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— EDDIE —
In a world swirling every second with insanity it’s in this moment where everything is turned off and my body is turned on by the single person engulfing me with her warmth. Kissing this woman gives me pulses of lust, of longing, of righteousness that she belongs to me.
My hands slide down her body and I pull her close, I need her to feel what she does to me. She whimpers and my strength to hold back shatters. It’s either dry hump the fuck out of her or bury myself deep. It’s not really a hard decision to make. Wait. Dry hump. Finn.
I regretfully tear my mouth away from hers and connect our foreheads. “Where did you say Finn was?”
“Oh, gosh, Finn. I told you I needed to head home. I couldn’t leave him with Travis because he is allergic but then Chance and Aubrey showed up. You know, the ones you made me call Travis about to make a reservation. They offered to take care of Finn. You know them, right? And it’s not like I had a choice. I needed to get to the hospital and tell you and you weren’t answering your phone.”
“My phone died when I was calling you. I’m sorry for the whole fuckup and dragging you into this.” Dammit.
My throat clogs up and I grab her head to guide it against my chest. I don’t have any more words and I can’t have her look at me right now because the emotions running inside me are too raw and intense. With my mother in the hospital, it’s hitting me hard.
Her arms circle around my waist and she rubs her cheek against my chest. “I’m sure it will all work out. And your mother is a strong woman, she’s going to be ordering us around again in no time at all.”
“Yeah,” I croak.
“We need to get home so I can pick up Finn. I’m sure your friends had other things in mind when they got here than babysit a dog.” Gracy steps away from me and I let her.
“My home is here now, Gracelynn. I can’t take over and disappear on these guys again. I have to get back to the hospital later too. Fuck.” I rub a hand over my face and think of the best way to handle this.
Gracy’s hand slides over my chest and it settles right over my beating heart. “Why don’t we head over to the estate, say hi to your friends so we can pick up Finn. It will also allow us a chance to pack a bag for your mother because she’s going to need a few things since they are keeping her overnight. Then I’ll get a few things for myself too, and we’ll spend the night here. Wait. Finn is welcome here, right? Am I welcome here?”
She’s back in my arms and plastered against my body with my next breath. “Yes. To all. It’s the best solution, and why didn’t I think about my mother needing me to bring her things? You’re perfect, you know that? How you handle everything and step up when needed.”
I crash my mouth against hers and relish in the way she drowns me with pleasure coursing through my body. She’s my serenity. The eye of the storm where there’s a moment of peace in this turmoil they call life.
“Come on, let’s go, there’s much more I need to handle before we head back to the hospital.” I’m about to stalk to the door but the concerned look on her face stops me. “What’s wrong?”
“More we need to handle,” she murmurs. “I think there’s something I need to handle...I’m not sure but it was something Rush said. The whole ‘time is ticking, Spencer will have it all’ thing he mentioned and how he’s working together with Spencer. He would need someone to invest, right? Cough up the cash to fire up his drug business? Well, I left Spencer and everything connected to it behind me almost nine months ago. I’m fairly sure this is about my mother’s inheritance because there was an appointment set to go through my mother’s will. This is about money, money Spencer will get his hands on, but it belongs to my family, not his. He married my mother for her money and now he’s going to get it. Wait. Can he get it if I don’t claim it or something? He can’t, right? Wouldn’t it automatically be mine? I know for a fact my grandfather made Spencer and my mother sign papers before they got married, a prenuptial agreement. I mean, they threw it in each other’s face lots of times during many of their fights. I don’t know any of this legal stuff, but what I do know is that I have to do something about it to make sure...but what? I have no idea. And I also have zero interest in facing that scumbag.” Her shoulders sag and the rambling of words might not make sense to her but it does to me.
“You need to call Clemente. Not because he practically runs this state but because he has the best lawyers. You don’t have to go anywhere near Spencer because the lawyer will represent you.”
Gracy groans. “Clemente is pissed at me for choosing you, and now you want me to call him so he can do me a favor? Great.”
I cup her face and soften my voice. “You have to understand that family holds more meaning to Clemente than it would to anyone else. He would see it as an honor to handle this for you. Hell, I know for a fact he’d be pissed if you would keep this from him.”
The storm of emotion clouding her eyes as she reaches for her phone is hitting me in the chest.
I take the phone from her hands and tell her, “Let me make the call for you.”
She nods warily and I tap a few buttons and find Clemente’s number. He picks up on the second ring. “Clemente, it’s me, Eddie. Listen. Rush implied a few things when he was dragged off and it made Gracy think that Spencer might have something in the works to get his hands on her mother’s inheritance. Could something like this be possible? Can you get her a lawyer and find out what’s going on? Oh, and I’m ratting her out to you. She’s going to be angry with me for telling you this, but she thinks you’re pissed at her. She also was under the impression you wouldn’t be happy if she called you to do her a favor.”
I’m holding the phone at a safe distance from my ear because Clemente is throwing out one curse after the other. Gracy’s eyes are wide from shock and I give her a smile and a wink before I give my attention back to the phone call.
“Yeah, Clemente, I mentioned to her what family means to you. I might not have used the shit you just threw out because I respect my old lady.” A chuckle slips from my mouth when Clemente adds some more curses but he calms down and thanks me for reaching out but asks me to put Gracy on the phone.
I hold it out for her to take and when Clemente starts to talk, I can see the concern slipping out of her. Clemente will make sure to handle this for her, one way or the other. The man has some issues himself with Spencer so I’m pretty sure he’s rubbing his hands with glee to finally have something to sink his teeth in.
Gracy ends the call and tucks her phone away. A sigh of utter relief rips from her body. “He made me promise to call him right away next time. You were right. And he’s not angry at me, or at you for that matter, because he appreciated the way you stood up and called him for me. It’s just so weird. I was alone for such a long period of time with just my job to fuss about. And really, there’s nothing to fuss about because I love running the estate with your mom and living with her. Shit. I hope she’s going to be okay and can come home soon, I already miss her so much.”
“Come on, let’s get going and handle everything so we can check up on her, okay?” I tell her and take her hand.
We stroll back into the main room of the clubhouse and I make sure to grab my phone from the charger.
I’m about to leave when Yates is suddenly standing in front of me. “I just got word Rush made bail. I don’t know how, but he’s out. Fuck. He shouldn’t even have made bail, the damn DEA is involved and the charges were serious enough. He would have had to go before a judge and our criminal justice system doesn’t work that fast. You know that as well as I do. Anyway, I had a prospect keeping an eye out and he let me know he walked right out of the precinct, got in a limo, and it drove off. He’s following the limo as we speak.”
I smack his upper arm. “You did good. My money is on Spencer. He roams around big player, high-class people and might have pulled a few strings to speed things up to let him make bail.”
My mind is still running overtime with what I should do when the phone in my hand starts to ring. It’s Clemente.
“I just heard. He’s out, right?” I grunt into the phone.
“Spencer bailed him out. But listen, that fucker has been living off Gracy’s money. There are three more days left before he will receive her mother’s inheritance since Gracy signed some papers stating she wants to disclaim it. I hardly think she would do such a thing and my lawyers are already on it to retrieve the original documents to see if the fucker forged her signature and filed without her knowing.”
I connect my gaze with Gracy’s because I damn well know Clemente is right. “Did you sign any papers before you left Spencer?”
Gracy looks confused and shakes her head, so I ask her again to make sure. “You didn’t file any papers to refuse your inheritance?”
Her eyes grow wide at my question before they narrow and anger starts to burn. “I would never do that,” she snaps.
“I heard that,” Clemente growls. “We’re on it and I will let you know once we have all the information.”
I make sure to thank him and disconnect, sliding my phone into my pocket right after. “Clemente is handling it. This was exactly what Rush was talking about. Spencer getting the inheritance and having the big cash for investing in the drug dealing business they wanted to run together. Lightners also have a huge chunk of business when it comes to port logistics. Who knows, they might have struck a deal with a cartel or some shit, making it even bigger than we thought it was. Yates, make sure the prospect stays on his ass. We need to know Rush’s every move, but let him keep enough distance not to be seen. We’re risking a lot as it is. For now, Rush only wants me gone because he will have the MC for manpower and the ability to run his dirty business. I kicked him out, and Spencer might have paid his bail but if they don’t have the MC it’s just two assholes with a load of cash. Cash he wants to obtain through Gracy. And maybe they also have transportation, but no manpower or backup. Seeing Clemente is working with his lawyers to take away Spencer’s money, that wasn’t even his in the first place, they might have nothing left to live for and that’s when things will get even more dangerous, get me?”
“I fucking get you, brother. We need to have a meeting, get all the brothers up to speed about things. And it might be good to double up, no solo shit because you might think it’s just Spencer and Rush but those fuckers have people around them who support them. The cartel supplying the drugs for instance, who knows they might also supply backup because the MC was divided about getting into drugs before you stepped back into the picture and took over. I’ve seen with my own eyes how Rush and his three buddies have met a few times with what I presume were contacts from a cartel. I know because I’ve followed them twice to see what they were up to. And these fuckers are armed to the teeth, Pres. What if they have their back?”
“You’re right. Fuck,” I grumble and think things through.
“We have to get Finn, our dog,” Gracy tells Yates. “And we need to pack a bag to take to the hospital later for Eddie’s mom. Can someone go with us so we can drive to and from the estate? Then you guys can have your meeting and we’ll head to the hospital right after.” Gracy’s voice sounds timid but she’s right and again stepping up when I need her to.
Yates gives her a smile before his gaze slides to me. “Only a few hours with the old lady status and she’s already stepping up to the title. I’ll have Rhett follow you and while you’re handling everything I will make sure to round everyone up for a meeting when you get back.”
I’m about to step away but Gracy leans into Yates and asks, “What’s the name of the guy with the red hair and beard?”
“Rooney,” Yates chuckles. “You want to know where he got the chocolate from, don’t ya? I can tell you, it’s his, he’s the mastermind behind that bar of chocolate. It took him a long time but it’s all set and in production. The fucker has made his first million this year. But don’t tell anyone I told you because he keeps shit quiet. He only shared it with me because I’m good with numbers and helped him out by reading through contracts he needed to sign to get his product on the market. If Rush knew...he would have made Rooney sell his company to the club. That motherfucker would have wrapped his fat fingers around his throat and would have forced him to sign it over, I just know it.”
Gracy reaches out and grabs Yates’ forearm. “I’m glad Rooney trusted you and that you stood up for him. Rush will get what’s coming to him, we’ll make sure he won’t be able to interfere with anyone’s life.”
Yates gives her a nod but the look he gives me is one where he yet again lets me know this woman was made to be the president’s old lady. I wrap my arm around her waist and tuck her underneath my arm.
“Rhett,” I bellow. “You’re with me today.”
Rhett dashes up and stalks over to where we’re standing. “Ready when you are, Pres.”
“See you in about an hour, two tops, Yates,” I grunt and head for Gracy’s car.
I would rather have her on the back of my bike but we also need to get a few things for my mother and take Finn with us. Within a few minutes we’re at the estate and I check with Travis to see which bungalow Chance and Aubrey are staying in.
I’ve asked Rhett to stay close because there’s no need for him to tag along into the bungalow when we get Finn. Not to mention it will raise questions when I bring him along and I don’t want to explain or drag Chance into the mess of things. I asked him to come here to take his girl for some relaxing time at the beach, and not to be bothered with my shit.
The door swings open and Chance is in the doorway, holding Finn. The little trouble maker starts to squirm in his arms and he quickly puts him down so he can dash off to Gracy. Figures. He might be my dog, but if I was him, I’d be running into her arms too.
“Hey, Eddie. Everything okay with your mum?” He steps aside so we can enter the bungalow.
I rub my neck and say, “She had a sudden drop of heart rate and blood pressure which caused her to pass out. They’re doing some checks and we’re headed back to the hospital later. They’re keeping her overnight.”
Chance nods and I know he’s thinking about his own mother. He lost her when he was in prison and didn’t even get a chance to say goodbye.
“She’s going to pull through,” I croak and clear my throat. “I’m sorry I can’t stay for a chat.”
“No, we completely understand. Let me know how she’s doing, mate.”
“Will do,” I grunt and am about to leave but Aubrey rushes toward us. “Here, don’t forget his little friend.”
Chance snickers. “Friend? More like fuck buddy. You have a weird dog.”
I shake my head while the corner of my mouth twitches. “Says the man who owns a goat.”
“Touché,” Chance says, giving me a grin right after.
We say our goodbyes and Gracy and I head for my mother’s bungalow to grab a few things. Rhett is coming inside this time and is watching how Finn is humping his stuffed animal, a pig this time.
He slowly turns his head toward me. “Is he okay?”
“The dog or the pig?” I snicker.
Finn is completely out of breath but this is his normal and it will make him tired enough to sleep for an hour or two.
“Eddie, can you come here for a sec?” Gracy questions and I stroll over to where she’s standing.
She’s holding some papers along with an envelope and I’m about to question her when she says, “Let’s go into the bedroom so you can help me pick some of the stuff we need to bring with us for your mother.”
Gracy doesn’t wait for a reply but heads into the bedroom. I follow her and she closes the door behind me, leaning against it the next second while holding out the papers for me to take. “What if Maggie was going through these papers and it triggered something? Could that be possible? Look, there’s a little note and it’s not your mother’s handwriting. I don’t recognize whose handwriting it might be.”
“It’s my father’s,” I grunt and am frozen to the floor because the papers she’s holding are those I recognize all too well and yet I now notice they are slightly different.
I can tell because I recognize the address and it’s from the huge mall that’s involved with the reason I was sent to prison. Brazen fraud, and I knew someone screwed with the papers because everything was legal and up and running, there was no fucking fraud.
My chest is rising and falling and my heart is beating out of control. Why does my mother have these papers? Papers like this should be in the safe at the office. But it’s too much of a coincidence for these papers to be here.
I swallow hard and glance over the documents I’ve seen before and yet these are different. The note from my father. This. If I had this when I was arrested, I would have walked out a second later because this right here proves my innocence, while at the same time it proves my father’s death wasn’t an accident but murder. Because him having this is a huge bullseye of motive for someone to kill him to keep things quiet.
