by Amelia Shea
Being away for six months had been torturous. She had patiently bided her time, knowing she’d be back for good in no time. Now, a few weeks later, she was set on leaving again. This time, forever.
“Phoebe?”
She licked her lips and inhaled a deep breath, staring up at her cracked ceiling. She refused to give in to her threatening tears. “I need to sell. Fresh start, Tory.”
The silence lingered.
“Can you make time for me today?”
“Uh yeah, I just finished with a showing in Turnersville. Give me thirty minutes, and I’ll come by.”
Phoebe hung up and fell back into the couch. For the next half hour, she sat in silence, pondering. As she glanced around the room, her eyes welled. You’re mine.
*
She walked down her driveway, following Tory, who drove down and parked at the end. She slowed her steps, watching the agent pop her trunk and pull out the sign.
“I could hold the paperwork, Phoebe.” She shrugged. “Just a week, and if you still want to sell, I can put it through and come back with the sign.”
“No, I’m ready.”
Tory sighed and started down to the corner. It seemed to happen in slow motion. She spiked the sign into the earth and stepped back. Déjà vu. Except it was bringing her back to a time when Tory was removing the sign after the closing. Bittersweet.
She folded her arms and watched as Tory drove down the street. It was the same time Kase drove toward her. His bike slowed, and even from behind his sunglasses, she knew he was looking at her. Or maybe it was the sign? She turned and started up her driveway when the engine sounded closer. She glanced over her shoulder to find Kase at the edge of her drive. He ripped off his sunglasses and glared.
“What the fuck is that?”
She snorted. “My crazy ass decided to sell.” Her lip curled as his brows furrowed. “Looks like you’ll be getting some new neighbors, Kase.” She may not have won the war, but she sure as hell was winning this battle. “Oh, and just to be clear, I won’t be fielding any offers from the club, so don’t waste your time.”
Now who’s got the power, asshole? She smirked and waggled her brows. She turned before their conversation could go any further. It was a small victory, but she’d take it.
****
I want to wring her fucking neck.
If he wasn’t scheduled for a meeting, he might have. He wasn’t sure what got under his skin more, seeing the sign or her smug smile. What had he expected? He came at her with low blows and insults that cut deep. He wasn’t willing to apologize. Fuck her. He was dealing with shit, the latest being this one-on-one meeting at Saint’s. The last thing he needed was a distraction.
He drove through Main Street, the warm breeze sifting over his face and through his hair. The private meeting was at Saint’s house. When Saint requested it, he found it strange he didn’t want it at the clubhouse. All meetings, even between the two of them, happened at the club. He turned onto his street, catching sight of the sprinkler on the front lawn and a small girl running through it.
She was too small to be Cia, Saint’s daughter. A closer assessment, and he smirked. He pulled into the driveway of the two-story home. Saint had done renovations a year ago and had plans to add on two rooms off the back after the baby was born. Kase had offered him the list of open properties to find a better house, bigger or possibly more land, but Bailey was set on living there. The club offered to buy her out of her house, but she refused. She wanted to keep it.
He turned off the engine and swung his leg over his seat. He noticed two bikes in the driveway next to Bailey’s car. One was Saint’s and the other must belong to the reason for this private meeting.
Ambush from the Monroe brothers?
Kase walked down the drive and headed to the back door when he saw the little girl waddling down the concrete, struggling with her towel. Saint was in the process of getting the driveway repaved since it was beat to hell. He watched as she stumbled a bit. He took wide strides, making it to her before she did more damage to her feet. When he stopped in front of her, she craned her head looking up, grinning.
“Hi.”
“Hey, Allie.”
“My feet hurt.”
He reached down, tucking his forearm under her butt, and hoisted her up against his chest. She reached her arm out of her towel and wrapped her tiny arm over his shoulder as he made his way to the back door. He opened the screen and walked through the mudroom, which opened to the kitchen. Saint and Hades were at the table while Bailey was leaning up against the sink. Her small belly was poking out with her hand resting over top.
“Uncle Kase is here!” Allie shouted, possibly puncturing his eardrum.
“Hey, man.” Hades nodded.
“I’m moving.” He turned his head to catch Allie smiling. “And I’m gonna live in Aunt Bailey’s house, and I get my own room.”
“Really?” Kase said. He’d feign it for the kid, but his glare was set on Saint. As usual, the fucker wasn’t remotely affected. He could strike the fear in any man alive. Except Saint.
“Uh-huh, and I get a new bed too.”
He glanced over at Hades, Allie’s dad, who didn’t bother hiding his arrogant grin. Kase bent down, setting Allie’s feet on the floor, and watched her make her way to Hades.
“You done outside?”
She nodded, gave him her wet towel, and skipped out the door. The product of a junkie whore and a man who’d been more dangerous and deadly than most, Allie was probably one of the sweetest kids in the club family.
Kase lifted his chin. “What the fuck is going on? Or do I gotta get Allie back in here to tell me the rest?”
Saint snorted.
Hades rested his elbows on the table, eyeing Saint. “Gonna rent Bailey’s house for me and the kid.”
“Yeah, I got that part, now tell me something she didn’t. Like why the fuck you’re settling down two hours from your club?”
Hades had approached him a couple of months back about renting property. His explanation of having a place close to Saint and Bailey to watch Allie for him made sense, but Kase knew there was more to it. He didn’t push or question Saint on the idea. He knew eventually they’d come to him. And here we fucking are.
Hades sat back in his chair. “You know why.”
He did. Hades was the VP to their charter club, which dealt primarily in illegal activities. At one time, his own club rivalled their criminal background. They were going down a road where they’d spend their lives in and out of prison. None of his brothers wanted it. The reward was hefty but not worth the risk.
Kase balled his fists. “Fuck me, Hades.”
He knew what it meant. Hades wanted to settle in with his chapter. Plant roots in Ghosttown, which made sense since it put him close to his brother and Bailey. It may have made sense, but it wouldn’t be easy. Not by a fucking long shot. They were a harder crew who never abandoned the criminal element when the split happened. Neither did his club originally, but they were never as hardcore as Ghosttown East.
“It’s doable,” Saint said.
Kase slowly turned his head. “Yeah, if he’s a fucking nomad, but as VP? They’re gonna fucking lose it he comes over with us.” He turned to Hades. “You talk to Mack?”
Mack was the president of Ghosttown East. He was a solid guy who made no apologies, a lot like Kase. However, he wasn’t interested in going legit. He hadn’t had the same vision Kase had when they split clubs. The illegal bullshit was never in his long-term plan, whereas Mack was all in. The same reason none of Kase’s guys had done time in the last five years, and all of Mack’s had done a stint, including the man sitting across from him.
“Yeah.”
“And?”
Hades shrugged. “Wants a sit-down with you.”
Kase muttered. “I bet he fucking does.” Kase sighed. “You got the votes?”
In order for Hades to switch charters, he’d need to be voted out by his own club and voted in by Kase’s.
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Hades nodded. “I gotta a few I need to work on, but they’re pretty solid. And I got them with you.”
He did. Kase couldn’t think of one brother who wouldn’t openly welcome Hades into the club. Aside from being Saint’s blood brother, he’d always been a standup, ruthless when needed, member of the club. Even Kase could see him as a viable asset.
“You don’t bring shit into my club, Hades.”
Saint stepped forward, and Kase raised his hand. Saint rarely listened to Kase, but he was respectful, and he would listen. “Just making myself clear.” He raised his brows. “You come to us, you fucking work with us, and nothing on the fucking side with East. Took a long fucking time to get us outta that shit, and I’m not letting any motherfucker come in and take that. Not from my brothers.”
Hades eyed him with a slow nod. “Looking to get out of that shit, not bring it over.” Hades sighed. “Spent over a year away, man.” Hades gritted his teeth, and he watched as his gaze transformed into a deadly stare. It wasn’t for show. It was all Hades. He could be the meanest motherfucker when he wanted. “A year away from my kid, leaving her with her mom. I get out, still on parole, and the courts give Allie to me. What the fuck does that say about the cunt who was supposed to be watching her for a year?”
Kase folded his arms and remained silent. He knew exactly what it meant. He didn’t know Allie’s mom, some club whore Hades knocked up, but he knew women like her. Shit women.
“I’m fucking doing it for Allie, and I ain’t going back. You have my word, Kase.”
Kase glanced over at Saint. Years back when they made the split, Saint wanted Hades with him, but they had different agendas at the time. This would be big for Saint, and their club as a whole.
“All right. Set up a meet with Mack. Want him at our house, not his.”
Holding court on his own territory was an advantage. While they ran with the same club, the ideals behind each charter were different, and so were their rules. Kase had trust for his brother charter, but not one hundred percent, especially considering the reasoning for the meeting.
Hades nodded.
Three glasses hit the table along with an aged bottle of bourbon. It was a reason to celebrate. Having Hades part of their club would be an asset as long as he could leave the shit behind.
They drank and talked over the shop and the runs for the parts. Hades had his CDL and would be ready to go once the vote was made official. Hades was as smart as he was deadly. He’d talked about some plans and ideas he’d had for getting the revenue to Ghosttown.
If they could make it happen with Mack, it would be a good thing having him a member of the Ghosttown Riders.
“I’m heading out,” Kase said, and stood.
“I’ll call when I get a day for the meet. Sooner than later, that work for you?” Hades asked. He was reading Saint’s brother as if he were his own. He wanted out of the element. Kase had no doubt, if not for the little girl upstairs, this conversation wouldn’t even be happening.
“You tell me when, and I’ll make it happen.”
They lingered in the kitchen but halted conversation when Bailey entered the room. This was the reason they handled club business at the club. No interruptions. Kase understood why this needed to happen here, though.
Saint and Hades left the room, and he turned toward the door.
He passed Bailey, who was looking in the fridge. He grasped her back gently.
“I’m heading out.”
She turned her head. “You don’t wanna stay for dinner?”
“Got shit to catch up with at the shop.”
“Okay.” She leaned over and kissed his cheek. Bailey was the only one who did that every time he saw her. Most of the women stayed away and greeted him with a simple wave.
He walked to the door and halted in the doorway.
The meeting had been a small distraction from what had been playing over in his head all afternoon. If anyone could give him answers, it was the woman standing a few feet away.
“Why’s she selling now?”
Bailey turned in apparent confusion. She cocked her head. “Who?”
He could read people better than anyone. He wasn’t seeing any deceit or cover up; Bailey genuinely had no idea who he was referring to. That fact struck him hard. Of all the people in town, Phoebe was closest to Bailey. Why the fuck wouldn’t she mention she was moving? Something wasn’t right.
“Phoebe.”
Her eyes widened. “Phoebe’s not selling.”
Kase raised his brows and caught Saint lingering in the living room doorway. He glanced over to Bailey. “She’s got a for sale sign in her yard.”
Bailey darted her stare between him and Saint, finally landing on Kase. She squinted and shook her head. “She loves her place and this town. She wouldn’t sell.”
He sighed and cocked his brow. “I know what I fucking saw and heard, Bailey.” Something definitely wasn’t right with this whole thing. From her year-long refusal, and now Bailey not even having a clue. What the fuck was she hiding?
“She got debt?”
Bailey’s brows knitted together, and her lips flattened. She knew something. Maybe not the move, but something he didn’t know.
“Sweetheart?” Saint said.
“I’m not discussing Phoebe’s personal finances with anyone, so don’t ask.”
Kase snorted. “I think you just gave us the answer.”
He walked out without another word. He had been waiting on Carter to get back to him. A few messages had been returned with a quick, “I’m working on it”. Kase had a keen sense when shit didn’t sit right, and everything with Phoebe was off.
Chapter Ten
“And that pretty much sums up the logistics of how it works. I think you’ll agree it’s an extremely lucrative investment, Miss Shaw.”
Phoebe inhaled a deep breath. With her house newly listed, she had people coming out of the woodwork to purchase. She had flat-out refused to deal with a development company. She had made that clear to Tory. Somehow, they had gotten her number. This was the second call she had fielded in the last few days.
She had just spent the last twenty minutes speaking to the guy from the leasing company. At her father’s insistence, she heard him out. Two minutes into his spiel she was ready to hang up. While it was a viable option, a good one for someone in her predicament, it wasn’t right for her. Not right for Ghosttown. Even if she had to sell and move away, she wouldn’t jeopardize the town for her own gain.
“Do you have any questions?”
Phoebe shook her head and leaned against her car, parked in front of the diner. “No, you pretty much answered everything.” The quicker she ended the call the better. Hearing his sales pitch left her feeling dirty. It was business, and she could respect it, but not at the expense of a town she loved.
“Great. I can have a rep come to you at your convenience and have a proposal written and move forth.”
Absolutely not.
“I really don’t think this is for me, but I appreciate your time. I’m going to…”
“I’d like to set up a meeting, have a rep come down and show you the actual proposal. On paper is always most efficient.”
She groaned. Salespeople.
“Yeah, but I’m not…” She rolled her eyes when he cut her off again. The guy was good.
“Excellent. I’ll have a rep reach out and find a good time to set up a formal meeting.”
“Okay.” She smiled, knowing she was never picking up the phone and would spend the rest of her life dodging his company’s calls.
“Looking forward to it.”
She hung up and started to the diner. A wave of chrome caught her eye, and she glanced down the street. A few members were standing out front greeting a man who’d just pulled up on his bike. She watched the small group. As her gaze travelled across their faces, she locked eyes with one in particular.
“Waste of a hot man,” she muttered and watched his brows furrow.
&n
bsp; The enemy. It was how she referred to Kase in her head. She jerked her gaze and straightened her shoulders. She purposefully walked into the diner, slow and methodical. She wasn’t rushing away from him, and he better know it. She took her usual booth at the window and settled into her seat.
“Does your place even have a kitchen?”
Phoebe smirked, glancing up through her lashes. “Yes, it does. In fact, since it’s rarely used, it’s gloriously clean, which is how I intend to keep it, Carla.”
The waitress burst out laughing and slid into the booth seat across from her. “We’ve missed you, honey.” She was smiling, shaking her head. “Not quite the same without you.”
“Well, I had to do my penance before returning to the scene of the crime.”
“Ain’t no crime in standing up for yourself.”
Phoebe snorted. “Don’t think Arnett would agree with you.”
Carla scoffed, waving her hand in front of her face. “I’ve known that man over twenty-five years. Not a damn thing we’ve ever agreed on.” She raised her brows. “I don’t trust anyone who sides with his grumpy ass.” Her gaze lifted over Phoebe’s shoulder, and she furrowed her brows. She got up from the table and turned toward the counter when the bell sounded.
“When I retire, I’m gonna shove that bell up his ass.” She straightened and walked away. “Give me a few, Feebs.”
She nodded and opened her menu. She flinched when she heard a knock from the window. Jack was peering inside with a scowl. She watched him hurry down the sidewalk and turn into the diner, coming toward her table.
“Why the hell ya eating alone?”
She chuckled and shrugged, putting down the menu. “I got stood up.”
Jack slid into the seat across from her and slapped his hands on the table. “The fuck you say?”
“I’m just kidding. I usually eat alone, but since you’re here, my luck is changing.” Kase isn’t going to like this. She grinned at Jack.
He winked, glanced around the small dining room, and raised his hand to get Carla’s attention. She shook her head and strolled toward them, rolling her eyes.
