“I’m planning on both. Do you want to be cremated or buried, Dad?” Tess asked.
Bastion hurt her hand. Only for a second, but he squeezed the hell out of her bones. She made a tiny gasp and he released her.
“Kade. Keir. Get into the car. Now. We’re leaving,” Mr. Saxton ordered, interrupting the hidden showdown brewing.
War leapt up from his seat, leaving Ruby behind.
“Tess, you need to go get the kids. Do you want to meet with them, too, Mr. Sinclair, or can the kids stay at our house again? My mum will watch them.”
Ruby stood and smiled.
“Of course, I’m happy to watch over your younger children. I’m keeping an eye on all of the children. A mother can be awful fierce if she thinks her children are in danger. Maddy worried about Tess since she’s just moved schools recently. She asked me personally to keep watch over her.”
There was a threat underneath the cordial tone. A thread of steel. Hidden teeth that would clamp down and disable anyone trying to run through the carefully planted traps in her plan.
“Let us give you our address so you can pick up the children after you and Tess have your talk. I’ll expect you by lunch? Let’s say 12:30 p.m. War, give Mr. Sinclair our contact information.”
“May I come to lunch as well?” Bastion asked.
“We would love to have you,” Ruby replied as she beamed at him.
Just like that, Greg was told that he’d better return them safe and unharmed or there would be consequences.
Greg snatched the piece of paper War had written their address on and crumpled it in his fist. He looked down at Ruby, ignoring her son.
“Don’t interfere in my family’s business. The kids are all coming with me. Keep this boyfriend and feed him lunch. He’s gotta be starving, having so recently run away from home. Take care of those that you can, Nurse Ruby.”
Tess got grabbed with as little caution as Greg had snatched the paper from War. She was dragged by her upper arm, out of the office.
Mr. Henderson called out to Sandy as Tess was dragged away.
“The Sinclair twins need to come to the office. Their father is requesting all of the children go home early.”
“Send ‘em out to the parking lot,” Greg ordered, not even looking at Sandy.
Bastion followed, grabbing for Tess’s free hand.
She made a split-second decision, pulling her hand away from Bastion.
“Take care of the kids, Bossy,” Tess said.
It was stupid. She knew it. Greg wanted it. Bastion would fight it.
What was the point?
She didn’t care if it was stupid as long as nobody else was put at risk. Right now, even with all her smarts, she couldn’t think of another way out of this.
Her mind wasn’t focused, thoughts splintered by the memory of Greg dragging her mother into the kitchen just like he was now pulling Tess unwillingly.
It had been Tess’s fault. Something so small, but Greg had been sober. He was mean as hell when forced to face reality.
“You drank that money, didn’t you, Maddy? That girl’s too young for woman shit. No way you spent it on pads. She don’t need ‘em. She too good to stuff toilet paper to sop her cunt? I work hard all day. All I want is to come home to a cold beer and a smoke. You fuck’n wasting it on a girl that can’t even work yet?”
He’d hit Maddy. He would hit Tess. Didn’t really matter why, though he had plenty of reason. For Jensen’s information or punishment for misleading him about the boys.
A victim of crime knew better than to ask for real justification.
No reason was right.
Bastion didn’t make another grab for her hand as her father pulled her through the double doors to exit outside. He just followed with silent menace.
What would be worse than being beaten was having Bastion witness it. He’d lost it over her getting a bottle to the head! This threatened to be much worse.
“Lemme go, goddamnit. I’m coming. I don’t need you to carry me!” Tess yelled at Greg as she stumbled.
She got released.
Almost fell onto her ass.
Bastion’s arms wrapped around her from behind. “Go back into the school. Don’t. Turn. Around.”
That was bitten out with such stone-cold anger that Tess shivered. If she didn’t know Bastion, it might have sounded like he didn’t care whether she obeyed.
“Get on the bike, Tessa,” Greg called back, clueless to the vengeance ready to breathe down his neck.
Greg put his own helmet on. None for her, of course.
Bastion noticed.
“Oh look, he’s wearing a helmet. Think that’s going to stop his brain from slamming around?” Bastion asked in a mocking tone as he tried to put her behind him.
He pulled a switchblade from his pocket and let Greg see it.
Don’t fuck with Bastion in a mood. That was eminently clear.
Still, she wasn’t afraid of him. She knew better.
Greg was stupid.
“We’re on school grounds,” Tess reminded Bastion, desperately, as she reached out to stop him.
“You shoulda been safe here,” Bastion said, brushing off her hands.
“Come with me,” Tess said.
Bastion clenched his fists but he stopped.
“Tessa, I will make you a widow before you say ‘I do’ to this rich prick if you don’t get on the bike now. Choose to either kiss your boyfriend goodbye here or at a closed casket.”
Still playing on the cute death threats?
Hers had been better.
“Sebastian Wilkinson, you will not get on that motorcycle. Have you really gone crazy?” hollered Mr. Wilkinson.
Tess jerked around in surprise.
She didn’t think Bastion’s dad had it in him to come after them. He’d looked a little browbeaten in the office, although Marla hadn’t completely ruled their interaction.
Perhaps Bastion’s old man had some backbone in him after all.
There was a driver beside them. Kind of a burly-looking guy. He might be able to wrestle Bastion into the car for Mr. Wilkinson.
Bastion turned around and hugged her. She felt him pocket his switchblade again.
“If my dad gets a hold of me, I won't be able to come after you. The twins will have a harder time getting away from their dad, too. War and Ruby must already be going to inform the security team. They’ll follow us. Trust me. Keep your mouth shut.”
It had all been harshly whispered into her ear. Bastion didn't wait for her consent. He'd made the best decision he could given the circumstances and time allotted to them.
“Remember your safe word,” he told her as he pulled her over to the big Harley.
“I’m not taking you, rich boy,” Greg said, protesting.
Mr. Wilkinson’s driver was starting to run towards them.
Bastion lifted her onto the bike and mounted behind her at the very back.
“If you don't want anyone stopping you, I suggest you resolve yourself to another passenger. Once we’re moving, nobody will want to do anything that could get me hurt. I can’t say my father would care much about you, or the girl that Marla wants dead.”
Bastion had to be lying.
If Greg stopped and thought about it for a moment, he'd realize Bastion’s logic wasn't sound.
The burly driver running hard towards them and Marla’s screeching became fantastic motivators to act instead of think. Bastion couldn't have planned it better.
The problem was, he really hadn't planned at all.
They were going to be flying by the seat of their pants, quite literally, if Bastion didn't hold onto her tightly.
Greg chose not to say another word to them, getting on the bike in a gruff silence. He revved the engine and took off without even ensuring Tess held on.
Luckily, Bastion had been prepared for a hasty exit.
The kids exited to the parking lot just as they were taking off down the drive.
Tess got
a quick glimpse of Jason’s shocked face. Her brother looked from her to Bastion sitting behind her on the Harley.
Hopefully he’d recognized Bastion and realize there was no need to panic.
The last thing she wanted was for one of the kids to call up Maddy and worry their mother. There were enough of them involved in this mess.
20
War
Aftershocks
He’d been outmaneuvered.
Da said never be arrogant. Mum warned him that there was always going to be someone stronger and smarter. No matter how hard he worked, his goal wasn’t to be the best.
That wasn’t what mattered. His family worked together. They might live apart now, but they were still a team.
Strategy was the game War learned from the cradle.
Manage, lead, but don’t try to be the lone alpha.
He had his phone in his hand as soon as they exited the principal’s office.
“Carl? We have a Red Alert on Greg Sinclair. He has Tess and Bastion with him, headed to the side parking lot.”
“We spotted him coming in. Tagged the Harley. Do you want us to intercept or follow?”
“Follow. Bastion has his phone on him. He’d have called in his own alert for an interception if he thought it was appropriate.”
“Are you sure, sir? They look to all be planning to get on the Harley. Not big enough or legal.”
“If the authorities pull them over, I believe that would solve many of our problems. I trust Bastion to make the call for interception. Do not interfere unless he sends a signal or is compromised to the point that he is unable to call for help.”
Mum tugged on his arm.
“Tell them to send at least three men to follow. We want them in sight at all times. I’m calling the police if they see anything illegal happening. We’re not risking your friends to get evidence for an arrest. Tess’s father is dangerous.”
War relayed his mum’s directions. He knew she was only letting Greg get away because to reveal him for a criminal in the office earlier would have risked Maddy getting dragged to jail as well for her unwilling part in the drug selling. Bastion could’ve been turned into a fall guy, too. Even Kade’s hands weren’t clean.
Mum had agreed to hold her tongue in front of Henderson and the other parents, but now, she wasn’t going to be shushed.
“Tell them to send security after Kade and Keir, too. You know there’s a chance Jensen will try to grab the twins with all the upheaval causing distraction.”
“You catch that, Carl?” War asked.
“Yeah, Mrs. Stewart is right. The bodyguards for the Saxton twins automatically followed them. Do you wish for them to intervene and have a discussion with Mr. Saxton?”
“I’ll text Kade and Keir now to ask. Hang up. I’ll call you back.”
Mr. Wilkinson and Marla rushed ahead of them, bickering to each other. Seemed they weren’t about to let Bastion get away.
War let them go. This might work out in their favour.
He texted the twins in the group chat.
War: You telling your dad the truth about everything?
Neither twin replied right away, so War pocketed his phone and offered his mum an arm.
“Let’s find one of the guards to take you home,” he suggested to his mum.
“You can’t be serious.”
“You know Da isn’t gonna agree ta’ ya running after a motorcycle gang in your scrubs,” he teased her, though he was dead serious about his mum not coming with him.
“My attire isna’ the problem here,” his mum retorted, her own accent sticking out.
Meant he was about to get lectured. Sure sign.
“I want to hop on a motorcycle in case the bodyguard’s car canna go where the bikes go. They might lose Tess and Bastion. The twins still have motorcycles and Jacobson has that little Honda bike.”
Mum sighed.
“Canna you take me on a bike?”
“No, Mum. It’s too wee. I’m a big boy, ya’ ken?”
“Fine. Dinna ask me to keep it from your Da. I’m calling him.”
At least it would keep her busy. She’d be able to co-manage their operations from home. Mum knew almost everything.
“I’ll drop you home,” War told her. “Can you keep an eye on things with security? I need someone that can make the call to contact the police, if necessary.”
“You got a tracker on her?” Mum asked.
“Of course. In the bug. And I’m wearing one, too. We all are, Mum. I promised Da.”
Mum stopped him just before they exited the double doors. Tess’s younger brother and sister were approaching, so he divided his attention.
Unlike the Wilkinsons going ahead and getting into the middle of things, War knew Tess would want her younger siblings kept out of it.
“Warrick, why did you have to grow up so fast?” Mum asked.
“You’d kick me arse if I needed it. Dinna complain that I outgrew the reach of your boot,” War teased her.
Mum was kind but firm.
He reached out and snagged Ashley’s arm before she could pass by him, halting her. The other twin stopped as if he had an invisible connection to his sister, knowing she’d been waylaid.
“Let go. Dad is out there with Tess. She needs us!” Ashley cried out.
“Bastion is with her. It’s okay,” War reassured her.
Jason gave him a brief, worried glance and then returned his gaze to the double doors.
“You know your sister doesn’t want either of you in danger. Adding yourselves to the mix by letting Greg get his hands on you isn’t going to help Tess,” Mum said.
She spoke clearly, no accent. It was an effort when his mum was wound-up.
“Can we at least look?” Jason asked.
He practically vibrated with the need to move, to do something. It reminded War of Tess.
“Yes, no harm in looking. That’s fair. We’ll be behind you,” War said.
Right in time to see Tess perched precariously on a Harley as it roared out of the lot.
A leader didn’t question himself often. He needed confidence in his direction if he expected others to follow.
“Get her back,” Mum said from behind him.
She put a warm hand on his back.
War nodded tightly, not trusting himself to speak.
Keir
War’s text was the prompt, but Keir had already planned on confessing.
Kade exchanged looks with him in the backseat. They were in their mom’s old van. It was roomy, but common, nowhere near as fancy as their dad’s old jag. Haunani had ignored the ‘soccer mom’ comparisons and proudly drove this van everywhere.
The big van had been part of her strategy to be involved in her sons’ lives as much as possible.
Stark contrast to dad’s two-seater.
Mom had wanted them to have enough room for their friends. Long trips with room to stretch out. Enough to camp in the back under the stars, preferably on a beach.
You couldn’t take the ocean out of a Hawaiian-born girl.
She’d had plans for this van.
It was fitting that Keir told their dad what really happened to end those plans while being driven inside it.
One last time. He’d never be able to sit in his mom’s van again after this.
Keir reached for his brother’s hand before speaking.
“Are you mixed-up with Jensen’s gang, Dad?”
Their father barely reacted. He’d had months to perfect that cold indifference. Enough time spent locked away in his office or bedroom alone, so his sons couldn’t see a real reaction from him.
The truth.
“I’m a criminal lawyer, Keiran. You know the answer to that one even without my client list.”
Dad always called them by their full names when they were alone.
“So what do you know about the Wolf?” Keir asked.
A small flinch.
Dad had taught them to read every inch of body language. H
e thought he was preparing them to take over for him.
Not to interrogate him one day.
“What is the point of these questions?”
Re-direction.
“You just let the Wolf take our girlfriend,” Keir answered.
Dad actually took his eyes off the road to look at the rearview mirror at him. It was a bigger tell than others would realize on casual acquaintance.
Ever since Mom died, Dad drove like he’d aged a hundred years. Slow, cautious, and having lived long enough to learn what could be lost in a few reckless seconds.
“Miss Sinclair is engaged to Sebastian Wilkinson. Your friend was quite clear on that relationship.”
“Yeah, Tess is engaged to him. She’s also committed to me, Kade, and War. We’re all friends.”
Dad sighed.
“That is ridiculous, Keiran. What games have you guys been playing? That girl is very smart. I’m surprised that you were able to fool her. It wasn’t nice. She has enough problems without boys playing with her heart.”
Dad complimented Tess out of her hearing.
“Not her heart that’s in danger, Dad. The Wolf held a gun to her head last Friday. After he pointed that gun at us. Tess lied to get us out of her house and danger.”
The brakes were hit hard. They were a good three-car-lengths from the stop sign. The van didn’t move again.
Dad breathed. That was his reaction. No tears, no yelling.
Kade unbuckled and moved the gear shift into park. He hit the button to turn on the 4-way lights.
“I need to talk to you about what happened to Mom,” Kade said, sitting back.
Dad always had something to say. Verbosity was part and parcel of a smooth-talking criminal lawyer.
Nothing.
Just like when Kade had come home from the hospital.
Their father suffered alone. They all would have suffered alone, except Kade and Keir had been blessed with each other.
Keir unbuckled, reached out, and put a hand on his father’s shoulder. He’d been careful not to push, not to question. Only wanted to please Dad when Kade needed him to step-up after the accident. He’d done what he could to keep what was left of their family together.
Duplicity (Victory Lap Book 2) Page 36
