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“You know what you have to do here once they finish here?””Yes, I’m not slow , I know how to follow directions.” She rolls her eyes, taking a look around at what’s happening. “When are you going to tell them the reasoning behind all this?”
“Later today, when all the guys are present. It goes deeper than just this, Fred. You must know and understand that if you’re going to be one of us.”
“A girl Devil of Cliffside? Yeah, right.” Huh, maybe she has a point. There are women that help us when needed, but not one of them is a Devil of Cliffside. Maybe it’s time to change that.
“Change is always good. You continue to prove yourself worthy to run with us and watch. You’ll see.” I pluck her nose and turn around, heading out. There is still much to do.
“See what?” I hear her call out, but I leave her hanging.
Once I make it outside, I take a moment to just stand there and… Exist.
Inhaling long and deep, I take in every different smell that wafts through my nose. Pinecone and cinnamon mixed with the Earth. “Ahhh, it’s a great day to be alive.” Sliding my shades on, I head to my car, get in and take off.
Hitting the bluetooth call button on my phone, I say, “Call Wells.”
“Calling Wells.”
“Please, tell me she fucked something up and now I get to kill her.” Jeez, he must have one helluva hard-on for wanting to take Fred out the way he does.
“Sorry to disappoint, brother, she may be one of us after all.”
“She’ll never be one of us. Watch, she’s gonna stab us in the back like the mole we still need to find.” He’s right about that, but I beg to differ about Fred. I’ll keep that to myself for now.
“If you say so. Listen, I only called to let you know that I’m done there. Fred will be back to the house within the hour with Mark. You do have everything ready for when they arrive, right?”
“You aren’t talking to one of these wet-behind-the-dick newbies you know.”
“Yeah, I know. Still have to ask.” I hunch my shoulders as if he can see me. “Well, Fred is all yours, I’m off to do some digging of my own.”
“What the hell do you have up your sleeve now, Dash?”
“Nothing much, just a hunch I need to follow up on. I’ll check in later or hit me up if y’all need me before then.” I end the call and keep driving until I reach my destination.
Chapter Twenty Six
Bash
WhenIarrivedhome,I found Athens wasn’t there. Looking at my watch, I’m not sure where she could be. Her classes were over hours ago, and she isn’t answering her fucking phone. “When I finally get my hands on her, she’d better have a damn good excuse as to why she’s ignoring me.”
Hitting women is nothing new to me, because most of them don’t know how to fucking listen; Athens is no different.
‘You definitely are not the one in charge. If anyone is, it’s Athens.’ There goes that asshole conscience of mine, trying to get the best of me and make me feel less than a man because of the way I choose to disciplinemywife.
‘Does she know that she’s your wife?’ Slimy bastard.
‘What she doesn’t know won’t kill her until I no longer need her.’ I’d drugged her in order to wed her without any knowledge of it. Nobody knew about it except the priest carrying out our marriage, my right-hand guy that carried her around for me, and I let it slip in a heated argument with Wyck. I see the way he looks at her, hell even the way his friends do. Anybody with a good set of eyes knows how beautiful she is. Imagine all the money I could make if I sold her pussy. That’s not an option unless everything else I have planned falls through.
She didn’t choose this life, it was chosen for her, and now she must live it the way I see fit. I’m deep in thought when I hear the door open and close as Wyck comes strolling in.
“When did you get back?” He barks at me, walking to the fridge and grabbing a bottle of water. This disrespectful behavior of his will come to an end real soon.
“Just now. Where is Athens?”
“How the fuck should I know? She’s your woman, not mine.” I don’t miss the devilish smile that creeps on his lips as he attempts to pass me by.
I reach out and grab his arm, “Don’t fuck with me, boy. If you threaten to fuck up things for me, you won’t see the light of day.”
“Is that your attempt to threaten my life?” He asks, pulling his arm out of my grasp. “It’s pretty fucking pathetic. Whatever you’re up to, Father, I will find out about it.”