by KJ Dahlen
“I know baby girl.” Joel patted her hand. “I know. He could have done things different and that’s on him. Whatever fault there was back then, he allowed it to happen and now, he’s up to his neck in the thick of things. The money and the power just aren’t worth it. I have a feeling he learned that lesson too late.”
“We need some sort of a timeline here,” Stinger suggested. “A timeline for the whole fucking family. We can fill it in as we go along but it might help us if we had a visual of when things happened in real time.”
“That’s not a bad idea.” Fireball nodded. “That way, we know who did what and when. It could help us bring down the whole fucking family.”
“We also need to go back as far as we can,” Ajax added.
“You know something,” Joel drawled. “If you want dirt on the Zetran family, you should talk to my good friend Ben Harlow. He might even be able to help you set up that timeline you want.”
Wynette sunk in her chair.
Ajax looked over at her with concern. “What is it?”
She looked up at him with tears in her eyes. “I forgot about Ben.”
Ajax stared at her for a moment then looked over at Joel. “Who is this Ben character?”
“Ben, me and Justice grew up together. We were all friends until Justice started making money and let it go to his head. Even then, Ben was happy for his friend. He married his high school sweetheart and they started a family. They had two little girls and they watched them grow up. Then their oldest girl, Melanie fell in love with Justice’s oldest boy, Caleb. Justice didn’t want Caleb to get married to a nobody like Melanie and he tried to stop the pair from meeting, but the boy had real feelings for her and they often met in secret. Ben didn’t like it but it wasn’t up to him. Well, Melanie ended up pregnant and things came to a head when Caleb wanted to marry her. Justice told him he would never allow the marriage and if he didn’t want to see her dead, he would walk away from both her and the baby.”
Wynette nodded her head, as she looked sad all over again.
“When Ben found out, he got pissed. He sent his daughter away to what he thought was a safe place for her to have her baby. The only problem was it wasn’t a safe enough place. Justice found them just as Melanie was giving birth. Justice denied them both medical care and they both perished as something had gone wrong and she needed a doctor’s care. Justice denied her that and after they were both dead, he turned and walked away.” Joel shook his head. “Ben never forgave the old man for that. I don’t think Caleb did either but he never said anything to his father about it after that.”
“How do you know so much about it?” Moon, who joined them late asked. He’d gotten caught up in the plans they were making, as did everyone in the room by this time.
“Ben married his high school sweetheart which happened to be my cousin, Mary Beth,” Joel explained. “I was there the day they got married and I was there the day they buried Melanie and her baby. I’ve watched the rage inside him build up over the years. I think Ben would be more than happy to tell you things about the Zetran family.”
Moon snorted. “Color me surprised that the Zetran family let him live here. I would have thought ole Justice would have run the old man out on a rail.”
Joel snarled. “Oh, believe me he would if he had a reason, but Ben doesn’t give the old bastard a reason. But this? I think he would surprise you with what he knows. I don’t think old Justice knows Ben has been keeping track of his every movement over the years.”
“Give the man a call and see if he’d be willing to work to us on this.” Ajax agreed.
Chapter Three
Over the late morning, early afternoon they began working up a time line.
They were filling it in when Stinger looked at the clock. It was still early but he wanted to have plenty of time to get set up in order to catch their watcher.
Racer said the watcher always got here around four, so at three thirty, he went out the back door and going through a secret passage, he got into place on the other side of the fence. He was settled high above the ground sitting in the bough of a tree when he saw a small vehicle stopping along the highway. It pulled off the road and parked under the cover of the woods. He watched as a small woman got out and made her way to where he was hidden.
Stinger frowned as he watched her.
What is a woman doing spying on the MC? Who is she and is she here to report back to the Zetran family?
Stinger made up his mind that this ended tonight.
He swung down from the tree branch he was on and landed soundlessly on the ground behind her. Sneaking up on her wasn’t hard because she wasn’t expecting him. He thought that was foolish on her part but when he closed in on her, she surprised him with a round house kick that put her foot into his belly... hard.
Stinger lost his breath for a moment as she moved out of his way. Stinger dropped to his knees and looked up at her. It took a moment or two to catch his breath again and he wheezed, “Who the fuck are you and what do you want here?”
She stared at him and paused. “You’re one of them aren’t you?”
“One of them?” Stinger frowned.
She motioned at the compound behind her. “One of the bikers that live here.”
“Yeah, I’m one of the Thor’s Hammer bikers.” He growled as he got to his feet. “Why?”
The girl tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I’m looking for information about a woman who just got out of prison.”
Stinger frowned. “Who are you and what makes you think the woman is here? We don’t usually welcome ex cons.”
The woman shook her head. “No, you don’t understand. She didn’t do what the law said she did. She went to prison on a lie.”
Stinger just glared at her. “And how do you know that?”
The woman swallowed hard. She looked away for a moment then when she looked back at him she admitted, “Because she wasn’t alone in the woods that day.”
Stinger growled then marched over to her. “If you were there then why didn’t you speak up on her behalf?” He grabbed her by the upper arm and shook her. “Why did you let them lie about what happened? Do you know what happened to her inside that place? Do you have any idea what she had to live through for eight long years? For a crime she didn’t even admit?”
She looked like she was going to cry. “Don’t you think I wanted to?” she cried out. “But I was a scared kid at the time.”
“So was she,” Stinger pointed out. “Wynette was only seventeen when she was railroaded into prison.”
“I know we were in the same class at school.”
Stinger growled. “Well, if you were scared, imagine what she was feeling.”
She shook her head. “You don’t understand, I couldn’t say anything back then.”
“Why not?” he grumbled.
“Because as soon as my dad found out I was there, he packed us up and moved us out of the county!” she all but shouted him. She began to pace in front of him. “I didn’t want to leave here, but he dragged us away.”
Stinger frowned. “Why would he do that?”
“Because he’s afraid of the Zetran’s that’s why. Justice Zetran threatened him a couple of years before when he found out my sister was seeing his grandson. He told my dad he had plans for Liam that didn’t include him marrying a local girl.” She stopped in front of him and turned to look at the biker. “If my dad would have let me speak out back then, he knew it would cost him everything, maybe even his life.” She hung her head. “And now because I was a coward back then, an innocent girl went to prison. My dad felt so guilty he began to drink. He damn near drank himself to death before he hit the bottom and was able to stop. I left as soon as I could but before I did, he made me promise not to stir up any trouble. I made that promise and I won’t cause any trouble but now, I need some answers. I need to know if she knows anything about my sister. We were convinced years ago that she just ran away from home but I never really believed that. I
knew Jolene. She just wouldn’t leave and never call me. It’s been almost ten years since she left and I can’t believe she wouldn’t call me at some point.”
“Jolene?” Stinger barked her name.
“Jolene was my sister, my twin,” she explained. “No matter where she was, she would always get in touch with me.”
He grabbed her by the upper arm and marched her to the front gate. He entered the code and as soon as the gate was opened enough for them to get through, he dragged her into the compound. Taking the time, he shut and locked the gate again, before he took her to the clubhouse.
He threw open the clubhouse doors and stormed into the main room.
Ajax, Fireball, Joel and Moon turned to see what or who was there.
Ajax frowned at the sight of Stinger and a woman he didn’t know. “Stinger what the hell is this?”
“This is our watcher,” he grumbled. “She’s been coming here for the last three days morning and night. She says she’s looking for Wynette.”
“What the fuck?” Ajax snarled. “Why are you looking for my woman? Who the hell are you and why did you come snooping around us? Who are you working for?”
Fallen swallowed heavily as fear sliced through her. She had no idea Wynette belonged to the bikers. Everyone in town had avoided them, mostly because bikers had a certain reputation. The people in Athens kept to themselves mostly, and they mostly stayed out of the business of the Zetran’s as well. The people here didn’t want trouble. They had seen the bikers and steered clear of any involvement with them.
Especially these bikers. After all, it was one of them, Wynette had supposedly murdered. She felt truly confused now. She had thought they would go after Wynette and that was why she was watching them.
When she returned to live here after so many years away, she had already changed her name and her appearance. Athens was many things but it still held the stink of being corrupt. The Zetrans still ran things and the Sheriff was still in charge. She’d just been a kid when they left ten years ago but now, she was back to find out what happened to her sister.
The man who just questioned her, still glared at her while waiting for his answer.
“I work for Bertie at the diner down the road. My name is Fallen Grey and I had no idea Wynette belonged to you or anyone else here. I heard she got out of prison recently and have been looking for her. Someone mentioned she might be here after they told me of the trouble you caused when she got out. I swear, I just need to speak with her for a few minutes then I’ll go and never come back.”
Her voice was low and her speech was rushed, so much so she barely took a breath until she went silent. She looked around the room with wide eyes. These men should have scared her but when she thought about it, she felt calm inside. She had been leery at first. The one they called Stinger was big and strong and when he glared at her, she had been scared he might hurt her as she had hurt him for sure. But even though, he’d dragged her in here, he hadn’t really hurt her.
The others in the room looked mean and they could definitely take care of themselves but they hadn’t touched her either.
Everyone she talked to in town was afraid of these men for some reason, so they stayed away from them, but no one had actually told her why they were so scary.
Just then, a door opened up and when she turned, she saw two women coming out of what looked like a kitchen. With the door opened, she could see a sink and a stove behind them and another man in there preparing food.
The women stopped in their tracks.
Fallen could see one of them was Wynette. She remembered her from high school. She took a step toward her and whispered her name, “Wynette.”
Wynette looked up and she frowned as she stared at the Fallen. “Do I know you?”
“You used to...A very long time ago.” She took a deep breath and told her, “We went to high school together and we knew each other then, but we weren’t exactly close in those days. But you weren’t very close to anyone, really.”
Ajax walked over to Wynette and wrapping his arm around her he said, “She claims her name is Fallen Grey. She says she came here to ask you something.”
Wynette studied Fallen for a moment then shook her head. “The only Fallen I ever knew was Fallen Whitmore. In or out of high school.”
“Picture my hair a little more red,” Fallen whispered. Her eyes were wide and held more than a little fear in them. “My hair was dark red when we were growing up.”
Wynette began to tremble.
Ajax held her closer. “Babe, what’s wrong?” he called out softly.
“Jolene Whitmore,” Wynette whispered her name.
Ajax stiffened then turned his head to glare at Fallen. “Who are you and don’t lie to us this time.”
Chapter Four
“Forgive me.” Fallen closed her eyes and hung her head. “When we left here ten years ago, my parents changed our last name, so no one here would look for us. After Jolene ran away, Justice Zetran said there was nothing more for us here and we needed to leave. He got my dad fired from his job, so we left.” She lifted her head and finally admitted, “My real name is Fallen Whitmore.”
“Why did you come here?” Fireball demanded.
“I was hoping to ask Wynette if she remembered my sister,” Fallen admitted. “I have looked and looked for her. I knew it was a longshot, but she had to be here, as I watched all the other places in town.”
“I remember her.” Wynette nodded softly.
“I have to ask, did she really run away?” Fallen whispered. “That’s what we were told but we never knew the truth.”
Wynette stared at Fallen for a moment then she slowly shook her head. “No...she didn’t run away.”
Fallen felt the pieces click in place. “You know what happened to her don’t you?”
Wynette nodded. “I was there.”
Fallen just stared at her for a moment, then she admitted what she knew in her heart all these years. She reached up to grab hold of the necklace she always wore.
When she pulled it out from under her shirt, Wynette stared at it in awe. “That’s it.” She went over to Fallen and slowly lifted the symbol from her stiff fingers. The soft metal was smooth to the touch and as her fingers traced the small bolt of lightning on the chain.
“We got these for our tenth birthday,” Fallen explained. “Our uncle fashioned them from an old barn hinge our grandparents had on their barn. It was to help us remember our roots. Jolene and I always wore them.”
Wynette looked over her shoulder at Ajax. “This is what she held in her hands and ripped his face open with. I didn’t think it would do that but it did.”
“What are you talking about?” Fallen asked her frantically. “Is she in trouble? Was she hurt?”
Stinger went over to her, grabbed her shoulders, and just held her. “Fallen, there’s no easy way to say this but your sister died.... She was killed. She was strangled but she marked her killer.”
Fallen felt her knees go weak and without him holding her up, she would have sunk to the floor. She looked up at him and her eyes were dazed and filling with tears. “Oh God,” she whimpered as she realized she’d known all along Jolene hadn’t run away.
Fallen had known Jolene was in trouble back then. She knew her sister had been seeing someone but Jolene never told her his name. She asked but Jolene told her she loved this boy and someday, she would tell the world his name but that for now, she wanted to keep it a secret. Fallen had watched her sister change that summer.
Then a few days before she just dropped out of sight, she had a secret she wouldn’t even share with Fallen.
Fallen remembered that day vividly. Jolene left the house and Fallen was at the window watching her go.
As she hit the sidewalk, Jolene looked back and her eyes caught Fallen’s. She smiled sadly and lifted her hand as if to say goodbye.
Fallen thought it was strange but she’d raised her own hand as well.
She turned to Stinger and sobbed
into his chest.
Her tears soaked his shirt and his arms closed around her shoulders. He just held her while she grieved for her sister.
Fallen finally pushed away from Stinger and turned to look at Wynette. “Do you know what happened?”
Wynette stared at her and nodded slowly. “I witnessed what happened, yes.”
“Can you tell me?” Fallen pleaded with her, “I have to know. She was my sister but she was also my twin. When we were told she ran away, I knew that wasn’t true. She wouldn’t just run away. She wasn’t that type of person to run away from a problem.”
Wynette shook her head. “She didn’t run, in fact she tried to stand up to him.”
Fallen shivered and closed her eyes briefly, and when she opened them she whispered, “Was it Liam Zetran? She thought she was in love with him and as hard as I tried to tell her she was crazy, she never believed me. She even tried to tell me he loved her back. I tried to tell her he was only using her but she wouldn’t believe me.”
Wynette nodded. “He told her flat out he was only using her and I don’t think she believed him either.” She hesitated then pushed on, “Did you know she was carrying his baby? She wasn’t only fighting for herself, she was fighting for her baby as well.”
Fallen shook her head. “I didn’t know. How did he kill her—them?”
Wynette began wringing her hands together and Ajax wrapped her tightly in his arms. He knew this story wouldn’t be easy to tell but he wanted her to know she wasn’t alone anymore.
“They met that day out by Gator Pool.” She named a place only the locals knew about and they usually stayed away from that area in the early morning or late afternoon. It was called Gator Pool for a reason, as in the gators came there looking for food at those times of day.
Fallen began shaking her head. “No, she would never go out to that place. She hated it.”
“They met there,” Wynette insisted. “I have a feeling it was Liam’s idea more than hers. She didn’t look comfortable being there. Anyway, when she told him about the baby he told her he didn’t care, about her or the baby and that he’d been using her the whole time. When she finally stopped fighting him, he carried her over to the pool and tossed her in it. Then he stumbled away, still holding his bleeding face. I-I just don’t want to tell you more than that...it’s too horrible.”
