Cassie shook her head. “When he brought you up to the house that day I heard him tell Mrs. Peirce that he had a hell of a time getting you. He told her he had to ram the car and he wasn’t sure if your mother was still alive or not.”
Calderone grabbed her by the arm and swung her around to face him.
Cassie narrowed her eyes at his action.
“Daddy, please let her go.” Peaches whispered fearfully. “She doesn’t like to be grabbed like that.”
“Flynn is the man who killed my wife?” Calderone shouted. He ignored Peaches’ warning.
Cassie tried to pull her arm free but his grip tightened.
“Cal, let her go,” Leon ordered. “She won’t tell us anything until you do.”
Calderone pushed her away from him. “To hell with this and to hell with you!”
Cassie rubbed her upper arm and glared at him. Peaches took a step closer but Cassie didn’t want her to close in. She took a step away. Then she turned to Leon. “In the Peirce house there is a den. Inside the den is a hutch. Pull open the right hand drawer and you’ll find a small white button. Press it and the hutch will open. There is a secret room behind it. That’s where you’ll find record books and tons of cash. I hope to hell you find this woman and end her life. If anyone deserves it, she does. If you let her live, I will come back here and you won’t like it if I do.”
Peaches gasped and stepped back.
“Did you just threaten my life, little girl?” Leon asked.
Cassie shook her head. “No I would never hurt you. You belong to Peaches, but I will hurt your business.”
Leon didn’t say anything for a moment then nodded. “Yes, I can see that you mean business, young lady. I don’t know what you think you can do to hurt us but feel free to try. I assure you we will deal with this woman and we will shut her down.”
“I have your word on that?” Cassie asked.
Everyone in the room gasped.
Leon straightened his stance. “I don’t know who you think you are woman but just this once, I’ll overlook your brashness and give you my word.”
Cassie nodded then smiled. “Thank you. I’ll give you the benefit of doubt.” She turned to Peaches and wrapped her arms around the other woman. “I’m so happy you’re finally home and that you have someone to love you again.”
Peaches had tears in her eyes. “I wish you had someone too.”
Cassie shrugged. “That was over a long time ago.”
Peaches smiled. “I think Deke wants that slot.”
Cassie turned her head and gazed at the man in question. “Do you think?”
“Oh yeah, I think.” Peaches grinned.
Cassie kept staring at the man I question as he stood at the door to the warehouse. “I’m afraid. Do you think I can trust him?”
“I think you have to try,” Peaches whispered.
“Are you gonna be okay?” Cassie looked unsure.
Peaches glanced over at her father and grandfather. They smiled back. “I think I have a good shot.”
Leon walked over to the two girls. He held out his hands out to Cassie. When she hesitated then put her hands in his, he raised them up to his lips. Gently kissing them he said, “Thank you for bringing our girl home again. We heard some of your story and what you girls went through. I marvel at your strength. I also want you to know if you ever need anything all you have to do is ask.”
Cassie nodded. “Please take care of my girl. She needs you and her father.”
Calderone wrapped his arms around his daughter. “I will always be here for her. Thank you for what you did for her.”
Cassie nodded then turned to see Deke standing close. “Can we go home now?”
Deke smiled. “Hell yeah, we can go home.”
“Will I ever see you again?” Peaches called out.
Cassie laughed. “When you least expect me, just turn around and I’ll be there. I’ll stop in from time to time to check on you. I love you Peaches.”
“Don’t stay away too long.” Peaches laughed.
Deke led her away.
~* * *~
Calderone, Leon, Peaches and Iceman watched them go.
Iceman turned and held out his hand to Leon. “It was a pleasure doing business with you.”
Leon grasped his hand. “I’m glad to finally meet you. You asked for respect earlier tonight. I can honor that request.”
Calderone and Peaches wandered away leaving Leon and Iceman to talk. Calderone took his daughter back to the table and sat down beside her. He reached up and brushed her hair out of her face. “Are you really okay?” He sighed heavily. “I never thought I’d see you again. I have looked for you for a very long time.”
“Oh Daddy,” Peaches exclaimed. “Cassie kept me safe! With her beside me, no one touched me. I owe her everything.”
“I’ll see that she’s taken care of.” Calderone nodded.
“If you knew her, you wouldn’t say that.” Peaches shook her head. “She doesn’t want you to give her anything.”
Calderone frowned. “Then what? What does she want?”
“Nothing.” Peaches smiled. “She would take nothing for getting me home. She did it because it’s the right thing to do. She’s got a sense of right and wrong that goes deep. She said she got it from her mother before she died.”
Calderone gazed at his daughter in awe. “I was told her mother died when she was three.”
“She did,” Peaches explained. “Cassie used to tell me stories about her mom. Even if I knew they weren’t true, I always listened. I didn’t know how she could remember all that when I couldn’t even remember my own name but she did.”
Leon walked over to them. “What do you say we go home? It’s late and we all could use some sleep.”
Calderone got to his feet, then pulled Peaches up. The three of them walked to the back of the warehouse and got into a long black limo. It pulled away and disappeared into the night…Peaches finally got her life back.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Deke threw his leg over his bike and waited for Cassie to climb on the back. Where she belongs. Deke fought the grin that threatened to show
Gator grinned at her and revved his motor. “Glad to see you Spitfire.” Gator nodded.
Cassie looked over at him. The name was something that surprised her. She then gave him a dazzling smile. She leaned forward and whispered in Dekes ear, “Can we stop somewhere for the night? I need some sleep. I’m wiped out.”
Deke turned to look her over. “Are you all right?”
“It’s just been some hellacious days I don’t want to repeat.” Cassie shook her head. “I’m just tired of all the bullshit.” She wiped a tear from her cheek. “And I’m going to miss that girl.”
Deke patted her hand and started his engine. She held on while he moved down the street. Almost at the outskirts of town, he pulled into the parking lot of a motel. Deke and most of the guys disappeared into the office. Gator and the others waited with her. A few minutes later, Deke came back and grabbed her hand. Leading the group, he found the door that matched his key card. He motioned to the next several doors for his guys to go to. Then he and Cassie went inside.
Cassie followed and flopped down on the bed. Groaning, she rolled over and closed her eyes.
Deke flicked the keycard with his finger then sat down beside her. “I need to ask you something.”
Cassie opened her eyes and looked at him.
“Why did you go with Sullivan so easy this morning?”
Cassie stared at him for a moment. “He promised he would find Peaches’ family. I had to give him one chance to keep his word. When he told me he had to put us both in witness protection after we testified, I knew he wouldn’t keep his word. We were getting ready to leave when you guys showed up.”
“Did you know who she belonged to?”
She shook her head. “No, but I knew where to find the evidence I needed to find out.”
“Where was the evidence?”
; “In the secret room in the Peirce house.”
“How did you know that for sure?”
“I’ve been in that room,” Cassie explained. “I was too young to realize it the first time I was there. But I know more now.”
“And if old lady Peirce caught you?” Deke growled. “What would happen then?”
Cassie shrugged. “She would have killed me, I suppose. Or she would have tried, but I’m not the scared little girl she once knew. I’ve learned to take care of myself.”
“Why did you tell Leon where the room is?”
“I wanted someone to find it. I hadn’t gotten the chance to tell Sullivan yet, but I wanted someone to know.”
Deke reached out, grasped her face with his hands, and gazed into her eyes. He leaned over her and pressed his lips to hers. Cassie opened her mouth and groaned as his tongue slipped in. Deke’s hands slipped under her shirt and he passed his fingers over her breasts. Squeezing them, he pushed her shirt up and uncovered her. Pulling the cups of her bra down, Deke moved his mouth down to suck on her nipple. “I missed you and this,” he whispered close to her skin.
Cassie arched her back as his hand slipped down to her pants. He unbuttoned her jeans and his hand disappeared inside them.
She felt his fingers bury themselves deep inside her body. Cassie gasped and moaned.” And—I missed this…” her words were breathless.
Deke buried his finger deep then added another and another. When he was thrusting three fingers deep inside her, he could feel her respond. His cock throbbed against his zipper. He pulled away and whispered, “I need to be inside you now.”
Cassie pulled away and tugged her clothes off.
Deke joined her and settled himself between her legs. Without a word, he thrust his cock deep into her.
Cassie closed her eyes and moaned as thrust after thrust had her ready to explode. “I’m so close.”
Deke ramped up the speed and hardness of his hips. He felt the zing of his climax approaching and he thrust even faster. He felt her body tighten and he pulsed in her deep.
Cassie wrapped her legs around his waist and held on, as Deke sank into her.
Deke finally rolled to her side. Wrapping his arms around her, he held her close. “I could get used to that,” he whispered as he kissed her temple.
Cassie sighed. “I don’t know how long we can be together. Sullivan and the Feds won’t just let me go. Peaches will have her father to protect her, so they will more than likely come after me.”
Deke leaned over her and gazed into her eyes. “They’d have to get through the entire club to get to you. We will protect you from them.”
Cassie sighed. “I know you’ll try but I don’t want anyone dying for me. You guys mean the world to me and I don’t want anyone hurt. At best, you all could go to jail.”
“What are you going to do?” Deke felt his heart slow, then race up again.
“I don’t know…I don’t want to run again. I’m just tired of it all.”
“Let’s not worry about it tonight,” Deke suggested. Reaching over, he clicked off the lamp throwing the room into darkness. “Let’s get some sleep.”
Cassie snuggled in close to his warm, hard chest and closed her eyes. Drifting off to sleep, she felt safe again.
~* * *~
It was still dark outside when Deke heard footsteps coming toward his door. Slipping out of bed, he pulled on his pants and reached for his weapon. He heard the footsteps stop and a light tapping on his door. He crept close and listened. He heard his own name being whispered.
“Deke, its Iceman. I need to talk to you.”
Deke reached out and turned the knob. Very slowly, he opened the door a crack and saw Iceman standing there. Iceman motioned for him to come out and Deke slipped out of the room.
Closing the door behind him, he walked down the hall a couple of steps. “What can I do for you?” he asked the other man.
“Your girl’s information was dead on.”
“Meaning?”
“Before we left tonight, Leon asked me to check out the house. He wanted me to bring the bitch back to him. Her and any evidence I could find.” Iceman shook his head. “We hit the mother lode. I’m guessing he’s going to use the information he found and either do the right thing and shut down this baby ring or take it over. If he takes it over, he’s going to lose a lot of credibility. Nobody likes baby porn. I’d rather deal with legal women than kids. I also think if he doesn’t shut it down, your girl will come back after him.”
Deke grinned. “She just might.”
Iceman shook his head. “I ain’t never seen anyone like her before. I can see why Gator calls her the Spitfire. You tell her if she don’t want you anymore, she should come find me. I’ll treat her like a queen.”
“Not fucking likely.” Deke growled.
Iceman held up his hands. “No offence man.” He grinned as he shifted his feet and leaned against the wall. “On another note, thanks for including me in this rescue. I made another contact tonight and it never hurts to have that family behind you. I can still cut you in for a percentage.”
Deke shook his head. “I don’t want it. I told you that earlier. All I wanted was to get my girl back. You keep all the glory.” He hesitated then asked, “I will ask for something you could give me.”
“And what would that be?”
“Safe passage through your city when Cassie comes back to see Peaches.”
“That’s a no brainer man.” Iceman grinned. “If anything happens to her, I think old man Vincinti would crucify the person responsible.”
“He just might,” Deke agreed. “I haven’t heard the whole story yet, but the girls have more secrets they need to tell.”
Iceman shook his head. “Man, when you started telling their tale, I got sick to my stomach. I know some people are cruel but what those two girls went through, man.”
“I’m worried about the badges and the Feds and what they’ll do when they realize the girls are missing.”
Iceman shrugged. “They can look all they want but if old man Vincinti doesn’t want them to find Peaches, they won’t find her.
“What about old lady Peirce?”
“I don’t think you need to worry about that bitch either,” Iceman hinted with a gleam in his cold blue eyes. “She took his baby girl and mistreated her. That won’t go unnoticed in his world. In fact, I’d hate to be in her shoes right now. With the cops, she may have gotten a deal but with him?” He shrugged. “I don’t think so. She’ll be lucky to save her own skin.”
“We’ll be going back to New York tomorrow,” Deke informed the other man.
Iceman held out his hand.
Deke grasped it.
“Safe travels man. Keep the home fires burning and watch over that woman of yours, she’s something special.”
Deke nodded. “I will. Take care friend and if you need our help don’t hesitate to call.” He watched as Iceman walked down the hall. Slipping back into his room he noticed Cassie was still sleeping. Taking off his pants, he slipped back into bed.
“Did Iceman get the bitch?” Cassie whispered.
Deke felt his heart jerk. “I thought you were sleeping. Yeah, he got her and he took her to the Vincinti’s.”
“Let’s hope he does the right thing.” Cassie closed her eyes and drifted back to sleep.
~* * *~
A few hours later, a knock rattled on the door. Deke jumped up and looked around. At first, he didn’t know where he was. The knock sounded again. He pulled his pants on and answered the door.
It was Gator and he looked pissed.
“What the hell?” Deke growled.
“She’s gone boss.”
“Who? Who is gone?” Deke ran his fingers through his hair and glanced toward the bed. It was empty. His Cassie was gone. She’d left him during the night. He looked back at Gator. “How did you know?”
Gator pushed a letter into his hands. “She left this under my door.”
Deke wande
red back to the bed and sat down. He sighed as he gazed at the letter in his hand.
Gator, I’m sorry but I can’t stay. I can’t and won’t put anyone’s life in danger. Life is too precious to throw it away for someone else. I know Deke won’t understand my decision, so please tell him I love him. And to give him up is killing me but I have to do this. I’ll stay here for a while until I know Peaches is taken care of and maybe someday, I’ll come back to him. Someday, when I know no one is looking for me. When no one remembers the name Josette Rearden. I hope he can forgive me.
Cassie
Deke crumbled the letter in his hand. He felt a burning in his eyes and a hole in his soul.
“What are you going to do?” Gator finally asked.
“I’m gonna find her,” Deke vowed.
Gator sucked in a deep breath. When he exhaled, he asked, “Are you sure you want to do that?”
Deke looked up at his second in command. “I can’t do anything less. I need her.”
Gator grinned. “I was hoping you would say that.” He rubbed his hands together. “Let’s find your spitfire woman and get the hell out of Dodge. I miss my Reva.”
Deke threw on his shirt and checked his phone for messages. He didn’t find any, so he called Iceman.
“Hello?” Iceman answered.
“Iceman, do you have the number for Calderone or Leon?”
“Why do you want to know?”
“Cassie left in the night. We stopped at a motel and she slipped away. She left a note saying she was going to stay here and watch over Peaches. I need to know where she might go. I need to find her.”
Iceman sighed. “Damn…that girl is a bold one. Do you need some help looking for her?”
“No I just need a number to call, so I can talk to Peaches.”
Iceman gave him the number and when he called Leon answered. He explained that he needed to talk to peaches and that it was urgent.
When Peaches got on the phone, Deke told her what happened.
She began to cry. “You have to find her.”
“I will baby girl but I need your help,” Deke insisted. “Where would she go? She said she wanted to watch over you until she knew you were going to be okay.”
Spawn & Spitfire (Satan's Spawn MC Book 1) Page 15
