by Jill Shannon
It took a minute for the recognition to cross Charles's face. "I haven't heard that name in years." His face then faded to a slow frown, realizing that both Hunter and Willow must know about his past. He felt the need to stress, "A very long time." Wondering how Hunter had found the buried information, his next thought quickly moved on to how Hunter knew Maggie? "I expect she is the picture of perfect health?" He was playing it safe with his question.
"Yes, she is. However, there are days when running the family business can be, how should I say, can be very lethal to one's health." Hunter paused. "If they're not careful." Grinning at Charles, he added, "She asked me to convey her regards. Said you were one of the most honorable men she knew."
Willow listened to the exchange of pleasantries. She knew he was letting Charles know Hunter had dug into his past in the subtlest form he knew how. She watched as he interacted with Charles and his wife, talking about things in common and learning new things. The waitress had come, and their food and drink order had been placed. Willow then asked, "Are Jax and Alex joining us?"
The panicked look on Julie's face made Willow's stomach drop. "No, they had to meet with the dock master." Charles spoke up. "Besides, this meeting has nothing to do with them." He pointed to the pin on the lapel of his jacket, continuing on. "There would be no reason for them to listen in on it."
Hunter knew right then that Jax and Alex were listening, possibly watching, so he kept his facial features from showing any reaction. "My thoughts exactly." At that moment, the waitress returned with their food and drinks. When she was gone, Hunter addressed Charles. "Here is my proposal. I would like to get into the salvage business here in South Carolina. I have no idea what it entails, and that's where you come in." He paused to let what he had put on the table sink in. "I understand it requires a heavy influx of money to start up. I have an investor from Ireland who is fired up to be a part of this venture." He watched Charles' face for a reaction to his underlying meaning. Not quite sure he was getting the message, Hunter continued. "There is a property near Dock Holidays Marina on the market. The location is right on Little River, which accesses the Atlantic, and it's close to the border of North Carolina, which would give us more ground to salvage in."
While Hunter had been talking, Charles had been eating his lunch listening intently to what Hunter was saying. All he could say was the boy had a way with words. "When would you be ready to begin? Because my time is short here, and I need to finish the paperwork for a new boat we just had outfitted at Dock Holidays. Funny coincidence." Charles tipped his head to Hunter.
"If it wouldn't be an inconvenience, would you look at the place when we're finished here? It's not that far of a ride, and you'd be able to check up on your boat at the same time. I'm sure Willow would love a tour. What do you think?" Willow pasted a smile on her face and nodded her agreement.
Charles scanned Julie's face. Seeing she had relaxed as lunch progressed put him at ease. "What do you think, Julie? Do we have any other plans for the afternoon?" He was making sure she really was all right.
"Yes, I believe we can kill two birds with one stone." Her gaze turned to Hunter. "You get to show him the building, and we can pick up Alex and Jax." Anger flared in her brown eyes. "They should be done with the dock master by then."
Hunter had been hoping for at least a few minutes with Charles alone to confirm he understood that they were trying to help. But Julie had squashed that idea. So, he continued on. "Perfect. Let me take care of the bill, and we'll be on our way." Charles tried to grab the check before Hunter could but missed it. "This was my business meeting, my business write-off." He smirked at Charles. "We'll meet you over there. Just look for the only building with a giant for sale sign in front of it near the marina."
Charles rose from his chair and helped Julie to her feet. "I still haven't agreed to help, but I like what I've heard so far." He shook Hunter's hand, passing him a fifty-dollar bill. "At least let me leave the tip." Hunter looked at the bill in his hand and knew there was no use in arguing with him. "We'll see you there; ride safe." They then turned and left Hunter and Willow at the table.
"Do you think he got the message?" Willow asked, finishing her drink.
"Loud and clear. He's a smart man, your boss," Hunter commented.
"So, what happens now?"
"We go meet them at the building," he told her, signing his name on the receipt the waitress had brought.
"There really is a building?" Her voice rose with surprise.
"Yes, there really is a building. Did you think I was going to bring a false proposal to the table? That just gets people killed." He rose from his seat and walked around to help her from her chair. He whispered in her ear, "Besides, how else am I going to get you to stay?"
Willow wasn't sure what to say. She had honestly thought he had made up the whole business venture thing to get close to Charles. She had no idea he had been serious about it. "You can't expect Charles to sell his business in Florida and move here, do you?"
"That will be up to Charles and Julie." Hunter started to guide her out of the restaurant. Walking to the bike, he continued. "However, my only interest is in you, Willow. If Charlie agrees to help me, it will give you a reason to stay. And it keeps the Andrews under the protection of the Celtic Demons and the Irish mafia." He waited for her to change her shoes. "It would also allow him an alibi." She gave him a questioning look. "When Alex and Jax are busted, he'll be nowhere near the scene."
"What are you planning to do?" Willow clearly hadn't thought so far in the future to picture that happening.
"Once we know what the boat looks like, we'll be able to track it." Hunter got on the bike, the engine coming to life with a deep rumble.
"Then what?" She climbed on behind him.
"Several different scenarios are possible. Let's just wait and see." They pulled out of the driveway and headed to the marina.
Willow's mind was pulled in so many different directions. Could they really help Charlie? Merely following a boat sounded way too easy. Was he really starting a salvage business just so she would stay? And if that was the case, did she want to stay?
And most importantly, how could a man she had known for less than three days impact her life in so many ways? She had no real answers to any of those questions. What she did know was this man had put his life on hold and had used every resource he had available to help someone she cared about, which said a lot about his character. She would have to trust him, and when this mess with Charlie was cleaned up, she would focus on Hunter and his plans for her life. For now, she would clear her mind and enjoy the sun shining on her face and the breeze blowing her cares away.
The ride to the marina took about thirty minutes. By the time Hunter and Willow arrived, Charles and Julie had already found Alex and Jax. He parked the bike, and before Willow got off, she said in his ear, "I knew those two were no good. I just didn't know how bad they really were." She got off and waited for Hunter to set the kickstand. "Do you really think we can help them, without anyone getting hurt?"
"Princess, I can't promise you anything. Right now, we still don't know what we are dealing with, exactly. We're going on assumptions; that's why we are here to get more information. Do you have your cell phone?" She dug into her bag and pulled it out. "Good, I want you to take as many pictures of the boat as you can. Inside, outside, the instrument panel, everything. Make it obvious that you are taking surface shots, the salon, galley, and staterooms. But in between, get the floor, ceiling, and storage spaces. Those shots should be taken inconspicuously, nothing to let them know what you are doing. In the meantime, I will show Charlie the building."
They headed toward where the group was standing. As they got closer, they overheard Charlie telling them, "They don't know a fucking thing." Ripping the flag from his lapel, he threw it at Alex. "And I'm not talking business with a fool listening in."
Hunter cleared his throat to let them know they had arrived. "I believe you agreed to inspect the proper
ty for sale and let me know what you thought. Is now not a good time?" he asked, acknowledging Jax and Alex.
Charles plastered a smug smile on his face, still looking at Alex. He said, "No, now is a perfect time." Then turning his head to Hunter with a genuine smile, he addressed him, "Ready when you are." Alex tried to interject and say that he would join them, but Charles shut him down. "Nothing personal, but this is about business and nothing to do with you."
Alex was pissed off that Charles had ripped the wire off his clothing. He knew what the stakes were, and yet he had done it anyway. Needing to find a way to stay with them, Alex, complained, "Come on, you can't leave me here with the women." He had no idea if the old man would talk to a stranger, but he couldn't afford to take the chance.
Charles had walked over to stand by Hunter, asking him, "Where is the building from here?"
"It's the empty one you passed on the way in. We could walk to it if you'd like."
Turning back to his wife, he gave her a kiss, "Go show Willow the Dark Horse." He looked Willow's way. "Would you do me a favor and take some pictures? I need to send them to the insurance company. Julie's not so good with a camera." He gave Julie a sympathetic smile. "You can send them to my email. Make sure you get a shot of her registration numbers." He kissed Julie on the cheek and headed toward Hunter. "Lead on."
Hunter looked at Charlie walking out of the parking area to the street. To Willow, he said, "I better get going, be back soon." He kissed her quickly and took off to catch up with Charlie, leaving her with Alex, Jax, and Julie.
"Well, I guess we better get going. Apparently, the word vacation doesn't mean anything to Charlie," she joked with Julie. "Which one is she?"
"She's in slip one eighty-two. We can show you the way," Jax answered for Julie.
Willow didn't want to arouse any suspicion, so she commented sarcastically, "I know how to count."
Jax smirked at her, returning the same tone to Willow, "I'm sure you do, but we know exactly where it is."
"Fine, let's get this over with." Willow sighed.
Hunter caught up with Charlie as he huffed his way down the street. "I can't believe that I allowed this to happen." He glanced at Hunter, walking next to him and continued. "Willow kept saying how she got a bad vibe from them. I should have listened to her."
"Charlie, how were you supposed to know? I looked over their credentials, and they were spot on to someone not looking for a criminal. It's not your fault." They had come to the property in question. "Well, this is it, what do you think?"
Charles looked at the glass front two-story building set back off the road, facing the inlet. "If you were serious about starting the business, this would be a good one to start with. It's close to the docks, it has an old feel appeal that would draw people to it, and there are none around this area. It would be a novelty if you added fishing tours and swimming adventures. I think you would do very well."
"Good to know, because I put a bid in to buy it before our lunch. So, after we sort this mess out with Alex and Jax, we can come back to business." Hunter turned and looked at Charles, saying, "We don't have much time; tell me what's going on. You know I have the connections to help, so let me."
Charles peered at Hunter, wondering at his connection to Maggie but wasn't able to ask him earlier. "How do you know Maggie?"
"She's my mother, and she's not happy your partnership with her is being used against you." Hunter waited for Charles to wrap his head around the fact he was the only son of the present head of the Irish mafia, Margret Murphy. "She is willing to help in any way she can. I've also spoken to Judge, the President of the Celtic Demons. If need be, they are on standby to step in if necessary. Now, what is it exactly that they want you to do?"
"Hunter, I wish I could tell you more, but the only thing they needed me to do was to buy the boat. They said after I did that, everything would be fine, and my secret would stay safe. I don't know why Julie got you and Willow involved."
Hunter raked his hand through his hair, trying to understand what Charlie had said. "You have no idea what they are planning to do with the boat?" Charlie shook his head no. Hunter then considered not telling Charlie everything he knew about what was really happening. But he thought again, if Jax and Alex were caught hauling whatever the cartel had them moving, Charlie would pay the price. He put his hand on Charlie's shoulder and told him, "Charlie, if my intel is right, and it's not often I'm wrong, Jax and Alex are going to be using that boat to move either drugs or women." Charles's head whipped up to look at him. "They need to make their own problem go away with the Zapatero Cartel. You just happen to be the one carrying all the responsibility if they are caught, though."
Charles bowed his head and turned his back on Hunter. "You stupid old fool," he grumbled out loud. "You knew it couldn't be that simple." Swinging back to Hunter, he said, "What the hell am I supposed to do? I can't just let them take the boat now."
"Yes, you can, and you will," Hunter corrected him. "We will take it from here; you and Julie go on as you've been. Make it clear to them when you hand over the papers for the boat, your end of the bargain is finished. Do you know when they intend to leave with it?"
"Alex said the dock master needed to fine-tune a few things, but that it would be ready by the end of the day. So, it could be tonight or early tomorrow."
Hunter pulled his phone from his pocket, dialing Judge he waited for him to pick up. "Hey, we might have a problem. Charlie says they could pull out as early as tonight."
"I'll get Scar and Bull down there to keep an eye on the boat. What slip number is it in?" Judge asked.
Hunter looked at Charles for the answer since he could hear Judge. "One eighty-two."
"I'll have Scar and Bull text you when they get there. Once you explain what they need to do, head back to the clubhouse. We need to figure out our next step."
"You got it, Judge. Make sure they bring my equipment bag with them." Hunter ended the call and shoved his phone in his pocket as Alex came walking up to them.
"So, this is the property you're thinking of buying? It looks like a loser to me. What do you think about it, Charlie?" he asked with a sarcastic snip to his voice.
Hunter interjected before Charles could reply, "Personally, I don't give a shit what you think. This business venture doesn't include you, so step off." Hunter got right in Alex's face.
Seeing the anger on Hunter's face told Alex everything he needed to know, but he couldn't help prodding the big animal. "You need experienced divers to run a salvage business, and there aren't many of those around. But I'd be willing to come and work for you." He got a smug smile on his face.
It took everything in Hunter not to hit the square jaw Alex was sticking out, but he resisted. Putting his own smug smile on his face, he countered, "No, I won't be needing your services, I already have someone in mind for the position."
"If you're talking about Willow, good luck! She's a fucking nightmare to work with," Alex blurted out.
Before Hunter could control himself, Alex was lying on the ground. He stood over him as blood seeped from the corner of Alex's lip. "Keep your fucking opinions to yourself. If I want to hear what you have to say, I'll ask." Hunter then turned his attention back to Charles. "Let's head back to the boat and collect the women." Looking over his shoulder at Alex as he got to his feet, "If Jax is as stupid as this one is with her mouth, Willow may just throw her into the inlet." Hunter chuckled at the image he described.
"After you." Charles extended his hand in the direction they needed to walk. "That would be hilarious to see," he told Hunter as he walked by, following in step beside him.
Alex was pissed off as he pulled himself up off the ground. Using his shirt to stop the blood flow, he followed behind. Hearing the end of Hunter's conversation, Alex still wasn't sure if the old man had said anything, on top of Hunter being so touchy when he mentioned Willow. Alex put his hand on his jaw, making sure he could still move it. Although it would have been nice to know if Charl
ie had involved the biker, it really didn't matter at this point. There was nothing he could do to stop the plan that had already been set in motion. Now, all he and Jax had to do was pick up the shipment and deliver it safely. He was tired of looking over his shoulder. He could only pray that once the job was done, his debt to the cartel would be paid. Yet, he kept to the reality of life knowing that with the cartel, no debt was ever really paid. His thoughts cleared as they walked up to the boat when the women were getting off. Alex's eyes met Jax's, and with a little nod of her head, he knew everything was okay. "Hope you got all the pictures you need, because this beauty will be pulling out early tomorrow. In fact, I think it would be easier if we rode back to the hotel with you, grabbed our gear, and slept on the boat tonight. What do you think, Jax?"
Jax had moved to stand next to Alex, agreeing with his suggestion, "I think that's a great idea. I'm sick of that stuffy hotel room." She looked at his jaw, and with concern in her voice, asked, gently touching the bruise beginning to show, "What happened to your face?"
"Hunter and I had a little disagreement. But it's nothing a little ice won't help." Alex's eyes swung an evil glare at Willow.
Willow looked up at Hunter with a confused expression. "Anything I should know?"
Hunter smiled down at her as he wrapped his arm around her waist. "Nope. I think Alex got my message loud and clear." He ignored Alex and centered his attention on the boat floating in the slip. "It's a shame I didn't get to see it firsthand, but I'm sure Willow has everything I need to see." Feeling his phone vibrate in his pocket, he knew the prospects had arrived. "Right now, we need to get going. I need to drop you off at home then head to the clubhouse." He extended his hand to Charles. "I'll be in touch about the business." Turning to Julie, he said, "It was a pleasure meeting you. I'm sure we'll be seeing more of each other in the future." He regarded Alex and Jax. "Have a safe journey. I wouldn't want anything to happen to this precious jewel in the water."