Scratch

Caleb had played in the living room for most of the day, enjoying the few toys we had for him. The way his eyes lit up whenever he saw a train on TV, I knew that would be his next present. I’d downloaded a shopping app on my phone and had already started pricing them, along with a few other things I thought he’d like. When I finished browsing through the toys, I picked out a few things for Clarity and added them to my cart with overnight shipping. With some luck, they would arrive before her party. If we had one.

Clarity was in the floor with Caleb, pushing cars around, when my phone chimed with a message. I swiped the screen and frowned when I saw it was from Shade. I glanced at Clarity, but she wasn’t paying me any attention, which was a good thing at the moment.

we need to talk

can it wait?

you’ll want to see this. My house.

I closed out the messages and watched Clarity and Caleb for a moment. They both seemed content, and I didn’t want to worry them, but if Shade said it was important, then I needed to go. I stood up and Clarity gave me a slight smile.

“I’ll be back soon,” I said. “We’ll go out for dinner tonight since we didn’t make it to the store.”

“Be careful,” she said.

I nodded, then went out to my bike. Shade lived on the other end of town, but the traffic was light and I made it in fifteen minutes. I knocked on his door, then turned the knob. It twisted easily and I pushed the door open, stepping inside.

“Shade!” I called out.

“Down the hall.”

I went down to what he called his war room, and looked at the bank of monitors. There was a file folder on the edge of his desk and he picked it up and handed it to me. I hesitated only a moment before opening it and reading the contents. I blinked a few times and re-read the documents, certain that I was misunderstanding.

“You’re not reading it wrong,” Shade said. “Your girl was hidden to keep her safe. The mom she knew was really her aunt, her mother’s half-sister. And her dad had a lot of enemies. He wasn’t a bad guy, quite the opposite. Donated to charities, gave his time to mission projects, and would have given the shirt off his back to a homeless man on the street.”

“So what kind of trouble was he in?” I asked.

“Parkhurst inherited a company from his father. It’s what helped fund his philanthropy, but the board wasn’t happy with the way things were being handled. I found some transactions between one of the board members and a hit man. It looks like Parkhurst was murdered, and Tamara was with him when it happened.”

“So the sister took off with Clarity in hopes of keeping her alive,” I said.

“Right. The original birth certificate is in there, along with Scott Parkhurst’s will. In the event of his death, all his possessions were to go to his only daughter, his heir.”

“Are you saying Clarity is well-off?”

Shade snorted. “Yeah, if you consider half a billion dollars as well-off. Once we prove she’s the heir of the Parkhurst fortune, she’ll have access to all that money. Downside is that it’s been so long, the family home was sold and the business was run into the ground by corrupt board members. The money would likely be gone too, except Parkhurst had it well-hidden. Only his lawyer knows where it’s located, and it looks like no one has touched the account.”

“Half a billion?” I asked. What the fuck would she need me for once she had all that money? Right now, I offered her comfort and shelter, but she could buy the entire damn town several times over with all that money.

“A DNA test would be required. She should consider herself lucky. I don’t believe the aunt ever told Heath Davis about the money, or he likely would have found a way to force Clarity into signing it over. If he didn’t do something worse. From what I can tell, the aunt tried to cover her tracks. Only a hacker would have been able to find her, so the lawyer was unable to find Clarity. I’m a little surprised he didn’t hire someone, unless he didn’t feel it was safe.”

“I’ll take this home and show it to her.” I stared at the file, wondering if the family I thought I’d gained was about to walk out the front door. Now I understood how Clarity felt earlier when she’d been afraid I’d kick her out, and I felt like a shit for the way I’d handled it. I didn’t know how she’d gotten under my skin so fucking fast, but now that I had her in my bed and had claimed them both as mine, I didn’t want them to leave.

“There’s something else,” Shade said. “I looked into the situation with the boy a bit more. I can’t guarantee he didn’t see what was happening, but he wasn’t in the videos. I asked Seamus to come take a look since he’d seen him. Doesn’t mean they didn’t abuse him in some other way, though.”

I nodded. “Or whatever he saw could have traumatized him, but it’s the fact he thought he’d be in trouble for getting food that bothers me. Guess there’s only one way to find out for sure what happened.”

“You’re going to pay them a visit?”

“Yep. Looks like I’m about to get dirty, and find out exactly what Clarity can handle. Maybe this inheritance is a good thing. She might see me covered in blood and take off.”

Shade stared at me a moment. “You really think she wants to leave you? Even if she did inherit a shit ton of money? I may not have met her, but Seamus said that woman thinks you hung the moon.”

“She’s just grateful I’m taking care of her.”

Shade arched a brow but didn’t say another word. When he turned back to his computers, I knew that was all I would get from him. I took the file out to my bike and stuck it in a saddlebag, then I drove to the compound. The bitch who had been babysitting Caleb, and her fucked-up boyfriend, were still being held in a building out back.

Killian was guarding the building and gave me a nod as I approached. I pulled off my cut and handed it to him as I passed by and went inside. My clothes could be burned if necessary, but I didn’t want my cut getting fucked-up. The building smelled like piss and shit, which meant they hadn’t been released from their bonds for any reason. I smiled grimly as I approached the two figures hanging from chains in the center of the building. There was a drain directly below them for easy cleanup. I pulled out my knife and tried not to laugh as the woman started thrashing and screaming against her gag. Served the bitch right to be afraid. Anyone who allowed children to be harmed didn’t deserve to fucking live.

I cut the gag away, and she started blubbering about how she hadn’t done anything, it was all a mistake. Her boyfriend knew the score, though, and just eyed me, like he knew the end was coming. Man like that had to know his sins would catch up to him sooner or later. It just wouldn’t be a prison cell he’d be living in, but a hole in the ground when I sent his black soul straight to hell.

I backhanded the woman. “Shut up!”

She whimpered and tears ran down her cheeks. Didn’t fucking move me, not knowing she’d hurt Caleb either directly or by standing back and letting something happen to him. Either way, she would be joining her boyfriend in the fires of hell soon enough. I pressed the tip of my blade against her throat and her eyes went so wide all I saw were the whites of them. “I’m going to ask you once, and only once. What the fuck did you do to Caleb?” I asked.

“C-Caleb? I don’t k-know a Caleb,” she stuttered.

I pressed the blade a little harder and watched as blood started to run down her neck. Gripping her hair tight, I made sure she couldn’t move away from the pain. “Let’s try this again, before I lose my patience. You used to babysit Caleb while Clarity went to work. What the fuck did you do to him?”

She pissed herself and I knew I was right. She’d hurt the boy in some way, or allowed her boyfriend to do it.

“Why is that kid afraid to reach for food? Why doesn’t he talk?” I asked.

“He was a greedy little bastard,” she said. “I had to stop him from eating everything in my house. That’s all.”

I pushed the knife in a little more. “And how did you do that?”

The man next to her was trying to talk through his gag so I released the woman and moved over to him. If he wanted to talk, I’d let him. Wouldn’t change his fate any. I cut off his gag and his hard eyes stared me down. “You obviously have something to fucking say, so say it.” I waved my knife in front of his face. “Or do you need some encouragement?”

“She hit him, whenever he would try to get some food. And don’t listen to her skank ass. She wouldn’t even let him have one meal, much less go back for more.”

My gaze slid to the woman, who had paled at least three shades. I looked back at the man and waited to see what else he had to say.

“She got off on it, you know. Watching me strip those kids naked and film them. Bitch enjoyed every second of it, got her all hot and bothered. The kid saw it all.”

“Caleb wasn’t in your videos,” I said, my voice deceptively soft. “Why not?”

“None of my clients wanted a kid with white-blond hair. Guess he got lucky.”

I leaned in close. “Just so there’s no misunderstanding, you aren’t leaving this building while you’re still breathing. Can’t let a sick, twisted fuck like you loose on the world, now can I?”

He smiled and it sent a chill down my spine.

“You give that sweet momma of his a kiss from me. I had plans for her, before she vanished. Bet she has the sweetest screams.”

I had to fight for control. I knew what he was doing, trying to egg me on and get me to end his life quickly, but I wasn’t going to fall for it. The man had tortured and abused kids, and I wasn’t about to let him off the easy way. I backed up and faced the woman again. The fight had drained out of her and she stared at me with nearly vacant eyes. Yeah, bitch knew her time was up, but she didn’t realize that I could make it last a while. I knew what my club called me. The Boogeyman. They weren’t far off. Only Cinder knew the truth about my background, and he’d never asked for the details, and I knew he never would. Not unless my past came knocking at the clubhouse door.

I took my time over the next hour, inflicting as much pain on the bitch as I could and still keep her alive. I’d learned a few torture methods over the years and could get a person right to the edge of death, then back, and start over again. I toyed with her, leaving her a bloody, whimpering mess as I sliced at her clothes and skin, whispered dark taunts in her ears. My club didn’t believe in harming women or children, but this bitch was barely human in my opinion. Carving her up and seeing the fear in her eyes didn’t bother me in the slightest.

When I knew she’d had as much as she could handle and remain breathing, I stepped back and turned to the boyfriend. As much as I wanted to get a pound of his flesh, exact some revenge, I decided to let the club handle him. I knew some of them had been abused as kids, even sexually abused, and I figured they’d have fun with this one. Make him scream and beg, and I knew it would take a lot to make that happen. The guy was completely dead inside, evil to the core.

“My brothers will have their fun with you.” I looked at the woman again. “And we’re not done with you just yet.”

She pissed herself again and I chuckled as I wiped my knife off on my shirt and backed away. It was already covered in her blood, so what was a little more? I pulled it over my head and tossed it into a metal barrel, knowing it would need to be burned later. Using the utility sink on the far wall, I cleaned myself up to get her likely tainted blood off my skin and out of my hair, then I left the building, knowing I’d never see either of them breathing again.

Killian handed my cut back to me, and Cinder stood with his arms folded, feet braced a shoulder’s width apart. He tossed a black tee to me and I pulled it on, then shrugged on my cut. Cinder looked from me to the building, then back again. “They still alive?” he asked.

“Yep. I’d let the woman rest a bit before you work her over anymore. Otherwise, she won’t last long. Found out what I needed to know, and now I’m going home.”

Cinder nodded. “Take care of that woman and kid, we’ll handle this shit. Shade called. I know what you found out, but don’t go in half-cocked and determined you’re going to lose her. I think that woman might surprise you.”

“Her name is Clarity, not ‘that woman,’” I said.

Cinder cracked a smile. “Clarity might surprise you. I know you think she’s with you because she has security with you, money… but I don’t think that’s it.”

“Let me guess. Seamus was running his fucking mouth to you, too.”

“He’s told everyone that woman -- Clarity -- is head over heels in love with you, and you’re too damn stupid or blind to see it. Maybe you need to get your eyes checked, what with your advanced years and all.”

I flipped him off. “Younger than you, asshole.”

“Yeah, but I’m wiser. So listen the fuck up before you screw everything the hell up and lose something precious. It’s obvious to all of us that you feel something for her and that kid, so man the fuck up and tell her how you feel.”

“Too soon to feel anything.”

“Bullshit! When you meet the right woman, you just know. It’s a deep down, gut-clenching reaction. If she can walk away and you won’t give a shit, then let her go. But if you’re going to miss her and be a miserable fucking bastard, then convince her to stay.”

Killian cleared his throat.

“Something to add?” I asked.

“Sometimes we’re only given one great love,” he said. “Don’t lose yours because you can’t admit you want to keep her. Some of us never had a chance to hold onto the woman we loved.”

That was more than I’d ever heard the man speak about his past. There were shadows in his eyes, something we’d all noticed from the beginning, but now I understood a little more about what put them there. One day he’d tell us the entire story. “Fine. I’ll go home and be a pansy ass and tell her how I feel,” I said. “And when this all blows up in my face, I’m coming after you fuckers.”

Cinder slapped me on the back. “It will all work out the way it’s supposed to. And just because I’m such a nice guy, I’m going to let you in on a little secret.”

“What?” I asked.

“Your daughter is at your house.” He smirked. “Better hurry home before she runs off your woman and kid. The money won’t matter much then.”

I started cursing and ran for my bike, my tires spitting gravel as I revved the engine and took off. Why the fucking hell hadn’t someone told me that sooner? Shit. If Darian was pissed and trying to protect her papa, there was no telling what the fuck she’d say or do. I broke every traffic law between the compound and my house, burning rubber as I came to a screeching halt in the driveway. I’d barely cleared my bike before the front door opened and Bull stepped out onto the porch.

“What the fucking hell!” I demanded as I stomped up the steps. “No warning what-the-fuck-so-ever?”

He shrugged. “You know how Darian can get, especially since she’s hormonal as shit right now.”

That made me pause. “You’re making me a grandpa again?”

“Yep, and it’s been a roller-coaster ride. One minute she’s screaming and threatening to cut off my balls and the next she’s sobbing and saying she’s a horrible wife.”

Fuck my life.

I went inside and listened to see just how far off the rails my delightful daughter was, but silence greeted me. And that scared me far fucking more. I peered into the living room and saw Caleb and Foster playing in front of the TV, and Darian and Clarity seemed to be having a civilized conversation. I cleared my throat and made my presence known, and Darian flew off the couch and into my arms.

“Daddy!”

“Hey, baby girl. A little notice next time would be nice.”

“If I’d given you notice, then you might have run off with Clarity,” she said.

“You’re not wrong.” I glanced at my woman and noticed that she seemed calm and perfectly fine. Maybe I’d been worried for no reason. Until I noticed the only breakable items in the living room were missing and a broom was leaning against the wall. I looked at Darian and she just smiled up at me.

Bull squeezed my shoulder. “I hope you weren’t fond of the vase in the corner, or the two pictures frames you had in here, or the candy dish. They’re in the kitchen trash.”

“Fucking hell,” I muttered. I looked at Clarity again, but she calmly stared back at me. “You okay, kitten?”

She nodded and the tension inside me loosened a little.

If she could handle Darian, then maybe she could handle anything. Including finding out she’s rich beyond her wildest dreams, and that her boy had seen some shit that was going to require some trips to a therapist. It was a reminder that she was a strong woman, someone worthy of standing by my side. And fuck if I was going to let her go.