Chapter 26
SAXON
I sign my name on the dotted line for what feels like the hundredth time. Why is it when you buy a property you have to fill out so much fucking paperwork? It’s annoying as hell, and I can feel my anger rising inside me.
“Right, one more signature here, Mr. Wilder, and Capital Vice is all yours,” the realtor says from across his desk. Vance is beside me as he grasps his wife’s hand in his. The pair of them watching intently as I purchase the club that’s been their livelihood for half their lives.
“Right then, I’d like to be the first person to say congratulations, Mr. Wilder.
You are now the proud owner of Capital Vice.
” The skinny and insanely annoying realtor stands from behind his desk and reaches out his hand for mine.
I don’t take it. I give him a nod and turn to Vance and his wife, patting him on the shoulder and giving him a smile of appreciation.
When I approached Vance about purchasing Vice, he informed me that he had a few interested buyers already, and I would need to outbid them if I wanted to purchase.
Well, to his surprise, the other possible buyers mysteriously backed out at the last minute.
All thanks to Finn on that front. Vance knows who I am, and we have a mutual respect for one another.
When he heard about the others backing out, he knew right away that it was the club’s doing.
As long as he gets his money and the club is in good hands, that’s all that matters to him.
When we met yesterday, he did shock me with a bit of information. Information that made me respect him a little more.
I make my way to Vance’s office at the back of the club, making sure Sky doesn’t see me as I enter through the back. She’ll know in time that I am the new owner, but for now, I’ll keep this to myself. I knock on the door, and Vance’s burly voice yells for me to come in.
Stepping inside his office, I see he’s been busy and already done a fair bit of cleaning out his items. There was no rush for me to take over, but he is ready to hit the road with his wife. Understandably.
“Vance, there really is no need to rush out of here as if your ass is on fire,” I say, as I shove my hands in my pockets and watch as he finishes putting some books in a box.
He chuckles to himself but continues working as he waves a hand, gesturing for me to take a seat in one of the plush chairs he has in the corner.
I prefer to stand and step towards the corner of the room, so I have a better view of the security cameras he has lined up on the wall.
I spot her immediately. Her beauty is hard to miss.
Her long brown hair is tucked behind her ears as she rapidly serves her customers along the bar.
She’s smiling, her passion for bartending evident in the way she converses so naturally with everyone that approaches her.
My chest expands as I watch her move with such fluidity.
I quickly forget I’m in Vance’s office as he watches me, watching her.
“Listen, Saxon. I have a bartender who is currently living in the upstairs apartment. She is an incredibly reliable employee, and I hope when you do take over, you can show her some leniency until she finds a place of her own.” Vance’s voice pulls my attention from his television screens.
He’s watching her too, his eyes heavy and full of guilt as he finally turns his gaze to mine.
“Sky is very loyal and came to me for a job two years ago when she was in a dark place. She was running from something, but she never told me what. She just assured me I wouldn’t regret hiring her, and to this day, she is my best employee.
” His voice is low, almost heavy as he speaks about the woman that appeared so suddenly in my life. She was hard to ignore.
“Vance, I don’t intend to kick her out, if that’s what you think. Hell, I have no use for the apartment, and if she wants to stay there, she has my blessing.”
His shoulders visibly relax as he lets out a deep breath as if he was holding it in all along.
“You’re a good man, Mr. Wilder. I’m honored that you will be the new owner of Capital Vice. I never thought I could trust another soul with this place, but I have to admit, I trust you.” I give Vance a nod of thanks as he turns back to the television once more before dropping a bomb on me.
“I hope this doesn’t come across as demanding, but if you could keep an eye on her and make sure she’s safe, that would make my old man’s heart happy.
She doesn’t know this, but there’s been a few people around here lately asking about her personally.
By the looks of their matching H tattoos, I feel as though they may be a few of the men she’s been running from.
” Removing my hands from my pockets, I clench my fists so tight I can feel my nails biting into my palms. The Hellstorms have been here, and I haven’t heard about it?
“Do you know who these men are? How many were there?” I try to keep my tone even and calm, but the volcano that’s threatening to erupt in my chest is making it damn near impossible. As if he can sense the rage building within, Vance starts packing his boxes once more.
“There have only been two that I’ve personally seen, but Larry, one of the bouncers, informed me that three men asked for her personally about a month ago.
” He says all this without looking at me, which is probably smart, because why the fuck didn’t he inform me about this?
Of course, he has no idea about the relationship between Sky and me, but another motorcycle club being in my territory alone is room for concern.
It warrants a heads up to the Kings’ Aces.
“Why are you just now telling me this? Why not inform me immediately? You and I both know this is Kings’ territory.
A heads up would have been smart.” I don’t say this to be mean or to intimidate him, but I do mean to be firm.
This is something I needed to know, not only for the club’s safety and my family’s, but for Sky.
He just said he knew she was running from someone when she showed up in town, so why hold on to this information?
“I’m sorry, Saxon. Really, I am. I had the bouncers inform me every time someone asked for her.
They never stayed longer than twenty minutes each time.
It was like they came, saw her here, and left.
Nothing more. However, saying all this to you out loud makes me understand how foolish it was not informing you sooner.
That’s on me, and I apologize.” He turns to his computer and begins fiddling with a few files before looking back towards me.
“I have all the security footage saved to this folder. You can take a look, and I will make sure I have all the information you need to work the system, change passwords, etcetera.” I wave him off.
“I have a few guys who handle all technology for us. Thank you, but I can take it from here.” Nodding once to me, he picks up a box and begins walking to the door.
“One more thing.” Turning to me, he looks me dead in the eyes.
“Take care of her. She’s sort of fond of you.
” Letting out a small chuckle, he continues.
“She’d kill me if she knew I just said that, but I see the way she talks about you to the other bartenders.
She likes to pretend she doesn’t, but I’ve raised two girls and know when a woman tries to fight her feelings for someone. It’s a losing battle.”
Leaving me alone in his office, I double click the folder he indicated to. When the images of the men pull up, I don’t recognize them. It’s clear they are Hellstorm members by their tattoos, mainly the large H marked on each of their forearms. I just can’t say I’ve ever seen them personally before.
There is someone that will know who they are.
Sky.
Vance and I shake hands as he gives me the ring of keys for Capital Vice. Once he drops them in my hands, I give his wife Laura a hug and wish her safe travels. She wipes away a lone tear before patting me on the back and excuses herself from the office.
“Here’s my cell number if you need anything, Saxon,” Vance says, handing me a small piece of paper with his number scribbled across the front. I put the paper in my pocket and shake his hand before we both exit the office without another word to the realtor.
We each say our last goodbyes, and I make my way to my bike that’s sitting beside Saint’s outside. Saint is currently texting, and when I swing my leg over my bike, he pockets his cell and gives me a questioning look.
“Well, how’d that go?”
“The Kings’ Aces are now the proud owners of Capital Vice. I’d say that calls for some sort of celebration. Don’t you think?” Saint gives me a grin as he nods once and starts up his bike.
“I’d say that sounds like a great fucking idea.” The pair of us make our way out of the parking lot and head towards the garage. All the while, I can’t get the images of the three men who’ve been looking for Sky out of my head.