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“I’ll be there.” I ended the call and went to the front where Jag stood at the counter, face buried behind a computer screen. “I need to head out. Something’s up with Teddy.”
Jag looked up. “Need a hand?”
“Don’t know yet. I’ll call if I do. You got things here?”
“Of course. Good luck.”
The last time I got a call like this, Teddy’s house had been set on fire. Then Jana had been shot and I got a call then too. I pushed my bike as fast as it would go until I pulled into our driveway and took the steps three at a time before bursting into the living room. “Teddy?”
“She’s in the kitchen,” Vivi said simply and I froze, looking from her to Katrina, who ran our Stetson Brothel. It was upscale, discreet and pricey. It was also our most profitable business other than weed. “Shit’s happened but maybe your wife should fill you in.”
“Why don’t you fill me in?” I didn’t mean to bark at Vivi but she would give me the facts only and that was what I wanted.
Straight up facts.
Vivi picked up the laptop she was working on and set it on the table, leaning back on the sofa and crossing her boot capped legs. “Kat’s here because some strange fuckers have been coming into Stetson for the past few days. They’re rough, which they pay for, but these guys are different, she says.” She pointed at Kat who looked terrified. “Tell him.”
She nodded, raking a hand through her hair before her eyes came back to mine. “Like she said, they pay for the rough stuff but Stetson isn’t really the place for those kinds of guys, ya know?” I nodded because I did know. “But last night the Doc had to come because Bitsy got a fractured rib and Tawny’s eye is swollen shut. I’ve never seen them before this week but a group of ten came in last night and Bitsy said her guy had a tattoo on his forearm. Double cursive S’s.”
“Salinas,” Vivi confirmed.
“Shit.” It was my turn to slid a hand through my hair and blow out a breath. “Why did you come here instead of the clubhouse?”
Vivi stood, wearing her badass uniform of black jeans and a matching black t-shirt with shit kicker black boots. “That’s where I have to insist you talk to Teddy.”
“I’m here.” My wife entered the living room carrying a tray of drinks, looking as beautiful as ever. With the tray on the coffee table, she opened a beer and handed it to me, a true sign I wasn’t gonna like what she had to say. “Some strange things have been happening at the office lately. At first I didn’t think anything of it because, you know, shit happens.” She smiled nervously and I grabbed her hand.
“Shit?”
She nodded and flicked her red hair behind her shoulders. “The power’s been off since yesterday and then the plumbing went out. I asked Vivi to look into the building owner to see if he was trying to sell the building or raise rent or something. But when Kat came over today, I knew it was more.”
“Shit, Teddy.” I shook my head and stepped away from her, dialing Max to let him know what was going on before turning back to them. “Okay, why are you here again, Vivi?”
“Emotional support,” she deadpanned.
“Tate,” my wife called in a warning tone. “She’s the one who saw that the power had been cut and the plumbing tampered with and she made me leave. When we got here, Katrina had just barely arrived.”
Kat nodded, confirming my wife’s version of events.
“There’s nothing nefarious about my being here,” Vivi said defensively, grabbing her laptop and her bag. “Now that you’re here, I’m gone.”
Dammit. “I never said that, Vivi.”
; “Doesn’t matter,” she muttered as she packed up her shit without looking at me. Or Teddy. Or Kat. She went to the door and held the knob. “It wasn’t sophisticated, and they didn’t break into the office to steal anything. Bolt cutters were used to cut the electricity and a good old fashioned rag to stop up the plumbing. It was just to scare you and maybe send a message,” she said before yanking the door open and leaving before I could apologize.
“Jesus fuck, Tate. Can’t you be nice to her after all she’s done for us?” Teddy smacked me on the arms and chest about a dozen times in frustration.
“I didn’t mean it how it sounded,” I argued but it was no use, Teddy flew out the door to track down her friend and I turned to Kat.
“Anything else?”
“The girls are terrified and threatening to walk. I gave them the rest of the week off for the holiday.” Kat was shaken and pale, terrified for her girls and probably herself.
“Thanks, Kat.” The fucking cartel was a pain in my ass. “When Teddy comes back, tell her to pack a bag because we’re all going back on lockdown to the club.” She nodded and I turned to call Cross and fill him in on everything.
Again.
