass stands guard over us.
Franklin Scott, Catherine’s father, stands beside a massive desk covered with papers.
There’s one man in the corner in a dark suit.
I assume he’s with Frank. I only give him a cursory glance.
I knew Frank would always have backup. Silver gives me a hard look that I interpret to mean that we are in negotiation mode.
I stiffen. I would rather kill this man than negotiate with him.
Blaze and Scar follow us into the room.
“Where are all your men, Daddy? You never come without an entourage,” Catherine says quietly. She looks completely calm, but I can sense the anxiety within her.
Frank smirks. “They’re here. They’re always here. No worries. I’ve got lots of guys watching my back.” He glances around. “Apparently, you have some watching yours.”
His cold blue-eyed stare swings over to me. “Ah, Trent. Or is it Tornado? Such a damn stupid name for a stupid man. I should have known she would come running to you.”
I step forward, feeling rage build within me. “She came to me because she needed protection and I will always protect her. So awful that she has to protected from her own father.”
Silver holds up his hand. “Enough,” he says succinctly. “Let’s talk.”
Frank glances over at Silver with a grudging respect in his blue eyes. It’s hard not to respect Silver. There’s an air of competency and responsibility about him that inspires that in everyone.
“Mr. Barnes,” Frank starts. I wince at that because no one calls him by his last name, and he hates it when they do.
“There’s not a whole lot to discuss. I’ve already told you.
” His gaze moves to Cat again, “I know my daughter. She’s always been a good girl.
She wouldn’t cross me in this way. She’s going to come back and marry the nice man I’ve picked for her. ”
The rage within her seems to boil over. “I’m not marrying him! No matter what. I can’t. I won’t.” She’s physically shaking as she takes a step towards him. “You have no control here, Dad. I’m not doing what you say anymore.”
Her father suddenly grabs her. The click of guns being cocked sounds around the room.
“Let her go,” I say in a low voice. “Or there’s going to be a hell of a lot of bloodshed. All yours.”
He slowly lets go of her arm. “You don’t talk back to me, little girl,” he says in a low voice. “You’re my blood. You’ll do what I say.”
It takes everything within me not to reach for her when she pokes his chest with her finger.
I’ve never seen this gutsy, relentless side of her, especially with her father.
She sneers at him, giving him a look of pure hate.
“Recorded it all, dear old dad. Every word. And I’m not the only one that has the proof.
If anything happens to me, the Atlanta FBI office will receive a copy of it.
Aren’t they the ones looking into all your operations?
I’ll think they’ll be very interested in your admission of guilt. ”
Frank pales. “You wouldn’t dare…” he starts.
Silver interjects. “She would, Mr. Scott. And I’ve made sure she did. I have a contact at the FBI. The information will get into the right hands.”
Franks sends him a scathing glare. “You wouldn’t dare either, Mr. Barnes. I work with your Uncle Bart.”
For the first time ever, I see Silver flinch.
“Ah, yes. Your good ole’ Uncle Bart is up to his neck in this shit too. And relative or not, he wouldn’t mind wiping out this whole club.”
Silver’s gaze turns icy. “That man is no longer part of my family. And your threats are useless here. I’ve got connections that go higher than that old man.”
Frank stares at Silver, cocking his head to the side as if to measure him. “You would really put your neck on the line for this stupid girl?” He sounds truly in awe.
Silver nods. “I would. She’s one of us.”
I lay my hand on Cat’s shoulder. She covers it with her own.
Finally, Frank shakes his head and throws up his hands. “Take her. She’s not worth all this. I won’t be the start of some kind of war over her.”
He sends Cat a glare. “I guess you’re on your own. Don’t contact us, not me, not your mom. And you tell no one about what you’ve seen. If any of those tapes make it to the FBI, I’ll know who did it and there will be a war.” He glances over at Silver. “You got that too?”
Silver gives a short nod. “Got it.”
Frank doesn’t say another word as he walks to the door. He only stops when Cat says “Dad” softly. He slowly turns.
“I have one question before you go. Did you ever love me? Did you ever really love me like a father loves a daughter?” There’s so much sadness in her voice. I ache to hold her, but this is something she must do alone.
Frank smirks. “You were nothing more than a chip to be bargained with, Catherine.”
There’s silence for a moment as he and his man leave the room.
I finally do fold Cat into my arms, feeling her shaking form against me. I rest my chin on her head and hold her tight.
“Is that it, Silver? He just gets away with it. He doesn’t pay at all.” The need for justice is strong. I want to kill him for hurting my girl.
Silver’s mouth curves up slightly. “Oh, he’ll pay. I have a lot more on him than those tapes of Cat’s. I was already working on it when Cat came here. He’ll get what’s coming to him.”
I try to fill satisfaction at that, but all I can focus on is the sobs that finally break free from Cat’s throat.
My girl. I need to take care of my girl.