To be fair, most of his time was split between the club's various enterprises. The clubhouse was their main locale, located just outside of the city. Beyond that, they had the bar near the university, their presentable face to the community, the legal business that fronted the assorted illegal ones they had going on behind the scenes. While Thian stopped there regularly, he tried to remain as inconspicuous as possible. No one needed his bad attitude fucking shit up for the clientele.
They ran guns. Drugs. A chop shop. Did some mercenary business on the side. Occasionally, they were hired out as private security from desperate people who didn't much give a damn how the job got done, so long as it was done. Those were his favorites... no paper trail, no compromise. Once you came to them, you knew you had no other choices and had lost the right to bargain about how things went down.
The one thing they refused to participate in was anything that harmed women or children. For a 1 percenter club, they still had their morals, unscrupulous as they were.
Thian was kept busy, running between the businesses, and sent out on private assignments more often than not. Keeping shit contained when possible, handling loose ends when necessary. He didn't tolerate loose ends.
When it came to his family, he had no qualms about blood. You fucked with the club, it was the last mistake you made. His uncle may think loyalty could be bought and sold, but here in Dark Leopards, loyalty was the one thing they had that they could count on no matter what. Anyone who couldn't get with the program got the fuck out. Whether they were on their own two feet or in a box was entirely up to them.
Tomorrow, they were having a meeting. Knox had forewarned him that he may be heading out on another private job. After he'd left his parent's place, he made the drive to Kalamazoo, stopping at the small apartment he kept for appearances to grab the packed bag he kept ready to go before heading to the clubhouse. Same shit, different day.
Chapter Three
The clubhouse was large and open, with three stories. The second floor was their den, basically. Overstuffed leather couches, pool tables, dart boards, all were haphazardly stashed around the place. In the left corner, the entire wall was taken up by an oak bar, bottles lining the wall behind it. One of the club whores tended bar at the bar they ran, so she'd taught some of the others how to serve up drinks here, keeping them supplied in beer and liquor.
Off of the main room was a smaller one, filled with chairs and a table up front. That was where meetings were held, closed off to any visitors or prospects. Once the door was shut, all camaraderie and joking stopped, they were there for official business. Knox didn't call meetings unless there was something important to discuss, so this room was sacred.
The third floor consisted of bedrooms for the members that chose to stay at the clubhouse permanently, as well as extra rooms for those who simply needed a place to crash occasionally. The entire first floor was taken over by a makeshift garage throughout most of it, assorted bikes and gear everywhere. One side featured a kitchenette, used for holidays and family meals. They didn't cook much themselves, but it did come in handy every once in a while, so they'd left it there instead of ripping it out. The girls liked it, at least.
Tossing his bag on one of the open couches, he ignored the two women losing clothing on another, heading to the meeting room. Normally, he'd stop and pay more attention to the show, but due to the drive, he already knew he'd be the last one in. The others were likely waiting on him already. Damn shame, that. He hated making his brothers wait on him.
Pushing open the door, he headed inside, carefully closing it behind him. As he'd suspected, everyone else was already there. Thankfully, they'd known where he was headed today, so his lateness was excused, along with murmurs of understanding from a few of them. They knew he'd been estranged and preferred it that way. He only went back home when he'd been summoned to make appearances, for whatever perverse reason that served.
Taking his seat, he stretched his legs out, turning his attention towards Knox, Snow, and Gray, who stood up front. All looked unusually serious, which boded well for no one. Especially as he'd already been warned he may be going off by himself. Shit.
Once the meeting was called to order, they'd learned about events they'd heard whispers of, and finally connected. Snow's sister had been kidnapped a bit ago, which had thrown the club into a goddamn tailspin as they worked to help one of their own. Soon after, Gray had found his mate. Unfortunately, she'd been being targeted by shifters that had been stalking her. The scents in both cases were the same.
They were dealing with a rogue pack. It couldn't be allowed to continue. Rogues were dangerous to everyone, especially them. They didn't care if humans found out about their kind, their bloodlust knew no rationality. They had been known to attack both shifter and human alike, even turning humans against their will if one scented a potential mate.
They went against everything the MC stood for. Knowing they were involved in the kidnapping and stalking of women left them uneasy. They weren't doing this for no reason. There was something larger at play, but what?
Turned out, that was Thian's job. While the others tracked the pack through the city and waterways, Thian was set to take on a private security assignment they'd been asked to handle. The Mayor was concerned that, with the recent disappearances of women from the university, people were getting restless. A large charity event was coming up, and he wanted to ensure he and his daughter would be safe, by any means necessary. Thian thought hiring him for a charity event was fucking overkill, but hey, money was money.
There was no way this shit was going on under the Mayor's nose without him being at least somewhat aware of it, if not directly enabling it somehow. Some of his recent decisions regarding watercraft on the lakes, relaxing standards for certain things... they took on a darker cast when looked at through the lens of his possible involvement with the rogue pack targeting young women in the area.
On paper, Thian was there to provide security. Behind the scenes, he was to search for any intel he could find on the Mayor and his activities, reporting it back to the club. If the asshole turned up clean, great. If he didn't, they'd handle that particular problem when they came to it. Either way, Thian was going to be playing a glorified bodyguard, at least until this fucking event was over. Fuck.
Before he even went to meet the client, he and Snow did recon. They needed to know where he'd be, in case he failed to check in or needed them to arrive quickly. As they rode in, he began to realize this job was going to be much harder than he'd thought. When looking the address up online, it hadn't shown him just how far away it was from anything else. Situated in the middle of a small development, it was surrounded by woods. Strike one- easy access for shifters.
Once they'd pulled off and shifted, they'd raced through the property line, senses alert as they explored. The thirty acres the house sat on was mostly forested, with the area directly around the house and road cleared. Strike 2- the place had too many goddamn windows. Huge picture windows seemed to be the centerpiece of every fucking room. No curtains, no blinds. Simply open to the elements, and everyone else who happened to be looking in, whether for nefarious purposes or not.
Strike 3? Upon further sniffing, they'd realized the lone barn sitting away from the main house was actually a pool house, with an indoor pool. It was far enough away that if someone happened to go swimming, they could be snatched on their way there or back, and no one from the main house would be able to hear the screams. He couldn't imagine why something bad hadn't happened yet.
“This place is a fucking security nightmare.”
Snow chuffed softly, amber eyes glancing over the area once more before he shifted, clapping Thian on the back once he'd returned to human form as well. He looked relieved that he hadn't caught this one. Thian could understand the feeling.
“I'll tell Knox to up the quote, if you want. Mayor didn't tell us this place was a damn landmine of security holes. You're gonna have your work cut out for ya, kid. Don't envy y
ou a bit. Gather what information you can, we'll handle the rest. And Thian? Don't kill the client.”
He snorted. He wasn't making any fucking promises. If he learned the asshole was behind the women being stalked and hurt, his cat may not listen to reason. Unlike the others, who had known of their shifting abilities longer, Thian was still somewhat new to his.
Since he didn't talk to his cat, he couldn't reason with him about this being a job. He had feelings and sensations... he could sense when the cat was aggravated or restless. When he'd put off shifting too long and the cat was going to force the issue. It felt like he was crawling out of his skin sometimes, feeling emotions that didn't quite belong to him.
If the cat didn't like the Mayor, Thian wasn't entirely sure he'd be able to hold it at bay if they discovered damning evidence. Making his way back to his bike, he turned it around, starting the drive back to the entrance to the property. Once there, he slung his bag over his shoulder, heading up the stairs. While walking, he was mentally taking note of potential spots for ambushes, snipers, and the like.
He hadn't been told what exactly the Mayor feared, so he had to keep his options open. Once he knew more, he could adjust his security plans. Right now? The entire fucking place was a goddamn hazard. Ringing the bell, he scowled as a harried looking older women opened the door, glancing at him dismissively at first. Once he'd reiterated for the fourth time who the hell he was, she finally let him inside.
The home was spacious, natural light pouring in from the windows. The hardwood floors gleamed, the white plush area rugs scattered in various places were spotless. He felt like his very presence was getting dirt somewhere. The place looked sterile, as if it was just for show and no one actually lived here. He supposed when you had a reputation to uphold, you ensured your home was pristine as well. He couldn't handle that shit. Homes should look lived in. This one looked like a showpiece, meant to impress.
The elderly woman warned him to stay put before she hurried off to alert the homeowner that he had a visitor. Normally, Thian would bristle at being given orders, but frankly, this place was fucking creepy. He was afraid if he stepped wrong, he'd leave a footprint or something, and they'd know right where he'd stepped. It would make gathering intel a bit more trying, but not impossible.
Hearing footsteps on the stairs, he straightened. No matter what his job for the club was, he had to make nice and pretend he was actually here to protect the damn Mayor from whatever the hell he'd gotten himself into. Or whatever he was afraid of, at any rate. That meant wiping his usual scowl off his face and attempting to look less intimidating, at least for the first meeting. After that? He was doing security, it was his damn job to look scary as hell.
Within seconds, the Mayor rounded the corner. Short, slightly balding, with a bit of a potbelly, he wasn't exactly a prime specimen. Still, in his tailored slacks and button-up shirt, Thian supposed he looked like what a career politician should look like. You could tell his hair used to be a sandy color, but had grayed at the temples as he lost some thickness. All in all, Thian wasn't very impressed. Accepting the hand held out, Thian gave it a quick shake before releasing it.
Chapter Four
Introductions were quickly made before they retreated to the office, Thian relaxing into the chair offered to him. The Mayor reclined in his own, steepling his fingers as he perused Thian over them for long moments. Thian met his gaze evenly. If this was meant to make him uncomfortable, it wasn't going to work. He'd dealt with much more imposing figures without blinking. This man didn't inspire fear in the slightest.
“As you're aware, there have been quite a few disappearances lately. Obviously, the press hasn't helped with keeping panic to a minimum, so there's been some incidents that have led me to believe security is temporarily in order. My daughter has a charity ball coming up. It is very important to her that this goes well, I need to know that protection is in place for both of us to keep the event safe.”
“May I ask what incidents? Depending on what type of things have happened, it will change what my job is here, and how I go about setting up my security protocols. Have there been direct threats? If so, what were they? Where is the event being held?”
The Mayor looked uncomfortable as he shuffled some papers on the desk before clearing his throat. “A subset of residents holds me personally responsible for not finding these women, or not doing more to bring the cases to a close. I'm doing what I can, but with open investigations being what they are, the police can't give out enough information to satisfy everyone. Direct threats, yes, there have been.”
“I've had people threaten to break into my home. To kidnap my own daughter so I 'know how it feels'. Multiple people claiming they've got bullets with my name on them. The usual when things like this happen, unfortunately. It's my daughter I'm most worried for. She didn't ask for any of this, and shouldn't have to deal with the fallout from my job.”
Thian rubbed a thumb and index finger over his temple. It was about as bad as he'd expected. With the windows in the place, anyone with a gun would have an easy shot. Kidnapping would be damn easy, too.
“Where's the event taking place?”
“The ball is being held downtown, at Starlight Square. I've been assured that security is top notch there, but they will have their hands full with everyone else at the event, and can't be everywhere. My daughter is the honored guest for the night, due to her contributions over the past few years. She'll be exposed, and I need to know she'll be safe.”
This was just getting better and better. Starlight Square was near the campus. So far, most of the missing had come from the university. If this was a big event honoring the Mayor's daughter, he had no doubt protesters would be out in full, especially so close to where the crimes had happened. Providing security for the two of them would be difficult, if not impossible. Thankfully, they always got paid up-front, so at least he didn't have to worry about funds being withheld.
Leaning back in the chair, he eyed the male before him. This wasn't the whole story. The Dark Leopards had made a name for themselves in this city. When they were called in, it was pretty much a kill or be killed point. You knew it was you or the person targeting you that had to go, and you wanted it to end in your favor. Random threats from others didn't warrant their presence.
Thian didn't trust him as far as he could fucking throw him, but he had to keep up pretenses. The Mayor had to believe that the Club had sent Thian to protect him and his daughter due to these random 'threats' he'd been receiving. He may not be admitting why exactly he was getting those threats and why he was really so scared, but Thian would find out.
“Alright. First thing? You need to get some people in here to get some of these goddamn windows covered up. I don't care if it's curtains, blinds, or fucking cardboard at this point. If someone's already threatened to shoot you, giving them a clear sight-line from the trees is the first thing that's gotta be rectified. Your land is set back so far and surrounded by woods, anyone could get in without us knowing.”
The Mayor pursed his lips like he was about to argue, before his shoulders slumped and he scribbled something down on a fresh sheet of paper on the desk. Once he said it'd be handled in the morning, Thian brought up his second area of concern, expecting more of a fight.
“The pool is off-limits for now, unescorted. It's too far from the house. Anyone could drag one of you into the tree line and no one from the house would hear you scream. If someone's going swimming, I need to be with them, period.”
On that, at least, he seemed to agree without complaint, surprisingly. Probably more for his daughter. Thian still needed to figure out what the fuck to do about the ball, but he'd tackle one security risk at a time. The house came first.
Of course, the shifters could still get close, but his cat should be able to scent them on the wind before they showed themselves. Tonight, he'd do some recon, see if he could smell any shifters in the areas where he and Snow hadn't run earlier. Even if the trails were old, he'd know if an
y had visited the property itself recently.
“I'm gonna require a room, and a place to park my bike out of sight. For now, we're gonna want to keep my presence as quiet as possible. The less the people targeting you know about your daily routine and household make-up, the better. The windows being covered will help.”
Laying in bed later that night, he attempted to rest, but was supremely uncomfortable. The bed was too damn soft, the room too damn clean. Thankfully, it at least had its own attached bathroom, so he didn't have to creep through the house to use one shared by the others. He could hide away at night, when the cat was most aggravated, and not risk running into anyone he'd have to explain shit to.
Waiting until the house quieted, he shoved the covers off, pulling back on his shirt and jacket. He'd left his pants on, knowing he'd be getting up as soon as it was safe. Lacing up his boots, he crept to the French doors, scoffing at the impracticality of it for security once more. Still, it'd suit his purposes for tonight. Tucking the small key onto the silver chain he wore around his neck, he closed the doors behind him, stepping into the cool night air.
The shift from man to cat wasn't as painful as it had been the first time, but it wasn't entirely pleasant either. You could hear your bones cracking and joints popping as they reformed, feel your skeleton elongating into the sleek feline form. The more you fought it, the more it hurt. If you could simply relax and let the change happen, it went faster and hurt a lot less. Thian had learned that well after his first few times. They'd been... unpleasant.
After a few times, you learned to anticipate the change, to feel the surge of the cat as he burst forth. You could teach yourself to reflexively relax. Well, go limp, really. There was no relaxing when you were shifting. If you were limp enough, things snapped into place much easier, with a lot less pain. Kind of like falling from a good height... the less you tensed, the less damage it did.
Wayward Son (The Wayward Trilogy Book 1) Page 2