Chapter 6

Dra

I finally have Sunshine in a condo she doesn’t whine about. She wasn’t satisfied with any apartments available and she had the idea I was going to buy her a house. No way in hell. I do not spend my money on situations that are not permanent without a reason. I have every intention of cutting Sunshine loose as soon as I have Maddie and Betsy back here and under my roof. I have told Sunshine my plans, but she wants to hang around until I have Maddie here. Sunshine thinks I will change my mind. I won’t. I know what I want, and I have been doing everything in my power to find Betsy and Maddie. Maddie will slip up and when she does I have eyes everywhere.

Mr. Grimes, my attorney, has filed all the paperwork here in Colorado and in Texas to proceed in getting my rights to Betsy. Grimes advised me in the legal way to do things and then his paralegal gave me the information I needed to know on how to get done what I want the short way. Grimes’s hands are clean, and I have already set everything in motion. All I need is one siting and one phone call. As if I willed it, my phone vibrates in my pocket. I take it out and read the number and then I notice it is just a text. I flip my phone open and I see the text is from Grimes’s paralegal. I read the short text and then read it again. Maddie’s attorney is trying to have me served with papers and if I want my plan to work then I need to avoid being served. I walk towards the back door of the clubhouse, but I run into Krill before I can get out the door. When I say run into him I mean I walked right into him while trying to reread the text. Krill just stares at me and I stare at him. Krill does not agree with the way I am handling the situation with Betsy and Maddie. He and I have been avoiding each other.

“Where are you going? You have a lead on Maddie?” Krill asks me.

“Maddie’s attorney is trying to have me served with papers and it is in my best interest if I avoid getting served if I am going to take care of this situation the way I want to.” Krill’s eyes hit the floor and he shakes his head and I wish that was the only reaction I was going to get from him, but I know it isn’t. Krill’s eyes focus back on mine.

“If Maddie’s serving you with papers doesn’t that mean she is coming back? Maybe the two of you can work this out without dragging each other through court.” Krill may be my younger brother and my President, but this is my business, my daughter, and no one is going to tell me how to handle the situation.

“I am handling this and there will be no court. I have other plans in mind. I just need to get my eyes on Maddie and Betsy and the rest will be taken care of. I just need to get out of here before the processors can serve me. When Maddie gets here I will take care of Sunshine. Stay out of my business, Krill. This has nothing to do with the club, this is all on me.” I am firm with Krill. I just need to get out of here. Krill laughs.

“You are using club markers and business acquaintances?” He waits for my answer, but I don’t respond. He already knows the answer. “So, this does have to do with the club. When shit hits with those two women it will touch the club. Are you stupid enough to think that after the time that Sunshine has spent with the Troubled Fathoms MC that she is not going to stir the shit pot and it will all land in club hands? The club and I have been cleaning up your situations ever since you’ve been back. Get your head out of your ass before things get out of hand again. Maddie is a good girl and she doesn’t deserve any of this.” I look closely at Krill. This is the most he has said to me except for club business in a while. Is that all on Krill? No. I admit I have been resentful that my younger brother is running the club, but I can’t say that it isn’t my fault he has the position. I know Krill is right in pointing out my screw ups, but I am not screwing up on this situation. Maddie and Betsy are mine and I just need to get them here to prove that. The point that rubs me the wrong way is Krill is taking up for my woman.

“I am getting your message loud and clear.” I step closer to Krill and stare him in the eyes. “Do not tell me how to handle my family. I…Will…Handle it!” Krill doesn’t give me an inch.

“Be sure to do that and be sure to do it fast.” I step away from Krill and turn and walk towards the door. My hand is on the door knob and I start to open the door, but I stop when I hear Krill say something that warms my heart. “I’m here if you need me. The whole club has your back. I just want you to handle the situation the uncomplicated way for once. You deserve some good for a change.” I nod my head but do not turn back around. I walk straight to my bike and throw my leg across it and I feel my phone vibrate. I take it out of my pocket and flip it open and read the short message. I shoot Krill a message letting him know I will be gone longer than I thought. Maddie has been hiding in plain sight. I text the man who has been waiting for my call and give him the private detective’s number. Now all I need to manage to do is stay out of sight until I hear back. Betsy and Maddie will be home where they belong soon.