by Kiki Leach
She laughed. "I don't need your permission for anything. I was just calling to let you know about it so that you wouldn't come home expecting me to be there for you to get some."
"Babe." I snickered. "Where the hell are those kids with you talking to me like that?"
"Recess. They'll be back in about fifteen minutes or so but I wanted to call you while I had a break and no one else was in the classroom with me."
"Too bad you're not someplace a bit more closed off," I told her.
She chuckled. "Don't be nasty."
"Darlin', it's what you like best about me, yeah?" I tugged at my jeans. "Shit, as a matter of fact--"
"Brother." I turned as Atom rolled out of the club and jerked his chin at me. "Business," he mouthed to me.
"Shit." I dropped my head.
"What is it?" asked Colette.
"Club shit," I replied. "Listen, you be good out there tonight with the girls, alright? Make sure Checkers sticks with you the entire damn time too. Just like he does every day up at that school."
"I will. I love you, Roman," she said.
"Yeah, me too, darlin'. More than you know." After hanging up with her, I stuffed my phone back into my pocket and turned to Atom. "What is it?"
He walked over to me, his own phone in hand. "I just got a call from River, who's down here on some of his own club business with Blue."
I shrugged. "So?"
"I called them up last week to let them know about the Lorenzo shit on the low; didn't give them any details outside of him just wanting to work with us in the hopes of them giving some answers regarding anything we maybe didn't know about him before. Something we could use to maybe push him out or hold over his head. They didn't have anything for me then, but--"
"They've got something for you now?"
He bobbed his head. "River said that one of their computer savvy brothers was able to lockdown on some shit for us right before they made it out here," he said. "They're having lunch over there at that Kelly's Diner downtown. I want you to head out there with me."
I turned to look at the club and lifted my brows, then brought my attention back to him and asked, "Riggs know about any of this?"
"It's on the low, just like I said. Only other person who knows outside of me is you." He eyed me up and down and shoved his brows together, skeptical as shit when I didn't respond. "Are you good with this, brother? 'Cause I'm hoping anything they've got could really help us out."
I was unsure but bobbed my head anyway and muttered, "Yeah, I'm good."
"Alright then, let's roll out."
Chapter Nineteen
Roman
An hour later, we stepped into Kelly's Diner and found River and Blue taking up space in a booth near the back. It had been a good while since we had seen either one of them, and for the most part, aside from all the grey in their heads and on their faces, though I sure as hell couldn't talk for myself, they looked the same.
When we made our way over, Atom nodded at both and said, "'Sup, brother?"
River looked up from his plate of ham, steak and eggs and nodded.
To anybody else, he might've looked bigger than life even while sitting down. But since we were practically the same size give or take a few inches off his height or mine, I was never startled by him, nor did I fear him like I knew many in the MC world did, due in part to his temper. After standing up to shake Atom's hand, he then turned to me and did the same. Blue, who was much shorter in stature but still just as feared as River, given how quick he could be with his gun, jumped up next and shook my hand, then Atom's.
"Have a seat." We sat across from them and after the waitress came over, Atom ordered a coffee while I asked for ice water. When she walked away, I noticed that neither of them bothered to even peek at her, which told me that they must've been damn good and settled down in their new lives with their respective women. I was glad to finally have some of that for myself with Colette. River then turned to Atom and cleared his throat. "So what's up, brother? Been a long time since we've made our way out here and seen the likes of either one of you."
"Nothin's changed much," replied Atom. He opened his hands and shifted his eyes around the space of the diner. "As you can clearly see."
Blue chuckled and dragged his hand across his beard. "Yeah, brother, I can tell this place looks pretty goddamn old school. Food's not too bad for what it is though." He moved his head side to side and drank back the last of his coffee.
After the waitress came back with our drinks, I gave her a quick thanks, then took a sip of water and leaned over the table.
Blue sat his mug back down near his plate, then leaned in and lifted his shoulders. "So what's the deal with Lorenzo and this business that he's got goin' on with your club?" he asked, his gaze shifting between us in question. "I thought Riggs would've been smarter than to hook up with a shyster like him in the first place."
"That was my brother's fault," I said.
"That little skinny fucker from way back, Jeremiah?" asked River.
I nodded. "He got into business with Lorenzo and then turned him onto Riggs."
"Was he high?" asked Blue.
I frowned. "What?"
"Your brother," he said, "was he high? 'Cause that's the only explanation I could understand for anybody lookin' to go into business with or work for this asshole on their own. That, or you're desperate as shit."
"I'm thinking it might've been something of both," I told him.
"Listen, brothers, we don't have a lot of time out here," Atom blurted out, dropping back in the booth and placing his hands on the table. "And we don't wanna waste what you've got left of yours in the city. Is what you wanna tell us regarding this asshole something that can maybe help us take him down or out before he tries his best to run us straight into the ground for good?"
"What the hell makes you think he already hasn't?" River stared directly into Atom's eyes and pulled a large Manilla envelope from the inside pocket of his Shadow Riders jacket. He placed it flat on the table, then slid it over to him. "You and the rest of your brothers need to know that Bourne is smart," he said. "Smarter than that son of a bitch Fontaine ever was and that shit's saying a lot, considerin' his past actions and what he pulled off with us a few months back. But Lorenzo Bourne thinks of every scenario in the book to the point that he could've written the shit himself."
"And he's got a backup plan for each one of those backups that might fuck him over right after," said Blue, "and nine times out of ten, they pan out better than what he initially had in mind."
"This is the one time out of ten that it didn't, because this shit was sloppy and almost too easy to get a hold of." River glimpsed at Blue, then turned back to us. "Now we're not exactly sure who all he was dealing with back then as far as security and people for his casinos and strip clubs and all the other shit he's got going are concerned, but I'll just say they weren't all that careful either. And after findin' out about this shit, I'm startin' to think by choice."
Atom lifted the flap on the back of the envelope and pulled out what looked to be a copy of official documents stapled together. After scanning through each page and seemingly finding nothing of interest, it wasn't until reaching the last one that made him mutter, "Holy shit." I glanced at him and he turned to me with the widest grin on his face, looking like the goddamn joker. "I think we just might have this son of a bitch by the balls." He handed over the papers and pointed to a single highlighted paragraph at the top of the page. "Weak spot."
I bent down to get a better look and as I read through each line, I shook my head at damn near every word I came across. "Jesus Christ." I looked over at him and glowered. "You think she knows about this shit?"
Atom rattled his head at me. "Nope." He snatched the papers from the table, then placed them back inside the envelope and sealed it shut. He turned back to River and Blue and smirked. "One of your own brothers was able to find this shit?"
Blue nodded and stuffed his last piece of bacon into his mouth. "S
on of a bitch is a computer-whiz like no other."
"Takes more than just some regular computer skills to be able to find something like that," I said. "Especially when there's no outside connections. He's gotta be some sort of PI in training or some shit."
"No doubt," replied Atom.
"He's good if you're thinkin' otherwise," River told us. "We've just upped our status in membership, that's all."
"Yeah, we're startin' to look for the real educated motherfuckers now," Blue chimed in wth a chuckle, "'specially with these older ones dyin' off. We can't do all this shit ourselves."
River looked aside and arched his brow. "And we don't want to."
"Yeah, that too."
Atom chortled and shoved the envelope inside his jacket and sighed. "Listen, what do we owe you for this info? 'Cause you sure as hell didn't have to let us know about any of this shit."
"Brother to brother and because we're good with your club, we thought you deserved to know," said River. "'Specially given the circumstances of the person involved. And regardless of what Riggs wants to do, this asshole is not good for bein' brought in like this. 'Cause once word gets out about him havin' control, other motherfuckers just like him will start seekin' out the rest of us and thinkin' that we'll be willin' to work out deals in the same way. And then when the shit won't end up bein' just as they want, all hell will start breakin' loose, leavin' not only our clubs, but our women and children vulnerable and susceptible to it. That's some shit I won't stand for on either coast or with any club we're choosin' to roll with."
"I hear you on that, brother," I said. He nodded at me.
Atom took in a deep breath, then exhaled. "I do too."
"So we're all good?" Blue opened his hands and moved his eyes between all of us.
"Yeah, I think we're good." I looked to Atom for assurance. He nodded in agreement.
After saying our goodbye's and heading out of the diner, we moved over to our bikes and prepared to head straight back to the club and garage.
I reached for my helmet and keys, but stopped as soon as my phone started vibrating inside my pocket. "Motherfuck." I reached inside my pants to yank it out and when I saw another unrecognizable number, I shook my head and grit my teeth. Then I flipped it open and answered with reluctance. "Yeah?" There was nothing but hard and heavy breathing just before my phone went dead again. "Christ." Listening to anybody but Colette make sounds like that wasn't something I was ever in the mood for, and especially not now. I slammed my phone shut and turned it all the way off, then stuffed it back inside my pocket.
Atom put on his riding gloves and sunglasses, then turned his head to look me in the face. "Another hang up?"
"Yep." I sat down on my bike and jammed the keys into the ignition.
Atom swung a leg over his bike and dropped down on top of the seat. "You don't want to try and call it back this time?" he hollered out after starting up his bike and revving the engine, creating a cloud of black smoke in the air that shot out from the tailpipe.
"Nah!" I hollered back. "Bastard has more than likely ditched it just like all the others after hearing my voice. And I've got no more time to put up with his bullshit after today. We've got some damn good leverage to hold over Lorenzo now, as well as some pricey fuckin' cars to fix back at the club. I don't need him ruining shit that's been going well so far. Whatever the deal is, the shit can wait 'til later."
He bobbed his head and I revved up my own engine, then we took off from the diner and sped back onto the road.
Chapter Twenty
Colette
When the second bell signaling the end of the day finally sounded, each of my students quickly gathered their things from on top of and inside their desks, stuffed them into their backpacks and began lining up at the door.
"Okay, now remember to finish up the last parts of your coloring books tonight, guys," I said, standing up from my desk and moving around to the front. "The book fair is just three days away and I want to make sure that everyone has a chance to have their work put on display for the school and your parents." Abigail leaned to the side and raised her hand. "Yes, Abby?" I asked her.
"My daddy said he might not be able to come -- is he still going to be able to see it?" She twirled her hair around her finger as her big blue eyes stared up at me with hope.
I sucked in a deep breath and swallowed hard, knowing exactly where her father had planned to be that day instead; with my husband and his MC at the trash joint they called a strip club. "Well..." I started. Then I stopped to smile at her and nodded. "As soon as the fair is over, you'll be able to take your work home and he'll be able to see it." She smiled wide and jumped back in line. Just then Avida appeared in my doorway, waving at me with a giant smile on her face and ready for the kids. I waved back and nodded to acknowledge her. "Alright, guys." I bent forward and pressed my hands together, scanning my eyes across every tiny face standing in front of me. "Are there any more questions for me before Ms. Avida takes you outside to your parents?" Each student shook their heads, some until their hair went flying around their faces. I laughed. "Okay, then you all have a good afternoon. I can't believe that I'm not keeping any of you afterschool today and I'll miss having the help to clean up, but I'll see you in the morning."
"BYE MISS COLEMAN!" They all waved their hands and spoke in unison just before Avida walked them out of my classroom and down the hall.
Once alone, I sighed and pushed myself up from the desk, then moved around the room and began picking up toys and books, placing them all in their proper areas, chests and cubbies.
"Yo." I turned to the door upon hearing Checkers' deep voice. He dipped his head inside first, making sure all my students were gone, then stepped all the way in.
"I'll be just a minute," I told him.
"It's cool." He dropped his hands inside the pockets of his pants and shuffled around the room before stopping in front of my desk and leaning back against it.
"You know, if you want to be productive before heading out, you can help me out by wiping down the whiteboard."
He glanced over his shoulder to look at it, then turned back to me and said, "Darlin', I've been on my feet all goddamn day."
I turned on my heels to look him straight in the face, then folded my arms over my chest and frowned. "So have I."
"Yeah, but you get to teach little kids all day and sit down sometimes -- that shit seems like a blast. I'm helping to clean up toilets and vomit and mop floors that don't ever look like they're getting clean no matter how much of that shine shit I'm supposed to be using for them."
I rattled my head and spun away from him to continue picking up more toys and books. After Roman assigned him to keep an eye on me up here, I had helped to score him a job as the helper to the main janitor of the school so that he wouldn't be sitting inside my classroom all day, coloring with the children, and instantly pegged as someone who shouldn't be hanging around; his sleeves of tats and purple and white mohawk gave the parents pause but the students loved every bit of it.
"I asked if you wanted to work in the kitchen first and you kept saying no," I told him.
"I wasn't wearing one of those stupid assed bonnets over this thing." He pointed at his head. "Besides, at least if I'm doing this janitorial shit, I'm able to keep a better eye on you."
"And I'm sure having a little extra money doesn't hurt either."
"It doesn't." He laughed. "Extra green is always good to have in my pocket. Shit, maybe I'll spend it on something or somebody else tonight when we go out to the bar."
"Correction," I told him, "we are going out tonight, the girls. You're just coming along to check out the scenery."
After I finished cleaning the room and straightening up my desk for tomorrow morning, Checkers walked me out to my car, then hopped on his bike to follow me home. Once I pulled into the driveway and cut my engine, he parked right beside me and shut off his bike.
"Um, can you do me a favor and wait out here for me until I'm ready to go?" I gra
bbed my purse, hopped out of my car and slammed the door shut. He grimaced and squinted as the sun hovered over his face, bringing out the natural hazel color of his eyes. "I just need to take a shower and want to get ready in private, that's all."
"Sure, darlin'. But I wanna check out the place first as usual."
"Okay."
As we headed up to the porch, I grabbed onto my house key and unlocked the door. He drew his gun from his holster and stepped inside first, then moved around to every room of the house, making sure everything was just as intact as it had been this morning before we left. Once finished, he came back into the living room and nodded. "It's still clean."
"Good. Now, I shouldn't be too long in getting ready, especially since we're going straight from here to Perla's to meet up with everyone else."
"It's all good, darlin', you can take your time. I'll head out to have a smoke and call Rome to let him know that everything's still all good around here."
"Thanks."
When he headed back outside, I shut the door and locked it, then walked back into the bedroom, took my hair down and shook it out, and started removing my clothes. I turned on the warm water for a quick shower and once it was ready, I stepped inside, allowing every drop to pour over me as if I were standing beneath a giant waterfall. Normally I hated getting my hair even a little bit wet because of the time it often took to untangle my curls, but lately it seemed that being wet was all my body knew anymore.
I grabbed the bottle of soap to lather up my arms, breasts, stomach and legs, then quickly washed my face and all the more important areas before the water turned cold. After, I rinsed off and stepped out, snatching a fresh towel from the hook on the back of the door and wrapping it around myself before moving into the bedroom.
When I opened the door, I jumped back, startled. Jeremiah was sitting on the edge of the bed, hunched over with this elbows on his knees, his eyes facing the floor and a gun inside both hands with his index finger wrapped around the trigger.
Holy shit.
I tried to calm my breathing as it had suddenly picked up in speed and almost wanted to ease back into the bathroom and lock the door until he slowly turned his head and looked over at me. His eyes were bloodshot red; the normally blue color of his irises looked dark green for some reason and his normally translucent skin, which used to be one of the best parts about him aside from the chestnut curls of his hair, which was now completely gone from his head (though he had started sporting a terrible, unkempt beard that almost looked glued on, as well as a janky mustache), looked red, blotchy and splashed in certain places on his arms and face with either dirt or dried remnants of human feces. I wasn't sure and was too afraid of finding out but either way, it was clear the man hadn't bathed or slept in the last week and a half since taking off.