“I didn’t meet him until coming down here. We always got along, but he had many personalities.”
Jenny comes knocking on the door. “You needed me for something?” she states.
“We are going on lockdown. We need to stock up. Think you could do that for us?” Bossman asks.
“I can. What is this all about though?” She looks worried.
“What can you tell us about Capone’s brother?” I ask her.
“He hated him. They didn’t like each other. They were never close. I called to tell him Crane died, and he told me that he was glad. Called him an evil bastard,” she tells us.
“Well, I don’t think he’s the problem then. Any other family?”
“Just his brother and his wife. They had a daughter,” she tells us. “I’ve never seen the kid. She’s a little younger. Other than that, I don’t know of any other family. You may check into the many whores he kept. He had one in every town he ever went through. I couldn’t tell you how many he had,” she tells us, her eyes shiny.
I wrap my arms around her and Bossman growls at me. “Get your fucking hands off her, now, unless you want to lose them.”
“Man, it’s not like that. You know it.”
“Don’t be an ass,” she says with a lilting laugh.
“You are going to be the death of me,” he whispers beside her head.
“The girls are supposed to be here today. You need to make sure they get here safely,” Jenny tells us.
“Fuck, I forgot my girls were coming in. I need a couple of guys to head that direction and make sure they get here unharmed. Send Sledge and Rock,” Bossman states.
“I’ll let them know. I’m also going to have Ghost put trackers on the vehicles, as well as the motorcycles.
“I’ll have Ghost put a tracker on them as they go pick up what we need. I need to make sure all is well as they travel. Fig wasn’t with us long but he was a loyal prospect and I have every confidence that he would have patched in. Call them, tell them no stopping and drive straight through. Keep vigilant,” I tell Bossman.
He raises his eyebrows at me. “This ain’t my first rodeo, kid. I know what to do here.”
“Sorry, I’m just used to doing and taking care of shit.”
“I know. That’s one of the reasons why you’re the national VP now.”
“Thanks, man. Let me go check on Samantha. I’ll be with her for a little while. I want to check with Ghost and see if he has anything on Crane.”
“Yes, do that and keep me posted,” he states.
Chapter Sixteen
Dog…
It’s been three days. The body in the vehicle shows nothing. There are no teeth, no fingerprints, no nothing. There should have been teeth so that’s a big fucking puzzle. Llaw showed up and Samantha had to go get a DNA test done so she can go claim her sister. I just took her to the nearest hospital to have that done, and we paid for expedited results. Llaw filed with the juvenile courthouse for guardianship of her sister. She’s been one strong lady and is fit to be tied because her sister is in the system. She hasn’t really stopped crying over the loss of Crane but is keeping focused on her sister. She doesn’t even know her name. Neither do we. We’re trying to get that information, but with any juvenile those records are tied up. We don’t want to show our hands unless we have to. The home was pretty excited to learn that Samantha wanted her. They learned of this through the courts, but they were shocked over the death of Crane. If the results confirm they’re sisters, the court should approve the guardianship of Catlin Neveah. The little girl at this time hasn’t been told anything. We have what’s left of both Crane and Fig and are planning a family memorial and celebration of life in the next week or so.
Samantha and I are walking back into our room from breakfast when she stops and feels her phone buzzing in her pocket.
“We need to hurry up to the room, Dog,” she whispers.
I just look at her funny. I unlock our door and she picks up the phone answering it, hesitantly.
“Hello,” she says slightly nervous. “Is this really you? Uh-huh. Are you okay? Where are you?” she inquires. She’s bouncing from one foot to the next. “Dog is right here,” she states. “Yes, I understand, I don’t know anything. Do you want to talk to him.?
“Uh-huh… Yes, of course I can. I took a DNA test. They put a fast track on it.”
“I love you, too. Please be safe. I don’t know anything. We’re having a memorial for my dad and Fig next week,” she states. “Yeah, he was killed in an accident.”
I’m worried now. Who the hell is she giving information to? I need to trust her. She knows what’s at stake.
She hands me the phone and as she does, she burrows into my side sobbing.
Snatching the phone, I growl out, “Who the fuck is this and why have you made my ol’ lady cry?”
“It’s me, Crane. This is bad whatever the living fuck is going on. No one is safe. I need for you all to get my little girl back to the clubhouse and keep her safe. I am going into hiding until I can figure out who is after us. The man who died was an idiot. He attempted to keep me from crawling out of the car. I pulled him in and torched the fucking car before anyone could get close enough to see in. I took off in the woods. I don’t know who the fuck he was.”
“Let me send someone for you. We need to figure this out together,” I tell him.
“You don’t understand. He thought it was you, Dog. You need to stay dead if you get my drift. No, I didn’t tell Samantha that either. You need to stay with my daughters and protect them both. Did Capone have any family?” he asks.
“He had a brother but they hated each other. I don’t understand any of this shit,” I tell him.
“I’ll be in touch in a few days. I don’t have but the one burner. I’m destroying it when we hang up. I’ll pick up a couple more soon and call back. The next call will be coming to Bossman’s cell,” Crane tells me. “Make sure that anyone not associated with the MC think you’re dead. Pull Bossman aside. His name was mentioned too, as well as Jenny’s.”
“If you need medical care, get ahold of Trent. He can take care of that for you. I’ll let him know you may need help.”
“I already got help. I’ve got this. Do not stop the memorial. I wouldn’t let Samantha go through anymore bad. Make sure she mourns my death. We have no idea who the fuck is watching.”
“Got it. Take care and let us know what you need. We’ll be hitting the bunker at some point, I think. I may be wrong.”
“Take care, brother,” Crane tells me.
“You too, man,” I tell him.
I hang up the phone. “You know that you need to play this out now. Lives may be at stake,” I tell Samantha.
“Yes, I know. I won’t let the cat out of the proverbial bag so to speak. I feel like I’ve been on an emotional roller coaster ride lately. When will it stop, Brett?” she whispers with a hitch in her voice.
“I don’t know honey. We have to hold on to each other and stay strong. We’ll get custody of your little sister and bring her home.” I need her to know that she comes first, just like I promised her. I’ve told her this so much lately I feel like a broken record; She is my life and until she understands that she will be first I will repeat it daily to her. “I need to go talk with Bossman. When I get back here, we can cuddle up for a while. I miss holding you in my arms. How’s that sound?” I ask her.
“It sounds perfect. Maybe we can watch a movie or something together,” she says. “My leg is sore today.”
“It’s going to rain. That may be the problem. I know when I hurt, it normally is the weather changing,” I tell her.
I kiss her before going out the door. She follows me out but tells me she is getting a snack for now.
I hold her hand going down the small hallway, thinking we need to get the rest of the bedrooms complete.
“Hey Bossman, need a minute to talk to you.”
“Sure, give me a minute,” he states as he leans into Jenny and
kisses her. I see her lean into him too. It looks like that there may be a little love in the air around here.
We walk into the office and I shut and lock the door. I see Ghost in the backroom. I have no idea of who we can trust anymore. Before I can say a word to Bossman, Ghost comes over and tells us that it looks like Crane was killed in the accident. “What do you need me to do, Bossman?” he asks.
“We need to go pick up the body but you need to stay here and find out whatever the fuck you can on what we have so far.”
“Got it. I ran the plate on the man involved in that accident. It was registered to a two-bit hitman. He’s been arrested a few times for paltry shit. Once for attempted murder but he was found not guilty when the witness disappeared.” He pauses, then states, “His name is Ernest Bibsy. I’ve run him through the system and he’s from Kentucky but that’s all I’ve found.”
“Okay, keep digging. We’ll find the connecting dots. We just need to stay vigilant. Dog, you needed to talk?”
“Yeah, kind of personal though. Can you give me a few with Bossman?” I ask Ghost.
“Yeah, going to go grab some grub and drink and then I’ll be back,” he states while rubbing his belly.
“Thanks, man,” I tell him as he leaves the room. I lock the door again and we go sit down at the desk. I sit to the side so that we can talk in a lower voice.
Make sure you hit a jammer so that this conversation can’t be heard, I mouth to him while slashing my hands across my face.
He pushes the button on the leg of the desk. “Okay, now that we’re doing all this cloak and dagger bullshit, what’s up?” he asks.
“Crane is alive. Hurt, but alive. He’s in hiding right now. The man killed is the one sent to kill me as well as you and Jenny. All of these accidents were meant to take one of us out, but others are being hurt instead. He’s refusing to come in and wants no one but me and you to know he’s alive. We have a mole. He doesn’t know who but is working on trying to figure it out. He told me that the next call will be to you, and for you to keep your phone close by. He’ll be using a burner.”
“Fuck, this just keeps getting more fucked up,” he snarls.
“We’ll keep up with the appearance of the funeral,” I tell him.
“I got ahold of Fig’s uncle. Told him, but honestly, by today he’s already forgotten,” he states.
“I need Llaw to push the paperwork through. We need to get custody of Samantha’s sister. We promised that we would get that taken care of,” I tell Bossman. He picks up his phone.
“Llaw, need the custody thing to happen today. Get it done,” he tells him.
They talk for a few more, then Bossman hangs up.
“We’ll get it taken care of as fast as we can. He’s going to put a call into the lab and see if the results are in. They can fast track them as in little as two days, so you should hear something today.”
We both get up to leave the room when the doorknob rattles. I look at Bossman, unlocking the door before jerking it open.
“You need something, Jetter Boy?” I ask him.
“Just was going to ask Bossman if he had Nick doing something. I didn’t mean to interrupt anything. If he does, I was just going to get the other shit done that he does,” he tells us. Nick is one of the prospects that’s been with the club since before coming to Henderson. He’s usually always here, no matter what.
“No, Nick should be here. When was the last time he was around?” Bossman asks.
“Yesterday? I really don’t remember,” he tells us.
“Yeah, finish up the duties and let me know when you get them done, Jetter Boy.”
Jetter Boy nods his head and mutters, “Yes, sir.” He walks away.
Chapter Seventeen
Dog…
We’re in West Virginia picking up Sam’s little sister. The DNA tests came back. Samantha has a little sister. She is scared but thrilled all rolled into one. Llaw worked his magic and had all of this taken care of in a matter of a couple weeks. I don’t know how he did it. Bossman told me once that Llaw is one of the very best attorneys he has ever seen. The courts sent social services out to check out the home. It was Samantha’s home they looked at and, of course, it was approved. The social worker was impressed with the home and the only recommendation was to move the locks on the door up some. We get to the social service office just before they unlock the doors. We actually have thirty minutes before we get to pick her up and Samantha keeps squirming in her seat. We have two brothers with us—Rock and Spider. Although they road separately, they did follow us in their own cage. I trust both of these guys. They think the world of Samantha. I know they do because they didn’t even bitch of having to ride in a cage.
“What if she doesn’t like me, Dog?” Samantha asks.
“She’s going to love you. You need to calm down, honey. You know she will,” I tell her.
“No, I don’t know that. Fuck, I don’t even know if she knows my name. I’m sure that Llaw knows if she does, but I kept forgetting to ask.” She looks at me with fear in her eyes.
“It will be okay. She’s lucky to have you as her sister,” I tell her and kiss her lips.
Things have been so crazy; we haven’t even had sex in a week. I need to fuck her soon before I come in my pants.
“We are having sex tonight. You hear me, wench,” I tell her.
“Thinking with your dick again?” She laughs. “I had already planned on jumping your body if you didn’t tonight. My hoochie-coochie is getting fossilized from the lack of use. I love you, Brett.”
“I love you too, sweetheart. Let’s go get our little sister. I wonder if she even knows our names. I didn’t ask Llaw if that question.
“Aw. I think it’s sweet that you think of her as your little sister.”
“Because she is. You’re going to be my wife. I love you to the ends of the earth, honey.”
“I love you, too, so much. Let’s go. I know we’re early but maybe she’s here and ready to go home with us.”
Samantha…
“Grab the bag with her doll that we bought her.” I tell him as I get out of the car. I look over and see Rock and Spider sitting there.
“Thanks, guys. You have no idea what this means to me,” I tell them.
They nod. “Go get our girl,” they say at the same time.
Dog grabs my hand as we go toward the building. We walk in, and the first thing I see are a couple of others sitting in chairs.
I walk to the desk. “Can I help you?” the lady asks me.
“Yes, my name is Samantha Crane. I’m here to pick up my little sister,” I tell her with a smile on my face, although the smile is a little shaky. I am so fucking happy. The nerves keep zipping throughout my body.
“Have a seat, Ms. Crane. The social worker will be with you shortly,” she replies as she types in her computer.
We sit and Dog is holding my hand. I feel my hand tremble in his the longer we sit here. I feel him tighten his hold on my hand as he leans in and tell me it’s going to be okay.
“Samantha Crane?” a lady at the doorway asks. She’s holding a file in her hand. We both get up and walk with her to the back office where we take a seat.
She begins with her name. “I’m Jackie, I’ve been Catlin Neveah’s Social worker since the beginning. She’s a sweet little girl who’s confused of what is going on. Her momma had told her she would be going to live with her daddy and now with the accident and all… I talked to her about you. I told her that you wanted her.”
“I do. I was raised in an orphanage. I don’t want that for my sister. She’ll live with me and I will take care of her, love her and be there for her. She will never want for anything, I promise.”
“I know. I have all your records from your childhood. I have to be honest, I’m happy you will have her and not your biological father,” she states.
I stiffen up and know that Dog felt it. He squeezes my hand to reassure me.
“You don’t know the story behind that
. I had the honor of meeting and getting to know my father. He was a good man. Honorable. If you would have looked, you would have noticed he was incarcerated for a crime he didn’t commit. Everyone can change,” I tell Jackie. You can see the clarity of what I’m telling her hit. She knows that she shouldn’t have said that to me. “Her middle name is spelled heaven backwards. I love her name,” I tell both Jackie and Dog. I then think of how I sounded about my dad and need to make amends. Jackie didn’t know.
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said anything. I became close with him before he went away. He was good to me, and I loved him. I want for Neveah to know him through me. He would love her with open arms and be a great dad, just to prove that he is one.”
“I’m sorry too. I shouldn’t have spoken. You are right, I don’t know him or the circumstances.” Jackie states. She then proceeds to tell me more.
“She’s been in a group home, kind of quiet. I’ve spoken with her. She knows you’re picking her up. She wanted to know if she was going to have to move again. I assured her that she was with you permanently. The judge has already signed the papers. So, you are good to go. I have her things packed. She really didn’t have a lot. It’s all in the back of the office building. I left it in the trunk of my car. If you all pull to the back, you could probably fit it all in the trunk of a car,” she states. “Here are her medical records. I would suggest counseling for her. This is a suggestion, not mandatory. Let me go get her. I know she’s excited about meeting you all,” she tells us.
She leaves and I turn to Dog, my hands twisting together I am so nervous. He assures me that it all going to be okay, “She is going to love you. It will be okay.”
“I’m nervous.”
“I know. Just remember we’re her family, and we’ll get her through whatever pops up.”
We hear the door open and in walks the spitting image of me, just a very small version.
I get down on my knees and open my arms. The little girl walks right into them and starts crying.
The truth will set you free (Bitter Roots MC Book 1) Page 9