Calix’s laughter fills the room. I didn’t even notice they walked in. “What were you guys talking about to get C.Rash flipping his shit?”
“I could ask you the same thing, brother. Need some help?” Hugo steps closer to Calix. “You know I’m always here for you.”
“I know, man.” Calix slaps Hugo on the back. “I can always count on you. But this was something I needed to wrap up for Zack. Now everything is dealt with for the other chapter and I’m all Ohio chapter now, brother.”
“Fuck, yeah,” Hugo bellows and grabs Calix by the front of his jacket. “No more suits, fucker.”
Calix snorts. “I’ll be wearing my cut from now on but I’m not ditching the suits any time soon. My ol’lady gets soaking wet when I’m wearing one.” He throws me a wink, making me swoon.
“No! I said no to sharing sexcapades from you guys.” C. Rash covers his ears again.
I make a mental note to ask why C.Rash acts this way and yet I don’t know if I’m ready to hear it...would it be freaky? Freaky enough to spook that biker. Yet I know Calix would never hurt me, well...as long as pleasure is involved.
“Okay, you guys. It’s been a long day and I’ve got a few hours of road to burn. Calix,” Dams gives Calix a man-hug, “come by soon, fucker.”
“Will do, brother,” Calix promises.
“Tenley, congratulations are in order,” Dams says and gives me a quick hug before stepping back. “And I’ll see you very soon too.”
“Thank you. Say hi to your ol’lady and to Blue for me,” I beam.
His words mean a lot but the look on his face tells me he’s sincere and the private discussion he wanted with Calix suddenly made sense. I mean, this is really it...Calix left his chapter and is now a part of the Ohio chapter.
“Will do. Enjoy your evening, folks. I’m hitting the road.” Calix walks him out while my father turns to me.
“Did you guys have anything to eat before you came here? Did you want me to grab something from the freezer or order something?” he questions.
“We grabbed something on the way over. If you don’t mind I’ll take my ol’lady and cut the evening short. I didn’t sleep on the plane and I’m tired as fuck,” Calix says, walking back into the room.
“That sounds better than food,” I admit. “I’m tired and that shower did nothing to wake me up.”
“That’s because you always take hot ones. I’ve warned you before about that, it’s not good for your body,” my father says.
I roll my eyes. “Yeah, Dad. I know. But I’m not into cold showers.”
I shiver at the thought. He always complains when he catches me walking out of the shower in my robe, calves flaming red. I can’t help it...I love hot showers.
“Catch you guys tomorrow,” Calix says and guides me up the stairs.
Once there, he strips and heads for the bathroom. I let him take his time to shower while I take off my clothes and slide into bed. I grab one of my favorite paperbacks from the table beside the bed. I love to reread a few pages if I can’t seem to fall asleep quick enough. This keeps me entertained until Calix strolls back naked into the bedroom. Dammit, this man is tempting.
“Yeah, forget about it. Not now, I wasn’t kidding, Tenley. I’m dead tired. If it’s not from the fight, it’s from the shit that’s coming up.” Calix sighs and shakes his head.
I put away the book and click off the lamp on the bedside table, plunging the room into darkness.
Calix pulls me to him. “Besides, with your father inside the house, I wouldn’t want to stuff panties into your mouth to mute the sound. I happen to like hearing you scream when you orgasm beautifully.”
I groan. “Shut up. Because we might need to do that anyway since I won’t stop having sex with you. It’s either that or only fuck when he’s not home or if we’re in my room back at the clubhouse.”
“That’s our room at the clubhouse, and when this shit is over, we’ll buy a place of our own,” Calix vows.
“Hmmmm,” I hum. “That sounds perfect.” I’m drifting off being this comfortable and wrapped in his arms.
“You’re the one who’s perfect.” Calix nuzzles my neck. “Just remember, Tenley...whatever happens, trust only me. I’ve got you, okay? Always.”
“Always,” I murmur, half asleep already.
Chapter 13
***Calix***
Fuck. My chest tightens at what’s about to come. It’s inevitable and I damn well wish there was another way but all options have slipped through our fingers.
“Ten, wake up.” Nothing. She’s still sleeping so I make my next words snap out. “VP, wake the fuck up.”
She jolts awake, swinging her head from left to right until her eyes land on mine. “What? What is it?”
I soften my voice and let sadness hit me. “It’s your father, sweetness.”
One should think in all my long years with law enforcement, bringing the news about a dead family member should be rehearsed plenty, right? Know exactly what to say and shit. Yeah, fuck that. Every time it’s even worse.
“He’s gone.”
“Gone?” She jumps off the bed and throws on her jeans along with a sweater. Pulling on her boots she questions, “Where did he go?”
Stalking over, I pull her close and tell her. “He’s gone, sweetness. He died in his sleep last night. C.Rash found him this morning. We called the doc and he just confirmed.”
“No,” she whispers before a louder version rips from her throat and she starts to struggle.
“Calm down, Ten. The doc is still in there, we need to give him a minute.”
“You’re bullshitting me, he was fine yesterday!” she seethes.
“I know, that’s why the doc is double checking everything. We’ll go to him in a minute or two, okay?”
She doesn’t listen but rips free and runs down the hall. Following her, I watch as she pushes Hugo out of the doorway. C.Rash is standing near the bed and catches Tenley just in time before she launches herself at her father.
“So sorry, darlin’ he was a good man. Come on, you don’t need to see this.” C.Rash comforts her, his gaze meeting mine. “Calix, come and guide your woman out while we handle this for her. Hugo, can you call the brothers? Let them know?”
Tenley swallows and steps back from C.Rash, her gaze pinned on her father while tears slide down her cheeks. “Hugo. Listen to C.Rash. Inform everyone and get them all to the clubhouse. We’ll be there later. Go, I will...Calix and I will handle it.”
“Sure thing, VP.” Hugo nods and looks at me. “Or does she become the Prez, now that her father is gone.”
“What the fuck, dude?” I growl, smacking him on the back of his head. “Listen to your VP and get that shit done.”
“Sorry. Yeah. Will do. I’ll head over to the clubhouse, see you there.” Hugo rushes off. I carefully follow him down the stairs and make sure the door is locked behind him.
I take the stairs two at a time and rush back into the bedroom. “Yeah?” I ask C.Rash, making sure he sees I’m glancing around the room, silently asking the question he will understand.
“We’re clear, brother. No bugs. I scanned twice. The only ones watching us are...well, us.” He chuckles.
“Thank fuck,” I mutter and stalk over to Ten, cup her face and make her look at me.
Dammit those damn tears along with the sorrow and grief are slicing straight through my heart. This couldn’t be helped and yet it feels so damn wrong within this moment.
“Big Oaks,” I snap. “All clear, Prez.”
Ten’s eyes go wide before I let her go so she can turn her head toward her father who jolts up from the bed. “Cerise, come here. I’m so sorry, sweetheart. We had to, there was no other way.”
“What’s going on?” Ten takes a step back, confused as fuck, and why shouldn’t she be?
“Dams put up cameras a few days ago when your father contacted Zack. Big Oaks knew something was coming and he got help before this shit got real, because what just happened wasn’t something
we set up...well, we did...but if it wasn’t for the cameras, your father would have taken his medicine and would have died in his sleep because of it. Hugo can’t be trusted. He switched your father’s meds, Ten.”
“Sonofabitch,” Ten growls and tries to leave the room.
I can barely wrap my arm around her waist to get her back inside. “Hold on a sec. We’ve planned this part. We’re betting on the fact that Hugo is going straight to Dane. Think, Ten. They think your dad, the Prez, is dead. That means we’re going to walk straight into a trap once we head over to the clubhouse.”
I can tell by the way her upper lip rises in anger that all of this has settled in. “What’s the next step?” she snaps but jabs a finger into my pecs. “And don’t think I will forget about the fact that you cut me off, deliberately shutting me out, making me think my father is dead. Such a dick move, mister.”
“That was my call,” Big Oaks states. “We needed it to be as real as possible, Cerise. Hugo has known Calix for a long damn time, and you too for over seven years...he would have known if you faked shock and grief, sweetheart. We couldn’t risk it.”
“Fine,” she snaps once more. “Just tell me what the next move is.”
Yeah. I’m damn sure that if we’re going to pull through this that I’m still going to wish I was dead because I don’t think she’s ever going to forgive me.
“Now all of us are going to get killed.” C.Rash chuckles and shoots her a wink.
“That’s the plan,” I quip.
Big Oaks starts to talk, the doc is still in the room because that’s one brother that we do trust. We’ve brought him in from the Chicago chapter. It’s a damn pain we need to drag brothers from different parts to flush out the bad seed in the Ohio chapter but there just isn’t any other way.
“Are you sure about this?” Ten asks her father for a second time when we’re about to leave the house.
“Yes, VP,” he tells her with a stern voice.
She nods and gives him one last hug. “I love you.”
“Love you too, baby. Now let your man handle this. Let him have your back,” Big Oaks whispers but his eyes are on me and I know he’s saying it loud enough for me to hear so it goes for me too.
I give the man a nod to let him know I understand. I’ll do anything for her, no questions asked. And if there was a way, I would keep her out of this, but I can’t. We’ve discovered that not only Big Oaks, but Ten too, has a target on her head. They want her dead and out of their way. Where Dane wanted her as his ol’lady...she’s considered a whore now, one who needs to be disposed of.
Oh, yeah. We’ve bugged every room in the clubhouse around the same time we put cameras into Big Oaks’ house. When he called Zack and relayed some of his suspicions they didn’t take it lightly. I mean, Big Oaks’ bike was tampered with and he discovered his meds were off too. He might be old but when you take a specific kind of meds on a daily basis for years you know when there’s even a slight change in the prescription. He caught it this time but that was a risk he couldn’t take lightly.
The decision to keep Tenley out of all of this was because she was too wrapped up in it. Besides it being a request from Big Oaks to keep his daughter safe, she was also at risk due to her fierce temper toward Dane. We wanted to gather enough evidence to let him tie a noose around his neck himself. And he did. We got it all on tape too. That’s why we’ve got two other chapters in on it to make sure the verdict will prevail.
So now we’re heading to the clubhouse where we know for sure at least six brothers have been plotting the murder of their Prez and VP. Like hell I’m going to let them point one damn finger my ol’lady’s way. I’m going to rip their fucking brains out, this ends today.
I tug at my cut which is feeling way too fucking tight when Ten comes up from behind me and slaps my hand away. “Stop fidgeting. Let’s go.”
“Remember,” I whisper. “Sadness, Ten. Keep up appearances or bite their head off for that matter. Your dad just died and they expect to see a woman that’s torn up and emotional.”
She full-on glares at me, making me smirk. “Keep that up and I’ll grab that bigger plug with the green jewel tonight.”
“Looking forward to it.” Her damn eyes twinkle.
“That’s a promise then,” I growl and connect our mouths for a scorching, lightning fast kiss. Remembering the taste of her before we risk our damn lives.
C.Rash walks up front. I scan the surroundings one more time, knowing this can turn bad real fast. No matter how well we talked this through.
I feel Ten’s hand grabbing mine. She gives a little squeeze. “We got this, Calix. All of us. This has to be done, no matter the consequences.”
My fingers wrap around her throat. “Don’t fucking die on me,” I growl.
“Yeah, that would suck. So right back at you,” she growls back.
“Showtime, fuckers,” C.Rash mutters.
The clubhouse is crowded. Every member is present. Even Dane who’s standing around Ryke, Steel, and Beck. Hugo leans in to say something to Dane who nods and slides his eyes to me.
“Church,” Dane bellows. “Now.”
He steps up to Ten, his face a fake mask of sympathy. “I’m so sorry, Cerise.”
“Don’t call me that,” she snaps. “Don’t even talk to me. And what reason do you have to call church for? You’re not even allowed in here, did you forget? Because I sure as fuck didn’t. How dare you be in here and act like you didn’t betray another brother. And on the day my father, our Prez, dies? Get out, Dane. Get out and don’t come back.”
“Why? Because you think you’re the President now? Did you really think any of us would allow a cunt to take the gavel? You’ve been tolerated long enough but that ends now.” Dane sneers before he steps back and throws his hand in the air. “Brothers. I would have done it first in church to get everyone up to speed but I might as well get it all in the open right now.”
His eyes find mine and the glow in his eyes make the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.
“I have proof that this fucker right here swapped Big Oaks meds. He’s killed our Prez, brothers. He’s the one who betrayed our trust.”
The clubhouse goes dead silent before all eyes are on me.
Dane takes the advantage and starts to ramble some more. “He’s been planning this all along. He wants the gavel, the one he turned down all those years ago. Calix thinks he can walk back in here with the support of another chapter and take over this club. Remember when my father, and fuck...some of you too, voted for him to be VP after my father had the accident? He was for a few months, knowing he would be in Big Oaks’ chair one day but then he got that job offer, to become a detective, and dropped all of us. Thinking he was better than all of us. Now he got his ass fired because they caught him doing something...he got an honorable discharge. What did you think, asshole? Time to pick shit back up? Fool some more people? Fool brothers? You’re the fool if you think you can walk back in, asshole.”
The self-absorbed gloat he gives me slides onto the face of his supporters who are standing behind him. There are six already and even though Big Oaks talked to most of the loyal brothers a few days ago...doubt is now thrown in the mix and I hope to fuck this is going to end well. I glance at Ten’s face and my chest squeezes. It does look like I’ve got a lot more to lose.
Chapter 14
***Tenley***
No. Dane is talking bullshit. Calix quit his job as a detective. He doesn’t want to be a Prez. He told me this. My father is still alive...he told me Hugo switched the meds...he told me. Fuck. I never saw proof. I don’t have the nerve to take a glance at Calix. My gut tells me Dane is full of bullshit. But there’s a little spike of doubt that makes me wonder. And that almost kills me.
I want to scream and punch Dane in the face, grab Calix so he can tell me about the lies and truth...but I can’t. Now I get the loaded looks my brothers are giving me. They are waiting for me to freak out. To show them I’ve got a cunt, and those who
have them don’t have the ability to have high positions in a man’s world. Fuck that. Anger fills my veins for a whole lot of reasons. So damn much that there’s an eerie calm settling inside me.
“Church,” I say in a cold and clear voice and stalk off.
I hear footsteps following me but there’s not one word being spoken. When I sit down in my father’s chair, I throw a look toward Dane who’s shooting me a deadly glare.
“Do you have a problem with me taking lead, Dane? Because I know for damn sure I’ve got the VP patch on my tit, not you. Sit your ass down and show us the evidence to back up the words you just spilled.” I don’t even recognize my cold voice when I glance around the table that’s now filled with brothers who’ve always had my father’s back.
“VP,” Ryke says from my right. “You’re in mourning, we can do this later.”
“We’re here now. We’re going to handle it now,” I snap back at the man who voted for Dane, so for me, he’s on Dane’s side.
Dane takes out a piece of paper and lays it down in front of me. “That’s the name of a cop who just dragged a guy out of a river who works at a pharmacy. Calix got the meds from this guy. You can validate everything, it’s clear as day what Calix’s intentions have been from the start.”
I take the piece of paper and stare at the letters. Throwing them back on the table, I simply state, “I have it on good authority that Hugo was the one who switched the meds.”
“That shows it, doesn’t it?” Dane bellows with his arms wide. “Those fuckers were best buddies before Calix left.” He throws Hugo a look. “Did he promise you VP status, that it?”
Hugo’s face hardens in anger. “You made me fucking do it with that promise, asshole. You told me we would turn this club around and take the weapon deal Bartini offered along with the hundred grand bonus for becoming his new pipeline.”
Everyone starts to talk at the same time. I smack my hand on the table like I’ve seen my father do lots of times. “Shut it. One thing at a fucking time,” I bellow, regaining silence yet again.
Calix (Areion Fury MC, #6) Page 12
