Zephyr Chapter 11
I just finished up my call with Raider. I told him what happened.
He was angry. He asked what Everlyn needed.
I told him. He had automatically said he knew where I’d be, and if anything came up that required me to handle it, someone would call, but not to worry.
Icelander and Slayer could handle Passages.
I thanked him and promised to keep him updated.
I glanced over to see Everlyn on the phone.
She was frowning, and the set of her shoulders told me she was stressed.
I hoped her boss wasn’t blaming her for this.
It didn’t take a genius to figure out who was behind it.
He might not have been caught on video, but Bishop Reeves was the only person I knew of who had a reason for it to fail.
He was out to get Everlyn for showing him up.
At first, I didn’t pay attention to the sound of a vehicle pulling up outside. It has been happening since we got here. It wasn’t until I heard a door slam, then a man’s voice bellowing, that I paid attention.
“Where the hell is she? Get her goddamn ass out here right this second. She has some fucking explaining to do!” Reeves shouted.
I watched the color rise in Everlyn’s face as she met my eyes. It wasn’t from embarrassment. It was fury. She murmured something into the phone, then disconnected. She stood at the same time I did. We met in the middle of the trailer, in front of the door.
“Don’t ask me to stay inside because I can't,” I informed her.
“And don’t you ask me to stay here and let you go do it without me,” she replied.
I gave her a nod, and she returned it. Then, I stepped forward and opened the door, waving for her to go ahead of me. As we came down the steps, I caught sight of Reeves standing over at the trench. Hearing the door close, he spun around. He charged toward us, shouting.
“What the hell is the meaning of this? You were supposed to be finishing this up! Clearly, you have no goddamn idea what you’re doing. This is what companies get when they hire women to diversify the workforce instead of hiring based on skill. We’re not paying your company a cent more!” he yelled.
He was pointing his finger at Everlyn. His face was red, and spittle flew from his mouth. Before he reached her, I placed myself between them. This move made the bastard pause.
“Move. This conversation is between her and me. You’re not a part of this. Being her fuck buddy doesn’t qualify you to be here,” he said snidely.
I let a smirk appear on my face, which made him jerk in surprise. As a glimmer of unease flickered in his expression, then vanished, I took great satisfaction in proving him wrong.
“That’s where you’re wrong. I have every right to be here.
And it has nothing to do with being Everlyn’s boyfriend.
However, if you say one more nasty thing about her, I may have to confuse my roles.
If you want to speak to Ms. Forrest, you’ll calm down and speak to her with respect and no yelling. ”
“Get the hell out of my way,” Reeves spat out before he tried to get around me by shoving me aside.
As soon as his hand landed on my shoulder, I twisted and captured his arm. I brought it up behind his back, putting him in a wristlock. It made him scream in pain. I kept the pressure up enough to hurt, yet just shy of breaking it.
“I am Ms. Forrest’s bodyguard and part of the security team hired this morning to guard this worksite. Anyone causing a disruption or attempting to harm anyone here will be dealt with in a manner I find acceptable. Now, I know you came here to put on a show. But here’s the deal.”
I paused and lowered my voice, so only Reeves, Everlyn, and I could hear.
“We know that you either did it yourself or hired someone to sabotage the pipe. And while you think you’re so clever with the security camera feeds, let me tell you something. I have a best friend who is a genius with shit like that. He’s already working on seeing what he can recover.
“Now, I know the law needs evidence to do anything about it. However, I live by different rules and mottos. The first one that pertains to our situation here is a rule. Fuck around and find out. I dare you to go ahead with whatever you have planned. If you do, you won’t like the outcome.
Second, let me tell you one of my key mottos.
My club and I believe in an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
I will rain more hell down on you than you can ever imagine.
My advice is this. Stay away from anything related to Everlyn Forrest, her employer, or this work location.
Go back to your little office where you think you’re a big boss. ”
I stopped to see if Reeves had anything to say. I eased up the pressure on his wrist so he could speak. He panted for several moments before he spoke.
“And if I don’t? You can’t make me stay away,” he hissed.
“If you don’t, you’ll disappear. And I can promise you, if you’re taken, you won’t be returning. You’ll be gone for good,” I whispered in his ear.
“Y-you can’t threaten m-me! I’ll tell the p-police,” he stuttered through his pain.
“Fuck around and find out, remember.”
Abruptly, I let go of his wrist and shoved him away from me. He stumbled and nearly fell on his face in the dirt. He caught himself and stood up, rubbing his arm. His face was close to purple. He was so mad.
“If it’s the last thing I do, I’ll see your ass ruined. You won’t find anyone who’ll hire you. And as for your threats, biker scum doesn’t scare me.”
“It’ll be your funeral,” was all I said.
“Bishop, everyone knows you did this to the rerouted pipe. You want to make it seem that I don’t know what I’m doing.
I have the track record to prove I do. As for coming here, you’re trespassing.
You step a toe on this property again, and I’ll call the law myself.
And before you yell that it’s not my land, you’re right, but the owner doesn’t like you and gave me permission to have you removed anytime I want.
Go back to your pathetic little existence.
Stop being a child when you should be a man.
However, at this late date in your life, a petulant prick is all you’ll ever be,” Everlyn told him coldly.
A few of the workers had wandered closer. They were watching the three of us avidly. The expressions they wore broadcast that they believed, as Everlyn and I did, that Reeves had been behind the pipe rupture.
Our trespasser glanced around, acting as if he thought he’d find someone to back him up. He was wrong. His face was still a dark, mottled red. Humiliation mixed with hatred snapped in his eyes.
In a low voice that didn’t carry, he said between gritted teeth, “You’ll pay for this.”
“No, you will. Get the fuck off this property. Now,” I said, snarling. My patience with him had run out
Reeves turned on his heels and marched to a nearby flashy sports car.
He almost ripped the door off opening it.
The way he tore off a minute later threw dust and rocks into the air.
He left to a flurry of clapping and laughter.
Everlyn took my hand and led me back inside. When the door closed, she faced me.
“What was that about you being my bodyguard and part of a security team?”
“Just what I said.”
“Who did you hire to be security here?” she asked suspiciously.
“The best kind, family—the ones who automatically offer loyalty. The club will be working to ensure no one touches anything here again,” I replied.
“Leif, I’m not asking your club to do that! My company can afford to hire a security company. You guys have enough to do with your businesses.”
“You didn’t ask. I didn’t either. As soon as I told Raider what happened here last night, and that I intended to stay here today, he told me to make sure you were safe.
And he’d organize the others to stand night watches.
They’ll likely do it in two-man teams. If we need more help, we have a support chapter in Alabama, or we can see what our Georgia and Carolinas chapters are doing.
There are Grave Prowlers in all fifty states. ”
Everlyn stood there as if she had no idea what to say. I saw her astonishment at the offer.
“But why would the other chapters help? They don’t know me.”
“You’re mine. That’s all that matters. You can try and refuse, but Raider will do what he deems best. And treating you as family is nonnegotiable.”
Suddenly, she stepped up to me, wrapped her arms around my waist, and buried her face in my chest.
“You’re making me cry. I don’t know what to say. Thank you isn’t enough,” she mumbled.
“I’ll accept a kiss as payment,” I prodded.
She lifted her head, smiling, then went on tiptoes as I leaned downward. As our lips met, I knew we had a ways to go before this mess was resolved, but I knew we could handle it as long as we stuck together.
?
The club was gathered for Thing. I’d brought Everlyn with me to the compound.
After the drama of yesterday, she needed a break.
She was relaxing at the house while we met.
We planned to stay the night at my house.
All of the club was here except for Thor and Sea Rover.
They were tasked with security at the worksite tonight.
Yesterday, after the talk about using my club, Everlyn accepted it.
However, her company insisted on bringing in a professional outfit.
But they weren’t able to get anyone in place until Friday.
Reluctantly, her boss agreed to let us do it and to consider our help even as the others started.
We weren’t charging them anything. And if the company said no, we’d just do it anyway from the shadows.
I think her boss didn’t want to anger an MC, so he didn’t resist excessively.
Raider had brought us to attention a few minutes ago. The first order of business was to ask how things were going at the site, and I gave them an update. There had been no more sabotage, and Reeves hadn’t returned, though none of us believed he was done.