I don't really care what people think, but Draven, God I don't want him to be a laughing stock in any way.
What will they think? That I slept with him, kept his daughter's a secret, and gave them up while I married another man? That Draven found out, got me back and then our daughter's?
I don't even know what kind of story Draven would spin to make people believe us. There are many out there who will question us. If people did a little digging, they wouldn't find anything, Lydia and Amber don't even have birth certificates. Hank never let me register their births. I never even went to the hospital to get checked out. How in the hell is this ever going to work?
“I want to marry you as soon as possible.” I stroke his handsome face with my fingertips and then my palm. God, I feel so selfish right now, especially after everything Draven has done for me already. “Will we be married before we find Lydia and Amber, do you think?”
“You'd like them there, wouldn't you?”
“I know that's not possible.” I don't want to talk about what won't be. It won't change anything. I was selfish bringing it up. “Brooke and I better get her dress sorted. Maria has something wonderful in mind for the two of them. So she told me.” I giggle.
Brooke, Maria, and little Jessica are going to be my bridesmaids. Hammer, Draven's best man. The whole wedding is already sorted, apart from the bridesmaid’s dresses, we were just waiting for the whole divorce thing to be sorted so we could set a final date.
Now it is, we can get married as soon as Draven wants us to. There's just one thing more I need to know right now.
“Draven, how are we going to sort Lydia and Amber's birth certificates? And what the hell are we going to tell people?”
“Do you trust me, Marnie?” I smile and nod my head in honesty. I do trust him, more than I've ever trusted anyone in my life. “Then leave it all to me, baby girl. It's all in hand.” He kisses me softly, and I hug him tightly. “They'll be home soon, beautiful. You'll see.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Draven
Is the gun really necessary?”
“Yes, Sam. The gun is necessary.”
My biker brother decided he'd come with me on this little trip. I could have done this alone, but for some reason, my brother doesn't believe I'll keep my cool, even with a woman. I'm not about to lose my temper with anyone. It's a simple in and out.
Unless the bitch gives me attitude, then something will have to be done about it. No one disrespects me and lives. Not that many disrespect me. I command it, and I get it. If not... well, then you die. Simple.
Choice is yours.
“Was it necessary to bring your brother?” Tank is following on his bike. The man isn't my brother, he’s my cousin thanks to our mother's being twins. Tank is also married to Hammer's wife's sister. So by extension, they're my family also, under my protection.
Since when are filthy bikers and their families under my damn protection? I must be losing the fucking plot, but their kids refer to me as Uncle, and kids are my damned weakness. Don't go thinking I allow anyone to use their kids against me. I'm not as soft as I might be coming across right now. I'm an evil motherfucker who thinks nothing of ending whole families should just one person push me.
Any kids involved, I make sure to find them better homes.
Hey, I'm not a total fucking monster. Close. But not completely.
All right, I'll confess, when I order my men to kill whole families, sometimes that means kids too. Only if they're of age to remember who ended their fucked up parents, uncles, etc. I can't have them growing up and coming for me. It would only end in their deaths anyway, so why prolong the inevitable?
However, more often than not, we find the small kids better homes with families that will love them as their own.
“He's here just in case. As are Jett, Ghost, Wrench, Hawk, and Stryker.”
Jett is my brother-in-law, the man who married my baby sister, big brother to both Hammer and Tank's wives. Ghost is the man I pulled back from death – because I so wanted to kill the cunt – and allowed him to marry Avery. If I didn't, I knew I would lose her, she would have attempted to retake her own life, and I wasn't sure she'd have survived it twice. There's nothing I wouldn't do for Maria and Avery. As much as I tried to keep these bikers away from them, it was God's wish to have them together.
Who was I to stand in the way of that?
Hawk is Marnie's brother-in-law, soon-to-be mine also. Wrench is Hawk's younger brother, and Stryker his older brother, so I'm entwined with these biker fucks no matter how I look at it. They're all following behind us on their bikes. All I damn well need is a convoy of bikers behind me. Like I want to give the wrong impression.
I'm not one of these guys. I'm Don Vidal for Christ's sake!
However, as we're entering a most unsavory neighborhood run by these guys, we should be fine. Yeah, I let the Snakes Henchmen run parts of my town. I don't ordinarily fraternize with bikers and their stupid little clubs. I could wipe them all out if I wanted, but this is my baby brothers club, he was born into it, it's all he knows. Just as the mob is all, I know. My baby sister and cousin married into that club, so it's easier for me to keep them safe by, I suppose you could say, working with them. Even though technically they work for me.
Who the hell in this state doesn't?
Look, if it was a choice between wiping out the whole MC or having my brother, sister, and cousin in my life, there's no choice to be made. I'm the older sibling. I'm the one who would die for either of them.
Don't get me wrong; I'm in charge no matter what the clubs president might like to believe. They do their thing, I do mine, but nothing happens in this city without my say so, bikers or no bikers.
Be that as it may, I shouldn't be complaining about them following me, even though Mafioso don't usually travel with bikers, but I need all the help I can get with this. Plus, I refuse to be ashamed of my brother. He's more of an asset to me than not, and the first person to harm one hair on his head is as good as dead, and I do mean I will personally murder them in the worst way. Not one person would dare go against me.
Hammer may not have grown up with Maria and me, he may be an outlaw biker of the most dangerous kind – which is what makes him an asset to me – but I love the big idiot. I've made sure everyone in this damn city knows what will happen if anything happens to my brother. It pays to be the Boss. Although, with the shit, he gets himself into I'm surprised he's not dead already.
“This is ridiculous.”
“You love me really.” I roll my eyes as Hammer laughs.
I adjust my tie and try not to smirk. “Think yourself lucky that I do. Just remember who's in charge.”
“Yes, big brother.” I roll my eyes at his chuckle.
It wasn't that long ago this man hated the ground I walked on. Hated everything I stood for, and wanted nothing to do with Maria or me. He came around to the idea of me, a mafia boss big brother when I saved his then-pregnant girlfriend's life. It took Maria almost losing her daughter for Hammer to realize having her in his life not all that bad.
He even helped me with this whole divorce thing for Marnie. In fact, it was his idea just to forge that motherfucker’s signature. Of course, I'd thought about it before. It wasn't until I heard Marnie and Brooke talking about the wedding, heard how excited she was, and then how down she sounded when she told Brooke, she was afraid we wouldn't be able to get married before the baby was born, did I decide to go down that route.
Hammer was right, and he's been a smug cunt about it ever since.
However, the second I handed those papers to Marnie and saw her face, that smile when she realized it was real; it was all fucking worth it.
I couldn't believe she thought I'd killed the prick, though. Although I will as soon as I catch him, and I will catch him, bastard can't hide from me forever.
“This is the place, Boss.”
The disgust I feel at the sight of the two-story rundown house to the left of the car is un
believable. This is the place Hank Webster brought his granddaughter's to live? It's one of those dark, dank, filthy shack looking houses. I can only imagine what's on the inside of this place. This isn't the place Marnie described coming to see her little girls. But then, I didn't actually believe she would've been brought to the right place.
I didn't say anything to Marnie about where I was going when I left her this morning. I didn't want to get her hopes up. If I can't find what I'm looking for today, she'd be heartbroken. The only reason these bikers know is that Hammer explained things to them after they insisted they help. All seven men are Lydia and Amber's uncles in one way or another, and those little girls need family, as many members as they can get.
The only other person who knows what we're up to is Nova, Tank's wife. She agreed to take the girl's, including mine, out to lunch. She's then going to take them all back to the MC's clubhouse – not that I want Marnie there, but I need her to be somewhere she feels safe. How she can feel safe, there is beyond me.
Regardless of that, if all goes the way it should, Marnie will be a very happy woman come this evening. All Nova has to do is wait for Tank's call. Once she has it, she'll keep Marnie from leaving.
After telling Tony to wait in the car, and Hammer's men to remain by their bikes, he follows me to the front door. I can do this by myself, but the fool thinks I'm going to start a damn shootout. Only an idiot – which I am not – would start anything in this neighborhood.
As many guards as I have, even a man like me can be taken out if not careful. I am always careful. I have eyes and ears all over this city. Anything happens, I know about it. Nothing happens without my say so. I run a clean city, mainly, I have made sure this is a safe enough place to live. Even if we do still have those few, who think it's okay to run a mock.
Running a mock can and will get you killed.
Don't get me wrong, nowhere on earth is completely safe, free from danger, but if I can stop it, I'll damn well try. I want a safe place for my kids to grow up in.
Sounds ridiculous coming from me, but isn't that what all father's want for their kids? I'm no different. I'll protect what's mine until my last breath. Just as my grandfather taught me.
Do I wish I could give Marnie and our kids a better life?
What the hell is better than this?
All I have ever known is this way of life. Fight to get to the top, fight twice as hard to stay there. Give respect, get twice as much back. I have strived to be someone to look up to, a man people can trust to keep his word. Believe me; I always keep my word. You respect me, my wife, my authority, then we have no problems. You try to outsmart me, cross me, then I end you. Simple.
You touch what's mine? God himself can't save you from what I'll do to your miserable carcass!
After knocking the large black front door for a second time, it slowly opens. I'm prepared to face the fifty-year-old woman who lives here. What I didn't expect was a tiny little girl, who looks more like a three-year-old than a five-year-old, with messy dark hair falling all around her shoulders.
The tatty, little ragamuffin girl, I see before me looks like she hasn't seen a bar of soap in a few days. She's not even wearing real clothes. I think the off-white, dirty t-shirt she's wearing belongs to the man of the house. The sleeves are rolled up to her little shoulders, the hem falls to her shins, she's not wearing anything on her little feet, and she looks cold and half starved.
I look to Hammer, who gives me the most shocked look. What the hell was I actually expecting? Not to almost pass out from the stench of this house and the state of the little girl looking at me with those big brown eyes of hers.
How did I not know about this little girl before now?
How could my runners not have come to me and told me about the little, obviously abused girl living here? It's their damn job to tell me these things. I do not tolerate child abuse! Words will be had with certain people.
By words, I mean people will be losing their lives!
“Hello. Who are you?” She asks in the sweetest little voice I have ever heard.
“My name is Draven. This is Sam, my brother. We're looking for Ada. Is she home?” I keep my voice soft, the same way I speak to Jessica. I do not want to scare this little girl.
“She's asleep. She been drinkin'.” She shrugs her little shoulders. “I'm not posed to open the door 'cause my sister tries to run away, but I been waiting for somebody. Thought it might be her this time.”
I crouch down on my haunches and smile at her. “Who are you waiting for, little one?”
“My mommy. She posed to visit me for my birthday, but she didn't come. My sister cried all day. Miss Ada said she forgot about us, but Mommy would never forget about us. We been waiting for her to come. She said she will come. She promised.” Cuts me to the fucking core to see the sadness in her little eyes.
I notice movement behind her. A little girl even shorter than the one in front of me comes shuffling closer. Amber, I can see who she is right away. God, she's so cute. She's dressed the same as her sister; only her hair is messier. Both little girls are dirty, and it cuts me up. Amber's little feet are blue with cold.
These little girls are very obviously neglected, and someone is going to pay with their lives for it.
“Is this your sister?”
“Yes, this is my Amber. She's not allowed to come to the door. She tried to run away to find Mommy the other day.” She sighs deeply. “Miss Ada beat her.”
“She did what?” Sam gasps. He's thinking the same thing I am. Who the fuck would beat such a small child?
“Yeah,” Lydia nods her head. “She hurt Amber very much. She cried all night for Mommy to make it better, but she didn't come. Miss Ada said Mommies don't love little girl's like Amber. But that's not true; Mommy loves Amber very much.”
I look at my brother. He’s watching Amber, she watching him. This has hurt him. He's a big, mean bastard, but he'd never hurt a kid.
“Did you come to get the special...” Lydia looks behind her slowly, checking to see if anyone is coming, before she leans into me and whispers, “Green stuff for your cigarettes?”
Drugs.
These little girls are living in a drug house?
Jesus Christ!
The bitch who runs this house is running drugs!
Not in my fucking town she doesn't! Not without my fucking permission. Just another reason to deal with scum.
Yeah, yeah, I own the drug trade in Tennessee. I traffic it. So fucking what, I'm the boss! However, I have rules about who sells, who buys. I don't tolerate the little people selling shit on the streets. I won't have this bitch selling on my streets!
“I know where Miss Ada keeps it. I can get it for you. She won't be mad at me. I did it before for the other man.”
Christ!
“No, sweetheart, that's not what I'm here for.”
“What's your name?” Hammer asks while crouching down.
For one so small she doesn't seem at all afraid of two huge men at her front door. My brother has that scary vibe about him. Jeans, boots, leather cut, long hair, tattoos, scar on his forehead near his eye. I'm less intimidating in my suit and slicked back hair, but still scary looking, I suppose. Then again, she's living in a drug den. I bet she's seen some scary fucking men in her short life.
She doesn't need to tell me her name, even though she looks very different from the one photograph Marnie has of her, I already know I'm looking at a mini version of my Marnie. She might have different colored hair and eyes, but that sweet, innocent look is all Marnie.
“Lydia.” She replies while rubbing the bridge of her nose with her knuckle. “Are you policemen? Did you come because my uncle told you that I been bad? I didn't be bad. I didn't mean to steal. Amber was hungry, and Miss Ada forgot to give us food. Amber's tummy hurt because she didn't get food for two days because Miss Ada said mongols should behave if they want to eat. She's not a mongol; she's special, Mommy said so. I didn't like my sister to be hungry, so I
stole food to make her better. Please, don't take me away, Amber will be all alone, and Miss Ada will hurt her. Please!”
Hungry? Jesus, Marnie will have a breakdown when she finds out about this. Her little girl is filthy, starving, and selling fucking drugs for the old bitch who's supposed to be taking care of her, while she beats the shit out of Amber!
Lydia's frightened eyes are locked on me, and little Amber is whimpering behind her.
“We're not policemen. Your uncle didn't send us, Lydia. You're not in trouble, sweetheart.”
Her eyes suddenly widen, and a smile spreads across her face. “Did my mommy send you? My mommy sent you to get us, didn't she?!” She all but squeals in excitement. “Amber, Mommy sent these men to get us!”
“Mommy,” Little Amber smiles and holds her hand out to Lydia who takes it gently. More gently than I've ever known a child to take another child's hand.
“Do you think you could let us in?” Lydia nods her little head erratically, opens the door wider and allows us to pass through.
Fuck.
This house is disgusting. The walls are so dirty the filth is streaking down them. What once was blue is now caked in filth. The curtains are torn, yet there's hardly any light. The place is filled with the smell of alcohol and smoke, both cigarette and weed The bitch even smokes pot around these little girls. There's so much filth around the place that I just cannot believe anybody would ever allow their child to live like this. No wonder they took Marnie elsewhere to visit her children.
This place isn't fit for kids to live in. Hell, it's not fit for pigs to live in. The bitch who lives here best hope I don't find out Amber has any medical problems, because if she has any, and they've been made worse by living like this, she'll die in the worst way imaginable.
Vidal!: Snakes Henchmen MC Page 21