by Geri Glenn
His jaw ticks as he listens to the caller. “Get them back here. I’ll call Reaper.”
With that, he shoves the phone back in his pocket and stalks towards the door. Just as he’s about to leave, he turns to me. “Need you at the clubhouse in fifteen minutes. Send out a text and let the others know, and tell them it’s an emergency.” He jams his fingers through his hair. “Fuck,” he shouts. “I was supposed to go to my daughter’s tonight. She’s gonna fuckin’ kill me. It was a big deal for her.”
“Sorry, Prez,” I murmer, not sure what’s going on. He waves me off and stalks across the parking lot to the clubhouse. I activate my phone and send out a group text to every brother, telling them to get their asses back to base.
Ellen
I’m at work, enjoying my lunch in the break room when my phone rings. It’s an unknown number. I hesitate, wondering if I should answer it, or let it go straight to voicemail. Even with the impending court date tomorrow, I still have to screen my calls at all hours of the day.
Paul won’t stop. I never answer his calls, but he leaves messages for Bryce, as if Bryce is hearing the messages himself. They’re long, and unbelievably creepy.
The one instance, I did make the mistake of answering. Paul had gotten very gruff and confrontational, demanding that I let him speak with his son. I’d hung up, right after he’d threatened to show up at my house and shove my phone up my ass. I keep the phone calls listed on my phone, ready to show the judge exactly what I’ve been dealing with, but I wish there was a way to go back and record that particular conversation.
Worried that it might be important, I answer. “Hello?”
“Hey, El.”
His voice is smooth as silk, and makes my heart race. “Jase?”
“Yeah. Charlie gave me your number.”
I don’t know what to say. My heart is firmly lodged in my throat, and the butterflies in my belly are threatening to carry me away. I didn’t think I’d even hear from Jase again once he learned I had a kid, and after the way Bryce had spoken to him, I figured he’d be long gone by now.
“I just wanted to call and let you know that I wouldn’t be able to pick you up from work today. Something came up here at the clubhouse, and it’s gonna keep me tied up for a while.”
I clear my throat and try to control the quiver in my voice. “You were supposed to pick me up?”
“El.”
He says it just like that, like I should know better. “I didn’t know if I would hear from you again after yesterday,” I admit.
“Please,” he snorts. “It takes more than a pissed-off kid to scare me away. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m kind of a badass.”
I can’t help the laugh that escapes my lips. “Really? I hadn’t noticed at all.”
“Nah, you noticed. And you liked it.”
“Okay. So you’re not picking me up. I appreciate you letting me know.”
“I want to see you. I can pick you up tomorrow.”
“I’m not working tomorrow.”
“Well then, let’s go for a ride.”
I bite my lip to hide my smile, my heart thumping at the excitement I hear in his voice. He really does want to see me again, and that’s good for any girl’s ego, but it’s especially good for mine.
“I can’t,” I say, surprised at how disappointed it makes me feel. “I have plans tomorrow.”
“Hot date?” he teases. If he only knew how badly I wished that were true. I would much rather be on a date with Jase than sitting in a stuffy old courtroom with Paul and his vulture of a lawyer.
“Yep. Sorry.”
“The next day then,” he says, clearly not giving up.
I can’t contain my smile. “I can do the next day. I’m off that day too.”
“I’ll pick you up at eleven. We’ll grab some lunch.”
“Okay,” I whisper. God, I hope I don’t end up regretting this, but Julie’s right. I need to live my life too.
“Okay,” he says. “See you then.”
“See you then.”
“Oh, and El?”
“Yeah?”
“Pack a swimsuit.”
I hear his soft chuckle just before the phone disconnects. I can’t believe I just said yes. I just accepted a date with Jase Matthews.
CHAPTER NINE
Jase
As soon as I hang up the phone, I hurry across the lot and into the clubhouse. Everyone else is starting to arrive, but there’s no sign of Gunner. Bosco comes in and looks around the room, stopping when his eyes land on me. His long legs eat up the distance between us.
“What’s going on? Prez doesn’t usually hold church at this time of day.”
“Don’t know. He got a call that pissed him off, told me to get everyone here for church, but I haven’t seen him since.”
Ryker comes rushing in, Reaper hot on his heels, medical bag in hand. This isn’t good.
The two men hurry down the hall without a glance in our direction, moving towards the bedrooms in the back.
I look around. Just about everyone is here. The Kings of Korruption is changing. Not long ago, we were down to only ten patched members. We’d done some recruiting since then, and now we’ve become a larger group with over twenty patched members, both young and old. Everyone has a job to do, and everyone knows their place. Seeing Lucy and Pepper over in the corner, I realize that even the whores have shown up to see what’s going on.
By the time Tease arrives, we’ve already been sitting here for twenty minutes, but there’s been no movement from down the hall. We wait another fifteen before he stalks over to the bar. “Fuck this, man. I need a fuckin’ beer.”
He’s pulling one from the fridge when Ryker comes down the hall and into the room. “Church in five, boys.” His voice sounds drained and weary. I catch his eye and raise my brow, wanting to know what the hell is happening down there, but he shakes his head.
Five minutes later, everyone is in their seats around the table, or along the side walls. Nobody says anything as we walk inside. I see two of our older members, Slots and Shady, sitting in their places, their faces beat to hell. Shady has his arm in a cast.
“Let’s get to it, shall we?” Gunner drawls. “As you can all see, Slots and Shady had a little trouble today. The two of them were out on a supply run and stopped at a gas station, but never bothered to notice the crew of Crips that had probably been following them the entire fucking ride.”
I watch the faces of every man in the room, and they are pissed. These fucking Crips. They seem to get bolder every day.
“Believe it or not, these two were lucky. It could’ve been a whole lot worse. I’d have them tell you the story, but it seems Slots’ jaw is broken, and he needs to get his ass to the hospital so they can wire the fuckin’ thing shut, so I’ll summarize. They stopped at the gas station over on Hillside, went inside to pay, and when they came out, their bikes were gone. There were five gangbangers waiting to drag them around back and kick their asses, and as you can see, they did.”
Slots and Shady look up from the table while Gunner speaks, and I feel my anger boiling close to the surface. Neither one of them are big fighters, both of them tough in their own way, but not known for cracking skulls. The fact that it took a group of them to beat the shit out of two old men is a joke.
“Those Crips could have killed these two, but they didn’t,” Gunner continues. “They didn’t because they weren’t looking for a war… yet.” I snap my eyes to Gunner and I’m pretty sure the other guys do to. “This was a warning. Those fuckers know we killed their men, and they aren’t going to let it go. They’re biding their time, but make no mistake. They’re coming for us.”
Ryker and I exchange a look. He’s thinking what I’m thinking. The last time something like this happened, our prospect, Mouse, got shot and killed, gutting every single brother in here. We can’t let that shit happen again.
“We’re back to vigilance boys. You know the drill. No man alone, always carry a gun, and keep
your eyes peeled for suspicious vehicles carrying gangbangers. Any questions?”
Reaper speaks first, “Aren’t we gonna fuckin’ do something about this? Retribution? We can’t just let this shit slide.”
Gunner nods. “Oh, we’re not. I put a call into Tip, my contact with the Bloods. Told him we need some more intel on where these fuckers hang out, where they live. He’s gathering the info for me now, and I should have it by the end of the day. After that, we’ll figure out a plan of attack, but trust me when I say that this will not go unpunished. Nobody fucks with the Kings of Korruption.” He looks around at all of us, his eyes fierce and angry. “Anything else?”
Nobody says a word. Gunner lifts his gavel and brings it down with a bang. “Then we’re done here. Go home, fuck your women, and for the love of God, watch your backs.”
Ellen
A brief phone call last night with Stella McRae did nothing to mentally prepare me for the fear I I felt when I walked into this courthouse this morning. My heart hammers against my chest and my mouth runs dry when I enter the crowded waiting room. Stella had told me that only her and Paul’s lawyer would go inside the courtroom to present our cases to the judge. I haven’t seen her yet, but I can only assume she’s here somewhere, and is much more prepared for this than I am.
Long wooden benches line all four walls, each crammed full of people doing their damnedest to ignore everyone else. I find an empty space between a young girl in her early twenties who looks bored out of her mind, and a tall, attractive, dark-skinned man in his thirties. Neither acknowledges me when I sit.
Looking around, I’m relieved to see that Paul isn’t here. Maybe he won’t show. Maybe he was all talk. I barely finish that thought before he struts into the room, his shoulders squared, and his eyes narrow in on me.
He walks over and stands in front of me, smirking. “Ellen.”
I look up at him, not knowing how to respond. My lawyer told me that under no circumstances was I to engage Paul in any conversation whatsoever. She told me that I should avoid him at all costs and document everything he says when he attempts to contact me.
“Oh, what? Now you’re just going to ignore me?”
Before I can respond, Stella walks in alongside a man, both in black robes. They stop and she motions for me, while the man next to her motions for Paul.
Walking off to the side where we can speak privately, Stella keeps her voice low. “I’ll go in there, plead your case, and hear what the plaintiff’s party has to say. There’s no doubt in my mind that the judge will remand this case to a later date. He’s going to want clarification and evidence on some of the issues being brought forth. You just have to wait out here and be available in case the judge wants to talk to you, but I doubt he will.”
“Okay,” I respond, my body wound tight with fear. Stella turns and heads for the door, waiting for the bailiff to open it. Just as she’s about to go in, she gives me a wink and disappears inside.
Paul’s lawyer must have spoken to him about talking to me because he takes a seat on the far side of the room. Though he doesn’t attempt to converse with me again, he stares at me the entire time, making me squirm in my seat. The man to my left leans over and raises his chin in Paul’s direction.
“That your ex?”
I give him a tired smile and answer, “Yes.”
“Guy’s a creep. Good on ya for gettin’ away from that crazy fucker.”
I smile wide. “How can you tell he’s creepy?” I whisper back.
“Look at the way he’s lookin’ at ya. That shit’s not cool.” He doesn’t take his eyes off Paul as he speaks. “When you leave, let me walk you to your car, okay?”
I pull away in surprise. “How do I know you’re any safer?”
He looks away from Paul and grins at me. “I guess you don’t, but I will tell ya that I’m a happily married man.” He points at his wedding ring. “And I’m worried that this guy will give ya trouble when you try to leave. You don’t need that.”
Warmth fills my belly at his kindness. His wife is one lucky lady. “Okay, but I don’t have a car. I’m calling a cab.”
“Then I’ll wait with ya for your cab.” I can tell he’s not going to budge on the issue.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
Just then, the doors to the courtroom creak open and both lawyers walk into the room. Stella motions for me to follow her, her mouth drawn into a tight line. I follow her up a steep set of concrete stairs and down a narrow carpeted hallway, right into a small interview room.
I take a seat next to her and wait for her to speak. “That Paul is a real piece of work, and he’s not going to go down without a fight. This is what we have. If you agree, you sign this paper and we can all go home until the next court date, which will be in two weeks.”
She holds a stack of papers out to me, but uses her finger to point at each paragraph as it explains the terms. “The judge has granted Paul weekly visitation, but since he’s had limited contact with Bryce, she agreed that supervised visits are best while we continue our case.” Her finger moves to the next paragraph. “Paul claims that you moved out of your parents’ house in an attempt to hide from him when your child was born.”
I blink at her in complete shock. “My parents kicked me out, and I was a child myself. I went to live with my friend and her family, and Paul and I continued to go to the same school for the rest of that year. I never hid from him!” My nostrils flare and I can feel the heat of my rage right to the tips of my ears.
“Do you have someone to prove that?”
I don’t hesitate. “School records? My best friend has been with me through it all, so she can testify to all of it.”
“Good. Now, the last thing that was brought up is that you are heavily involved with a well known organized crime ring.”
My mouth drops to the floor. “What? I’m a nurse. I take care of dying people.”
“According to Paul, your son contacted him yesterday, scared because you were affiliated with the Kings of Korruption motorcycle club. Is this true?”
I can’t breathe. Bryce had called Paul about Jase? Was Bryce scared of Jase? And an organized crime ring? I know the Kings have a reputation, but is that what they are? “I have a friend I work with who’s married to one of their members. I know some of the guys because their friend was in my care, but I don’t know anything about organized crime. They’re just a bunch of guys that ride motorcycles as far as I’m concerned.”
Stella’s lips press into a thin, harsh line. “I’m afraid the judge doesn’t see it that way. The Kings are known for their illegal activity, and if you’re affiliated with them in any way, you make Paul’s case much stronger.”
Bile begins to rise up my throat. I listen to the rest of Stella’s rundown, desperately trying to understand everything she says, but all I can think of is that even being friends with Jase could cost me my son. I haven’t even left the courthouse yet when I send him a text to cancel our date.
Me: I’m sorry, Jase, but no date tomorrow. And no more rides home. I need to focus on my kid.
CHAPTER TEN
Jase
It’s eleven o’clock the next day when I pull up in front of Ellen’s house. I’d gotten her sorry excuse for cancelling our date, and it seems like her and I need to have a little chat about that. We’d made plans, and I have every intention to follow through on them.
Walking up the steps to her house, I realize just how quiet her neighborhood is. The perfect neighborhood for a family. It’s certainly not the type of place I’ve ever spent any amount of time in—I’d never lived in a house before in my life. My dad and I had a shitty apartment once, but for the most part, we lived at the clubhouse. It made it easier for my dad to do club shit and get laid.
I raise my fist and knock on the door. Hearing her footsteps coming closer from inside, I prepare myself for an argument. If there’s one thing I’ve learned about Ellen in the last couple of weeks, it’s that she’s consistent. She’s into me, I k
now she is, but she won’t let herself admit it.
The door swings open and Ellen quickly grabs my arm, yanking me inside. I’d expected her to throw a fit while I was still outside, so already, I feel like I’ve won.
“What are you doing here?” she hisses. “Didn’t you get my text?”
I cross my arms and stare at her. “I got it. I just didn’t like it.”
“Well too bad!” she cries. “Whether you liked it or not, I meant it. No dates, no rides, no nothing—God! Why are you so fucking stubborn?”
Dropping my arms to my sides, I take three steps towards her, crowding her personal space so she has no other choice but to look at me. “Take a look in the mirror, El, ‘cause you give me a run for my money in that department, and watch your tone. I don’t disrespect you, and I expect the same courtesy.”
Throwing her arms up in the air, she lets out an angry growl. “You don’t get it. Look, I need you to go, right now. Hop on your motorcycle and just leave.”
“What am I not understanding here?” I don’t get why she’s so angry, but I don’t like the way she’s talking to me. “I thought we were supposed to go for a fuckin’ ride this afternoon. Then I get some bullshit text blowing me off, yet again. Well, you know what? Forget it. I can take a hint.” I turn to leave, my whole body tense with anger, and my head screaming that this is wrong. Just as I’m about to walk out the door, I turn back and give her a withering look. “I get it. You’re an independent woman and all that shit, but sweetheart, you’re gonna be a lonely woman if you continue to keep all your shit to yourself. You need to find someone to rely on and help you work through it, ‘cause I’m done.” Turning back to the door, I put my hand on the doorknob.
“God!” she screams. I turn back around, shocked at her outburst. “I’m losing my mind, okay? I have some pretty heavy shit going on right now, and I need to focus on that. I was really looking forward to going out with you today, but my lawyer told me that Bryce had called his father and told him that you were here. The judge didn’t like it, so I can’t see you anymore. If I do, I could lose my kid.”
