by Lynn Burke
Claiming. I held in my snort.
She listened a few seconds before hanging up without a goodbye.
“He’ll be right with you,” she said. “Please have a seat.”
“Thank you.” Rather than sit, I moved back a few feet and remained standing. It took Deputy Jenko a full fifteen minutes to make it to the reception area, but I didn’t fidget a single time.
“Ms. Bodnar?”
“Yes.” I held out my hand.
He ignored the greeting, the skin between his eyebrows furrowed. Anger glinted in his brown eyes. “You’re here for Jonny Hayes and the rest of his gang members?”
“I represent the Fallen Gliders, a social club that has given thousands to local charities here in town over the past forty years.”
Lips pursed, he tipped his head toward the door he’d come though. “This way.”
Chin lifted, I followed. “What are my clients being charged with?” I asked once the door to the reception area clicked shut behind us.
“We have witness statements that gave us probable cause of illegal drugs to request warrants.”
“Have formal charges been brought against any of my clients?”
“Not yet.” He cut his words off, but he implied they would be.
Statements, as in more than one. Capone had informed me about the possible rat, but had the driver of that north-bound car filled with narcotics spilled the beans?
We stepped into a room, its one-way mirror revealing Jonny cuffed and sitting in front of a metal table. “Considering what these men are,” Jenko said, his disgust all too apparent in his eyes and the downturn of his lips, “we’re holding them here until the search is completed.”
Twenty-four hours until they had to either let the Gliders go or bring charges against them…
I hoped like hell the cops wouldn’t find anything in the club—exactly as Capone had said, but from what he’d told me, I wouldn’t put it past Jenko to plant evidence, either.
Jonny’s dark gaze landed on me as I passed through the door. He glanced behind me, and I straightened my shoulders, ignoring that he probably thought a second attorney—probably male—would be needed.
“Capone sent me,” I said quietly. “I’m assuming you spoke with Mr. Stanton?”
Jonny dipped his head, his face unreadable, a mask of calm.
“Are you willing to let me represent you, or would you prefer a court-appointed attorney?”
“If Capone trusts you, I trust you.”
I sat across from him. “I’m assuming they showed you a copy of the search warrant?”
“Yes.”
“You haven’t been charged with anything, but Deputy Jenko seems to think they’ll find illegal drugs inside the club, and with them having hauled quite a few of the Gliders’ asses in, they must believe there’s enough evidence to convict you all for intent to distribute.”
“They won’t find any drugs inside the club.”
He seemed so sure, so confident, that I rested easier in my chair. “He said there were witness statements that gave them probable cause.”
“Lies. They won’t find a damn thing.”
“Have you told the deputy that?”
“I haven’t said a single word other than to say I wouldn’t speak without my lawyer being present,” he said, “and the other Gliders know to do the same.”
“Good. Deputy Jenko will be in shortly,” I said while pulling a legal pad and pen from my briefcase, “so let me do the talking.”
“Thank you.”
I glanced up to meet his gaze. “Of course.”
Capone
Helina texted me a few times in the next couple of hours, keeping me updated while I sat and stewed in her office. I called Maci then Janie, letting them know what was happening.
Every single Glider had a warrant out for their arrest because of two witnesses, one stating illegal drugs were in the club—a complete lie—and that our intent was to distribute.
The rat and the north-bound driver? Who else other than brothers knew about club business? Like Jonny had said, the club whores didn’t know jack shit.
My cell rang, and when I glanced at the screen, I actually grinned. “Sweetie!”
“Capone.” She half-choked on my name, sitting me upright in Helina’s office chair. “Thank God! Why isn’t Jonny or Hawk answering their phones?”
“Long-ass story, but a handful of the Gliders were arrested and are currently sitting at the police station downtown.”
Her breath caught. “Oh.”
“They showed up late morning with a search warrant.”
“Good Lordy almighty,” she whispered before landing a couple choice curse words—something I’d never heard pass her lips. “That’s why my boys haven’t been answering all day.”
“You okay, Sweetie Jane?”
“N-no.” I frowned, but she continued before I could ask why not. “I think I may have found what those police were after while cleaning early this morning. Jonny didn’t make it in before I had to leave, so I took the box with me. Not about to let my boys get their hands on this stuff.”
“Shit.” I sat back real damn quick. “What’s in the box?”
“Pills. Lots of them. Way more than a single man would be prescribed.”
I cursed a few more times, realizing that someone must have planted the shit, because I’d bet my life none of the Gliders used. “Where’d you find it?”
“Under the sink in one of the third-floor rooms.”
One of the hotel-like rooms outfitted for a quick suck or fuck. I scrubbed a hand down over my face. “Can you do me a favor, Sweetie, and hang on to it until I get in touch with you?”
“I’d rather flush it all down the toilet and torch the bottles and bags in my burn barrel out back.”
“Even better idea.”
She huffed. “Good thing I found it first.”
“You’re not kidding. I’ll give you a call as soon as I know more, Sweetie. Thank you for saving the Gliders’ asses.”
I tossed my phone back onto Helina’s desk after Sweetie hung up, sat back, and pinched the bridge of my nose for at least the tenth time in the previous two hours. Cluster fucked-up bullshit. Digger’s poking around for the rat hadn’t stirred up anything to the surface that I’d heard, and we had no other way of figuring out who spilled club secrets. What we needed to do was set a trap—once the whole warrant bullshit faded.
An incoming text chimed my phone.
Helina: I’m going to be here a while. Since there’s still a warrant out for your arrest, why don’t you head to my place and crash. I’ll be there when I can.
I grinned, my fingers flying over the screen. You’re hiding a man from the law.
Helina: Don’t give a shit since I know you’re never going to be charged.
A chuckle rumbled my chest. Awfully confident.
Helina: That’s my job. Now do what you’re told.
I couldn’t help but reply, Yes, ma’am.
I needed to tell her about Sweetie’s news, but wasn’t about to spill secrets over the line—just in case.
****
Four hours later, the squeak of Helina’s bedroom door woke me up. I’d slept like a dead man, burrowed in pillows and blankets that smelled like her spicy perfume. Talk about fucking arousing … surrounded by everything Helilna—except the woman herself. Not jerking off had been one of the toughest temptations I’d dealt with. Ever.
Exhaustion had eventually won out around one.
The overhead light flicked on, and I blinked against the light, trying to focus on the beauty approaching the bed. She kicked off her shoes and collapsed beside me, face down.
“You okay?” I asked, rolling and sliding an arm beneath my pillow.
“So damn tired.”
“Why don’t you get out of those clothes and burrow under here with me? I give one mean backrub.”
Helina made a grunted noise of agreement and tugged off her clothes without standing. White lace
bra. Thong panties. A flick of her fingers freed her lush breasts, but she collapsed onto the mattress before I thought to reach for them.
My cock swelled to attention with my groan, and I sat up, my fingertips trailing over the tanned, smooth skin of her back.
“Jenko’s men still haven’t found anything,” she murmured, her cheeks smooshed on the pillow.
I pressed my thumbs into the muscles of her lower back and rubbed in a circle. “They won’t because Sweetie found it this morning.”
Helina stiffened beneath me. “What?”
“Sweetie Jane—our cleaning lady. She found a box of narcotics in one of the rooms above the club.”
“Does she still have it?”
“She told me she was going to flush them down the toilet and burn the containers.”
A heavy breath blew between her lips as Helina sank back onto the mattress. “Who’d they belong to?”
“None of my brothers, I’d bet my life on that fact.”
She moaned as I moved my hands upward, welling a drop of pre-cum on the tip of my dick. “You think that’s the evidence Jenko spoke of?”
“The very evidence the rat planted before calling him, yes.” I didn’t hesitate to answer.
“Someone really wants to take you guys down, huh?”
I considered her question for a few seconds while working the muscles along her spine. Satiny skin… I breathed deep, inhaling her spicy scent deep into my lungs. “It would seem so. Once the boys are released, we’re going to have to figure out a way to flush this rat from the club.”
“They’ll be out soon. I only left because I couldn’t keep my eyes open and Jonny insisted I come home.”
I continued working the muscles of her back until she grew lax, her breathing heavy—unlike mine, hers came from slumber.
Swollen and dripping, my cock demanded attention. A voyeur through and through, I lay on my back and palmed my dick while watching her sleep. I didn’t even give a fuck if she woke up and called me a creepy fucker—I jerked myself to thoughts of my cock sliding between her parted lips, burying myself balls deep between her creamy thighs, and memories of her gasps and cries while coming.
With a grunt, I shot my spunk over my contracted abs and chest, spurts of white roping over my skin. Release, but far as fuck from the satisfaction of sharing the release with her.
Helina didn’t stir.
My phone dinged, pulling me from deep sleep a few hours later. Somehow, Helina and I had ended up tangled together, her top sheet wrapping us up like a cocoon.
I worked an arm free and grabbed my cell off the bed stand.
Jonny: We’re out. Get to the club.
A quick reply of a simple “K”, and I glanced back at sleeping beauty to find her eyes blinking open. More green than brown, her catlike eyes focused on me.
I pressed my lips to her forehead as my semi-morning wood took note of her lace panties rubbing against my length. With a groan, I pulled back, fighting to untangle myself from the sheet. “I have to get to the club.”
“They were released?” she asked, rolling to her back.
“Yeah.”
I yanked on my clothes I’d left on the floor, taking note of the pre-dawn darkness around her blinds. Running a hand through my hair, I turned to find her studying me. One knee on the bed, I leaned over her, putting my face in line with hers, but not too close my breath would make her pass out.
“I can’t thank you enough for what you did last night. Agreeing to help my brothers…” I shook my head. “I hope you realize my doing this shows how much I trust in you—in your ability as a lawyer.”
She nodded, still staring up at me, and fuck if I didn’t want to rip off my clothes again and wrap myself around her body.
“I know that it puts you in an awkward position to defend us and our lifestyle you don’t agree with,” I said, forcing thoughts of her softness and warmth from my head. “Thank you.”
She shrugged. “I’m desperate for clients.”
Her honesty struck like a knife to my chest, and I backed off the bed without kissing her like I’d planned on doing. While I hadn’t expected an “I did it for you,” I’d hoped for something similar, something along the lines of revealing she cared about me beyond a mere wham, bam, thank you, sir.
“I gotta go.” I turned and left without another word.
Struggling to deal with the knife in my heart, I dialed Jonny on the way and real vague-like let him know that Sweetie had found and disposed of some shit. He cursed the fact that she might have already destroyed the evidence, but I hadn’t known about one of his secret contacts who could pull and run fingerprints. He growled for me to hurry the fuck up before cutting off the call.
Doubly feeling like shit, I drove the rest of the way in silence, wishing like fuck for a cup of coffee.
The club’s main room was packed when I walked through the door. No music blared from the overhead speakers, simply a din of low voices filling the area.
I stood along the back wall, arms crossed, and nodded at Jonny when his gaze landed on me.
He raised his hand, and everyone quieted. “A few brothers won’t be here for another hour or so, but I’m not waiting.” His dark gaze scanned the room, and even I felt a shiver of fear lick down my spine at the determined glint in his eyes. “For those of you lucky enough to miss out on Jenko’s hospitality overnight, I’ll give you the short and sweet. Someone planted a box of narcotics here in the club and called the police.”
Deadly silence lingered as he, Hawk, and Digger looked over the men, probably waiting for a guilty tell to pass someone’s face. Even though I was a complete innocent, I still shifted as Digger’s gaze swept over me. Had I not known, I never would have thought we’d shared women dozens of times. Cold-hearted bastard seemed ready to rip someone to shreds with the anger in his eyes and the veins and bulge of muscles in his crossed arms.
“Even though I’m tired as shit and pissed to fucking hell and back,” Jonny said a few seconds later, “I’m in a forgiving mood.”
Hawk scowled around the toothpick lodged between his teeth. Digger muttered a few curses.
Jonny ignored Digger and continued to study the unmoving, silent group before him. “If you’re a rat, step forward now, and I’ll end you quickly with a bullet between the eyes.”
I swear I heard a fucking pin drop.
“I find out later it was one of you,” Jonny continued when no one confessed, “and I’ll smile over every scream to pass your fucking lips as the limbs are cut from your body. I’ll feed your chopped off, shriveled dick and heart to the fucking sharks.”
Digger actually grinned, a wildness in his eyes that sent a second shiver through me.
“Take the bullet,” Hawk said, once more scanning the room.
No one stepped forward. No one so much as shifted—both those standing and sitting.
“No?” Jonny called out. “Last chance.”
The club remained quiet another full minute.
“Okay.” Jonny relaxed his shoulders, but his gaze remained piercing. “There’s going to be some changes happening around here, first off being no more whores.”
A few grumbles broke out.
“Not my problem if you can’t get someone to suck you off outside these walls,” Jonny said, quieting the men again. “But, if a single one of you gets picked up for being with a prostitute, or gets busted for propositioning an undercover cop, your colors are mine.”
My eyebrows popped up.
“While I hate to even thinking one of you planted shit and ratted about it, I know it’s possible. Every fucking one of you is going to sit down and have a little chat with the three of us,” Jonny said, motioning to Digger and Hawk at his sides. “If you’re loyal, you’ve got nothing to fear. I know this will piss a few of you off, but after being grilled by Jenko and the assholes working with him, I don’t give a shit. It’s time to clean house.”
A few men nodded, glancing around as though trying to sniff out who
might have turned on their asses.
If anyone dropped off the radar without telling the Gldiers’ leaders, I wouldn’t be surprised. Fuck knew, if I were the guilty party, I’d want to live. Only way to do that would be to get the hell out of dodge. Quick as fuck.
Helina
I shouldn’t have felt guilty billing Jonny Hayes, President of the Fallen Gliders, but I did. Only a week after representing him and the dozen other Gliders at the police station, I sent a statement to the email address he’d told me to. He’d promised the Gliders paid in full, always on time—by wiring directly to a bank account—since they preferred to never owe anyone anything.
I imagined his owning the club free and clear must be nice. No bills hanging over the Gliders’ heads.
With the rent due on my office, and my funds dwindling, I couldn’t hold off on billing them. I had the money in the bank, but anxiety got the best of me. I sent the damn email, the word “desperate” ringing in my ears, but at least I hadn’t charged him for the couple of times we’d spoken on the phone concerning club business and his cluing me in on things I needed to know.
Capone never called me. I never called him.
The way he’d walked out, the pain I’d seen in his eyes when I’d said I was desperate for clients, tore me up. I should have said something different, but unlike Capone, I’d never been good about sharing how I felt, especially the butterfly-type emotions toward a man that I’d never experienced before meeting him.
“For the best,” I muttered to myself what I’d been saying since the morning he’d walked out. If only my heart would get on board with my head.
Blowing a breath between my lips, I dug back into my cousin’s divorce file, needing to prepare for the upcoming court date.
Less than an hour later, I received a notification of the wire transfer.
Jonny had added a zero onto the bill.
“Mr. Hayes,” I said when he answered. “This is Ms. Bodnar.”
“Did you receive the payment?” he asked, straight to the point as always.
“Yes.” I frowned at my computer screen—at my bank account. “But it appears you added a zero onto your payment.”