by Ravenna Tate
“The Mob boss giving them trouble now is named Roberto di Stefano, and he’s based in Queens. Donny knows him from his childhood, and he’s bad news. Talking to this man is also what got Mad Dog killed.”
They lived rough lives. How did they deal with it on a day-to-day basis?
“A man whose road name is Howler shot him. You have to understand that to be an MC member and shoot your President is a big deal. It’s akin to treason. But Mad Dog was destroying their MC from within, and had betrayed Vito. Vito was no saint, and I imagine the Outlaw Dogs knew that, but what happened with Raiyana Parente’s firm and Vito had nothing to do with the Outlaw Dogs. They didn’t care about it.”
“In other words,” she said, “their business with Vito should have stayed within their ranks.”
“Yes. They should have been as loyal to him as the Demons on Wheels members are to Donny. But Mad Dog betrayed that trust when he brought in another Mob boss, and that’s why Howler killed him. The group split because of it. Those who sided with Howler stayed at the Last Stop Saloon and kept the MC name. The others are somewhere else now. Donny believes they’re in Lorain, and is certain they are aligned with di Stefano.”
“And when Vito was killed, the Outlaw Dogs lost their protection.”
“Yes and no. Vito had plenty of lieutenants to take over his businesses, but the MC was in chaos. And, Vito hadn’t entirely recovered from having to make so many concessions and agreements with Donny after the FBI was onto him for trying to extort Rai. He was in a weakened position when Mad Dog brought in di Stefano.”
Liz nodded one more time. “Which is why Donny is so now anxious to have the legit businesses in his name.”
“Yes. He knows if he doesn’t take over Vito’s operation, di Stefano will. Donny and Vito aren’t saints. They’re Mob bosses. They’re into illegal stuff. But what’s on paper with this firm is legal and above board. However, the things Donny has told me about how di Stefano operates make what he and Vito have been doing look like child’s play. It’s in everyone’s best interests not to let di Stefano take over this area.”
“This is going to sound naïve, or as if I’m not supporting our clients, but why aren’t we encouraging Donny to go completely legitimate?”
Russell leaned forward. “Let me put it this way. Do we turn a blind eye to some of the things Donny does? Yes. But he’s got far more legit businesses than others involved in organized crime, and those are the ones we assist him with. The rest of it, he’s on his own. If he needs some sort of legal advice concerning those, he needs to seek out another firm. He’s fine with that arrangement, and it keeps the peace.”
“Does it ever bother you?”
“No. Does it bother you, Liz?”
“No. A client is a client. I didn’t become a paralegal to work with perfect people who never have problems.” She’d said the same thing to Rahab the other night. “I’ve never met anyone who hasn’t run a red light, padded a bill if they could, taken home office supplies from work, or fudged their taxes, even just a bit. All of those things are illegal, but people do them.”
“People tend to view things in degrees of their illegality.”
“From what little I’ve seen so far, Donny would do anything to protect that club and its members. He’s a part of their family.”
Russell smiled. “You’ve absorbed a lot in a short time.”
“They’re very welcoming, and more than willing to talk about their history and what they mean to each other.”
“Do you have any other questions right now?”
“No. Thank you for telling me all this. And, thank you for the trust.”
“You’ve earned it. Keep up the good work.”
As Liz returned to her desk and the work waiting for her, she mulled over everything that Russell had told her. It was easier now to see why Rai had been able to take losing her business in stride. But one thing Rai had said really summed it up for Liz, above and beyond rival Mob bosses and rogue MCs. “I fell in love.”
That concept was foreign to Liz. Not only had she never known two adults who looked at each other the way Rai and Tannin did, but she’d had no positive role models to show her what a loving, adult relationship could be. Most of the families who’d taken her in hadn’t had the best marriages, or they’d been single parents who worked.
Liz’s memories of women in the families where she’d been placed hadn’t included her ideal of a career woman. Someone she strived to be. Independent and comfortable, able to make her own decisions, and not having to put someone else’s needs before her own.
“I fell in love.” But did it have to be all or nothing if you happen to do that? Fall in love? Was Rai really happy that her business was gone and now she lived in that huge building with fifty other people? She appeared happy. She’d told Liz she was. But how did she get there? Did it just … happen? What about her dreams? Her goals? The things she wanted for her life?
Once again, the sense of having no frame of reference for this … whatever it was she and Rahab had, threatened to overwhelm Liz. Would she lose her identity if she let this happen? If she let herself fall for him? Maybe if she could formulate her specific questions, it would help her look at this from another angle?
When her computer sounded with an incoming Skype call, she jumped. There was work to do. And, she’d see Rahab again when he picked her up from work this afternoon. Maybe by then she’d have figured out how to ask everything that had her tied up in knots.
Chapter Fourteen
“Donny has to go downtown today to sign the contracts, but he gave Vassago news on Joey’s Penito’s death to pass onto us.”
Gorgon had gathered everyone late Monday morning for an emergency church.
“Guy by the name of Dirk Reid. Vassago knows about him, and he found out more information from Digger. You all remember Digger, Donny’s nephew from Brooklyn.”
Vassago stood. “Dirk Reid isn’t the guy’s real name, but it’s the name he’s known by in circles back in the old neighborhood. He’s an assassin, and doesn’t care whose side he’s on as long as he’s paid. That’s why di Stefano likes to use him. Nothing to trace back to key people in his organization.”
“Is he after Pete Magano, too?” asked Mastema.
Pete Magano was the one signing the contracts with Donny this afternoon at the firm where Liz worked. A nasty shiver of fear raced through Rahab as he pictured Liz, working in the same offices where this Dirk guy might be trying to get to Pete and Donny. Would he dare try such a move in a crowded law firm? Either way, Rahab didn’t like the images floating through his mind.
“Digger believes Dirk is long gone from this area,” said Vassago. “But that still leaves Pete. Digger hasn’t been able to determine who di Stefano will use to kill Pete, but he’s convinced Pete has a hit out on him. It wouldn’t make sense to kill one of the men set to sign those contracts and not the other.”
“How did di Stefano find out which of Vito’s men his businesses passed to when he died?” asked Phenex.
“Likely one of Mad Dog’s followers told him,” said Gorgon. “They all knew Vito’s men, the same as we know most of Donny’s.
“Donny’s life might be on the line as well, then,” said Tannin.
Vassago snorted. “He lives with that possibility every day. Don’t worry about him. If you saw his home, you’d understand why he’s so protected.”
“Tell us about it,” said Rahab. “What makes it so special? ‘Cause we have a kickass security system, too.” He was really asking because he wanted to know whether that impenetrable protection Donny always bragged about followed him into law offices downtown.
“Maybe there’s something else we can do here?”
“Not unless we lived next to the Rocky River like he does,” said Vassago. “Or wanted to go to extremes. Donny’s home literally sits on a bluff overlooking the river, and it’s surrounded by woods.”
“So are we,” said Rahab.
“Yeah, but we don�
��t have the entire property wired with sensors, infrared cameras, and sirens that go off if anyone trips one of those sensors. He can’t take a walk in his own backyard without turning off the sensors on that grid.”
“He has grids?” asked Mastema.
“Yeah. He only has five acres, but there’s literally a motherboard that controls the entire system. He can turn off certain areas of the property so his dog can go out and take a piss without setting off a siren inside the house.”
The entire group laughed until Gorgon had to repeatedly bang his fist on the table to bring the room back to order. “Okay. We get it. Donny lives in a fucking fortress that’s making us all drool with envy right now. Back to the business at hand. The local cops have Dirk’s name, not that it will do them any good. Digger made sure it got leaked to them. He also provided a picture and what little background he has on the man, but like Vassago said, since it’s an alias, it won’t lead the cops anywhere useful.”
“So we’re still in the dark about who might be here right now, looking to take out Pete Magano or even Donny,” said Tannin.
“Yeah. Pretty much. But Donny wanted us to know who killed Tony Penito. The contracts are due to be signed in a couple hours.” Gorgon cut his gaze toward Rahab. “And Rahab will be there later to pick up Liz from work, so maybe he can give us confirmation that signing happened.”
“Will do,” said Rahab.
“What does Donny taking over Vito’s businesses mean for us?” asked Phenex.
“Not a thing. Scotty’s Place isn’t part of those negotiations.”
“The reformed Outlaw Dogs MC won’t be harassing us anymore,” said Vassago. “That’s what it means.”
“Three cheers for that shit!” said Rahab, banging his fist on the table. The other joined in for a few moments, and once the room quieted down again, Gorgon dismissed them.
Rahab decided to leave now to go downtown. He’d wait for Liz to be done if need be, but he wanted to be there with her. He couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that some bad shit was going to go down, and she’d be in the middle of it. Since it wasn’t like him to get premonitions, it scared him.
As he was about to leave the conference room, Gorgon stopped him. “Hang on a second.”
“You’re not gonna give me shit about Liz again, are you?”
“Fuck you, Rahab. I haven’t given you shit about her to begin with.”
Technically, no. But Gorgon had given him shit about disappearing from the club Friday night.
“I just want to make sure you understand the long-term implications of fucking this particular broad.”
“She works for the same firm that represents Donny. Other than that, what is there?”
“We might need them one day as our attorneys.”
“Okay. So, I’m sure there are plenty of paralegals there to work on shit for us. She’s not stupid. She wouldn’t do anything to screw up her job.” And as he said the words, Rahab realized it made it sound like he planned on being with her long-term. What the fuck was going on with him and this woman?
“She’s not the usual broad you go for.”
“I don’t have a usual broad. When was the last time you saw me fuck one of them for more than a week?”
“Never.”
It was one thing to acknowledge that Liz had crawled under his skin. It was quite another to admit that to one of his Brothers. That’s what was bothering him this morning. His obvious feelings for Liz. Why else would he want to get downtown and make sure she was all right?
“Fuck.” Rahab ran a hand through his hair. “Fuck, Gorgon. What the fuck am I doing?’
Gorgon grinned. “I’d say you’re falling for this girl.”
“No. Not me.”
“Yeah, asshole. You. Same way I did the second I laid eyes on Legs.” Chloe’s stage name was Legs, because hers were long and she used them to full advantage when she danced.
“When’s her baby due again?”
“You’re changing the subject.”
“So what? Fuck you.”
“The baby is due in May.”
“I’m gonna go downtown now.” He needed to get out into the fresh air, even if it was fucking cold outside.
“Okay. Let us know when the contracts are signed.”
“Yeah. I will.”
And then I’ll try to figure out what the fuck is going on inside my head.
****
While Liz was thrilled to see Rahab show up hours before she was due to leave for the day, it was also awkward to have him there. Russell knew him, of course, and so did a couple of other attorneys who’d had occasion to go to the club for business reasons, but no one else in the office did.
Liz apologized to Russell, who waved a hand in her direction and told her not to worry about it. But he did remind her she needed to be in the room during the contract signing, so he also asked her to make sure Rahab had a place to hang out in the meantime.
After introducing him to the other paralegals and secretaries, she found a conference room that wasn’t being used and set him up in there with water and snacks. “Why did you come so early?”
“I thought you’d be happy to see me?”
“I am happy to see you. Just wondering if something happened to bring you here now instead of at five.”
Was that a quick flicker of fear on his face?
“Nothing happened. Just bored at the club and wanted to see you. Do I really have to sit in here until it’s time for you to go?”
“Yes. I’m working on stuff for clients. It’s private.”
“There’s an empty desk across the room from you. I saw it.”
“I don’t think anyone would be comfortable with you sitting there all afternoon.”
“Guess not. It was really stupid of me to come here, wasn’t it?”
“No. Not at all. I’m beyond flattered. Really. But I have to get back to work. Donny and Pete will be here in less than an hour, and I’ll be in the room when they sign.”
Rahab pulled her close and kissed her. There was nothing she could do under his powerful grip, or in the presence of the spell he cast on her. Then again, Liz was fine with that. It was a welcome respite in a stressful day.
“That’s better,” he said. “Now I can get through the next few hours.”
She laughed softly. “You’re a charmer when you want to be.”
“And you are the sexiest woman here.”
“Oh, you’ve been checking them out then, have you?”
“Of course I have. I’m a guy.”
Her laugh was louder this time. “All right, Rahab. You sit here and check them out while they walk past, okay?” She handed him a piece of paper. “This is how to work the phone system. If you need me, here’s my desk extension. But I won’t be able to hear my phone ring while they’re signing the contracts, so here’s Denise’s extension. Call her if you need anything while I’m busy.”
“You mean like if I need a blowjob, Denise will come in here and give me one?”
“Yeah. Right. I’ll make sure she knows that’s part of her duties today. Behave yourself, or they won’t let you come back.”
“I’m teasing you. I wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize your job.”
“I know that.” She kissed him again. “I’ll see you soon.”
Liz went into the conference room where the signing was to take place before Donny and Pete arrived. She wanted to talk to Russell alone for a moment. “I really am sorry.”
“Please don’t be. The MC members are always welcome here.”
“Yeah, but not to hang around while we work.”
“No, that is a bit unusual. I hope you explained to him why he can’t do that.”
“I did.”
“Why is he here so early?”
“He said he wanted to see me.” She briefly considered sharing her uneasy feeling about Rahab’s presence here so early with Russell, then decided not to. Since she couldn’t pinpoint it, she’d only sound like a dingbat.
<
br /> Once Donny and Pete arrived and were shown to the room, Liz concentrated on the task at hand. The contracts were signed without incident, and neither man had any additional questions. Both looked slightly anxious to her, but she could understand why. With Tony Penito being killed recently, they were probably happy to have this done.
As they rose to leave the room, Russell handed her the signed contracts, and Donny walked over to her. “Thought I saw Rahab down the hall.”
“Yes. He’s here early to drive me home from work.”
Donny smiled. “Very early, unless you’re leaving soon.”
“He was bored.” What else could she say, after all? “I’m betting you’re relieved the contracts are signed.”
“Yes. Thank you again for being so diligent about those corrections.”
“My pleasure. I’m glad everything is settled.”
All that fuss for nothing. Now she could let Rahab know it was a done deal, and Vito’s businesses were safe from Roberto di Stefano. There was nothing else to worry about. And, she had another evening with Rahab to look forward to.
Chapter Fifteen
Rahab felt like the biggest loser on the planet by the time Liz came in and told him the contracts were signed. She also said Russell told her she could leave home early, but that she still needed about an hour to finish up some things that couldn’t wait until the next day.
“I’ll let Gorgon know it’s done.” He took out his phone. After Liz left, he texted Gorgon, and then walked around the room, looking at the titles of the books lining the shelves. Law stuff. Nothing he had an interest in reading.
The room was decorated in a similar fashion to the offices at the club, except there were no law books or degrees on the walls inside Scotty’s Place. What the hell was he doing here? Liz was a career woman. He’d known that from the start. She wasn’t interested in living at the club and washing dishes or cleaning toilets. Or in being a biker’s woman. She had plans and dreams. She was going to be a lawyer one day. Why the hell would she want someone like him?
He was a damn fool for letting this go on as long as it had, and for becoming this attached to her within a few short days. No wonder he still couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that had plagued him all morning. It had nothing to do with Donny or Pete. The contracts were signed. It was a done deal, and both men were safe. Didn’t mean di Stefano couldn’t still come after them, but legally, he couldn’t get his hands on Vito’s operation now. It belonged to Donny.
