The following morning, we arose early and showered together, making love once more beneath the steam that flowed from the large rain showerhead above. Afterwards we both dressed and made our way to a little known dive called Mollie's where we shared a huge stack of pancakes topped with fresh fruit. Accompanied by a generous side of bacon, they might have been the most delicious pancakes I had ever tasted, or perhaps it was just that today something was different.
I no longer felt like D was my enemy. He was my lover and my friend and together we had a mission. Today we would begin a methodical cleansing of the motorcycle club to weed out and rid it of anyone who did not have its best interests at heart. It wouldn’t be easy and there would be hard feelings from some guys who could play very not nice if they wanted to do so, but D would handle that.
For my part, I would be pouring back over the personal books with D and Simon to find what they were missing. There had to be a track back to the missing money. There had to be a tie back to whoever set my father up to take a fall for who knew what agenda. Together we would find it.
Walking into the casino that morning, I felt more alive than I had for a very long time. I felt powerful and happy. With D by my side, I had no doubt that there was nothing impossible for me to achieve. I could rule the world if I wanted. Okay, perhaps that was a bit over the top, but I definitely felt an unfamiliar surge of energy that was unmistakable. I couldn’t wait to get started.
“Knuckles, I’m afraid you are out a bar maid,” D told the bar keep as we approached him.
Knuckles looked at me quizzically and back to D.
“Why is that?”
“I’m pulling Janessa to help me with some things back in the office.”
“Some things, huh? I suspect she’ll be good at them, then. Just keep your eye on her, D. She’s a bit uppity, that one.”
“Don’t I know it. As high strung as they come!”
The two men shared a laugh as I stood looking from one to the other.
“I’m right here, you know?”
That only sent them into another short fit of laughter before Knuckles returned to the bar and D continued on to his office with me in tow. He was still chuckling as we entered his office space.
“I’m glad you boys think I’m such a great source of amusement.”
“Ah, come on, Janessa. You know we adore you. Are you ready to start pouring through the books?”
“I am looking forward to it. The quicker we get it done, the quicker we solve two mysteries that are of the utmost importance.”
“That’s my girl. Okay, here are the general ledgers and these are the petty cash logs. Simon will be here in about an hour to pitch in. If you want to just get a feel for things and decide how you want to go about it rather than sinking your heels in just yet, then that is okay too.”
“I’m all in. I’m not climbing out of these books until I figure out something. The answers have to be in there.”
“We’ve looked, but if it is, we can’t find it. I’m hoping that a fresh pair of eyes like yours looking through it might push something to the surface that we haven’t been able to latch onto. Just be careful. I’ve told no one but Simon what we are up to and I’d like to keep it that way. I don’t need anyone knowing that you are privy to this sort of information, and neither do you.”
“I’ll keep it under my hat.”
“I bet you look completely adorable in a hat too.”
“Now, D, we’re not going to get much done if you are going to compliment me like that while I should be getting to work.”
“Compliments are only the beginning. I am looking forward to doing incredibly wicked things to you in this office now that you are a part of my team.”
“Is that what I am, D? A part of your team?”
“A part of my team, a part of my family, a part of me.”
I stood looking at him for a moment, a little taken aback by what he was saying. It was so unlike him, yet I found it sounded like the most wonderful thing I had ever heard. I knew now that, beyond a shadow of a doubt, I was falling head over heels in love with D. I wasn’t sure how it had happened, certainly could have never imagined it when I had spent all those months studying him and his club, preparing to bring them down. Now, it just seemed like the easiest, most natural thing in the world.
“You are a part of me now too, D,” I replied finally.
Leaning forward, he pulled me into another kiss. It was heated but sweet, and I found myself melting into him just like I did every time he touched me. Whatever was happening between us was magical, beautiful. It was perfection.
“Making out with the boss. I hope that isn’t the new protocol for getting a bit of a bump in pay around here, because I just don’t really fancy him that much.”
We jumped apart like two school children caught kissing on the playground as Dodger let out a little laugh. He waltzed into the room and took a seat at the table where some of the books were already spread out.
“Oh, don’t let me stop the two of you. Feel free to strip down and just go at it atop the books if ya like. I’ll be happy to film it and post it up on some of them social media sites you Yanks are so stuck into all the time. I bet I could be the next internet porn sensation with the likes of you two on film.”
“You’re such an ass, Simon.”
“Ain’t I just that though? If you children are done with your neckin’, I suppose we could get started on these books.”
“Let’s do it,” D replied as the three of us sat down and began the process of catching ourselves a thief.