by Quinn, Vera
I watch as Chief his VP, Driller and SAA, ZMan, walk into his office and slam the door and then all eyes are back on us.
“Son you better watch that temper with Chief, he’s not known for his patience. His protective streak with that girl is infamous and with everything she’s been through in her life, I can understand that. We need his cooperation and you are pissing him off with that fucking attitude so check it. This can be done an easier way and I don’t want a fucking war when all the dust settles around this shit. Let’s get out of here.” I can tell dad’s patience with this situation has run out but so has mine.
I finish off my beer and walk out into the hot Texas night but my luck may have just turned for the better.
Chapter 6
Devil
As we step out into the heat of the hot Texas night, I see Callie and her friends are still in the parking lot. Apparently she doesn’t listen to her dad as well as he thought and the prospects seem to be having problems with her and her two friends, who have decided to talk on their phones instead of leaving. I approach them cautiously and try not to draw any unneeded attention to me. I feel my dad’s presence behind me but he is keeping his distance and watching for any trouble that might come our way for not following Chief’s instructions. I might as well take the chance.
“Baby Girl” I call out the nickname I know only family is allowed to use for Callie as I approach the group.
Callie attention is solely on me and I see the most beautiful blue eyes. They are the deepest blue I have ever seen, and I can see the true beauty she is all through those eyes. I almost feel sorry for the things I am going to do to her.
“Who the hell are you? No one calls me that anymore except my dad. Mr. Devil you are not a man I want to speak to so go away.” She spouts off and trying to cover the shock she is feeling in just hearing me call her an all too familiar name that I shouldn’t have used.
“Well the name is just Devil, as you damn well know, and you know Steel and Chief have been friends for twenty plus years. Why the fucking attitude with me? I haven’t even had a conversation with you yet. Look, I don’t have very long before those two idiots over there get off their phones and I have to go so let’s make this easy. I have information you and your family want. You are going to help me out and I am going to help you out. We will talk tomorrow with your dad and everything will be made clear. Just think about what you want most in this world tonight. Life is short babe, and this will be the only chance for what I’m offering. By the end of this weekend you will be mine and you may as well wrap your mind around that.” I figure I am pushing my time limit here so I just come out and give her the facts.
“Well first off, Mr. Devil, I don’t know who you or this Steel man are. Second, my dad made it very clear he doesn’t want me talking to you and I don’t question my dad. And lastly, I have a boyfriend and I am not interested in you or your games so we are done here.” She huffs out like a petulant child.
“Well, little girl, you will change your tune tomorrow.” And I decide it is time to get out of here. “And the next time you call me Mr.,” I look her straight in the eye and let her know I am very serious about I am going to say, “I will show exactly what I do to spoiled little girls.” And then I turn and walk away and leave her gawking at me.
“Let’s get out of here before the prospects call Chief,” I say to my dad when I get back over to him.
“Yep, wise choice son. Our intel man just texted and has something for us on the girl.” We both pick up our stride and mount our bikes and ride out of the parking lot for the ride back to town.
Chapter 7
Callie
What the hell was he talking about? Mysterious much? Hopefully dad will make it a lot clearer tomorrow. There’s something about his eyes, as if he knows something I’m missing. I’m still getting that feeling he is very dangerous. I would never cheat on Mason. We have been waiting for me to come of age for too long, and that man knows everything about me and my troubled past and still loves me. He doesn’t try to change me and he accepts the broken pieces of me.
Man I miss his face. It’s been over a year since I’ve seen him but we’ve skyped, not the same, when his location allowed it and I write him nearly every day. He loves that. I send him his care packages at least twice a month or more if he or his buddies need anything. I hope he gets leave soon. My birthday would have been perfect. I just want him safe. I thought when he wasn’t interested in the club life I would have it made, no dangerous stuff. I was sadly mistaken. He’ll be here soon I keep telling myself and pray he stays safe.
“Hey you, prospect, can we go now? I know I said we wasn’t in that big of a hurry but we have movies to watch. Oh, we also need to make a couple of stops on the way, if it is ok. We need food and some drinks. I don’t mean to be pushy, we just need to get going.” I give my sweetest smile and hope these two newest prospects haven’t gotten the down low on our tricky ways yet.
He gives me a long approving look and leans in, “Sure babe. You aren’t going to get into any trouble tonight are you? I’ve heard some stories about how difficult you can be at times but you just don’t seem that way at all, sugar.” He gives me a smile that he thinks is going to affect me but he just doesn’t know what is in store for him tonight. Of course I play right along.
“We’re not going to give you any trouble at all, just pizza and movies. Would you mind if we stop at the pizza place? You can call dad to make sure, we may get hungry again later. Yeah, you better make sure. I wouldn’t want to get you in any trouble.” I give him a flirty look and look him up and down. Yep, I see it in his eyes, he falls for the Ms. Sweetness act. He actually thinks I might be interested. I should feel guilty. No, nothing this is too easy.
“Well darling, that is not necessary, we can stop. Are you ready to roll? One of us will be up ahead and one behind. Where are you stopping?” he seems eager to please me now.
“Pizza Shack is fine, if it is ok with you, I mean.” Dad has to get smarter prospects. This would never fly with Ty or Woody. This guy will never make it. I look to make sure everything is a go. Sarah is on her phone and Fe looks amused at this little conversation.
“Ok let’s go, careful driving babe.” The prospect steps back from the SUV and whistles for the other prospect to get off the phone and they get on their bikes and one leads out while the other follows behind us.
“What the hell was that sweet stuff coming out of your mouth?” Fe ask while laughing his ass off. “And that you can call and check, that was priceless, and the flirty eyes. You should be an actress. Your dad is getting stupider prospects these days. He swallowed that right up and wanted more. Mason boy better watch out. Could he lay it on any thicker, babe, sugar, darling? I was getting a sugar high listening to it.” Fe keeps laughing almost rolling.
“What did I miss? Who was getting a sugar high?” Sarah asked getting off her phone. “It was Hanna on the phone and we are set. We just have to get away from the babysitters.” She says, sounding a little bored with it all. Hanna is our other partner in crime, but she couldn’t be with us tonight because of her mom. She caught Dad banging one of the club girls and she takes it out on us. Sarah, Hanna, Fe and I have been friends since we were in grade school and last year Shelia, her mom, and my dad, thought it was a good idea to hook up. I told them better, but no they wouldn’t listen to me! When it went south our friendship had to pay for it. No worries, we have it set up. We just had to wait until the adults, and I use that term loosely, are otherwise occupied to do what we want.
“When are we meeting up? Does she get to come to the race?” I hope she will make it. All my friends have always been with me.
“Sorry Callie, it will be later, after. Shelia has decided to take an interest in Hanna tonight for some reason.” She exhales. Hanna and Sarah have never been as close as the rest of us. They tend to go after the same guys but Sheila seems to like Sarah so she still lets them talk on the phone.
I’ll miss Hanna and wish
she could be there but she needs to deal with her mom so we can have the rest of the weekend parent free. My three best friends have come to be my good luck charms and they keep me grounded most of the time. After this weekend we will all be going in different directions. Sarah is going off to college this weekend to get settled and find a job and then next week Fe will be leaving for New York to start classes soon. Hanna and I will be left here. I will be here until I leave for U.T. So we are going to have a blast this weekend.
I look in the mirror and our prospect is still behind us and I keep going over the plan to make sure I have covered everything so we don’t get caught. The purse at the race will be more towards my savings. I know I don’t really need it, but a girl can never be too sure. I have a large nest egg accumulated. I have been saving since I was twelve and I’m not one to spend a lot of money. I have been working and putting back plus all my race money, it is safe to say my education is paid for. Now just smooth sailing from here on out. This weekend won’t be perfect without Mason here, but it will be close to it with just my best friends and myself hanging out for the last for a while. We just need to relax and enjoy it.
Chapter 8
Devil
Pulling into the little dinner right outside of town, I see the cage our man has been driving in front of the dumpster over to the side, back by some trees. At least it’s a little secluded. We need to get this meet over with and get the hell out of here. Our man does not need to be seen with us. He’s been able to get us some good intel because people don’t know who he is. My dad motions for me to go around on the other side of the parking lot so we can walk over and our bikes won’t be next to his cage. I pull up and park and get off my bike and I’m watching our guy who has gotten out. He motions towards the back door. Dad and I approach together keeping our eyes on the road to make sure no one followed us.
We enter the back of the little greasy spoon and he shuts the door behind us. We keep next to the wall and make our way down a long dark hall and into a back room. We step into the room and the smell of it hits my nose and makes my stomach growl from hunger. The smell of homemade bread and something else that smells delicious hits me. I remember we had forgotten to eat tonight with everything going on. We were too busy watching Callie to eat at their clubhouse.
“Damn Tito, this place smells great. Who owns it?” my stomach is hoping we get to eat before we leave.
“My aunt owns this place. Want me to go grab something? Won’t take a minute. I was going to eat before I left anyway.” He asked halfway out the door already.
“Sure kid, grab us some food. We haven’t eaten tonight either.” My dad tells Tito and moves on in to the room and to a chair at the head of the table. “Grab some drinks too.”
My mind keeps wandering back to the conversation Callie and I had. She says she has a boyfriend and I wonder just how serious that is. All I need is a jealous boyfriend to deal with. Not that he would be a problem, just a nuisance. If I remember right her boyfriend is in the military and overseas. That’s where he needs to be. I don’t like unexpected issues and complications. If everything goes as planned, we will be married before he even knows anything is up.
Tito walks back in with a small older woman on his heels and both have their hands full of plates of food that smell absolutely delicious. I didn’t know I was so hungry. I walk back over to the table and sit beside my dad and we thank Tito’s aunt and she leaves us to eat and do our business.
We dig into the food and my dad looks at Tito and gives him an appreciative smile. “Your aunt can cook. Can she keep her mouth shut?” he asks with a solemn look on his face.
“She’ll keep her mouth shut. She’s my family,” Tito grins and looks at us both, “and I pay her to. If not she’d never make enough money.” His grin is gone and replaced with a stoic look.
“Good, we’ll be sure to pay her well for tonight.” My dad gives Tito a slap to the back and then takes his wallet out and throws some bills on the table.
“Alright, what do have for us?” I ask between bites of food that I continue to shovel into my mouth. I want to get this done so we can get away from here as soon as possible.
“I’ve been hanging with one of your girl’s friends and she sang for me. Her name is Sarah and supposedly one of her best friends. I told her we had to be on the down low considering she is only eighteen. Your girl had a shit childhood like you knew. Got a few deets on it if you want them.” He put his fork down and reaches into the side pocket of his cargo pants and pulls some picture out. “This is her boyfriend, Mason Brumley, he’s in the Marines and overseas right now.” I take the pictures and look at the man that calls Callie his. I’m not impressed. Normal military haircut. Looks pretty cut with a few tattoos. Nothing special.
“How long has he been gone? How long they been together?” I ask, not that it makes a difference more just curiosity.
“Been gone a little over a year this time. He was supposed to be here for her graduation but all leaves were cancelled. Been together since she was just under fifteen. She’s never dated anyone else and Sarah says she is in love with him. Hell that’s longer than any of my relationships have lasted. Thing is, he is older than her and Sarah seems to think he’s not fucked around on her. He’s going to be hitting twenty-one right after Callie’s birthday. No way that prick hasn’t fucked someone in nearly four years, but I’ll be damned if I can find anyone who says different.” Tito picks his fork up but sets it back down and looks at my dad, “Everyone loves that girl. The only people in that town that have anything bad to say about her are jealous bitches that want to be her. From what they say she is a little badass, too. I’ve seen her throw a punch or two, taking up for her friends, and she isn’t shabby and can hold her own. She is very loyal and protective of people she cares about. She’s racing at the strip later tonight and then all her friends and her are going to a bar or party. If they don’t get caught by daddy dearest.” He says with almost admiration in his eyes.
“How are they getting there? Does her dad know? They have prospects on them.” I ask not believing for a second Chief let’s his daughter race, but not seeing how she could get away from two men sent to guard her.
“That’s another thing, when that girl wants out there is no keeping her locked down. Those friends and Callie are sneaky as hell. Who do they have on them tonight? If it isn’t Ty, her brother, or Woody, the red head, the rest of their prospects are useless.” That is a good piece of information to keep tucked away. She can get away if I need her to.
Dad and I both finish our plates as we hear a knock at the door. Tito stands up, puts his hand on his gun in his back waistband, and cracks the door open as dad and I are both on alert. Tito pulls the door open wide enough for a hand to stick through with an envelope and then he closes the door back and rips the envelope open, “This is more trouble. I have a message from my guy in the Rebellions 4Blood, they know you’re here to talk to Callie, so does T-Bone. That can only mean Callie could be in danger.” His eyes look distant and I can tell this news bothers him.
“Do we need to pull you out of this? Are you getting too attached? Or is it just old ghost that has that look on your face right now?” I ask hoping our best guy has not lost his focus.
My dad sees this has pissed Tito off and tries to smooth it over a little. “Look he’s only saying we know Callie is a good girl, but we need this to go smoothly and with no complications.”
Tito looks at the floor and then turns his head towards me, “I haven’t lost my focus, but I have seen the reports of what that bitch of a mom put Callie through. I’ve also seen how she carries herself and how damn loyal she is. When you say she is a good girl, it’s not only that, she has overcome a lot and since I have been watching her, her family always comes first. So I know if this is not approached carefully it will blow up in our faces. If Callie gets hurt, a lot of people are going to be after blood. T-Bone is out for blood and he is suspicious of Callie[A1] . How are we going to head that off? I think
I might need some back-up brought down here.” He pushes his plate away as if the thought of eating another bite disgusts him.
“How good is your intel from T-Bone and his group? Why are you receiving a note? Isn’t that shit dangerous? What if someone else intercepted it?” I ask. Surely with technology today there is a better way.
“My guy is careful and we have a system. Only we know our code, so even if someone gets it they won’t know what it is. All of their cells are monitored. As deep as they are in the drug organizations they are paranoid as shit, so it’s the only way.” Tito is deep in thought as he rattles this off.
“You don’t think T-Bone will come after the girl, do you? I sent copies of all my files back home, so if our operation has to shut down fast we aren’t lost and if everything is damaged here we have it. I know how T-Bone likes to play with fire and I want to be prepared.” Tito has calmed down and has now gone into efficient mode. This is what we hire him for, and he is damn good at. “Steel, you’ll keep her safe, right?” Tito looks at my dad and waits for his answer. Tito’s concern seems to bother dad as much as it does me.
