“You can’t blame me for askin’. I mean he’s making one of my guy’s life miserable, and I have a feeling he’s in with Dino and his crew. I had to ask.”
Rooster couldn’t stop the smile that spread slowly across his face. They had been great friends at one time and he’d be lying if he said he didn’t miss that friendship. It always brought him back to a time in his life when everything was easy and the only worries he had were what was going on at his house. He missed that.
“I appreciate you being honest with me about that, but I will let you know if anything pertinent comes up. I told Jagger to be here when school lets out. I plan on pissing off old Mr. Money Bags as y’all like to call him.”
“All the same,” Liam said as he struck a pose by his bike. He leaned against it like he owned the place. “I think I’m gonna hang out, just in case. This guy gives me the heebie jeebies. There’s something about him that ain’t right.”
“Whatever you feel like you gotta do. You do have kids at this school, but don’t even think about stepping out of line. I can only give you guys so much leeway.”
“Understood.”
Rooster squared his shoulders and walked into the school, much like he had the day before. He wasn’t exactly nervous, but he would be lying if he said he wasn’t worried about what he might find out from the principal. After speaking with Stacey the day before, he had gone home and done a little research on the crimes that had been taking place in Bowling Green. To his surprise, he had found a pattern. For the past year there had been a bank robbery every two months. He, of course, had known there had been a run on crime. Most people believed it was because of the downturn in the economy. Regular people couldn’t feed their families, much less pay other bills. They were desperate. The pattern that had jumped out at him, though, screamed of something more organized.
“Stacey, is Mr. Tucker here?” he asked, as he walked into the office and nodded at the woman he’d spoken to the day before.
“He is, but I have to warn you that he was pretty upset about you scheduling a meeting without asking his thoughts on it,” she spoke in low tones to him, obviously to keep the man they spoke of from hearing.
He ground his back teeth, he had deliberately told her not to say a word.
“Well that’s just too damn bad. This badge and gun give me carte blanche on a lot that other people get pissed off about. It’s not the first time and it won’t be the last time someone didn’t want to speak to me. Is he in there?” he pointed to the office door that was cracked open.
“He is.”
Glancing at the clock, he took note of the time. “Do me a favor. If we’re still in here when school lets out, don’t let Bianca Hawks in here. Just take her stuff out to her.”
“Is something going on with her?”
“I don’t know,” he answered honestly. “Let’s just say I don’t trust your boss around her, and in the interest of public safety, perhaps we should keep her out of here.”
Bianca couldn’t help but let her mind wander as she watched her class labor on the packet of busy work the normal teacher left for them. For most of the day, the kids had been good. One boy had gotten a little mouthy with her and she was pretty proud of the way she handled it—when really she wanted to tell him to stop being a smart-ass. The time on the clock told her she had another hour to go before the school day would be over, and she couldn’t help but think about what was going on in the office. Knowing that Money Bags was being talked to by the police gave her pause and made her stomach roll.
“Ms. Hawks, can I have a bathroom pass?” One of the children asked. She hadn’t even heard them walk up to the desk she sat at.
“Sure.” She shook her head, trying to get her mind back in the game.
Reaching into the desk, she pulled out the pass and handed it to the student who had asked. At this moment, she would give anything to have to go to the office for something. She wanted desperately to know what Rooster was asking and how Money Bags was answering. She wanted this over, and over for good. It seemed to be a defining moment in her relationship with Jagger. If they couldn’t get rid of Money Bags, it seemed like they wouldn’t ever move further from where they were. Not to mention, Money Bags really did give her the creeps. He made her feel dirty and a little bit like a whore. She didn’t like that feeling at all. If she could get rid of him, it felt like her self-worth would be where it was supposed to be.
I’m outside waiting on you.
The text came through on her phone, and she wanted to grind her teeth.
I don’t get out of here for another hour. So you’re gonna be waiting a while. I told you that you didn’t have to come. Whatever Rooster said, I’m not worried.
But I am, Jagger texted back.
Frustrated, she put her phone in her purse and turned her attention back to the class.
The student who had gone to the bathroom came back, redness in her cheeks. “Ms. Hawks, there’s a group of men on motorcycles outside. I think it’s Mandy and Drew’s dad!”
She groaned. This was the absolute last thing she needed.
“I just have a few questions for you, Mr. Tucker,” Rooster told the older man as he walked into the office and had a seat.
“I didn’t invite you to sit down, Officer.”
Rooster smiled, intentionally. “This could be a long conversation, Mr. Tucker. My legs hurt from being cramped up in that police cruiser all day, I’m sure you understand.” He stretched his long legs out in front of him, purposely crossing them at the ankle.
“Both of our time is very valuable, Officer Hancock, so can we please get this over with?”
“Sure.” Rooster pulled a little notebook out of his pocket. “Like I said, I just have a few questions. How well do you know Bianca Hawks?”
Immediately, Rooster saw that Mr. Tucker’s face reddened, all the way to his neck where the collar of his shirt rested. “She’s a substitute teacher here.”
“So you’ve never seen her outside of work? Say at Wet Wanda’s?”
Mr. Tucker stuttered. “I resent the implication that you’re making. As you know, my contract with the school board—as a principal—has a morality clause in it.”
“I am. That’s what makes me wonder what you’re doing at a titty bar and why you seem to have a lot of cash that’s unaccounted for,” he threw that in, just to see if he could throw the other man off.
“Excuse me?”
“Cash. Someone like you that does frequent Wet Wanda’s, you’ve got to have cash lying around, but I’m not sure where you’re getting it. We’ve pulled your financials, and you’re in the red most the time. How can you afford to be there so much?”
Rooster had to give it to the other man, he was holding it together pretty well, but sweat was beading at his hairline. He was shifting in his chair now, very uncomfortable under Rooster’s gaze.
“I don’t think this is appropriate,” Mr. Tucker blustered.
Leaning forward, Rooster set his hand the desk where Mr. Tucker sat. “I’ll tell you what’s not appropriate, Mr. Tucker. Numerous people have come to me saying that you’re a very inappropriate man outside the walls of this school. I’ve got my eye on you, and I’ll prove it if it’s the last thing I do. I also know that you have a ton of cash in your house and financials from the school board. You tell me how you came about having that? Whatever this is that you’ve got going, it’s not gonna last because now I’m watching you. I just wanted to let you know that.”
“Noted.” The principal swallowed hard. “Now get the fuck out of my office.”
Rooster stood, holding out a card to Mr. Tucker. “If you want to get all your criminal misdeeds off your chest, you can always give me a call.”
Raymond waited until Rooster left and then slammed the door shut, feeling accomplishment when it made a loud crash. Stalking over to his desk, he had a seat and rested his shaking hands on his forehead. With nothing else to do, he picked up his phone and dialed a number. Finally after numero
us rings, someone answered.
“Dino, I need help,” he choked out, scared to admit to the leader of the European gang just what was happening. Raymond had a feeling that he probably wouldn’t survive this, but he had to ask for a way out.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Bianca fumed as she stomped out of the front door of the school. As Rooster asked her to do, Stacey had met her outside the office and given her what she needed to get paid for her day. Bianca hadn’t missed that look in Stacey’s eyes that said she knew something was going on. The secretary just hadn’t been sure of what it was. Her blood boiled as she hit the front stoop and saw Liam, Jagger, and Rooster hanging out in the parking lot. She wanted to turn and walk towards her car, but if she did, she would never get a mad on like this again.
“Fuck it,” she mumbled and made her way to over where the three men lounged against a police cruiser and their bikes. Her heels sounded against the blacktop, and she knew by the frequency of the clicks she really should have been running.
“Hey baby,” Jagger greeted her, opening his arms for her.
She moved so that he couldn’t wrap them around her body and held her finger up. “Don’t ‘baby’ me. I’m furious at the three of you.”
Jagger took a moment to get a good look at her. Her cheeks were red, eyes flashing, chest heaving. The only other time she looked like this was when they got done in bed. Maybe this hadn’t been such a good idea.
“Why?” Rooster asked, unsure of why she seemed to be so pissed off.
“Oh hell,” Liam breathed. Having an old lady of his own, he knew that was not the question to ask.
“Really?” she put her hand on her hip and tapped her fingers against the waistband of the skirt. “You really have to ask me that question?”
Jagger reached over and put a hand on Rooster’s arm. “Don’t answer that man.”
“And you.” She turned her angry eyes at Jagger. “I’m more pissed off at you than I care to even let you know. If I was a physical sort, I’d beat the shit out of you. I told you to leave this alone.”
“B, I can’t in good conscience-”
“Stop,” she cut him off, the venom in her voice going straight to his gut. “I don’t give a good goddamn about your conscience. I don’t ask you for much Jagger. I never have and I never will because I’m used to taking care of myself. But what I did ask you for was to let me handle this. To not make this into a big deal. What the fuck do you think this is?” She motioned to the police car and Rooster.
“This is more than what you think it is,” Jagger argued. “There’s a lot more goin’ on here than you even know. This guy is dangerous.”
“He was dangerous to begin with,” she blurted. “Before you even knew he was bothering me. Don’t you think I’ve dealt with people like him before?”
“I know you have,” he told her through clenched teeth. “But that doesn’t change the fact that you don’t have to deal with them now. I’m here to do that for you.”
She took a deep breath and stomped her foot. “I love you and you know that, but loving you does not take away the fact that I am independent and I don’t need you to fight my battles for me.”
“And loving you doesn’t mean that I’ll sit idly by knowing this jackass is out there.” He pointed a finger in her face, advancing on her.
If Jagger expected her to back down, he had another thing coming. Bianca stood her ground, planting her feet against the ground, not giving anything. “I can take care of this.” She folded her arms across her chest.
He had never been so pissed in his life. His heart thundered in his chest, sweat broke out on his brow. Turning from her, he focused his gaze on the cars that traveled the road parallel to the school. Jagger couldn’t believe they were having this out with witnesses, including a cop and the president of the club. He turned back around and took a deep breath. “You haven’t handled it so far,” he told her, taking the emotion out of his voice.
“How dare you say that to me? He’s been coming to see me much longer than I’ve been with you. I was handling it just fine before you decided to show me you had a bigger dick than him and started all this shit.”
Jagger hated to do this, but he had to. He had to make her see just who this man was, just how powerful he thought he was. He turned so that he could look Rooster in the eye. “I’m not gonna hurt her, but she has to understand.”
When Rooster nodded, he grabbed her tightly around the arms and pulled her so that his mouth was even with her ear. She fought for just a few seconds before his fingers gripped into the flesh of her biceps. “You think you have this handled, sweetheart? I broke into his house. I saw what he has there. The sick freak has pictures of us fucking in that back room. The one picture he had of you that tore me apart was a picture of your face as you came with my name on your lips. Tell me where he got those pictures, tell me how he got back there and was able to do that. Then tell me he doesn’t have a wide reach. This is dangerous, and I’ll be fucking damned if I let you get hurt because this sicko has a hard-on for you. You understand me?”
The way she swallowed and the wideness of her eyes told him just how much she did understand. “I do,” she whispered, tears pooling in her eyes.
“I don’t want you scared,” he whispered back to her, his hold softening on her. “But if you don’t start taking this seriously, I’m going to scare the fuck out of you. You need to know that your life isn’t something that I’m willing to play around with. You will not be a pawn in whatever game he’s playing. Just believe that I want you and can keep you safe. Stop questioning me and fighting me, damnit. If something happens to you, I won’t be able to live with myself. Let me do what has to be done,” he pleaded with her.
“Okay,” she told him, nodding.
“Okay?”
“Yeah, I get it.” She shivered. “Jagger, does he really have a picture like that?”
“Yeah, he does. That’s why I don’t want you anywhere near this bastard until we can figure out how to bring him down. He’s fascinated with and fixated on you. That’s dangerous, and I don’t want what happened to Meredith to happen to you. Just let me take care of you…can you let me do that?”
Saying yes to him went against everything that she believed, had been taught in her whole life, but this did scare her. In her line of work she dealt with mentally unstable people all the time, but it had never hit so close to home. “Yeah, whatever you want me to do.”
“That’s what we’re trying to figure out. That’s why we’re all here working on this, baby. It may even be that I need to move in with you, but we won’t know until we see Money Bags response to this show of force that we’ve made for you. We took a risk today, pissing him off, but we have to piss him off to get to the bottom of this,” he explained, moving his hand to her cheek.
She sank into that soft touch, finally letting the anger release from her body. It took everything she had to admit this to him, but she did. “I want you to stay with me. If he has pictures of me like that, I don’t feel safe.”
“Then that’s what will happen. We’ll have Steele hook it up with some security too. He’s not gonna get to you on my watch, I promise you that.”
The group of them still stood out in the parking lot as a white van pulled up and someone they all recognized as Dino got out, striding into the school.
“Well what the fuck do you know?” Rooster breathed as he got in his cruiser and called it in. “Y’all go ahead and get on out of here before my backup arrives. This is bound to get interesting.”
“Where are you two going?” Liam asked Jagger and Bianca.
“Her apartment,” he answered for the two of them. “I’ll follow her over. Have Steele meet us over there.”
“Will do.” Liam stuck his gloves over his hands. “You’ll call me if you’ve got somethin’?” he asked Rooster.
“If I have something I can share, I will.” He turned to look at Bianca. “If at any time you don’t feel right with something, you ca
ll one of us.” He handed her his card. “I’ve done this job long enough to know that sometimes you get a live wire, and I think we might have one this time.”
“Thanks,” she told the officer, putting his card in her purse. “I’m sorry I acted like a bitch to everybody.”
“People react differently to feeling threatened,” Rooster smoothed it over. “We’ll make sure everything is taken care of. Now go on.”
Liam roared out of the parking lot while Jagger followed Bianca to her car and waited for her to get in and start it before he followed her on the short ride back to her apartment.
“Wait before you go in,” Jagger warned Bianca as they arrived and walked up the steps to her front door. “Steele’s already been here, and there’s a keypad on that thing. If you get it wrong, it’s gonna alert the club, and there’ll be people responding pretty quickly.”
He took his phone out and put in the code that had been texted to him. “Now that we know it works, I’ll text you the code too.”
She giggled as she saw the code. It was the date of the first time they had gone out to dinner together. “That seems like so long ago, and I still owe you money for my car.”
“I still owe you a dinner,” he reminded her. “I like to think we’ve moved past that now,” he told her as they walked into the apartment.
It felt a little different to her now, to know that it had been wired for her safety.
“You okay?” he asked as he saw her run her hands along her arms.
“Yeah, just a little freaked out that I actually have to have a security system. I’m not one of those people who has ever been worried about my well-being besides if I had enough money to pay the gas bill, ya know?”
He walked over and put his arms around her, holding her tightly against him. “I know. It’s not your fault, and when he’s gone you won’t have to worry about this anymore.”
She moved her hands up to his stubbly cheeks and pushed his face away from her so that she could look into his eyes. “I’m sorry I got so pissed at you earlier. I’m sorry if I embarrassed you in front of the other guys.” And she really was, she realized. Tears pooled in her eyes. She hadn’t meant for it to get so out of hand.
Losing Control (Heaven Hill Series) Page 16