Page 34 of Haunted
“Maybe include a picture of you, Daph, and Cammie so they can see how you leveled up,” he mutters, making me laugh.
“Now that has merit,” I admit.
“You could also lace the chocolate with laxatives,” he adds with a smirk.
“Fuck, you’re twisted.”
“If I had a dollar for every time I heard that,” he quips. “Get me home, son. I have a busy day scheduled tomorrow.”
“Do you want to go with me to Daphne’s tomorrow after we meet with the club? I know Cammie would like to see you again.”
“Any other time, I’d say yes. I’ve got a date tomorrow, though.”
“A date?” I ask, and I don’t even bother to keep the surprise off my face.
“Yeah, don’t look so shocked. Just because I’ve been hiding from life, doesn’t mean now that I’m sober that I can’t remember how it’s done.”
“No, I’m glad you’re back in the world of the living again. I’m just wondering who the lucky lady is.”
He closes his eyes as if he’s savoring memories of the woman. “That’s my secret for now, son,” he says simply.
I shook my head, but didn’t say anything else. The rest of the ride back to the clubhouse was quiet. We were both lost in our own thoughts and this time, I was glad to know that Sabre’s were good for a change.
Chapter 26
Pez
I lookaround the table at the band of men who had become my brothers completely. Each of these men I trusted with my life. I owed King, our president, a debt that I could never repay. From the moment I met him, I felt connected to him. We had each lived a life that tried to take us under, and yet we refused to yield. BB, the vice president, has been a steadying force in my life. He and his old lady Beau always find time to check on me and make sure I’m good. I don’t know why they do it, but I’ve been grateful. The smile on his face tells me that he knows I’ve found what he has in Beau.A home.He doesn’t need to worry anymore and King grins as I look at him. He gets it too. Of course, he does. He says all the time that he and Gabby met to keep one another from drowning and in the process healed each other. I used to think that was baloney. Now, I know better. My gaze moves across the rest of the men. Spider, our road captain, and the former president’s son, was watching everything intently. Apex, Crash, and Playboy were also there as voting members even if they didn’t hold a titled position just yet. The only ones missing were Crash and Pyro—newly patched in prospects that were out doing business for the club. Sabre, Skull and Torch—the original members are here in their seats, too. They’re a trio of knowledgeand strength and I’m grateful they’re here to help me—especially Sabre. He grins at me, and I just shake my head. The only ones missing are the other prospects we have that are doing patrols. We don’t really have trouble—especially since we’re mostly a legitimate enterprise these days, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. There’s always someone out there wanting what you’ve built. These people are my brothers. They have my loyalty, and I know they’re all here to help me. It’s something I never would have been comfortable asking Diesel—although I respected the hell out of him. I know now that I just didn’t belong there. King has rebuilt something solid here. He’s brought the old club back to life, while yet making it stronger and welcoming the changing of times and what survival looks like.
I look down at the file King had handed me earlier. It’s like a snake about to strike. I’m almost afraid of what is in it. I’m not ready to look on my own. Instead, I find my gaze locking with King’s.
“What did we find?” I ask, knowing that my entire future depends on what leverage I can get on Daphne’s ex.
“Enough,” King says with an easy grin. “We’ve got him for blackmailing a former federal judge, jury tampering, and embezzling from his firm. That should destroy any influence or standing he has, plus give him a nice vacation in a state penitentiary. On top of that, we have sworn statements from six women that he’d been cheating with when married to Daphne. Now, that won’t have influence in court for the divorce, because Kentucky is a no-fault state. Yet, what they have to say about how he would pay them for their silence so he could let his anger out on them, will speak volumes. Apparently, he told three of them that he had to keep this side of himself hidden from his wife because—and I’m quoting him so don’t shoot me—the bitch got pregnant despite being on birth control. There was no wayhe could hit her because her father was in a local thug gang and would try to kill him.”
“I should have done the world a favor and killed him years ago. I knew he was no good,” Sabre grouses. “I just didn’t realize how bad he was.”
“There’s a tape recording made just three days ago, where he’s lamenting to a local hooker on how he fucked up, got his mistress pregnant, and now his wife filed for divorce. He got so upset he broke three of the woman’s ribs, blackened her eye and busted her lip. He beat her until she was unconscious. Luckily, the recorder kept going. The bastard left her like that with five hundred dollars lying on her stomach as he walked out. She has pictures to go along with the recording. She wants him nailed to the wall.”
I don’t know what I expected, but this goes so far beyond that. For a second, I can’t breathe. “Fuck,” I hiss.
“Now, we have two roads to travel here, Pez. The club has decided to let you choose, since this impacts you.”
“What roads?” I ask.
“We can hide the more serious charges—the jury tampering and bribery—and hold them over his head. You could use it to make him sign over rights to Cammie. I don’t think it’s a big stretch since he clearly didn’t want the girl to begin with. Then, have authorities arrest him for the assault on a hooker. At the most, he’ll get a couple of months, which is fucking sad. Still, it’s a felony, so he’d have his law license temporarily suspended and it will get him fired.”
I think on it. I want to answer right away, but this affects Daphne and Cammie. I take a breath. Despite every protective instinct I have, I shake my head. “This is something I’ll need my woman to decide. We hold this safe. Give me a week. There are things Daphne and I still need to decide and discuss. Then, I’ll bring her over and show her the evidence we have.”
“Yeah, we know what you want to discuss,” Pyro laughs.
Sabre takes a step and kicks the asshole in the gut. Guess he should have been facing the rest of us instead of turned to the side, stretched out, and nursing a hangover. “Knock it off, asshole. That’s my daughter you’re talking about.”
“Sorry, man. I was just joking,” he grumbles rubbing his stomach. I smirk, wishing he’d kicked him harder.
“A week is too long. You risk him hearing about our inquiries, although we did our best to cover our tracks. If I were you, I wouldn’t chance it for more than a couple of days—three tops,” King says.
I grimace. That doesn’t give me a lot of time. I need to make love to my woman, convince my new daughter to move, and confess to Daphne about my past—all while getting her to agree to move to Corbin and give me a chance to prove myself. It was a tall task normally, but to do it all in three fucking days? It seems impossible.
