Chapter Fifteen
Phenex would take all of Meghan’s pain into his body if he could. If Kevin got out of prison and dared to come looking for her, he didn’t give a shit how much money his fucking family had. Phenex would kill the guy and bury the body himself.
As soon as they returned, Gorgon called a church with all the patched members and prospects. This decision concerned everyone. Once the men were gathered, he summarized the properties they had visited, including the pros and cons of each one.
“I want to hear your thoughts. Speak your minds. No one here will judge you for what you say in this church. Got it?”
The men nodded and voiced their agreement.
“I think it’s bullshit to move,” said Vassago. His comment was met with several men cheering and banging their fists on the table. “None of those places give us the one thing this spot does. History. Roots. I know better what di Stefano is capable of than anyone else in this room. It wouldn’t matter if we moved this club to another country. If he wanted to find us, he would.”
“He wouldn’t be coming here looking for us,” said Rahab. “He’d be after Donny. We’re no more than a piece of the pie Donny has. It’s a business. We’re not part of his organization. We don’t go out and do hits for him, or the others things his direct employees do.”
“That’s a good point,” said Mastema. “I’m not trying to throw Donny under the bus, but at the core of this is nothing more than a string of legit businesses that di Stefano would love to get his hands on.”
“True,” said Gorgon. “The Outlaw Dogs are involved with Vito’s illegal shit. Or, I should say, they were before they split apart. The only legit business there is that shithole bar. Di Stefano has more to gain by taking them over than he does by getting his hands on this place.”
“So the real issue is Donny,” said Tannin. “If we move, would we also cut ties with him?”
Everyone glanced toward each other, and then at Gorgon. A nasty shiver ran down Phenex’s spine as the room went silent. Was that the real reason Donny had made the suggestion to move the club? Was he trying to protect them in case di Stefano did move into this area, by dissociating himself from them?
“I think that would depend on what Donny wanted,” said Gorgon, but his voice was cautious. Not at all like Gorgon. Which mean he wasn’t sure about the answer he’d just given them.
“We don’t need a Mob boss protecting us,” said Jinn, “but you gotta admit, it sure is fucking nice to have one. It keeps the cops away for stupid shit, and there’s muscle behind it. Muscle we can use as leverage. But are you suggesting Donny wants to get away from us?”
“No,” said Tannin. “Not at all. I’m suggesting that by breaking ties with us, literally and figuratively by having us move out of the area, he sends a message to di Stefano that we’re not worth harassing. He lets us go so that guy will leave us alone.”
“Holy fuck,” said Apollyon, glancing toward Vassago. “He’s your cousin. You think that’s what he’s trying to do?”
“Could be. I gotta admit the thought hadn’t crossed my mind until now, but it makes sense. We’re more than a business to him. We’re like family. And what did he say to us about his family if he thought they were in danger?”
“He said they’d be gone.” Tannin snapped his fingers. “Just like that.”
“Well fuck that,” said Phenex. “We aren’t leaving him to fight this asshole alone. Not after everything he’s done for us. And fuck turning tail and running from Mr. Roberto fucking di Stefano from fucking Queens, New York!”
Phenex stood and banged his fist hard on the table. “I vote fuck no. We stay right here. This is our home. Most of us were born here, and we have family who died here. We belong to this town. Let’s send that message to di Stefano.”
The room was so loud that Gorgon gave up trying to quiet them down and simply let them cheer, bang their fists, and make their arguments for or against Phenex’s words. When the energy was spent, he called for a vote.
“All in favor of moving?” Only three prospects raised their hands. Phenex made a mental note of their names because he suspected they wouldn’t be around much longer.
“Against?” Hands shot up, and there was a lot of yelling once more.
“The ayes have it! We fucking stay!”
More pandemonium as the men celebrated their decision. Phenex glanced toward Vassago who gave him a thumbs-up, and grinned like that cat in the movie about a girl who falls into a rabbit hole, or into another world, or some such nonsense.
When the meeting finally broke up, Phenex asked Vassago if he could reach Donny for him. It was time to ask for his advice on Kevin. That way, at least he could reassure Meghan that if the asshole did get out on parole after only two years, he wouldn’t be able to come near her.
He went to find Meghan to wait for Donny’s call, and when it came, he put the phone on speaker so Meghan could be part of the conversation.
“Donny, I need your advice. This is for Meghan. The phone is on speaker, and she’s here.”
“What can I do for the beautiful Meghan?”
Despite the circumstances for the call, she smiled. Donny was a charmer when he wanted to be. “It’s a long story,” she said. “My ex-boyfriend is in prison for armed robbery and is up for parole next week. It would be great if he never got out, but he’s only serving two to eight, and will probably be up again in six months even if it is denied.”
“Maybe. Where is he?”
“Grafton Correctional.”
“How long has he served?”
“Just over two years.”
“Depending on why it was denied, you’re right. He’ll be up again in six months to a year. Is there a history between you two that gives you reason to believe he would try to hurt you if he found you?”
She and Phenex locked gazes. “Yes,” she said softly. “Definitely. “Kevin beat me up a lot. A little over two years ago, he beat me so badly one night that I lost my baby. She was seven months old. She lived one week after they delivered her.”
“Ah, sweetheart, I’m so sorry. That fucking scum shoulda’ got more than two to eight for it, though. That’s manslaughter in Ohio. How did they get armed robbery from that?”
Meghan explained what happened with the attorney and her ER statement. Phenex swore he could feel Donny’s red, hot anger on the other end of the phone. Donny hated men who beat up women.
“Give me details on him.”
“The man’s name is Kevin Taylor. His family is well-known in Lorain. They have money.”
“Okay. Yeah. I know who they are.” Donny’s tone suggested he not only knew them, but detested them. “You got his inmate number handy?”
She picked up her phone, found it, and read it to Donny.
“What happens to him is up to you, Meghan. It would be easy to have him taken out in prison.”
“I’m worried his family might come after me if that happened.”
Donny chuckled softly. “They wouldn’t have any evidence you had anything to do with it.”
It was easy to see the struggle on her face. She was effectively giving Donny permission to have a man killed. “Donny, do you mind if Meghan and I talk privately for a moment?”
“Take your time.”
Phenex took the phone off speaker and moved it over. “It’s your call to make.”
“I know.”
“He’ll get out one day and you’ll have to face him eventually.”
“Even if I do, he still got away with it. Nothing I say to him will change that. It won’t change his smugness. It won’t change the fact that his fucking family even didn’t care that he killed their granddaughter.”
Phenex wiped away her tears.
“I could stand there and rant at him, with all of you around to protect me, but it still wouldn’t bring Faith back. It wouldn’t erase that cocky look in his eyes. It wouldn’t reverse the judge’s decision. He will never pay for what he did to me and to her.”
A quick glance at the phone and she nodded. “I understand what you’re saying. If we let Donny do this, Kevin will pay. With the same thing he took from Faith. His life.”
“Yeah. That’s exactly what will happen. And no one will ever know we had this conversation. You can count on that, Meghan.”
“But what does that make me?”
“It makes you a woman who sought and received retribution for her daughter’s death.”
Meghan drew in a gasping breath, and it was then he saw the change on her face. “Yeah. It does. But one question. When will you have yours for what your father did?”
Well fuck. She’d nailed him, just like that. And he knew what he had to do. “I’m going to see him.”
“Promise?”
“Yeah.”
Meghan pulled the phone over and put it on speaker. “Donny, take him out, please.”
“Consider it done, sweetheart. Oh, and none of my business, but I think you should go with Phenex when he confronts his father.”
“I think you’re right. Thank you.”
After they said their good-byes, Phenex pulled Meghan close and held her. “It’s going to be all right.”
“All these people he and his men kill so easily,” she whispered. “It scares the hell out of me at times.”
“I understand what you mean. But is it right my father and Kevin got away with murder?” He pulled away to look into her eyes.
“No. It’s not.”
“My father has been in prison for twenty years. His life is probably hell on earth. But like you said, Kevin will never pay for what he did to Faith if he’s set free. And if he came looking for you, you’d have to relive it all over again.”
“When are you going to visit your father in jail?”
“You have to call and make an appointment at least four days in advance.”
“So, you have checked it out, then?”
“Yeah. So let’s say on Friday we’ll go. Can someone cover for you?”
“Yes. I’ll tell Chloe why. It won’t be a problem. What about you?”
“Don’t worry about that. Gorgon will understand.”
“Meghan, I swear on my life I will always protect you.”
“I know you will, Phenex.”