As everyone crammed into the room, the men took their seats. Sledge at the head of the table with Gunny, the club’s new VP on his right and Reaper on his left, followed by Diesel and then everyone else. Tinker, being the last one in, closed the door and then took his seat.
Sledge slammed the gavel down on the table, breaking it.
Beth raised a brow. Her arms were crossed, not the least bit intimidated by his show of strength or anger. If there was one thing Tinker could say about the women in the Devils’ Henchmen – they were strong and didn’t give two shits about standing up for what they felt was right. These women had spines of steel.
“Now talk,” Rachel finally chimed in. Normally, she was quiet and stayed out of all club business, preferring to be on the outside and occasionally glancing in. After an accident had left her paralyzed years ago, she’d had to learn to walk again. A battle that she continued even twenty years after the fact. Every day was a struggle for his aunt. Tinker had reason to believe that fear kept her from getting too involved, and he understood that completely.
It was because of that incident, that all the founders of the club had decided to move back to the clubhouse and make it their home. They had moved out of the original building and bought the old school. After fixing it up, they’d turned it into a home for them all. But it was also during that time, that the women had set down ground rules. Well, one rule really – don’t bring club work back to the clubhouse.
And today, because of Tinker, they’d broken that rule. Shitty didn’t even begin to describe how he felt. Now, because of him, they just might lose their most precious thing of all – their sanctuary.
Chapter Twenty
Keily
She was still shaking.
Keily had never been so scared or angry, in all her life. She had no idea what she’d gotten herself and Emily into, but these people were crazy. Mentally psychotic. And she had to get away from them. But she had no clue where she’d go since her parents’ house was mentally off-limits.
This was just all too much for her. Between Patrick’s bullshit, losing her dad, and now this – Keily couldn’t take it anymore. Her nerves were fried.
Every time she blinked, all she could see was that man’s face, dead on her living room floor. She didn’t understand. Was that how kidnappers worked? And why her? And why did Tinker have to kill him? Surely, they could have talked it out. Reasoned with the man.
“… Patrick Dean was…”
“What?” Keily interrupted. Shaking her head. “I’m sorry,” she said to Sledge. “Can you repeat that?”
“What part?” he asked, annoyed.
“All of it.” Keily had been so lost in her head, that she hadn’t been paying attention until she heard Patrick’s name. What did they know about Pat?
The man sighed heavily. “Tinker worked on the case that put him away. He was part of the undercover operation that led to Patrick Dean’s arrest and conviction.”
Her gaze turned to Tinker who was currently looking straight ahead at the wall in front of him. She willed him to look at her, but he didn’t.
“As you know, Keily,” Sledge continued, staring at her. “Patrick Dean is serving several life sentences in prison.”
“How would she know?” Amber asked.
Sledge’s eyes remained locked on her. She felt like squirming under his stare. She cleared her throat. “He’s Emily’s father,” she said quietly.
“What?” Beth said. “I thought…”
“I never told him I was pregnant,” Keily defended. “I found out after he had already been arrested. I didn’t want anyone to know.” She looked at Beth, using her eyes, begging her to understand. “I didn’t want that cloud hanging over my child’s head her entire life.”
“Well,” Sledge shrugged, leaning back in his chair. “So much for that idea because he knows.”
“Derrick!” Beth scolded.
“What?” Sledge shouted. “You all want in fucking club business, then you get the real shit. I will not waste my time protecting feelings! We had our kids’ lives put in danger tonight, Beth!” Sledge was irate. “Now, do you want the goddamn truth or are you going to stand there chastising me every time I speak?”
Beth didn’t say another word.
“Now,” Sledge continued. “FBI Agent, Parker Williams, received word that Patrick Dean had ordered a hit on Ms. Keily here.”
She felt all the blood leave her face.
“It was just happenstance that she and Tinker happened to cross paths.” Sledge shrugged. “But it made things easier. We were tasked with protecting her. Keeping her and the baby safe and finding out who Dean hired. However, now we aren’t so sure it was Dean who ordered the hit.”
“What do you mean?” his mother asked.
“We have reason to believe that Williams is the person behind it all,” Reaper answered. “So, as you can see Keily, Tinker didn’t drag you into anything. It was the other way around.”
She felt as if he had slapped her in the face, but she guessed she deserved it. Keily didn’t know what to think. While she was grateful that Tinker and the others had been there to protect her, she also felt stupid for thinking that she had developed new friendships with these people. Especially since she was nothing more than a job…
“Until we know what is going on,” Diesel chimed in. “And who hired who – you should stay here, Keily.”
Keily was confused. “Why would anyone want me dead?”
“That, we don’t know,” Diesel admitted.
“Seems like nobody has that answer,” Reaper said. “At least nothing concrete, anyway.”
“What do you mean?” Amber asked. “Nothing concrete.”
“We have reason to believe that Williams is the one who ordered the hit,” Sledge answered. “We just can’t figure out why.”
“He a dirty cop?” Amber asked.
This time, it was Tinker who answered. “I didn’t get that impression from him when I worked the Dean case, but that doesn’t mean anything. Something has been rubbing me raw about it since I closed it… And I’ve never been able to pin down what it is.”
“Think maybe subconsciously, you thought he was dirty?” Amber asked him. “And because you haven’t admitted it out loud, it’s festering?”
“Amber…” Sledge sighed. “Stop the psychological shit, please.”
“It’s a legit question, Derrick,” she argued. “The mind has a way of not letting go of wrongs.”
Keily just stood there, listening to them all argue. She still didn’t understand how any of this had anything to do with her… She didn’t know anything about Patrick’s side business. She didn’t know anyone named Williams. She literally knew – nothing.
“I sent Ink down to the prison where Dean is being held,” Sledge interrupted the back and forth banter. “He was able to find out that Dean has a few guards helping him out but nothing that seems to tie him to anything with Keily. Other than the annoying amount of phone calls. By the way, that little problem has been dealt with, and you don’t have to worry about him calling you anymore,” Sledge said to Keily.
“Dealt with?” Keily asked, not sure if she wanted to know what that meant.
“Don’t worry about that,” Ink chimed in, a sinister grin on his face.
Keily nodded, swallowing hard.
All of this was getting crazier by the second, but it still didn’t answer the one question that kept circulating in the back of her mind… “How did they find me?” she blurted out. “I told literally nobody where I was going. I didn’t even tell my dad that I was coming home. I legally changed my last name to my mother’s maiden name.” Keily shrugged. “So, how?”
“That.” Sledge pointed at her. “Is the one thing we haven’t figured out yet. And until we do, you’re staying here. Someone has eyes out there.” He thumbed over his shoulder. “And I have no idea who they belong to, yet.”
“Listen,” Reaper interrupted. “I know today, hell the last week, has been
stressful. But you’re safe here, Keily. Please know that.”
Keily didn’t know what to think.
“And that man?” she asked. “The one Tinker…” She couldn’t bring herself to say the word.
“Was there to kill you and Emily,” Reaper answered. “Tinker saved you both.”
Keily looked over at the man in question and suddenly she felt like a total dick. She’d been a total bitch to him, and he’d just been doing his job… Or maybe that was what bothered her the most… She’d just been a job to him.
Holy shit, she said to herself. You just watched a man die and you’re sad over some hurt feelings… What in the hell does that say about your mental state?
“Tinker…” she said softly.
He held up a hand. “Don’t bother.” He tightly smiled.
But she had to say something. Hurt feelings or not, Tinker had saved her life, and Emily’s.
“Anyway,” Sledge said, stopping whatever Keily was going to say. “That’s about all we are going to say. The less y’all know the safer you are. I understand that y’all are pissed. But just know, we’re doing our job.” He looked directly at Keily, as he said, “And as soon as we find this son of a bitch, you’re free to go. But just know that if you step out that door, we can’t protect you anymore. They will find you; and they will kill you.”
Fear slid through her as her heart began to pound. She didn’t know if Sledge was telling the truth, but she didn’t want to take the chance to find out. Not when her daughter’s life was on the line. But…
“What if I change my name, again?” Keily asked. “First and last this time. And move somewhere else. I don’t have a lot saved, but I have enough.”
Sledge shook his head. “That won’t stop them, just like it didn’t prevent it this time.”
She looked around the room at all grim faces. Keily leaned back against the wall and slid down it. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered to the room.
“For what, sweetheart?” Beth and Amber both crouched down beside her. “You have nothing to be sorry for.” They both wrapped arms around her.
“Keily,” Sledge said, the anger gone from his voice. “This isn’t your fault. Never think that. There are bad people in this world. Regardless of what we do to right all the wrongs, someone new will always come along to tip the balance. This isn’t on you. Let this lie somewhere else entirely. Okay?”
“But I brought this to your doorstep…” Tears started to well in her eyes.
The past few months, Keily had been on an emotional roller coaster. After everything with Patrick, the trial, losing everything and moving, then the accident and losing her dad, and now this… She just wanted off the ride.
“You didn’t bring this to us,” Reaper said. “Williams did. Don’t shoulder something that isn’t yours to carry. That weight will crush you.”
Keily nodded. She didn’t know how to feel anymore. Guilt, fear, sadness, anger, doubt – they all rolled through her.
Sledge’s phone rang. Putting his finger to his lips, he silently told the room to remain quiet as he answered the phone.
“Hey,” he said.
“How’s the case going with the Hopper girl?” a man asked. “Any update?”
“Yeah, there was an incident this evening,” Sledge told him.
Keily listened to the conversation as Sledge retold the events that had taken place. There was a nagging feeling in the back of her head, that she couldn’t quite put her finger on. The man on the other end of the phone sounded oddly familiar. But for the life of her, she couldn’t picture his face. She continued to listen, as did the others.
“I’ll send a team down in the morning,” the man said. This got Keily’s attention. “We’ll bring her and the child in and put them in a safe place until we can get to the bottom of this.”
Keily didn’t like the sound of that. For some reason, warning bells were going off in her head. Sledge’s eyes connected with hers and Keily frantically shook her head. She didn’t want to go anywhere with someone she didn’t know. While she wasn’t quite sure how safe she was in the Devil’s Henchmen clubhouse, she didn’t feel comfortable leaving with a stranger.
Plus, there was still something about the man’s voice that put her on edge.
“I think I’m just going to keep her here for a while,” Sledge commented. “If you don’t mind.”
“Sledge,” Williams said. “I’m sure I don’t need to tell you how important it is to keep this girl and the child safe. I have more resources. I can better protect her. I’ll be there tomorrow to get them.”
And with that, Williams ended the call.
Sledge stared down at his phone in disbelief, a look that was mirrored on the faces of everyone else in the room, too.
“What the hell was all that about?” Gunny asked.
“I don’t know,” Sledge replied. “But I don’t like it.”
“I know that voice,” Keily interrupted.
“You should,” Tinker said. “That was Williams, the FBI agent.”
Keily shook her head. “I don’t think so.”
“Keily,” he said, annoyed. “I worked with the man. I think I would know.”
“Okay.” She through her hands in the air, frustrated. He wasn’t listening to her and Keily wasn’t in the mood to argue with Tinker. Turning to Sledge, she said, “I’m not leaving with him.”
“Doesn’t look like you’ll have many choices,” Sledge replied.
“Like hell.” Keily stood. “This is still America, and last I checked, I was still a grown-ass woman.”
“Keily…”
“No, Sledge,” she said firmly. “Now I appreciate everything you all have done for me, but I’m telling you, there is something about the sound of that voice that…” She tried to find the right word. “That… I don’t know. It makes my skin crawl. I’ve heard it before, and it wasn’t because some damn agent came to talk to me. Because I can assure you.” She stared straight at Tinker, giving him her best ‘fuck you’ look. “No man named Agent Williams came to fucking talk to me!” She took a deep breath.
Keily was pissed, all over again.
Why was nobody listening to her? Well, she refused to allow Sledge, Tinker, or anyone else to make decisions for her. She allowed that crap once with Patrick, and she’d be damned if she ever allowed it again.
Opening the door, she walked out of the Chapel, even as Tinker hollered her name. Fuck him! And Fuck them!
Chapter Twenty-One
Tinker
“Just let her go,” Sledge said, as Tinker stood to go after Keily.
“She can’t leave.”
“She won’t,” he replied. “She’s a smart girl.”
And sometimes, smart people did stupid shit, but he didn’t say that out loud. Since Sledge was the MC President, Tinker had to follow his instructions, so he sat back down in his chair, and just hoped his fearless leader was correct.
“Alright, if you ladies don’t mind,” Sledge said to the women in the room. “We have business to discuss.”
And with that, all the women nodded and headed out the door.
Once the door closed, Sledge cleared his throat. “Now. Let’s get down to actual business.”
“Williams rubbed me the wrong way,” Reaper said.
“Same,” agreed Gunny.
“Yep,” said Diesel.
“Could Keily be on to something?” Tinker asked, now wondering if maybe she was right.
“I don’t know.” Sledge leaned back in his chair, crossing his hands behind his head. “But until I do, she’s not going anywhere.”
They all nodded in agreement.
“Stay close to her, Tinker,” Sledge instructed.
Tinker nodded.
“Now, as far as what we’ve learned,” Sledge said to the group. “I have a feeling this is going to get very interesting.”
“What do you mean?” Joker asked.
“I mean,” Sledge replied. “Not everyone is going to have clean han
ds. I have a feeling some are going to be a lot dirtier than we originally thought…”
And Tinker had to agree with him.
Normally, Williams wasn’t so pushy, so the fact that he was so adamant about coming to get Keily, didn’t sit well with Tinker. Or maybe, it was that he didn’t want her to leave. But that line of thinking would get him in trouble.
This is a job, he reminded himself. Do the job and move on.
Tinker had to remember the club’s motto – Brotherhood Above All Else. Meaning – the club came first. His job and duties came first. Women? Well, they were fine to have, but not when that woman was part of a case.
“Alright,” Sledge leaned forward. “Let’s see what happens tomorrow. Until then, I want everyone in town. Find that other motherfucker. I want him brought back here. Alive preferably.”
“Well shit,” Tuck swore. “There goes my fun, right out the window.”
A few members of the group chuckled.
Sledge adjourned the meeting with his broken gavel and as everyone left, he asked Tinker to hold back. They waited until the last man had left before Gunny closed the door.
“What’s up?” Tinker asked, looking around at the officer’s faces.
“Are you okay?” Sledge inquired.
“Yeah.” His brows furrowed, confused. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
“I don’t know.” Sledge shrugged. “You tell me.”
Tinker shook his head. “I’m fine.”
“Are you starting to have feelings for this girl?” Gunny asked.
“What?”
“You heard me.”
“I did,” Tinker agreed. “But I don’t see how that is relevant or any of your damn business.”
“She’s a client,” Reaper argued.
“She’s a victim,” Tinker counted. “Williams is the client. Don’t get them twisted.”
Tinker's Dilemma: Devil's Henchmen MC Next Generation, Book One Page 12