As I stepped out of the shower, dried off, and went into the bedroom to get dressed, the only thing running through my head was Kathryn Stevens had been mine since she was six years old and pushed me in the pool when I told her girls couldn’t swim as good as boys.
I left the bedroom without a word to the woman in the bed, it might make me a dick but to me, she and every other woman I’d bedded had only been to fill a need until I pulled my head out of my ass and went after what had always been mine.
First, Haven had to be cleared of its issues, then I had a woman to claim. I had a feeling the first was going to be a helluva lot easier than the second.
When I walked into the kitchen of the clubhouse, I found Wild Bill sitting at the table drinking coffee. I went to the counter and poured a cup and joined him.
“You’re lookin’ a little rough around the edges.” He smirked at me over the rim of the coffee cup he put to his lips. He seemed in a better mood than he’d left in last night.
“Yeah, yeah, Prez, laugh it up. My dad called me this morning and after I tell you what he said, you won’t find anything funny.” He sat the coffee cup down, and sat up straight in his chair.
“Really, like shit couldn’t get any worse than we have been dealing with.”
“Maybe, but not in the way you think. Hell, I find the shit hard to believe but my old man may have helped us and not even know it.” I took a drink of my coffee and informed Wild Bill of everything I knew. He listened without a word until I was finished.
“Sonofabitch. Text the others and tell them to get their sorry asses in here for church. And when you are done getting a hold of them, have Shock and Freak join us. I want some answers now and that piece of shit in the basement is going to give them to me.” He pushed back his chair and on his way out of the kitchen, he yelled over his shoulder as I was dialing my phone. “I’ll be in my office when they arrive. That’s where we will meet.”
Forty minutes later, Keg, Crank, Tram, Pinch, Hawk, and I sat in the Prez’s office. And if we weren’t preparing to talk about some serious shit, when Shock and Freak walked in I would have laughed. They would only sit in on the part of the meeting that concerned them but you could tell they were out of their element as they took the two empty chairs at the table. With everyone present that needed to be there, Prez started right in.
“Some stuff has been brought to my attention and though I would love nothing better than to let Stone and Jacks sit down in those cells and sweat for a few days about what we are going to do to them, we need answers.
“Shock and Freak, you got any issues doing your thing?” Prez looked down the table at the two men.
“No problem at all, Prez,” Freak answered first.
“Never liked that bastard. He was a brother and our VP, I would have done for him what I would do for any other brother in this club but that didn’t mean I had to like him. So now that he is out, I’m with Freak, no problem. Might need a new battery but we will get what answers you need.”
I could almost feel sorry for Stone and Jacks, almost. We’d heard some of the shit Stone had done to Shock and Freak back in the day and if he had pulled that shit after we joined, VP or not, he would have gone down. The worst Roach had told us about was one night after a club party, Stone, Jacks, and Creeper had gone to the basement after Shock and Freak had went to bed and let off fireworks in the common area. Not only did the dumbasses almost catch the room on fire, it had sent Shock and Freak into battlefield mode. They thought it would scare them, instead they came out of their rooms in full battle gear, crawling on their bellies and firing into the room. Stone and his flunkies laughed upstairs when the gunfire started going off, well, until a shot came through the floor, missing Stone’s foot by inches. Everyone at the clubhouse had cleared out and three days passed before anyone stepped back into the clubhouse. Wild Bill’s dad had to grease quite a few palms so charges weren’t filed all around. Not to mention the repairs to the clubhouse, which he made Stone and his guys pay for, which didn’t make their love for Shock or Freak to grow.
“Whatever you need, let Moose know. One of us will be down when you are ready to start so questions can be asked. I would suggest Stone be first up, he will try to hold out, which will make Jacks wonder if Stone is throwing him under the bus. Jacks will break some but I don’t think he knows everything. However, if we keep him talking awhile before he is taken back to the cell, Stone will be sweating and his second round should go so much easier.
“So, Shock, you and Freak get your toys ready, see if you need anything. We’ll finish and then check with you to make sure you are ready.” Shock and Freak left and when the door closed behind them, Wild Bill continued.
“I’m going to turn the meeting over to Moose so he can tell you what his father found out. After he is finished, we’ll decide how to proceed.” Everyone nodded in agreement and then all eyes turned toward me.
I went over everything my father told me, the guys listened just as Wild Bill had done earlier. When I was done, it seemed the other men were as shocked as I was about what Stone had been up to.
“How did he know the account with Haven wasn’t ours?” Hawk asked.
“He knew it was another account because he handles our brokerage fund personally. He is the one who gives us the list of stocks he thinks we should invest in and then we vote on the ones we want to go with. Paul’s account isn’t under Haven, it’s under Stone’s name but had him listed as VP of Haven MC. It brought up a red flag for my dad and he investigated a little and that’s where we are at right now,” Hawk nodded in understanding as I spoke.
“Moose, we need to stay in touch with your dad, especially if he is going to monitor Paul’s accounts to see if anything else pops up we could use.”
“You got it, Prez.”
“Great. Now before we get started, I wanted to tell you we have about a month before you boys have to leave on a job. I just got the paperwork today from General Patel, so let’s get this wrapped up. It’s time to get the club in fit working order and that means cutting the fat out.”
We hashed out a plan and when we finished, I was to be up first for Stone duty. The only thing running through my mind was, let the fun begin.
Chapter Four
Moose
Jacks was sitting on the cot in his cell when I walked in the room. He stood when he noticed me.
“What the fuck is going on?” His voice panicky when he asked, telling me what I already knew, that Shock and Freak had come for Stone.
“Ah, you decide it was time to talk? Stone did too. He is telling Shock and Freak one hell of a story. I find it hard to believe that you were actually that smart, not including you had any friends outside the club. Especially friends with any kinda of power.” I watched Jacks’s face and saw exactly what I was looking for—belief that his buddy was selling him out. Fuck, this might be easier than we thought.
“Stone wouldn’t give me up. You’re lying.” The paranoia had begun and it would be what took them both down.
“Sure, ‘cause he is one trustworthy brother there. What did he promise you, Jacks? Money, women, power? You are dumb if you think he had any plans sharing shit with you.” I watched his eyes, he wanted to talk but wasn’t quite ready to let it all out, so yeah, I’d leave him with something to think about until his turn was up. “Heard Kosnoff was a smart businessman. Can’t imagine he would leave two loose ends dangling. Well, what would I know?” Jacks’s eyes flashed. Yeah, I got the response I wanted. I turned toward the door, and just as it opened and Mondo walked in carrying food, if I hadn’t been paying close attention, I would have missed the slightest shift in his facial expression.
“Oh, Moose, didn’t know you were down here. Where’s the other piece of shit? I was told to bring down some food for them.” Mondo glanced at the empty cell by Jacks’s and then back to me.
“Just leave his. He’ll be back, maybe.” Mondo walked in the open cell and sat a plate down on the empty cot before sliding the extr
a plate through the slot in Jacks’s cell door.
“Good to know.” I waited till Mondo walked back out.
“Enjoy, Jacks, you’ll be up next,” I said and walked out, closing the door behind me. It was time for me to see exactly what Shock and Freak were up to with Stone.
I moved to the end of the hall and pulled the key out for the door. It was made of heavy metal, soundproofed just like the rest of the room, and it had an automatic locking mechanism when it closed. The way to enter or exit was with a key and the only members outside of leadership to have a key were Shock and Freak.
The door opened and my first thought was, damn, wished I hadn’t eaten so much at lunch. The room was going to need bleached and aired out by the time this was finished. The urine smell alone was strong, add body odor, and you had a volatile combo for your senses.
Stone was chained by his wrist to the ceiling, his feet barely would reach the floor if he dropped them. Stone had his legs bent at the knee to keep them front hitting the water that sat in the square enclosure beneath him. Meant the drain that was in the center of the enclosed tub-like square was closed. Sweat poured down Stone’s face and I didn’t know if it was from him struggling to keep his legs up or the fact that the battery cables were hooked to the chains which enclosed his wrists or maybe he didn’t like snakes, especially the one Freak currently held in his hands.
“Mind if I sit in on this party, brothers?” I asked as I grabbed the chair against the wall, moved it in front of where Stone was hanging, and sat down.
“Have at it, Moose. I was just about ready to let Jasmine show Stone some love,” Freak said as he walked closer to Stone with the Boa wrapped around his neck and arms. When he started unwrapping it from his body, the snake began to wrap herself around Stone’s waist and started to make her way up his body. I had to give it to Stone, he was screaming even if he had lost control of his bladder.
“Stone, you can stop this anytime if you give us the information we want. Let’s start with something easy like—who’s the snitch that is left the club? Don’t think of it as throwing someone under the bus because hey, we know someone has been giving you info, that was why you were able to stay hidden from us for so long.” I waited while he watched the snake work its way up his chest. When she reached his left shoulder and then slithered behind him to come to reach the other shoulder, not only adding more weight to his already straining body but circling him until most of its body was wrapped around his neck and chest. I saw the panic in his eyes as they cut to me but I wasn’t sure it was enough for him to give over any information.
“Fuck you and Haven. You think this shit it going to break me? There is nothing you can do to me that will be worse than what happens if I talk so go for it.” I shook my head at his words, ‘cause he was going to break, he just needed the ante upped.
“Oh, you mean Kosnoff. Think he is going to waste resources to come here to get you out? Jacks already said you didn’t have anything to offer Kosnoff and that is why he stopped using you to run his drugs and cut you off. Oh he kept you on the payroll while you were trying to regroup to try again with Haven but you didn’t count on someone else’s initiative in stepping up and filling your spot, did you?” Without answering me, I knew I had Stone right where I wanted him. Between him and Jacks’ and their issues with trust, they were going to take the damn fun out of watching them break.
“You don’t know dick. You think I don’t know what you are trying to do? The whole lot of you think you are smarter than everyone else. Jacks knows only what I tell him and nothing more, so if you have Kosnoff info it came from someplace else because all that dumbshit knows is the man’s name.” Stone’s breathing came harder the more he talked.
“Having a little trouble breathing there? Every breath you take talking, Jasmine squeezes a little tighter.” I watched as Stone tried to slow his breathing as the Boa tightened more on his chest. I glanced over at Freak who was watching closely, he knew when it would be time to unwrap his pet before she smothered Stone to death. Shock stood by waiting for his opportunity. He wouldn’t turn the battery charger on as long as the snake was attached, Freak would never forgive him if Jasmine was harmed.
“You’ll not gonna kill me, you need me. You think Kosnoff didn’t do his own checking? He knows about all of you, your families, your women.” Stone sneered the last part. That told me he not only knew about Katie being Paul’s daughter, he knew about her and I. Not good but I would handle that later.
“Ah, Stone, when did you lose your faith in us to get a job done. Isn’t that why you took off? I’ll tell you the same as I told Jacks, Kosnoff won’t let loose ends dangle long.” Stone started to cough and Freak moved in and with Shock’s help they began to unwrap Jasmine from his body. Once he was freed from the snake’s grasp he took several deep breaths but I noticed his legs trembled and they had dropped almost to the water. It was time to push him.
“You don’t know who you are messing with. Do you think I’m scared of what you can do to me?” Stone continued to talk and catch his breath at the same time. I waited and when his coughing eased he went on. “Get on with it or take me back to my cell.”
Stone no sooner got the words out that his feet hit the water, and Shock hit the switch on the battery. Stone screamed as the current shot through his body. Shock hit the switch again and the battery shut off.
“You’re not in charge here, asshole,” Shock warned.
“You know, I’m tired of this already. Never had much patience, so, Stone, when you are ready to talk, let Shock and Freak know. I’ll be back then.” I stood and placed the chair back against the wall as Stone watched my every move. As I walked to the door, I reached in my pocket for the key. With the key in my hand, I turned to my brothers and nodded. “Do your thing, let me know when he’s ready,” I said to them and placed the key in the lock as Freak took the cover off a blacked out box setting on the table. I paused and watched as he reached in and pulled out his next surprise, his pet rattler.
“Sure you don’t want to stick around and watch, Moose?” Freak asked as he held the snake in his hands. His hands and arms were covered in thick rubber gloves that reached well past his elbows.
“Nah, just make sure the anti-venom is close. Don’t want him dying quite yet.” I opened the door and walked out without a second glance at Stone. He’d learn real quick he wasn’t the only one who could play hardball.
I pulled the door behind me and when it shut, the sound of Stone’s cries of pain were shut with it. I locked it back and headed down the hall. I figured by the time I got back upstairs and talked with the others to see if anything else was found out, Stone would be ready to talk when I got back.
Chapter Five
Katie
The brokerage offices of Stevens and Harris were on the top floor of the twenty story high-rise. I stepped out of the elevator and walked up to the reception desk. My shift last night had been uneventful, which I was grateful, because after the chat with my dad yesterday, my mind hadn’t been focused on work.
“Ms. Stevens, so nice to see you but your father isn’t in,” Carla said. She’d worked for the firm for as long as I could remember. “Oh shoot, I mean Dr. Stevens.”
“Don’t worry about it, Carla, it isn’t a big deal. But is Mr. Harris in? I wanted to speak with him.” She turned toward her computer and typed, then turned back to me.
“Mr. Harris is in but let me ring Brenda, his secretary, and see if he has time to see you.” She picked up the phone and punched in Brenda’s extension.
“I appreciate it, Carla,” I said and waited while she spoke to Brenda and then sat the receiver down.
“Go on back, Dr. Stevens. Mr. Harris is free and will see you.” I thanked Carla and headed down the hallway, when I rounded the corner, Brenda’s desk sat to the right in front of double wooden doors that were closed but led into Louis Harris’s office.
“Hi, Dr. Stevens. Mr. Harris is on the phone but if you have a seat when he is finished, he
will see you.”
“Thanks,” I said and sat in one of the leather chairs that sat against the wall. Ten minutes couldn’t have passed before Mr. Harris’s voice come through Brenda’s intercom to say he would see me now.
Brenda rose and went to the double doors, grabbed one handle, and opened the door. She stepped to the side to allow me to enter. Louis Harris came around his desk and hugged me. He was as tall as his son was when I’d last seen Linc and their similarities in looks was uncanny. Louis had the same dark hair with the exception of the grey that made an appearance at his temples but the green eyes were the same shade as Linc’s eyes. When I looked at Louis, I imagined that would be what Linc would look like when he reached his father’s age.
“Katie bug, you look great,” he said, then held me at arm’s length and looked me over. “I have a feeling I know why you are here. I’m sorry about all this.” I hadn’t seen Mr. Harris for months. Not only had I lost Linc, it had felt like I’d lost a second family because I had spent so much time at their house.
“Mr. Harris, you have nothing to be sorry for. My dad brought all this on himself. I came to see you because I want to know the truth of it all. I don’t believe all he told me yesterday. How much trouble is my dad really in?” He led me to the chair in front of his desk and then took his own seat.
“I’m waiting for the auditing team’s assessment to see how bad, then the SEC will get involved. After speaking to my attorney, he made a discreet call to the DA, they went to law school together. Anyway, as soon as the Kosnoff was mentioned, they knew exactly who he was and it isn’t good. The Feds have been after him for years, they can’t get enough info on him to charge him with anything substantial. The man is into a lot of shit though. They even had one of their own go undercover to try to infiltrate Kosnoff’s ranks but they fingered him in less than a week and the Feds damn near didn’t get the agent out in time. Anyway, my attorney was told that Paul may be able to work out a plea for a lesser sentence if he turns evidence against Kosnoff over but they couldn’t guarantee it. That would have to come from the Feds and it would depend on what and how much information Paul had to give them. But, Katie, please watch out, if your dad does have to go that route, Kosnoff could come after you, your mother, or anyone who would give him the upper hand to keep your father quiet.” We talked about everything Louis had found out so far and I told him what I knew and that the info had come from my father.
Snatched: MC Romance (Haven MC Book 1) Page 4
