Pops

by Screaming Mimi

  “It’s ok Bethy, we can do proper introductions once everything settles down, just know your whole family is happy to have you back with us. We’ve been trying for years to get you back, but Michael kept us at bay with excuse after excuse. He still swears he doesn’t know where Cassandra is. When was the last time you saw her?” I hadn’t heard my mother's name in years, there was no way I was going to tell him the last time I’d seen her was when she was on her knees servicing one of Michael’s men. It was right before I’d left for college, and I hadn’t seen her since. I just figured she was still living with Michael. Guilt washed over me, I hadn’t even had the decency to check on my own mother to make sure Michael hadn’t turned his anger on her.

  “It’s alright Beth, we know what she became for him, doesn’t make it any better, but we do know.” Lucian reached over the seat to squeeze my hand. If they knew, why didn’t they get her out of that hell-hole? “She left him once, brought you here with her, you were about two I think. Damn, you were such a cute little sprite, but Michael came and begged her to go back to him. We tried to get her to stay, but she was in love with that man for some crazy reason.”

  “The last time I saw her was right before I left for college, we hardly spoke once I was old enough to take care of myself. I’m sorry, but that’s been years ago. She never contacted me while I was in school, or after.” I went on to explain how I’d ran from Michael and the whole club life, I told them about my practice I had in my little town that I loved. Then I told them about Pops and how I’d gotten his man killed for trying to keep me safe. Remembering that I still had his wallet, I pulled it out to finally look at his name, as soon as I read it I began to laugh. Both my uncle and grandfather looked at me like I was slightly touched in the head, until I explained about Starshine, they laughed with me.

  We stopped in front a massive home, ok mini mansion would be more apt, if I hadn’t figured out my grandfather had money and power yet, this sealed the deal. I was in awe of the sheer magnitude of the place, I could totally get lost in this place without even trying. No wonder Michael was so scared, with this much money and power, Gino could crush him with a flick of his wrist.

  Chapter Nine

  POPS

  Fuck, fuck, fuckity, fuck! I watched from a distance as Bethy got in the car with Gino fucking Calvetti, shit just got real. The only good thing was that she was away from her father and his crew, but from the looks of things, they were following closely behind. So much for her not knowing who her grandfather was, she looked pretty fucking cozy with him as he held the door open for her. Here I was all set to rescue her from her father and what do I see when I find her, she was safe with her fucking grandfather.

  Gino Calvetti was not a man to fuck with; he owned most of Chicago and had for almost forty years. There wasn’t much done inside the city of Chicago without his go ahead. He could crush my club without batting an eye, and Bethy was his granddaughter. To top it off, it looked like her father was only bringing her to her grandfather, instead of letting his men abuse her. Gargoyle lost his life for this bullshit; fuck if that didn’t hurt even more. If I knew then what I know now, shit, things could have gone down differently.

  How could I have been so fucking stupid? Why didn’t I see exactly what she was? Because you were thinking with your dick, that’s why. Could have, would have, should have, wasn’t going to make anything better, that’s for damn sure. If I was so sure she was safe, why then was I following them? Because you’re a glutton for punishment. Maybe, but I was sure I knew her better, that if she had this kind of secret buried she would have told me. Hell, she told me about her father; why would she hold something like this back? I needed answers, and the only way I was getting them was by confronting her.

  Thankfully, with the GPS I could keep far enough behind that they wouldn’t even know I was there, until I wanted them to. Things were about to get complicated, and if I didn’t handle it correctly it could cost me my club. I didn’t want to put any more of my guys in danger if I could help it, but I needed answers, and Beth was the only one who had them. The question was, would she answer them once I got her alone, or would she lie.

  The red dot on the GPS stopped not far up ahead, and by the looks of the neighborhood, she’d made it to Gino’s house. I pulled over a couple of blocks away to get my game plan in order; I couldn’t just barge in there waving my gun demanding answers. Pretty sure I’d be shot before I even made it through the gate. If nothing else, Bethy would probably have my balls in a sling before I got a chance to ask her anything. Damn, I loved her spirit. She didn’t take my shit; she gave just as good as she got. Fuck, if she was dirty, if she played me this whole time, I wasn’t sure if I could recover. She meant something to me, more than something; she meant everything to me. My chest constricted just thinking about losing her; I’ve never felt this weak when it came to a woman, not even with my ex-wife Diana.

  When Diana left, I can honestly say I didn’t hurt for me, but I hurt for my son, Bart. He’d just lost his sister and what did his mother up and do, she fucking left us. Like Bart meant nothing to her, I watched my son try to act brave; all the while I knew he was hurting. She blamed me for Isabel's death, swore it was my fault that she died of cancer, but nothing we could have done differently would have made a difference. Something Bethy over the past several months had been able to make us all see. Bart blamed himself for

  not being a bone marrow donor match; I blamed myself for not taking her into the doctor sooner. Beth didn’t just help Bliss deal with everything that her father put her through, but she helped Bart and me deal with our shit too.

  Raking a hand over my face, doubts of her guilt start to weasel their way into my head. No, I know what I saw though; she was chummy with her grandfather. She’s been keeping things from me, and her secrets got Gargoyle killed. A voice in the back of my head was yelling at me that she was probably lying about her father’s club too, that she was going back because she wanted to, not because he was forcing her to. This was all an elaborate scheme to avoid me, to leave me. First Diana, now Bethy was trying to get away from me by any means necessary. Diana used Isabel’s death as an excuse, and Bethy used her father’s club. Why couldn’t she just have been honest? Did she think I couldn’t take it? She wouldn’t get away with it though; I wasn’t going to let her go that easily without confronting her on her bullshit.

  The more I thought about the situation, the angrier I got, I needed a way inside that compound without the whole getting myself killed bit. I wouldn’t get the answers I needed if I didn’t make it past the front gate. Gino had connections in Italy; we’d worked with him indirectly there a few times, maybe I could use that to my advantage to get past the gate. He probably worked with so many people he didn’t even know who the fuck we were, but it was the only link I had to work with.

  Time to nut up or shut up, as my platoon sergeant used to say, and get down to business. Pulling out, I head toward the compound, and the closer I get the more I’m thinking this is probably one of the worst ideas I’ve ever had, but there’s no turning back now. Rolling up to the gate, I’m immediately confronted by two very large, very angry looking Italian dudes demanding to know who the fuck I am, and what the fuck I’m doing there. Again, I’m starting to rethink this whole idea; our club is such a small fish in Gino’s very dangerous pond.

  “Pops, I’m here to speak to Gino, it’s about his account in Italy.” I show them the back of my cut with the Hades Rejects emblem on it, as if to say “you know who I am bitch” attitude. Even though I’m sure these guys have zero idea who my little club is. They tell me to wait right where I’m at as they converse over the radio with someone inside the house. There seems to be some arguing over the radio before they open the gate to let me in.

  “Your bike has to stay here, and no weapons beyond the gate.” The bigger of the two very large angry looking Italian dudes pats me down for weapons, I grin when he finds my small blade I hide in my boot.

  “Sorry, I f
orgot I had that in there. Take me to your leader.” Big angry Italian dude number two chuckles, while number one looks like he didn’t get the joke. When number two leans over to number one and whispers in his ear, he bursts out laughing too.

  “Pretty funny old man, let’s see how funny you think you are after you talk to Gino though. Dino and me we enjoy a good laugh, Gino not so much.” So number two was Dino that just left big angry Italian dude number one without a name. Not that it mattered to me, I wasn’t here for them.

  I followed Dino and number one into the house, I pass Beth’s father on my way in. He glares at me, but doesn’t say a word, which makes my brain wonder about what’s really going on here. There are too many riddles, and I’m definitely not a very good riddle solver. Spell shit out for me, it’s easier on my old brain, this shit was getting all kinds of twisted, and I still had none of the answers to my questions. We went down a short hallway, Dino stopped in front of a door before pulling it open and gesturing for me to go inside.

  Walking inside, I’m jealous of the beautiful library Gino has. It’s filled from floor to ceiling with volume after volume of books. I glance at some of the titles and I know this man has taste. I don’t read often, but I appreciate a good story. Looking around, I spot Gino sitting comfortably behind a rich mahogany desk with a snifter of what looks like whiskey in his hands, eyeballing me.

  “Come in, please have a seat. Pops is it?” If you saw him on the street you would think he’d just stepped out of some 1920’s movie, he definitely preferred the old school mobster look.

  “Yes that’s my road name, but please call me Castor. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.” Sitting down, I’m fully aware of the fact that Dino hasn’t left the door, and that Gino is still scrutinizing me. He smiles, like he knows something I don’t, before he nods to himself more than to me.

  “Yes, it’s rather an unexpected visit, but definitely a pleasure. What is it I can do for you and my Italy account exactly?” The man knew how to cut to the chase, but before I had a chance to talk, Bethy walked in, wet from a shower, wearing practically nothing. Ok she wasn’t wearing nothing, she had a robe on that covered her down to her knees, but one tug of the rope on the robe and she’d be exposed. She stopped in her tracks as she took me in, first she seemed happy to see me, then the anger replaced happiness in the blink of an eye.

  “What the hell are you doing here? You need to leave, now!” She looked ready to rip me a new one, but in her eyes I saw fear. She looked around me to her grandfather pleadingly while hugging herself. “He shouldn’t be here, get him out of here, please.” What the hell? Was she afraid of me? What had I done that would leave her feeling afraid? I reminded myself that I was here for answers, and I wasn’t going to leave until she gave them to me.

  “Calm down little one, Pops here was just discussing our business in Italy. Weren’t you Pops?” I turned to look at Gino’s face, and he seemed to be saying more than what his words were, like my answer could save me, or crucify me.

  “Yep, we got business to talk about sweetheart, didn’t even know you knew each other until you walked in. I have to say though, I knew you liked older men, but Gino is old enough to be...well.” I gave her an evil grin so she knew I already knew her connection without saying the words. She paled slightly. Good, I gotta keep you on your toes baby. She went over to Gino’s desk, looking like she wanted to ask questions about what possible business her grandfather and me could have.

  They whispered amongst themselves before she retreated out the door right into some ugly fucker’s arms. He tugged her to him, running his hands in her hair before she pierced him with a withering glare. “Is this man bothering you baby?” She tried to avoid his touch, but she didn’t push him away either. Hearing him call her baby about made me come undone right there. Before I went for his throat, Gino spoke up.

  “She’s tired, Lucian please take her to her room for me. Michael, Dino will show you where you and your men may rest. Pops, please sit so we may talk about our business in Italy, shall we.” His tone made no room for argument, but I was happy to see Beth didn’t have to stay with her father and his scum.

  Beth

  I was tempted to ask more questions, but my grandfather had quietly made it clear he had his own plans set in motion. That I wasn’t going to be marrying Vinnie, ever. Now Castor was here, in the same house as Michael and Vinnie. They’d already killed Gargoyle, what if they did the same to Castor. It made me want to stomp back into the office and demand Castor leave again, to make him see it was the only way to keep him safe.

  Lucian quietly walked next to me, my guard dog even in the house, but at least he’d gotten me away from Vinnie’s roaming hands. We stopped in front of the room I’d been given. Lucian opened the door and had me walk inside before he closed the door behind us. As soon as the door clicked shut, he started talking.

  “You know you’re safe here, right? That my father only has your best interests at heart, right? He’ll fix this shit with Michael and his crew one way or another. There’s no way any of us would let you marry that scumbag Vinnie.” Running his hand through his hair, he looked like he’d aged five years in the past few hours. I’d done this to them, it was my fault they were in this position. My concern for my new family overrode my concern for myself.

  “I should leave; none of you should have to put your family at risk for me.” Lucian’s head snapped up to look at me, shaking his head.

  “You don’t get it Bethy, you are our family. Your mom...shit, she was...we were close growing up. I thought...I thought she would come to me for anything. When she was little, she would always come to me before our father or mother. I kissed her boo boos, helped her pick out her prom dresses, hell, I was the one she told when she got her period for the first time.” He’s pacing around the room, looking at me like he’s locked in the past, not seeing me, but seeing my mother instead. “She should have come to me, should have told me what a fucking bastard Michael was to her. I would have killed him with my bare hands; I can’t let him get his hands on you, ever. He’ll tell me where she is before I end him, he will tell me.” Pulling me into a hug, he held me tightly; he needed this moment. What he really needed was to know it wasn’t his fault my mother stayed with Michael.

  “I’m sure she had her reasons for not coming to you, maybe she was ashamed of what she became. Maybe she was afraid you wouldn’t accept her back as she was.” What I really wanted to say was, she was a selfish bitch who didn’t care about anyone but herself, but he didn’t need to hear that.

  “Thanks kid, I know what you’re trying to do, I appreciate it. Just understand, this time around I’m not letting you leave with those fuckers. They won’t leave this compound, and no one will miss them. If anything, I’m going to help make the world better. No, don’t worry about how, or when, just know I’m going to end them. They will never hurt anyone I love again.” I hated feeling like I was to blame for someone's life being taken, but when he put it like that I could lay the blame mostly at my mother’s feet. Twisted, I know, but she didn’t deserve much more from me.

  “Just be careful please, I just got all of you back in my life, I don’t want to lose any of you. Now do you know what business in Italy they are talking over, or should I just keep my nose out of it?” Lucian looked out the window for a moment, his lips parted, but decided against whatever it was he was about to say.

  “It’s not my place to say, and I’m betting Father won’t want you to know anything either, safer that way for you. What we do Bethy...it’s not something you should be a part of. Just know we love you, and will do whatever it takes to keep you safe.” I should demand answers; after all, I’d lived my life with outlaws. A part of me thought I’d stepped out of the frying pan and into the fryer. What if my grandfather was no better than my father, or what if he was worse? “Hey, don’t look like that, we aren’t perfect, but we aren’t the devil either. Come here kid.” He pulled me into a hug before heading toward the door. “I’m going to
have Dino standing outside your door; we’re not taking any chances Bethy.” He kissed the top of my head, making me wish I’d grown up with him in my life. Having an uncle like him would have been really nice. Someone who gave a shit at all would have been nice, but at least I have them now.

  Once the door shut, I began wondering about all the scenarios in which Castor would be in business with my grandfather. I thought drugs at first, but everything I’d seen from Castor said that wasn’t it. Briefly, I thought maybe the sex slave trade, but after everything that happened to Bliss and how he felt about it, I quickly marked that off the possible list too. Guns seemed to be the only possible explanation, but I even shied away from that. I knew Castor dealt in illegal shit; he never bragged about it or shoved it in my face, but I wasn’t stupid either.

  The fact that he had a connection to my grandfather scared the shit out of me; especially since I was pretty sure my grandfather was some kind of mobster kingpin. Everything I’d seen and heard thus far screamed it, from the clothes, to the car, to the fucking compound we were in. Slumping down on the chair in my room, I felt like the walls were starting to close in on me. I practically jumped when a soft knock sounded at my door. Wasn’t Dino standing out there? I worried my lip as I approached the door slowly when the knock sounded again. Opening the door, I found a very big, very angry Castor, making me look around for some help. He backed me into my room, shutting the door behind us. I shuffled backwards until I came in contact with the footboard of my bed.

  Chapter Ten

  POPS

  Damn she looked good enough to eat, the sight of her in her pajama shorts, barely there tank top, and wet hair made my dick salute. I wanted to bend her over that bed she was gripping the life out of, rip her shorts down, and slam home. Smacking myself internally, I know I need answers; I can’t let my dick control this situation. She looks so fragile, like the wrong word will make her fall apart, but I know what kind of steel runs through her veins. If I let her, she’ll wrap me around her finger again, and I can’t have that.