CLUB TIES (The Trinity Falls Series)

by Mara McBain

  “You don’t know me,” Mox interjected with a chuckle. Zeke grinned.

  “I was going to say it’s a fine and a misdemeanor, if you’re lucky, and a felony if they get you for anything else.”

  Mox nodded, his thoughts going to Eva alone in the apartment all day. As if reading his mind Zeke asked,

  “What do you have at the apartment?”

  “My shotgun is in the closet.”

  “Show her where it is, and make sure she knows how to use it. In the meantime, I’ll let the rest of the club know.”

  “This is my problem. If he comes after her, he’s a dead man.”

  “What affects one Lord affects us all. You know that. From what I know about Soriano, it won’t be him that comes looking. He’s not the type to get his hands dirty. He has thugs for that. The club needs to know so they can take precautions as well. If the way he treated Eva doesn’t give you an indication, he’s never given a shit if women and children get in the way.”

  “I don’t want to get anyone hurt.”

  “I wouldn’t have wanted to put you in the position you ended up in either, but we’re family,” Zeke said, clapping him on the back. “We better get back inside before your over-protective mommy comes to check on you.”

  Mox snorted and punched his father in the shoulder, making the older man stumble a step and grin.

  “What did Becca do to the Shelby?”

  “Figures it was that crazy bitch,” Zeke said, shaking his head. “She keyed it good. It’s down to the metal in places. It’s not something that’s going to buff out.”

  “He kicked her out tonight and said they were done.”

  “For how long this time? A week? A month?”

  Mox shrugged. He couldn’t argue with their father’s cynical take. They’d all seen it before. A shadow fell across the square of light from the window above, and he glanced up. He couldn’t see much through the slatted blinds, but knew in his gut that it was Eva. He had seen her unease when Zeke said he wanted to talk to them outside. Her concern fueled his hope that maybe her feelings for him could grow outside the realm of protector. In the meantime, he would take what he could get.

  Chapter ~ 18

  Tears coursed down age-worn cheeks. The woman stared stupidly at the broken shards of china littering the kitchen floor, her gnarled hands clasped tight in prayer. Rocco snorted. Like God was going to save her. A soft cry escaped her as one of his men buried a boot in her husband’s midsection. The old man let out a rattling wheeze, blood frothing his trembling lips. He wasn’t going to make it much longer.

  Closing his fist in the bitch’s grey curls, Rocco wrenched her head back.

  “I’m losing patience. Where is she?”

  “I-I told you. We haven’t seen her.”

  “Now why don’t I believe that?”

  “Whatever you did to her this time, she didn’t come here,” the old man rasped.

  “What I did to your precious granddaughter is drag her out of flea-bitten poverty and offer her a life few can even imagine,” Rocco forced out between clenched teeth. “So I’m sure you can understand that I don’t appreciate having the little princess spit in my face and disappear.”

  “I’m sure it’s a misunderstanding. She’s just scared.”

  “Scared? Hmm, no, I don’t think so. Eva’s not that smart,” he said, shaking his head slowly. “But I promise you, when I find her… I’ll educate her for good.”

  “You’re a coward!” the old man barked, fury reddening his jowled face. “You don’t deserve—”

  A shot to the jaw silenced his outburst and toppled the chair onto its side. His wife screamed, struggling against her bonds as she leaned toward his still form.

  “Please, we don’t know where she is!”

  Rocco gripped the old bitch’s face, fingers biting into her wrinkled cheeks as he forced her eyes to his. A glimmer of fire still flickered in their depths. Just like her granddaughter, the biddy didn’t know when to quit. He brushed his knuckles over her flushed cheek. There was quite the familial resemblance. Bits of tooth and blood sprayed from her slack lips as her head snapped to the side under the forceful backhand. When he wrenched her head back around, fear shone from her teary eyes. He smiled. That was better.

  “They don’t have a new number listed for her anywhere I can find. I went through emails and texts and there is nothing in their in-coming or out-going for the past month.”

  Rocco’s teeth ground together. He was getting very tired of being told what the morons couldn’t find. With no cash or friends, the cunt couldn’t have made it far, and yet here he was in Atlanta because he couldn’t trust the stoonods to do their damn job.

  “Not so much as a phone call or a postcard to her dear grandparents?” he said with a chiding cluck of his tongue. “It seems our little Eva really needs to learn some manners.”

  The old woman’s bloody lips trembled as he stroked her cheek with the back of a gloved finger.

  “Think hard, Elaine. If Eva didn’t come to you for help, who else would she reach out to?”

  “I-I don’t know.”

  Her eyes darted to her husband as he stirred with a low groan. Rocco’s cold eyes followed her gaze, and he shook his head in mock sympathy.

  “I don’t think poor Al is going to be able to take too much more. He’s tried to play the gentleman and keep our focus on him, but he’s looking a little rough.”

  “I swear we haven’t heard from Eva in five or six weeks. The last time we spoke with her, she said everything was going well and…and you had bought her a puppy to keep her company. She sounded happy.”

  Rocco’s lips turned up in a smirk. Snapping the furry little rat’s neck had been extremely satisfying, but the look of fear and horror on Eva’s face, that had been priceless.

  “There is no one else you can think of that Eva would contact for money, for shelter?”

  At the negative shake of her head, Rocco raised his hand in a menacing arc. Fear flashed across her face as she flinched away with a cry.

  “She had a couple girlfriends in Cleveland. They wouldn’t have much money, but they might let her stay,” she sobbed.

  “Names and addresses.”

  “Jenna Caffrey and Stacey someone. I don’t know Stacey’s last name or addresses. I swear.”

  Rocco squatted down so he was eye level with the old woman.

  “I’m going to find her. You know that. It will be better for her if she comes home so we can work things out. If she contacts you, you tell her that,” he said softly. Patting her swelling cheek, he smiled. “Not a word to her, or anyone, about our little visit. If you open your mouth, Eva will be dead before my bail money is cold.”

  Chapter ~ 19

  Mox offered her his arm as they crossed the icy, truck stop parking lot. Eva accepted with a smile, and cuddled against his side to escape some of the cutting wind. He’d been a bit quiet since his conversation with his dad the night before. When she’d asked, he had shrugged it off, saying they’d been discussing the vandalism to Rhys’ car. She hadn’t asked him why he and Zeke had walked off alone or why Reaper hadn’t been allowed to be part of the conversation. She hadn’t missed the little negative head shake the Lord’s President had given his Sergeant at Arms before disappearing with the boys. No, she knew better than to ask those questions, but they were eating at her.

  She’d been surprised when he had offered to take her out for breakfast this morning. Okay, offered wasn’t really the word. He had smacked her ass and told her to get up, they were going grocery shopping and out to breakfast. She hid a smile in his sleeve. Secrets or not, why was it that the dominant male thing was so sexy on Mox? After Rocco, she would’ve thought she’d be attracted to the meek accountant type out of pure self-preservation, but Mox’s self-assured strength was so different.

  “I don’t give a fuck if you’re a new mother,” a male voice bellowed. “You get bitchy with me again, and I’ll leave the little sons of bitches in the cold parking
lot.”

  Eva’s round gaze darted to Mox at the angry outburst. Frowning, he hastened his step, dragging her along with him. Rounding one of the big trucks, they spotted a man leaning over a cowering Pit Bull. He spun at their approach, having the good grace to look a little embarrassed.

  “Damn bitch has been snippy ever since she had the pups. I think I startled her when I reached into the sleeper, and she nailed me,” he said, holding his bleeding hand.

  Eva felt Mox relax beside her.

  “You have to watch those protective mamas. You okay?”

  “She got the fleshy part between my thumb and forefinger. I’ll be okay.”

  A couple of pups poked their nose out the door, their paws scrabbling on the edge as they looked at the drop, their butts wiggling. Eva’s heart melted and she curled her fingers in Mox’s coattails to control the urge to grab one of the yipping babies. He glanced over his shoulder at her with a knowing smile and gently pulled her around in front of him.

  “Can she pet the pups?”

  “Sure. Go ahead. Mommy’s okay as long as you don’t startle her. It was my fault. We’ve been traveling together for five years, but I’m not used to the little ones. I’ll be glad when these last two are gone,” the trucker said, pulling a first-aid kit from under his seat.

  Eva scooped up the pure white puppy and snuggled the little girl inside her coat. She nuzzled its soft head and satiny ears, snorting as the wiggly thing turned to lick her nose. Keeping her cradled close, Eva reached out to pet the one still dancing in the doorway.

  “Are they purebred?” Mox asked.

  “They’re a mix. My neighbor’s boxer slipped his collar, and this little hussy got herself knocked up,” the trucker said, scratching the mama’s ears as she pressed apologetically to his leg.

  “How much do you want for them?”

  “Both of them?”

  Mox shrugged, reaching over to play with the steel-gray and white pup in the truck. “My mom lost her Mastiff not long ago. She misses having a dog in the house. It would make a nice Christmas present for her. And of course, something to keep my girlfriend company when I’m at work.”

  Eva’s breakfast threatened to come back up as Mox winked at her. Something to keep my girlfriend company. The words and images of the tiny Yorkshire Terrier Rocco had bought her flashed through her mind as she breathed in the warm puppy smell. Trembling, her eyes flew to Mox. He was a gentle giant. He wasn’t a sick monster like Rocco. Mox wouldn’t harm an animal just to hurt her. He was buying one for Ginny, too. He worshipped Ginny. She held her breath.

  “I don’t want to see them end up in a fighting ring or tossed off to the pound,” the man said uncertainly.

  “I promise they will be spoiled rotten by both women. These two will be so pampered they’ll think they’re lap dogs.”

  “I’ve been selling them for seventy-five apiece.”

  Pulling out his wallet, Mox counted the bills.

  “Will you take a hundred for the two?”

  The trucker glanced her way, and Eva stared at him over the puppy’s head, not sure if she wanted him to say yea or nay.

  “What the hell. Merry Christmas,” he said, shaking Mox’s hand with a grin.

  The pantry shelves nearly groaned under their load as Eva stashed away the last of the groceries. With Handlebars and Hotrods giving out their yearend bonus this week, both guys had set a bit aside to stock-up. No one was going to starve anytime soon. Stuffing the plastic bags in a drawer, Eva smothered a giggle as the male puppy raced out of the laundry room dragging the house training pad with him.

  “Come here, baby. That’s not a toy, little man,” she cajoled, prying open little jaws and disengaging needle sharp teeth. Seeing Eva on the floor, the little white female charged across the kitchen to join in the play. “You’re not helping, Vixen,” Eva laughed as the little girl pounced on the pad, growling ferociously.

  “Vixen, huh?” Mox asked from the doorway.

  Brushing off her jeans, Eva tried to hide her blush behind a curtain of hair. She hastily returned the pad to the laundry room, securing a corner under the dryer leg as the puppies scampered around her feet.

  “I was just thinking something with a Christmas theme would be cute,” she said softly.

  “I like that, and it fits her personality,” Mox said as the little girl pounced on her larger brother, and the two pups rolled across the floor growling and wrestling.

  “It’s up to you; or we can keep the boy if you like.”

  Mox frowned, his forehead furrowing in confusion.

  “I bought her for you as an early Christmas present, but I haven’t said anything to Gin yet if you’d rather have the male.”

  “No, she’s beautiful.”

  “Then she’s yours. Merry Christmas a little early,” he said, snagging her sweater to pull her into a hug.

  “You spoil me. How about she’s ours?”

  Mox tilted her face up. What was he missing? Worry and fear darkened her eyes. Tracing a thumb over her bottom lip, he wished he could read the thoughts behind the indigo mirrors. Something was bothering her, and it was clear she didn’t want to talk about it. Forcing his lips up into a little smile, he dropped a kiss on her nose. “I like the sound of ours.”

  It was obviously the right answer.

  Eva beamed, dimples popping and a breathy sigh of relief escaping her lips. Standing on tiptoe, she gave him a long slow kiss. “I love ours.”

  “In that case, everything is ours,” Mox said, picking her up and spinning across the kitchen. “How about we lock our little Vixen and her brother in the laundry room and go do our Christmas shopping? We haven’t even got our tree yet.”

  Eva’s smile widened. She’d already waxed poetic at the thought of decorating a tree and having, what she had called, a real, old-fashioned Christmas. Her childlike excitement was catching. He spun in circles until she laughed breathlessly and clung to him.

  “I knew shopping would cheer you up,” Mox said with a teasing wink.

  “And here I thought your wallet was bare after the puppies,” she said, giving his ass a grope.

  “I’d be nice to my wallet if I were you. That was just the cash I kept out for the week. I deposited the rest of my paycheck and the bonus check. I still have a debit card.”

  “I like your ass a lot more than your wallet. I promise,” she said, a hint of worry coloring her tone.

  Mox knocked off the teasing before the shadows could touch her eyes again and gave her ass a gentle swat. “I know you do, baby. That’s just one more reason to spoil you. Let’s roll.”

  Ginny grunted as she pulled another tote off the storage room shelf. This was ridiculous. Every nook and cranny of the house was already adorned for the season. Brushing hair out of her face, she popped the lid and shook her head at the assortment of lights, ornaments, and knickknacks still in their packages. How in the hell had she accumulated so many holiday decorations? No wonder Zeke groused every year when she hit the after Christmas sales. Grabbing a couple of empty containers, she started sorting out decorations for the boys’ apartment and The Lantern.

  Done at last, Ginny leaned against the wall and blew out her breath, surveying her work. Six totes had been reduced down to four and earmarked for the apartment, Lantern, or clubhouse. Giving the corner of one an experimental tug, she groaned and shook her head. She had men for manual labor. Shoving off the wall, she went in search of one.

  Murphy turned the photograph to get a better look at the Soriano enforcer. The guy looked about his size, five-ten, around a buck eighty.

  “This is their muscle?”

  Zeke nodded, lighting up a cigar.

  “Let me guess. He’s former military and never brings a knife to a gun fight?”

  “Bingo, but you left out the martial arts mumbo jumbo. They have plenty of goons, but Constantine Chelios is the brawn with the brains and their go-to guy. He was the old man’s personal bodyguard until he passed and Rocco took the reins two years
ago. The guy’s smart and careful. Nothing sticks.”

  “What about the kid?”

  “Rocco’s an arrogant punk. He’s hot headed with a keen sense of entitlement. It wasn’t until he took over that we started hearing the whispers of human trafficking. He’s a sadist that rules with fear. Gin said that Eva has scars on her back, and one of the girls I talked to the other day said that he burned another girl’s face a couple of weeks ago for shits and giggles.”

  “Sounds like a charmer,” Murphy muttered, spinning a couple of other photos from the file to squint at them. “Any chance he knows Eva’s in Trinity Falls?”

  “There’s always a chance. I thought I’d flash these pictures around at the club meeting tonight. Strangers tend to stand out in Trinity. Most of the others work in town. They’ll be able to keep an eye out during the day when we’re on shift. Gin’s reopening The Lantern this week.”

  “The more eyes, the better,” Murphy said, nodding.

  “I hate to interrupt your Powwow, but any chance I can borrow your muscles to load some totes in the Durango?” Ginny asked from the doorway.

  “If it means shit is leaving the house instead of coming in, you bet.”

  “You made your point. All the Christmas stuff not currently being displayed is being donated to the boys, the pub, or the clubhouse,” Ginny said, rolling her eyes. “That is, if I can get your cooperation, Officer.”

  Zeke smirked around his cigar and stood from behind his desk, waving a hand at Murphy.

  “When you ask so nice, how can I say no?”

  Stealing the stogie from between his teeth, Ginny leaned up to give him a kiss. “I’ll go open the hatch and lay the seats down. Anything I should know about?”

  Following her nod to the file spread across his desk, he shook his head.

  “Nothing to worry about, baby. Just work.”

  “You said you were going to show it to the guys and mentioned the pub.”

  “Club business isn’t your business. Go open the Durango.”