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“I guess it’s gonna be okay then. ‘Cause I couldn’t be prouder of that.” I nod my head at her and get back to work.
* * *
It’s just past lunchtime when Addison and Charlie call into the garage, it’s strange how all of a sudden Addison looks so different. I don’t know if it’s all in my head, but she has a real healthy glow about her, and I love the cute, little smile she makes at me that suggests we have a secret.
“Hey, darlin.” I move over to kiss her and when my hand automatically slides across her tummy, she grabs it by the wrist and widens her eyes at me.
“I was just taking Charlie here into the clubhouse for some of Marilyn’s meatloaf. You want me to bring you some over?”
I notice Jessie heading my way with a serious look on his face, and know whatever he’s got to say can’t be good news.
“Nah, I’m good,” I tell her. Faking them both a smile, before VP stands beside us.
“Meatloaf? Hell, you better get in there quick. Marilyn’s meatloaf goes fast.” He puts on a front for Charlie.
“Okay, let’s head in before it all goes.” Addison takes Charlie’s hand and heads toward the club while Jessie quickly grabs my arms and marches me into the office, slamming the door behind us.
“What the hell’s happened?”
“We gotta a situation,” he tells me under his breath.
“What kinda situation?”
“Tawk just called from Long Beach.”
“And…”
“And Cliff’s taken it too far this time.”
“Took it too far, how?”
“He killed a seventeen-year-old girl last night. A pregnant seventeen-year-old girl.” VP scrubs both his hands over his face.
“You think he—”
“Of course, he was the fuckin’ father. This ain’t good for the club, Skid. If the feds start lookin’ more closely they’re gonna have a field day with what they find.”
“You spoke to Prez?”
“Yeah, I spoke to him, he told me to do what I think is best.”
“And whatdoyou think is best?” I ask.
“I’m considerin’ sending Grimm to fuckin’ L.A. to cover up the fuckin’ murder of an innocent girl, and I’m here so ya can talk me out of it.” He sits down in my chair and sighs.
“I get your logic.” I take a seat on the edge of the desk, reaching for the drawer where I keep the good shit and pulling it out. “No one can clean up like Grimm can—”
“But what about my fuckin’ morals, Skid? The club has rules, no women and no kids. I send Grimm to clean up and I’m helpin’ that cunt cover for the fact he broke those fuckin’ rules.”
“Which is why you have to. If he gets locked up, he will rat for all he can gain and you know it. We cover this and keep him outta jail, we decide his fate. Prez can come home now, we don’t need those votes anymore, not after he broke the rules.”
“We can't make this common knowledge yet, not while Tawk is still workin’ undercover. I won’t put him in danger, and we still need to know which of those Long Beach men are worth keepin’ their cut.” Jessie makes a valid point as he lights a cigarette. “Ruckus is workin’ the inside with Tawk, and Cliff has made no secret about what he’s done. The sick bastard’s actin’ like he’s proud of it. If Ruckus can make Cliff think havin’ Grimm intervene is his idea, there will be no suspicion.”
“When’s Prez due back?” I ask, unable to keep track of things these days, my head’s been all over the place.
“It was gonna be a few days, him and Troj still had two Charters left to visit. Prez may wanna make the visit outta respect. The nomads are gonna start arriving here in dribs and drabs over the next few days for that meeting Prez called ‘em in for. He was gonna speak to them all too. This is a big deal. The club has never taken down a President before.”
“Sounds like this shit’s really happenin’.” I think about Addison and Charlie, and how all my focus has to be on protecting them.
