by Debra Kayn
She whirled around and faced him. "I trusted you."
"I know." He grabbed on to the chair, lifted it off the floor, and set it back hard. "What kind of man would I be if I went against my club? They're my family. I'm trying to protect you, because you're my heart. Lady, I love you. I'd do anything to keep you safe."
She gasped.
"That's right. You wanted to hear it last night, and I didn't give it to you. I'm giving it to you now. I love you. You want to take this and blow it up into me betraying your trust, then do it and get the fuck over it, because I want things back the way they were, including having you in my bed, in my life, in my club. What your husband did to you was fucked up. What you did to make his life easier came at your own expense, and that pisses me off, because no one should ever hurt you. Including me," he said.
She clamped her teeth together, wishing she'd met him years ago, and none of the past stood between them. But, she couldn't go back and change anything.
Robert fought with her every step and refused to get medical help. She'd tried her best, yet how many times had she wanted someone to understand what she was going through, to care about her. Remmy stood in front of her, giving her everything she desired.
Yet she understood what he was asking her to do, and accepting that would mean Will would never learn the truth. Could she live with herself? Didn't Will deserve to know what happened to his brothers?
Remmy approached her. "Talk to me."
Her decision meant her life would never be the same. It could be everything she'd hoped. She swallowed hard and gazed up at Remmy. His dark, pained eyes studied her. She'd have to consent to the club. He'd watch out for her. It could be a beautiful thing, but she wasn't delusional. There'd be no turning back and undoing the past, no justice for the crime that was committed.
"I need something from you," she whispered.
"Anything," he whispered back, hoarse and raw.
She blinked the tears from her eyes. "Put me in your hand."
He hooked her neck, brought her closer, and when she was against his chest, he held her securely in his embrace. A tremor went through him, and she sobbed. If she had any misgivings about his true feelings, they were gone. A man couldn't hide the kind of liberation she felt going through Remmy. She only hoped she could live with herself knowing the truth and keeping it a secret.
Chapter Twenty
Early hours of the morning meant the parking lot at Country Mart was empty of cars and pedestrians. Remmy stood beside his motorcycle watching Natalie pace in front of him. He gazed around the area, wired with adrenaline. Before Natalie had called Will to set up a meeting, he'd convinced her to meet Will here, right across from the sheriff's department, where Sheriff Colby watched from his office window.
He wasn't taking any chances.
"He's not going to take this well and I hate lying to him now." Natalie stopped and raised her brows. "He'll go through with his threats. He wants a new investigation, and the police won't do that because of me giving them Robert's unstable background. I could even lose my share in the mine."
"I won't let that happen." He lowered his voice. "He can take you to court if it comes down to that, but you won't lose what is rightfully yours."
"The insurance policy, Remmy? Now that I know, I can imagine what Will has gone through. This must be killing him."
He inhaled deeply. "You have to look at the bigger picture. Los Li is the real threat. Will can make your life hell, and I'll stop him. But, if Los Li finds out that a new investigation is opening, someone will end up dead, and there won't be a hell of a lot the club can do."
"God, I know. I know." She thrust her fingers in her hair. "I know what has to be done."
He'd gone through every option, even took it to the table with Kurt, Ink, and Cutter to figure out if he was missing a sign that would cause a backlash of trouble. In the end, he had one option, and he had to play Los Li's game.
"Come here," he said.
She walked to him, and he tagged her neck, bringing her close and kissing her. "It'll be okay. I'll be right here. Will's not going to try anything with me around and if he does, we're covered. Look over to the viaduct, between the brown Bronco and the white pickup."
She turned her head. "Who's that?
"Ink." He rubbed her back. "Behind us, over by that duplex behind the store, you'll see Cutter and Germ."
"He's big," she mumbled.
He smiled. "Yeah, Germ's a tank and nobody can get past him."
"Okay." She inhaled deeply. "I just don't want you hurt in case Will tries to punch you or something."
"Yeah, that won't be happening." He kissed the top of her head, looking at an unfamiliar blue sedan cruising under the viaduct. "He's here. Remember, don't let him scare you."
The car pulled into the parking lot and Will exited the vehicle. Remmy's hand stayed on Natalie's back for support. He'd stay by her side, because he wasn't going to allow Will to touch her.
Will stood at the car, tugged his shirtsleeve, unbuttoning the cuff, and strode forward. "I'd prefer to talk with my lawyer present."
"I'd prefer to settle this by ourselves," she said.
Will glanced at Remmy. "Obviously, you've decided to move on with this...person. I'm sure he's influencing your need to believe the reports and is trying to get your share of the company. Meghoni Mine belonged to Robert and Chad, my brothers. As you've moved on, I'm going to protect what is rightfully mine."
"Robert's will left me his half of the shares. No matter how or why his life ended the way it did, I deserve those shares. If you want the house, because it was in the company's name, then take it. I don't want it, but I do need those shares to cover my expenses and our bills. Robert wanted me to have them. They were his way of taking care of me if anything happened to him while on the job." Natalie's back stiffened. "In exchange for the house, I'd like you to step back and let the managers reinstate health insurance for the workers, so we can avoid a shutdown. Will, it's only a matter of time before the union goes after the company."
"They already did." Will's glare hid his blue eyes. "The union is using dues to cover the expenses, and there's a meeting tomorrow to challenge the contract."
Natalie stepped forward and Remmy hooked his fingers underneath the waistband of her shorts, holding her back. "What's going to happen?"
"That depends on you." Will widened his stance. "Go to the FBI, request them to reopen the case, and I'll have the managers pay the fine, reimburse any members who sought medical help during the week they've been without coverage, and everything will go back to running smoothly."
Natalie pressed her hand to her chest. "You know why I can't do that, Will."
"Then tomorrow, the union will pull the miners off the job after the meeting and Meghoni Mine stops producing silver," Will said, lifting his brows. "Everything shuts down."
"You're threatening me." She lifted her chin. "I'm not the only one who is going to suffer because of your decision. Money won't be coming in for you. The miners...think of all the families who will lose everything they've worked for."
Sweat broke out on Will's forehead. "I've lost my brothers and our family name over what people believe happened—"
"It's not on you," Natalie whispered. "It's not on either one of us."
"Shut up." Will raised his arms.
"Hey. Keep it cool." Remmy pulled Natalie back out of harm's way.
Will pointed at Remmy. "Stay out of this."
Remmy stepped forward, putting Natalie behind him. "I think this conversation is over. Natalie has let you know that she'd give up the house if you drop the lawsuit and reinstate the accounts so the union members will have coverage under their contract. From here on out, you only contact her through her attorney."
Will's gaze remained on Natalie. "You'll regret not reopening the case."
"She's done here." Remmy stepped backward, keeping his hand on Natalie's hip, so she stayed behind him.
Will followed him a couple of step
s. "I'll make sure—"
Remmy's hand cut off the rest of Will's words. He squeezed Will's throat. "You're done threatening her. You're done talking to her like she's a piece of shit you can scrape off your shoe. Get it? She's done with you. Any future dealings regarding Meghoni Mine that need her input, she'll handle through her attorney. Understood?"
Will's throat constricted and he attempted to nod. Remmy let him go with a shove. Then he escorted Natalie to his bike. "Put your helmet on, lady. I'm getting you out of there."
She followed his instructions. He sat the bike, and got her behind him on the seat, and they rode out of town in the opposite direction they needed to go. He wasn't going to take any chances that Will would follow him toward the club.
At the watershed, he turned around and pulled off the road. He gazed over his shoulder. His anger over the added stress in Natalie's life multiplied. She deserved better than this. If Will were any kind of man, he would've stepped up, embraced her in her time of change, and made sure she had emotional support. Hell, he was the one person who could understand what she was going through if he opened his ears and listened to her.
"We'll take a ride back through town and I'll make sure he's gone. Then I'm taking you home," he said.
Tears ran unchecked down her cheeks, but she lifted her chin, keeping ahold of herself. "Thank you for being here."
"Lady, I'm not going anywhere," he said.
She nodded. He swiped his thumb over her cheek, drying the moisture, and then swiveled around and rode off. In town, he looked for Will's car, and the area was clear of any sign of him or his car.
Sheriff Colby stood on the sidewalk outside the sheriff's department and gazed right at them, validating that it was safe. Remmy lifted his chin in thanks.
As he rode under the viaduct and out of town, he recognized a huge problem that would come if Will moved forward with his plan. If the mine shut down, the town would fall apart. The majority of the residents relied on their mining jobs, the stores would suffer, and desperate people had a way of causing trouble.
Natalie wanted to handle the problem herself. He would've liked it if her attorney dealt with Will, but there was only so much a lawyer could do when his moral ethics were controlled by the laws.
He lacked moral ethics when it came to his woman.
Natalie's arms tightened around him. He glanced in his rearview mirror and found her staring off to the side, lost in her thoughts. He'd give her exactly two minutes before they arrived at the club to let her mind wander. Then he'd make sure the only thing she thought about was him. Not because he was a selfish bastard, but because she needed someone to help her focus on going forward.
Then he'd take care of Will Oman and make sure Meghoni Mine stayed operational. As far as Los Li was concerned, they could continue believing that Natalie accepted the bogus story. That was the only way she'd stay safe.
He pulled into the gravel strip in front of the club. Natalie jumped off the bike, and he followed her. Grabbing her hand, he opened the gate, took her up the stairs, and inside the club.
Everyone was out, and the room was empty. He hooked her neck, bringing her forward, and kissing her lightly. "Do me a favor and go on up to our room. I'll be up in a minute."
She threw her arms around his waist and laid her head on his chest. "Thanks again for standing beside me. I couldn’t have done that alone."
"Stop thanking me." He slapped her on the ass to get moving. "Get naked, and I'll be there soon."
He watched her walk away, and then he went in the opposite direction. Downstairs, he found Kurt working out with Ink. Both men stopped when he approached them.
Kurt hung his arms on the top rope of the ring. "Everything okay?"
He lowered his voice. "Bantorus needs to deliver a message to Will Oman. He's upped his threats, and he's going through with locking down the monetary support to Meghoni mine. This time tomorrow, the place will shut down...indefinitely.
Ink pulled off his boxing glove. "What are you thinking?"
"It won't be hard for me to get a home location on him. I think a visit, letting him know what will happen if he doesn't keep Meghoni running and give medical coverage back the workers, and leave Natalie alone should be enough to buy us some time. He's a prick, but he's weak when it comes to pressure. We'll stay there why he makes the proper phone calls, and let him go. If not..." He shrugged. "I don't care if the bastard disappears."
Kurt ducked and stepped out of the ring. "Give me fifteen minutes to inform the others."
Ink slapped his shoulder. He nodded. The support came freely, and he appreciated it. They all knew the damage shutting down the mine would do to Federal, but his main concern was the instant red flag to Los Li that their cover-up job wasn't so covered up anymore. He had to keep things running smoothing to keep the Mexican mafia out of their lives.
Less than ten minutes later, he stepped inside the bedroom to find Natalie asleep on the bed. A fierce need to make sure every night she slept soundly, to plant dreams back in her head that were stolen from her, and to be there to share her moments when she embraced the world and forgot about the pain. He smoothed the hair away from her face, and she remained out cold to the world. That was one thing he could give to her that she'd never had before.
"Dream, lady," he whispered, kissing the top of her head.
Anxious to leave and settle the problem with Will in Bantorus style while Natalie was asleep, he walked out the door. He met up with the others, nodded at Ink, Cutter, Germ, Stripper, and finally his president.
"VP's woman, we follow his lead," Kurt announced.
The others lifted their chins and looked at Remmy for orders. He steeled himself for the task ahead of them. Respect for his president, his club, gave him the calmness he needed so he kept his head. He lifted his arm, circled his finger in the air, and said, "Let's roll."
Chapter Twenty One
After a sound sleep, Natalie sat at the corner table and stared at the smorgasbord of finger foods spread out over the surface. Her stomach, tight and unforgiving, rolled at the thought of eating. Two o'clock had come and gone. The meeting her lawyer attended to represent her on behalf of Meghoni Mine should've been over, and notification of the union shutting down the mine after Will's changes announced.
Her lawyer, Steven Kraum, represented Robert since the purchase of Meghoni Mine. With a split profit share and equal rights on how the company ran, her faith in Mr. Kraum pulling Meghoni through Will's changes dwindled with each passing minute.
"Try these Smokies," Jojo said, passing Natalie a toothpick with the tiny hotdog speared on the end. "The sauce is grape jelly and mustard mixed together."
Natalie, turned off from any kind of food, brought the appetizer to her mouth. The juicy warmth and tangy sauce hit her tongue. She chewed, surprised that the food tasted good. "It's delicious."
"Shari makes them all the time for the club. The guys go crazy for them." Jojo stabbed another one.
Remmy, whose lap she sat on, laid his hand on her stomach and whispered in her ear, "Glad to see you eating."
She'd turned down all offers to eat something earlier because she thought she was getting sick. All her thoughts were on what would happen to the miners. From the tone of the women in town and the talk amongst the bikers, closing the mine would destroy too many families in the community to go unnoticed.
She swiveled on his lap and sat sideways. "Maybe I should call Mr. Kraum."
"He'll contact you when he knows something," Remmy said.
She leaned against his chest and put her face into the warmth of his neck. "I wish I knew more about the workings of the business behind Meghoni. I should've listened more and asked questions. Now, I'm useless to offer anything constructive. Sometimes, I wonder if it'd be best to offer Will my share of the company and walk away. Maybe then he'd drop everything and go on with his life."
"It's rightfully yours," he said.
"I know, but sometimes, like now, it doesn't feel like I have
a right to anything, even though Robert started the mine after we were married and we invested our money in the startup. The power is out of my hands as long as Will fights with me every step." She leaned up and gazed at Remmy. "Before everything happened, Will was a good guy. A decent man who took second seat to his older brothers, but he was involved with every step of the decisions. He knows the mining business inside and out. He doesn't deserve the shit that I'm putting him through."
"Not you. Los Li." Remmy's fingers tightened on her hip. "They come in and mess with everyone's lives. They're dangerous."
"I just wish things could be different," she said. "That I could make a difference."
Her cell phone vibrated in her back pocket. She moved off Remmy and grabbed the phone.
"Hello?" she said, not even looking at the screen.
"I've got some news for you, Natalie," Mr. Kraum said. "Meghoni Mine and the union have gone over the unfortunate mix up with the lapsed insurance payments, and as of fifteen minutes ago, all miners and employees are once again covered. We've satisfied the union's need to go over the contract and proved that Meghoni Mine is following the bylaws of the contract once again. The company is enrolling the miner's health coverage and reimbursing all employees who had out-of-pocket expenses during this unfortunate mistake."
Natalie reached out and grasped Remmy's arm. "That's wonderful news, but how? Like I explained to you this morning, Will was adamant yesterday that he would not back down."
"Will was indisposed and excused himself from the meeting. Instead, he called his lawyer and the union late last night and directed them to follow the contracted agreement and open the account to cover the expenses."
She shook her head, looking at Remmy and spoke into the phone. "What about profits?"
Almost afraid to hear the answer, she held her breath. After everything Will put her through, she couldn't believe he was backing off.
"That's good news too, dear," Mr. Kraum said. "As of today, your share of the profits will be automatically deposited into your account here at the firm, and I'll issue you a check the first of each month. Of course, this month will be pro-rated, but I'm assured a short check will be deposited tomorrow and I'll divide the funds."