Page 27 of C is For Corruption (Horsemen #3)

Az

“Helen is heading to the warehouse with our guests.” I spoke, glancing at where Leighton and Craig sat in Ian’s office.

I’d spent the last several days hitting the streets with Leighton while Craig listened to the audio from the bugs he’d placed in Theo’s office.

He’d said all of three sentences to fill me in on that situation, but I had more significant issues to worry about.

There were still no signs of Jackals anywhere in our territory, and reclaiming them had been suspiciously easy.

I didn’t have the mental capacity to worry about whatever they were planning and trying to sort out what Theodore Abrams was up to.

Craig was perfectly capable of parsing out anything relevant he uncovered.

“Joey should be with us for this.” Craig said, glancing up from whatever he’d been reading on his laptop.

“Well, if anyone knows where he’s disappeared to, you’re welcome to ask him to join us,” I replied, my hand tugging at my hair of its own volition. I was a little annoyed that not only had I developed the tick, Leighton noticed it and smirked every single time I did it.

“Last I saw, he was updating his conspiracy wall.” Leighton supplied with a laugh.

“His what now?” I asked.

“You know, his conspiracy wall.” Leighton answered, causing me to motion for him to continue.

He sighed and rolled his eyes like I was the problem for not knowing what the hell he was talking about.

“He’s got a whole wall in his room that looks like some kind of detective work, but it’s all about how Ma Petit is the big bad evil guy.

It’s very paranoid conspiracy theorist.”

“And you didn’t think I should know about this until now because?”

“I figured the little guy would tucker himself out and come to his senses.” Leighton shrugged. “It’s not like he has any information the rest of us don’t have.”

My hand tugged at my hair again, and I groaned.

“Can someone please go get him so we can head out? Jesus Christ, conspiracy wall.” The last part I muttered to myself, trying to figure out why Leighton seemed to think it was a good idea to leave Joey to draw whatever incorrect and outlandish conclusions he was coming to.

“You grab the little tot, I’ll grab Ma Petit. ” Leighton said to Craig as he stood from his seat. “She should be there too.”

“You’re right, she should. Appreciate you giving yourself the better job, shithead.” Craig said with a lighthearted grimace as he moved past Leighton.

“When you pay attention, you get dibs.” Leighton laughed, following Craig from the office.

I took a deep breath to prepare myself for Joey and Victoria being in the same space.

He’d been so antagonistic toward her lately that there was bound to be an argument on the way to the warehouse we’d secured for taking Candy and her second into custody.

I stood from my seat behind the desk and quickly called Phil to ensure we had everything we needed for their stay.

Then, I made my way to the minivan we’d secured for transportation.

Leighton and Victoria were there waiting for me.

It looked like he hadn’t given her any time to dress.

She was wearing a pair of black yoga pants and…

was that my hoodie? My lips quirked up into a smile as I realized it was before my eyes flitted to her curly hair pulled into a messy bun.

Leighton kneeled by her feet, tying her sneakers as she grumbled at him.

“I can do it myself, damn it,” She snapped, swatting her hands at him to try and get him to move out of the way.

“So?” He shrugged, dodging her hands as he quickly tied up the remaining shoe. “All done!”

I reached her side just as Leighton stood up. I jerked my chin toward the vehicle, indicating for him to get in, and then leaned down to whisper into Victoria’s ear.

“The next time I catch you in that hoodie, I’m taking it off with my teeth.”

Her mouth dropped open on a squeak, and her cheeks flushed red. Stepping around her, I shot her a wink and moved to the driver’s side door, climbing into the van. Victoria was still standing outside the sliding door when I settled into my seat, and I couldn’t help but smirk at her.

“Fucking Az-hole.” She murmured as she scrambled inside and settled next to Leighton in the far back row.

I was so busy watching her that I’d missed Craig and Joey arriving. Joey’s head popped into the sliding door, and the confusion on his face made it clear he’d caught what Victoria had said.

“What did he do now?” He asked as he climbed into the middle row and closed the door.

“What did who do?” Craig asked as he claimed the front passenger seat.

“I told her that she looked good in my hoodie, is all.” I said with a shrug and started the van.

“Oh, so you’re speaking to me now?” Victoria demanded, one brow raised at Joey.

Joey ducked his head a bit, wincing slightly at her tone.

It felt like the entire vehicle was waiting to see what happened next, but he just sat there momentarily wringing his hands.

Knowing we were on a time crunch, I pulled out of the driveway and started down the road, keeping one eye on things in the rearview.

“Listen, I…” He started and then trailed off. “I know that I’ve been…"

“A fucking child?” Leighton supplied.

“Off your fucking rocker?” Craig added at the same time.

“A whole ass problem?” I called over my shoulder.

“That’s… all fair.” Joey said, cringing again as he turned to face Victoria. “Yes. All of that. I haven’t been handling, well, at all. I know you didn’t mean to get anyone in the mess we ended up in, and I’m… I’m sorry for the way I’ve been acting around everyone.”

My gaze shot to the rearview to gauge Victoria’s expression. Her lips pursed, and she took a deep breath before blowing it out slowly.

“Okay,” She said. “I can forgive the way you’ve been acting because I know first hand how grief can mess a person up. It makes you act in ways you’d never act otherwise. Just… no more, okay? We can work through this together.”

“Yeah…” He said slowly, turning away from her and looking out the window falling back into silence.

Something about the entire exchange didn’t sit right with me.

Joey’s apology sounded genuine, but it was…

off. And the easy way, Victoria let it all go.

I made a mental note to speak with her about it when we had time.

Joey had been a big enough dickhead she should have been making him grovel.

Her easy forgiveness caused my mind to slip to Benson, and I couldn’t help but wonder how far she’d let Joey push her.

The rest of the drive went by in silence that continued as we stepped out of the van into the gravel parking lot of the warehouse. Phil was waiting just by the entrance for us, but Helen hadn’t arrived yet.

“Got everything you asked for, Boss.” Phil said as we made our way inside. “I’ve got snipers on the top floor in case–”

“It’s Helen, Phil. You really think she’s going to double cross us? Even if she felt like it, she’s not bringing soldiers, she can’t kill all five of us by herself.”

“And I’m the Queen of England,” Phil scoffed. “You may not think we need em, but I wanted every contingency prepared for. Helen ain’t your problem. Candy is; that crazy bitch. How Craig stuck his dick in that woman for two years before he got tired of her particular brand of insanity is beyond me.”

“Yeah, I don’t know what I was thinking either. Maybe I was fucking drunk the whole time and missed it.” Craig said with a shrug just as a large black SUV with fully blacked out windows, towing a small trailer behind it, pulled up before us.

“Look alive,” I said, and we fell into position around Victoria as naturally as breathing while we waited.

The engine cut as Helen opened the passenger door and stepped out, with Mel climbing out of the driver’s seat.

I spotted someone in the backseat, but they didn’t make a move to get out of the SUV.

“Gentlemen, and Victoria. It’s good to see you all well.” Helen said, her tone polite but not overly friendly.

“Helen, always a pleasure. I hope these few weeks have been less… eventful for you.” Victoria said smoothly, holding her head up. I raised a brow but let it go.

“Our guests I take it?” I asked, motioning toward the trailer.

“Sedated.” Mel chimed in, motioning for Joey and Leighton to follow her as she moved to the trailer.

The pair followed Mel as she opened the door, which burst open with force.

Candy launched herself from the trailer and straight at Joey as the door knocked Mel backward.

Joey and Candy fell to the ground as she shrieked something unintelligible.

Joey worked to protect his head as she pummeled him from above.

“I thought you said she was sedated!” Leighton bellowed as he rushed forward and snatched Candy’s hair, jerking her hard enough to pull her off Joey.

Candy twisted in his grasp and flung a fist out blindly toward him.

“Not today, wildcat.” he snapped as he slapped her across the face hard enough for the sound to echo through the parking lot.

Candy hissed and spit, her arms flailing like she didn’t care what she hit as long as she hit something.

Whatever they’d sedated her with wasn’t adequate, but it seemed they were prepared.

Mel got her feet under her and raced to the driver’s side door, flinging it open and reaching inside before emerging with a hypodermic needle in hand.

“Hold the crazy bitch still, Leighton.” Mel snapped as she tried to get close.

“What the fuck do you think I’m trying to do?” He yelled back as he worked to wrap his free arm around Candy’s neck, pulling her into a headlock, his other hand still fisted in her hair. “Any day now, Mel. Fuck! The bitch bit me! ”

Mel darted forward and jabbed the needle into Candy’s thigh before darting away.

Leighton’s face turned murderous as Candy continued to snap her jaws, biting him a few more times before slowly succumbing to the sedative.

The moment he was sure she was completely out, he dropped her unceremoniously to the ground.

“I think I need a rabies shot. Fucking hell. Someone else can carry her ass inside.” Leighton grumbled. “Only one person gets to bite me and it ain’t that fucking lunatic.”

As Leighton was complaining, the back passenger door opened, and for a moment, we all tensed until we saw the shock of blonde hair and flashy, brightly colored clothes.

“Well, well, well. If it isn’t Bitch Barbie.” Leighton drawled.

“What is she doing here?” Victoria asked.

“I felt it was appropriate that she learned first hand what her mistakes cost.” Helen replied calmly.

Joey was moving before anyone could even react. He moved up behind her, grabbed her by the shoulders, and spun her to face him. His face was twisted in a snarl as he backhanded her so hard it sent her sprawling back into the SUV.

“Since you started all this, maybe we’ll start with you and you can really learn what meddling can cost.” He growled.

“Joey, stop.” I called out, moving to pull him away from Tiffany. “She wasn’t part of the deal.”

“Fuck this bullshit deal!” Joey bellowed. “She deserves to die.”

“Do we have a problem, gentlemen?” Helen asked coolly.

“Get your shit together, Joey. Unless you want the rest of us taken out in a fight with the Golden Devils.” I hissed, grabbing him by his shirt and giving him a rough shake.

“Fine.” He snarled, grabbing my hands and shoving me away.

He stepped past me toward the warehouse before he stopped and turned back, pinning his gaze on Tiffany and pointing at her for good measure.

“You live today, but the next time I catch you out without protection, you’re mine. Helen can’t keep you safe forever.”