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.
&
nbsp; “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.
CHAPTER TEN
— GRACY —
“Are you okay?” I whisper.
His whole face went white when he glanced over those papers he’s holding. They don’t make any sense to me but the way they were all spread out on the table it looked like Maggie was reading them and needed some fresh air. That’s probably why I found her on the patio instead of inside the house.
“I knew that fucker was behind everything,” Eddie mutters and grabs his phone. He waits a few breaths before he starts to rattle, “Clemente, did your lawyer get your hands on those documents they said Gracy signed?”
Eddie throws the papers he was holding on the bed and starts to stalk back and forth as he listens to whatever Clemente is telling him.
“I have something I want to compare it with because I have a gut feeling. Yeah. The clubhouse. Okay. An hour, see you there.” He hangs up and grabs his head as he tips it back.
I’m almost afraid to breathe because the way he’s acting? My hunch about this being the thing that led to his mother ending up in the hospital is true. I mean, if Eddie is reacting this way, it must be very bad. It pains me to see him like this.
I take a deep breath and repeat the question, “Are you okay?”
Eddie slowly drops his hands and his gaze collides with mine. The torment raging through him is intense.
“No,” he growls and he’s standing before me with my next breath.
He takes my lips in a raw kiss and the way his tongue is swirling against mine makes me gladly submit to his dominance.
His mouth is ripped away and right next to my ear as he says on a hot breath, “I need to feel you wrapped around me. You’re the one thing keeping me grounded. The only good that entered my fucked-up life. Say yes, Gracelynn.”
How can I ever resist when the feelings he just shared with me could have been voiced by myself?
“Yes,” I gasp when he rolls his hips, allowing me to feel his hard length pressing against my belly.
A growl rumbles through his chest and he pulls slightly back to create space between us. He starts to tug at my jeans and it makes me reach out to do the same to him but it takes too much effort.
Frustration makes me snap, “You do yours, I do mine. Shit. You better have a condom.”
He reaches for his back pocket and holds out a foil package.
“Yes!” I breathe as I kick away my jeans and underwear while throwing my top over my head and onto the floor.
I’m left in just my bra while Eddie is still dressed. Well, his zipper is down and his jeans are hanging onto his hips and he has his fingers wrapped around his huge, hard dick as he slowly slides up and down. He rips the foil package with his teeth and easily slides the condom on.
“Gosh, that’s sexy,” I whisper, mainly to myself.
There’s a rumble in his chest before he’s on me. My back is pressed to the wall behind me and my ass is in his hands as he lifts me up, allowing me to wrap my legs around his waist.
“Sorry, darlin’,” Eddie grunts. “First round is going to be hard and rough.”
As if I would file a complaint. “Just get inside me already because I’ve never felt this empty and wet and you’re the only one who can do something about it.”
He reaches between us and aligns his dick with my pussy, sliding it back and forth and coating himself with my juices. Sweet heaven, if he keeps this up, I will come without having him inside me.
He enters me with just the tip and if I thought he was big when I looked at it, it feels like a monstrosity now. He buries his head in the crook of my neck, his hot breath spreading over my skin and the grunts coming from his mouth is making sparks of electricity dance through my body.
This is not just sex, this is an intimate connection, a driven need to devour one another. I slide my arms underneath his leather cut and let my nails trail up and down his back. Even through the fabric of his shirt he loves the feel and it makes him slide fully inside me in one hard thrust.
I’m gasping for my next breath as Eddie starts to pound inside me. By now I’m consumed by this man and can only fist the fabric of his shirt to hold on. The pleasure building inside my body is bound to explode any second.
His fingers are gripping my ass, his mouth is sucking my neck, and the way he switches up the angle of his thrusts so he grazes my clit is making me scream his name as my pussy starts to convulse around his dick.
The way he says my name on a hot breath as it flows over into a rough grunt is making my body shake with a bonus orgasm as tribute. Hot damn, I don’t think I’ve ever had such a raw connection with someone. Eddie is struggling for his next breath and so am I. I can feel him soften inside me and when he slightly shifts, he slides out, making the both of us groan.
“Way too fucking short,” Eddie mutters.
And all my mind offers in reply is, “Most definitely not talking about his dick.”
The way Eddie bursts out a laugh makes me aware I’ve said it out loud. He’s still chuckling when he strolls into the bathroom to get rid of the condom. I take this time to quickly put my clothes back on and I’m done the second Eddie walks back into the room.
This after sex thing, papers scattered on the bed, Maggie in the hospital, Spencer, Rush, the whole shebang is making me question how to act or what to say but it seems Eddie takes over when he stalks right up to me and wraps his fingers around the back of my neck to pull me close.
I expect the kiss to be raw and hard but he surprises me by giving me gentleness. Our lips are caught in a sensual dance and it makes me want to throw my clothes back on the floor. He pulls away too soon for my liking and gives me an intense stare as if he’s checking to see if I’m okay.
“I’m going to need to handle a few things in the upcoming hour but you’re going to be by my side every second, understood? Those papers behind me are proof of my innocence and if they get into the wrong hands, I can’t put the one responsible behind bars. Hell, maybe it’s more than one person if my suspicions are correct and it would also add murder to it. Because this also is proof my father, along with Nicolaus, Rush’s father, were murdered by Rush.”
Eddie takes a moment to expel a breath or two, as if he’s contemplating what he should tell me or keep to himself, before he
continues. “Nicolaus and my father’s functions were more the overseeing kind. Make decisions, take on new projects, visit potential investors, that sort of thing. Except, the night they died they were standing on top of a building that we handled the renovations for. The police ruled their deaths as an unfortunate accident. Something about floors not being safe and it gave way causing them to fall to their death. But neither of them should have been there. These papers?” Eddie’s voice is an angry growl and he swallows hard, as if to catch himself losing control and is trying to calm himself down.
He glances back at the bed and points. “These papers shine a whole new light on what went down that night. And I know for a fact Rush didn’t just shove me out of the way so he could take over the club, this has been going on for a while to gather funds for his drug dealing ambitions. I might have pulled you into this but the papers lying behind me are the real documents while the forged ones were the ones that got me convicted. And with Spencer forging documents and working with Rush, I’m thinking those two have been working together for years. I don’t know the finer details yet, but I’m going to find out. By doing so I might open a can of worms where there’s no turning back from. I can’t promise your safety and maybe it’s better if you move in with Clemente for a few days, or as long as it takes for me to solve this. And I might have to put someone at the hospital to keep an eye on my mother because I’m pretty damn sure she didn’t know she had this and my mind is still boggling over the fact these papers were in her possession, and I’m wondering how she got them. See? It’s all a fucking mess and I don’t know where to start.”
“You start by facing one thing at a time. And you’re not going to send me away like a little child. All of this involves me too. I’m here, I can help. Let me help. And you know as well as I do that you have a solid partner in Clemente if—”
“If I keep you safe because if something happens to you, I’m sure my next breath will be my last. That’s why I suggested you could stay with him, let us work this out. Because I also can’t focus if I’m not sure you’re safe,” Eddie tries again.
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