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“Barney told me what he said.”
“It’s nothing,Mercy. I’m over it. Leave it alone.”
“Shame is due back next week. Want me to get him to find out what he can?”
Justin ‘Shame’ Peterson was the club’s intel officer. The best in the business. Shame owned and operated Peterson’s Inc. The foremost investigative service in the United States. Need to locate someone, get all the dirty intel, find out who was fucking who, then Shame was your man. The brother was notorious for finding anything or anyone. There wasn’t a single computer system on the planet Shame couldn’t get into. The man was a fucking ghost. No one knew who the fuck he was. He was also on loan to the London chapter after some jag-off tried to syphon a fuckton of cash from the club.
“No. Leave it alone.”
Chapter Four
Tessa
My mother died peacefully in her sleep that night. I was with her at the end, holding her hand. As much as she didn’t want me to watch her die, I refused to be any other place.
The whole town came out to pay their respects. It’s just how it was. Nothing fancy, no front-page news, just good, honest folks wanting to be there and mourn one of their own. The Ladies Auxiliary came in force to help me set up my home for the viewing. The church brought so much food, Tia and Mr. Graves ended up giving most of it away. Pastor John sat with me for hours, holding me, praying with me, helping me in any way he could. But all I wanted was my momma. I wanted her arms around me. I wanted her to tell me everything would be okay. I half expected her to walk through the front door and smile at the company that was visiting.
The worst part was coming to grips with the fact that I would never hear her gentle voice again. Never feel her strong arms around me. I would never get another warm hug, where I took a deep breath as my mom’s perfume filled my lungs. I’d never see her beautiful face smile.
My mom was gone.
I was now an orphan.
It was the worst feeling in the world.
The viewing and funeral all took place on the same day. Unlike most places, my hometown was old school. The viewing took place in my living room and I had to admit the Ladies Auxiliary did a beautiful job making momma look pretty. Her casket wasn’t much. Then again, mom never wanted much. She would have hated those fancy coffins that cost the same as a new car.
Nope. My momma was born and raised in the mountains of West Virginia. The daughter of a coal miner. My mom lived a simple life and even in death, her funeral depicted the life she led.
After the viewing, I, along with Tia, walked behind the truck carrying my mom to the cemetery. It was a pretty day. The sun was shining brightly. A sweet, scented wind blew through the trees and when I closed my eyes, I almost smelled my mom floating around me. Pastor John gave a heartwarming service as he talked about forgiveness and love. All the things my mom preached to me growing up. The whole town showed up to pay their last respects and when the service was over, Tia gripped my hand and stood with me as they lowered my mom into the ground.
“Tessa?”
Turning, I saw Tia standing next to Mr. Graves, my next-door neighbor. I was back in the living room. I didn’t remember walking back from the cemetery. Looking at both of them, I tried to remember what day it was.
I thought it odd I didn’t know.
Everything just seemed to blur together. Nothing of importance mattered anymore. There was no joy, no love, nothing. Everything was dark, bleak, emotionless.
I was here, but not.
It was an off feeling.
“Tessa, Howard Keel stopped by.”
“Who?”
“Your mom’s attorney.”
“Mom had an attorney?”
“He wanted me to give you this,” Tia said, handing me a single white envelope with my name on it, written in her handwriting. Lifting the letter to my nose, I took a deep breath and sighed.
I smelled nothing.
“Tessa, there is something else,” Tia said carefully, before looking at Mr. Graves.
“What?”
