by K. J. Dahlen
“Are you willing to possibly lose the item in question for all time then? Or shall we make a deal?”
“What kind of deal?” Leon frowned.
“I want three days with her. Three days without her father or the Sin’s Bastards coming after us. They will not find us anyway, but I don’t want them to interfere with my work. If I have to worry about them coming after me, I might make a mistake and hurt her and I really don’t want to have to hurt her. Do you get what I’m saying?”
“Yes, I get what you’re saying.” Leon growled. “I don’t know if Calico will agree to the three days or not, but I will try.”
“I think you’ll do more than try, Mr. Vincinti. Convince him that if he ever wants to see her again, he’ll give me the three days. If they come after her before then, I’ll keep her and they will never find her.”
Leon’s lips pressed together in rage. “You don’t have to hurt her. She is innocent of the mess Max was into.”
“Then keep her father and the others away. Three days is more than enough time for me to get what we need from her.”
Leon waited as the line went dead. He wanted to throw the phone at the wall and watch it smash to pieces but he couldn’t do that. Instead, he slowly closed it and laid it on the table. Turning his head, he saw the members of Sawyer’s family.
Calico had his arms around Jolene who was crying and Jordan was sitting beside them looking like he’d lost his best friend. In a way, he had.
Leon knew Jordan and Sawyer were close. They were all the other had when they thought Jolene was gone. Now she was missing as well. Taken by a man that was more myth than real to them. Leon couldn’t be sure this Priest wouldn’t hurt her but he said he wouldn’t. He turned around and saw Deke watching him carefully. Leon got up and joined Deke at another table. “You need to call your men back. Stop the search.”
“Why?” Deke asked.
Sam and Gator came over. They stood behind Deke and listened the exchange carefully.
Leon stared at Deke and ignored the others. “The Priest just called me and told me he has Sawyer.”
They all heard Jolene gasp behind them. Then they heard a chair scrape the floor and footsteps approaching. Leon didn’t bother to turn and look as he felt Calico, Jolene and Jordan join them. He stared at Deke and gave them the Priest’s message, “He wants three days with her. He promised he wouldn’t hurt her if we gave him that much time. He also said if he found out he was being hunted by Calico or any of your men, he would take her and disappear and we would never find either of them again.”
“Do you think he’ll keep his word?” Jordan asked with clenched fists. “That if we give him the three days, he won’t hurt her?”
Leon slowly turned his head and stared at the young boy. “Yes, I believe his word. He has no reason to lie to the Family. After all, he holds all the cards and did not have to call us at all.”
Jordan studied the older man for a moment then turned to Sawyer’s father. “Give him the three days. If we want Sawyer back, give him the three days.”
“And if he doesn’t keep his word?” Calico growled.
Jordan shrugged as the fire in his eyes flashed. “Then we hunt the fucker down and kill him.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
When Carla Benson drove down the dirt road with her daughter, she was more than a little apprehensive. She had come here to bring her brother news of their father but he might not want to hear what she had to say.
Looking over at her daughter, Caitlyn she knew she had to try to connect with her brother. It was all about family. Taking a deep breath, she gripped the steering wheel a little tighter and her foot pressed down on the gas pedal.
When they came to the gate, a man in a leather vest stopped the car and leaned into the window. “Ladies, I’m sorry but this is private property. I think you need to turn around and find your way back to town.”
Carla took a deep breath and let it out then stated her purpose, “I’m looking for Sam Tory. I was told he would be here.”
The man stared at her for a moment, then nodded. “Yeah, Bones is here. Does he know you’re looking for him?”
Carla shook her head. “No but I do need to see him.”
“Wait here.” He stepped away from the car, went to the gate and dialed a number on his phone. After speaking to someone for a moment, he looked back at the car and nodded. Then he stepped back over to the car and squatted down beside the driver’s side. “Sam is at the clubhouse. He said he would talk to you for a moment but he’s not in the mood for bullshit.” He motioned toward the parking lot. “Park anywhere but leave everything in your car, including your purse. There will be someone at the front door to escort you to Sam.”
Carla pulled her car into the lot and parked it. Seemed like a lot of security and fuss for an MC. As she unbuckled her seatbelt, she glanced over at her daughter.
Ten year old, Caitlyn smiled at her.
“Am I doing the right thing?” she asked her.
“I think so,” Caitlyn replied. “Even if he doesn’t want to hear it, he needs to know.”
“You know there are hard feelings between them. Sam might hate his father for a very good reason and he might not want to know me and you at all.”
Caitlyn shrugged. “You’ll never know if you don’t try. Granddad needs this and so does Sam, whether he admits it or not. You know after you found the letter that is was the right thing to do.”
Carla nodded. “Like you said, we have to try but we’ll more than likely get tossed out on our rears.”
They both got out of the car and hand in hand walked to the front door of the clubhouse.
Another man wearing a leather vest, proclaiming him as a member of the Sin’s Bastards MC, met them. “I’m Wiley. What is your name and who are you here to see?”
“I’m Carla Benson and this is my daughter Caitlyn. We’re here to see Sam Tory.”
“Bones is inside, follow me.” Wiley turned and led the way into the clubhouse. He took them both to a side room leaving them while he went to search for Sam.
A moment later two men entered the room.
Carla caught her breath. Sam hadn’t changed much over the years, except to grow older. He remained as she remembered. Tall, lean but built well. His dark hair was beginning to go grey but his face was the same as it had been when he was younger. She turned a bit to look at the other man and frowned. He looked enough like Sam to be his brother but she knew he wasn’t. Sam’s only brother Benny died a long time ago.
Sam stared at her for a moment. “You wanted to see me?”
“I did.” Carla was suddenly nervous. Wringing her hands together, she began to pace. Now that she was here with him, she wasn’t sure this was such a good idea.
The younger man with him glanced over at the little girl. Leaning closer to Sam, he whispered, “Is this another kid you forgot to tell us about?”
~* * * *~
Sam frowned and searched the little girl’s face. He saw the same resemblance Deke had but then he looked at her mother. He didn’t know this woman but she did remind him of someone, he just couldn’t think of who. “No, I don’t think so.”
“Excuse me but who the hell are you and what do you want of my father?” Deke finally asked.
“Sam is your dad?” the woman asked.
“He is,” Deke answered.
She nodded. Taking a deep breath, she looked at Sam and blurted out, “You may not want to know this but we have something in common.”
Sam crossed his huge arms over his chest and glared at her, his skull tatt on his forearm showing under the lights off the room. “And just what would that be?”
“Nicholas Tory,” Carla whispered.
Sam halted for a long moment then he looked enraged. He stalked over toward her until she was up against the wall then he stepped in front of her. His hand wrapped around her throat.
It all happened so fast, Deke and the little girl didn’t have a chance to move until it was too late.
Sam’s fingers tightened on her throat. “Don’t you ever mention that asshole’s name again, in my presence. If you came here to claim the girl is his kid, it won’t fly. I don’t give a shit about you or her. I suggest you leave now, while I’m still giving you a choice.”
Deke wrapped his arms around his father shoulders attempting to pull him off
“Let my mother go you butthead!” The little girl attempted to aid her mother as she screamed at Sam and tried to pull his hands away from her mother’s throat. “Let her go, nutcase!”
Sam ignored both the girl and his son, instead he stared at the woman in front of him. He then let her go and stumbled back a step. “Who the hell are you lady?”
Grabbing her neck, she stated, “My name is Carla Benson and Nicholas Tory is my father. I’m your sister, Carla—Sam.”
“The fuck you are!” Sam growled. “I only ever had a brother and he died a long time ago.”
Carla shook her head “We had different mothers, but we shared the same father.”
Sam ran his fingers through his long hair as he stepped away from both Carla and the little girl. He was muttering under his breath but he wouldn’t look at her.
Deke stepped forward and searched Carla’s face. “Are you okay? He didn’t hurt you, did he?”
Carla glanced over at Deke and shook her head. “No he didn’t hurt me. I expected some anger but I had to tell him.”
Sam snapped his head around and glared at her. “Why? Why did you have to tell me you were my sister? Why did you have to bring me this news?” He stalked over to stand in front of her. “What the hell do you want? Money?” He laughed. “Honey, I don’t have any money. So if that’s what you’re after, you came to the wrong place.”
Carla shook her head. “I didn’t come here for money. I came here to meet my brother.”
Sam’s gaze narrowed as he glared at her. “I’m not your brother, sweetheart.”
“Tell him the rest Mom, so we can get the hell out of here,” the little girl swore as she glared at Sam and Deke. “I don’t like him. He sucks.”
Deke chuckled softly.
Sam turned to glare at him. Turning back to the young girl, he spat, “I do not suck young lady and watch your mouth.”
She glared back and crossed her arms across her chest. “Make me, Uncle Sam.”
Sam’s lips narrowed and his glare was flinty. “I am not your uncle, little girl.”
She snorted. “Oh yes you are, whether you want to be or not. Grandpa looks enough like you to be your dad and he…” She jerked her thumb toward Deke. “…reminds me of pictures of Grandpa when he was a lot younger.” She stuck her tongue out at Sam. “So there, you big bully.”
Sam inhaled deeply and exhaled. He turned to Carla. “What the hell did you come here to say? Tell me, so I can boot your dumb ass out of here.”
“I only wanted you to know we existed,” Carla explained. “Dad wanted us to know you. I’ve always known about you and Benny, but you never knew about me. Dad wanted to see you one more time before he died. He wants to know if you can ever forgive him for the past.”
“Fuck you and fuck that old man,” Sam replied. He didn’t scream and he didn’t yell. His voice was flat and his words were hard.
Deke knew his tone but Carla didn’t.
Sam turned and walked toward the door. Before he went through it, he turned and stared at Carla. “Don’t come back here, don’t call me or send a letter. You are not my sister and I don’t give a damn about Nick Tory. He stopped being my old man the night Benny died. I thought he was dead all these years too, and I was fine with that.” Then he went through the door and slammed it behind him.
~* * * *~
Carla jumped when the door boomed and tears began rolling down her face. She knew her daughter’s arm wrapped around her shoulders but she couldn’t feel it. She couldn’t feel anything. She hadn’t known Sam would be so cruel. This reunion hadn’t happened the way she’d always envisioned it would and right now, she felt lost. She had come here to find her brother and maybe bring him home to see their father. Nick wasn’t well. She had failed and she could feel her heart breaking into tiny pieces. She curled into her daughter’s embrace and let the tears fall.
Caitlyn rocked her mother and just let her cry.
Deke watched them for a moment, then motioned toward the sofa. “Why don’t you sit down and tell me your story,” he said quietly.
Caitlyn glared at him. “It isn’t a story asshat, it’s the truth.”
~* * * *~
Deke ran his fingers through his hair and shook his head. “Sam has a lot of demons in his past. His brother’s death is one of the bigger ones. His parents are another one.”
Carla nodded. “I can understand that. I’ve met his mother a time or two. She was not a nice person. I can only imagine what growing up with her would be like.”
Deke sat down on the other end of the sofa and stared at her for a moment. “So you really are Sam’s sister?”
Carla smiled. “Yeah, I really am Sam’s sister.” She laughed slightly. “I’ve known all my life that Sam Tory was my brother but he never knew about me. I would watch him and Benny but I could never say anything about being related. I used to see them walking down the streets of Quincy and I so wanted to just go up to them and tell them my secret but I couldn’t. I had to keep the secret of who and what I was. Sam’s mother had spies all over that town. She was an evil bitch all the way.”
Deke frowned. “Where did you grow up?”
“My mom and I were in a little town called Randolph, about nine miles away from Quincy. We were never supposed to come see Nick or Sam or Benny.”
“Why not?”
“It wasn’t safe. Sam’s mom was crazy and it wasn’t in any way considered good. She didn’t care about anybody but her. She used drugs and ran with an unsavory group of thugs. Nick told us once that he was worried if she found out about me, she would hurt me or my mom. He told us she didn’t want him but she wouldn’t let anyone else have him either.”
“Sam told me once that he took care of Benny, that his parents never gave a damn about either of them,” Deke told her.
Carla shook her head. “That might have been true about their mother but Nick cared. He just couldn’t show it or she would have turned it against him. Yeah, he drank, probably more than he should have but he never did drugs. He did the best he could for his sons but she wouldn’t let him do much.” Shrugging she continued, “Nick once told me that not being able to show the boys that he loved them was the hardest thing he ever did.” She gazed at Deke. “And he did love them.”
Deke snorted. “He doesn’t sound like much of a man if he let his woman rule him.”
Carla shook her head. “You just don’t understand. She was vindictive and used threats to get her way. Threats she usually made good on. And it wasn’t only her ruling that household. It was the thugs she ran with and she would get them to beat up or hurt anyone she wished. They truly were outlaws. The only reason Nick allowed them to come and go when they wanted is the fact they threatened Sam and Benny’s lives. Nick was caught in the crossfire. Estelle, Sam’s mother was hooked up with the leader of this group and he told her he wouldn’t let her go. The night Benny died he was the one Benny was going to shoot. He was the one who shot and killed Sam’s brother and he was the one Sam killed.”
“What ever happened to Sam’s mother?” Deke asked.
“Estelle died the same night as Benny. The brother of the man Sam killed, murdered her the same way his brother died. He told her that she had to pay for his brother’s blood spilling. After Sam left town, Nick buried his young son and then he left Quincy too. He came over to Randolph and moved in with me and my mom.”
“Does Sam know any of this?” Deke asked.
Carla shook her head. “When Sam left town that night, he never looked back. Nick never heard from him again.”
Deke stared at her for a moment then asked, “Why do I hear a ‘but’
in there somewhere?”
Carla shrugged. “But Nick kept track of Sam all these years. He has watched over him since the night Sam left Quincy. He still had friends in the clubs. He might not have seen his son but he kept track of him all the same.”
“Did Sam ever know his dad was looking after him?”
Carla shrugged. “I doubt it. If he did, I think he would have put a stop to it a long time ago, judging by his reaction just now. Nick had no illusions where Sam was concerned.”
Deke sighed. “So why make contact now? I mean it’s been a long time.”
Carla began worrying her hands. “Nick is getting old. He wants to have the chance to make peace with his son before he dies. He doesn’t know I’m here either.” She looked up at Deke and grinned. “You Tory men can be stubborn bastards when you think you’re right all the time, you know?”
Deke snorted. “Yeah, you got that right. Sam was always a bastard when it came to these kind of things.”
Carla shook her head. “No, he wasn’t always mean, not from what I saw when I was young. I think that happened the night he watched his brother die right there in front of him. It changed the man he became. He really loved Benny, even I could see that and I didn’t get to see either of them very much.”
“Then how do you know he loved his brother?” Deke raised a brow at her.
Carla looked up at him and her eyes were sad. “My Dad told me. He said when Sam brought Benny home that night, he carried him in the house and laid him carefully on the couch. He said he knelt down next to his brother’s body and prayed over Benny. He told the boy how much he cared about him and that from that day on, he would always hold a special place in his heart. Dad said it broke his own heart to hear the vows Sam took that night.”
Deke had wondered all these years about what happened to Bones back then, now he was finally hearing it.
Taking a deep breath, she went on with her story in a rush of expelled air, “Sam told Dad, ‘He deserved more than he ever got with you as his father but I expect you to be there for him now. Take care of the funeral and bury him under a tree on top of a hill. If I ever came back and find him anywhere but there, I’ll hunt you down and fucking kill you.’ ” Carla shuddered. “Dad buried him on top of a hill under a tree just like Sam said.”