Chapter 18

 

Haylee passed out in the truck while we were looking at the lights. I have to say, that I’m impressed.

“I never knew they did that shit.” Carrying her sleeping body inside, I lay her on the bed gently.

“They’ve done it for years. I can’t believe that you never went to see them.” After tucking Haylee in, I turn to Everleigh.

“Not really my side of town, darlin’.” Winking at her she slowly walks toward me. Wrapping her arms around my waist, she nuzzles her face into my shirt.

“You know everything’s gonna be ok, right?” I say, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. She sighs into me.

“I know. I just worry. Haylee doesn’t understand any of this.” Pushing her back a little, I brush a piece of her hair behind her ear.

“She will in time. She doesn’t need him. I’ve thought about it, too. Killin’ her dad wasn’t high on my priority list. It actually had me rethinkin’ shit. At the end of it, though, there’s no other way to get rid of him, Ev. I need you to be ok with that. If you’re not, I don’t know what to do. I can hide you for as long as I can but—” She cuts me off. She doesn’t let me finish.

“I don’t know what to say, Dragon. I’m torn. I mean... I don’t want to be the reason someone else loses their life.” I know her fear. It was once mine, but that was a long time ago.

“I know. I wouldn’t ask you to choose, but in the end, I don’t know what you can live with, Ev. I don’t want to push you too far.” She smiles up at me as if she understands.

“You don’t have to answer me now,”  I tell her, and I think she’s grateful for that.

I don’t want her to feel like I pressured her, or put her in a place that she doesn’t want to be. 

I stand outside smoking a cigarette when I see the car pulling in. My stomach knots at the sight now that I know who Everleigh was running from. Wiley parks, climbing out of his car at the same time Roc and Aria, are unloading the tree and decorations.

“You got a tree this year?” Wiley grins as he walks toward me. Nodding, I wait for him to spit out whatever it is he’s here for.

“Never had one before,” he says.  Wow, thanks for stating the obvious.

“Never had kids. Now Marissa and Jordan are here.” Wiley nods as if that slipped his mind.

“What is it you want?”  I ask, already annoyed by his presence. Blowing out a ring of smoke, I give Roc a glance letting him know not to let Haylee or Ev come out right now.

“I hear you got your guy.” Grunting, I shift slightly.

“That part’s finished.” Wiley nods, knowing he has to clean that mess up.

“Somethin’ else?” I ask. I need to watch my ass. I know I’m being short with him, but I want his ass off my property, and those two inside, out of harm’s way.

“I told you about that situation with the Captain, right?” Here we go again.

“Said somethin’ about it.” Wiley pulls his sunglasses off before reaching into his pocket. Unrolling an envelope, he passes it to me.

“The fuck is this, Wiley?” Holding it in my hand, I know this is bad. These manila envelopes never hold anything good; I know that much.

“I think you should look at it.” Swallowing hard, I rip the end of the envelope open. My stomach cramps. There are pictures of Haylee and Everleigh from the mall.

“What does this have to do with me, Wiley?” Staring at the picture in my hand, I know someone also had to see me there.

“Look at the next picture, Dragon.” With my heart slamming in my chest, I feel like my throat is clogging. I flip the pictures until I see the one of me. I was leaning down, talking to the Santa.

“What the fuck are you doin’ with these?” My hand clenches around the pictures, my body beginning to shake. My stomach tumbles. If Wiley knows, does the Captain know also? I look over and before I can ask, Wiley says, “I told you the Captain is looking for them, Dragon. What the hell is going on?”

“He saw this?” Wiley shakes his head as I blow out a breath.

“Where are they, Dragon? Let’s make this easy for everyone. He will come after you full force.” A chuckle escapes me. Does he think a threat like that will bother me at all? He must not know me as well as I thought.

Wiley’s eyes widen when I ask, “Is that a threat?”

“No, Dragon—it’s a promise. He won’t stop until he has them back.” The more he talks, the more he pisses me off.

“Are you sayin’ that they deserve to beat on and abused?” I can see I’m pushing Wiley. He’s starting to get that vein throbbing in his head.

“You don’t know that’s what happened, Dragon. Come on!” There he goes.

“I don’t know shit, Wiley. Take that back to your Captain.” Flicking my cigarette into his chest, he clenches his hands.

“He can get a search warrant, Dragon! He can rip this club to shreds!”

Search warrant? Again, he feels like that’s scaring me.

“You think I take your threats lightly, Wiley? What the fuck you think he’ll say when he learns that you work for me?” Crossing my arms over my chest, I glare at him.

“You have no proof, Dragon. That was our deal.” The laughter erupts out of me as I look him in the eye.

“Do you think that I’d do business with a dirty fuckin’ cop, and have nothin’ to hold over your head? You are dumber than I thought,” I say, dropping my arms. I turn to head back inside.

“I can’t stop him.” Glancing over my shoulder, I nod once.

“You damn well better figure out how to.” Pushing through the front door, I blow out the breath I’d been holding.

Roc comes in full blast when he sees me.

“He knows?” As much as I hate to say it, I do.

“Yep. Motherfucker saw us at the goddamn mall, of all places. Had pictures and everything.” Roc lets out a low whistle before looking back up at me.

“What do you wanna do? Move in sooner? Devil has some good intel,” Roc says, but I shake my head. He might have intel, but we don’t have enough. Not now that he knows I have them.

“We need more. He knows she’s here. I don’t know if he’s dumb enough to show up. I’m guessin’ the search warrant will be comin’ soon enough. Get Devil in here. I need to see if he can hide her out at his place until they search.” Roc nods before heading into the other room.

Aria walks past with a smile on her face before she looks at me.

“Did something happen?” Aria asks. Stepping closer to her, I wrap my arm around her shoulder.

“Not yet, darlin’, but hell’s about to break.” 

***

Devil strolls into the room as I throw back another shot before he says, “Dragon... You needed me?”

“Yeah. Need a favor, brother.” Devil grabs the bottle of vodka from my hand before tossing it back.

“What is it?” He asks. I snatch the vodka back and pour another shot.

“Anderson knows they’re here. Wiley said he’ll have a search warrant. I need them gone for a few days once he tells me.” Taking down his shot, Devil grunts.

“You didn’t even have to ask, Dragon. I got this. She’ll be ok at the house with Angel.” Giving him a quick nod, I look over.

“I didn’t want to drag your personal place into this shit, Devil.” He gives me the same shut the fuck up look he always does.

“That ain’t shit, Dragon Man. She’s family now. We protect family. I’ll get Angel to set up the guest room. She’s been itchin’ to do that shit anyway.” Devil smiles as he speaks. He loves that girl more than words can say. I see it in everything he says about her.

“Means a lot. Let’s go set up that fuckin’ tree.” Slapping a hand on his shoulder, we both stand and head toward the lobby. Everyone’s already out there while Roc pulls the tree from the box. Ev’s eyes find mine through the crowd, a small smile crossing her face.

“I’ll be damned. She’s tamin’ the dragon.” Devil laughs, walking past me. As soon as he’s gone, Everleigh moves toward me. She wraps her arms around me like I’ve grown accustomed to.

“We need to talk.” She nods slowly as if she knows what I’m about to say.