Page 17 of Drifter (Redemption Riders #2)

“It took me this long to find someone to talk about McGrath and the doctor.” Motown sighs, shaking his head.

I looked at the doctor’s old patient lists.

He had high-end patients, including McGrath.

The doctor had a nurse named Robin Parker.

Robin Parker is dead. The cops called it suicide.

Her husband says it’s utter bullshit. Robin came home one day and told her husband she heard some disturbing shit at the office.

She went on to tell her husband, Bill, that McGrath told the doctor about Kivo, the sex trafficking, and the blackmail.

McGrath was looking for a way to get out of it and went to his best friend for advice.

A few days later, Robin told the doctor what she had overheard and that he needed to go to the police.

Not a week later, she was killed in a hit-and-run,” Motown said, his jaw clenched with frustration.

“What else?” Hawk urged.

“Robin mentioned finding a recording of that conversation in the doctor’s drawer in his office.

He told her it was the evidence he needed to send to the police.

I suspect that the doctor is holding that as a bargaining chip to have McGrath sway his daughter to make appearances in the hope that he has the opportunity to get Sasha alone one more time.

It also explains why McGrath took the doctor’s side when he attempted to rape her the first time. ”

“Simon?” I asked.

Orion interrupted. “Simon is becoming a problem for his father. He won’t allow Sasha anywhere alone, and he doesn’t do dirty deals.

He runs his father’s investment company clean.

He’s savvy, smart, and wants out of the family business.

He loves what he does, but can’t stand the way his father runs the company.

His father continues to lead him on, dangling the carrot and telling him he’ll sign the business over when the board thinks he’s ready. ”

“That’s why Sasha keeps telling her brother not to ruin his career,” I muttered.

Guard said, “What do you need, brother?”

“Not sure yet,” Hawk responded.

“Say the word and we’ve got your back,” Guard answered.

“We’ll formulate a plan and let you know.”

Once we disconnected the call, Motown, Hawk, and I decided to speak with Simon first and regroup.

I pulled myself together as Hawk and I walk back to the shop, where I find Sasha watching me as I approach. I try to hide my anger and frustration.

As I get closer, Sasha assesses my mood and purses her lips. I kiss her temple and whisper, “We’ll talk once I hear your brother out.” She nods, and I help her into the back seat of the SUV, next to Etain.

Hawk thought ahead, and when we arrive at the diner in the next town over, several of our men are waiting for us. Hawk sent them to scope out the place and make sure that we don’t have any unexpected visitors.

Shooter is leaning on his motorcycle. As soon as he sees us, he nods, letting us know that all is clear. Around the side of the building, I see Decker. I search the lot, but I don’t see Simon’s car.

I step out of the car and tell the others to wait for me to come and get them.

The diner is busy with the lunch crowd. I search the room and see a man in a baseball cap who looks like Simon, with his head down.

I texted Simon earlier and told him to make sure he’s not being followed. I guess he took my suggestion.

“Yo.” I keep my voice low so that only Simon hears me. His head jerks up. He looks relieved to see me. “I see you took precautions.”

“I don’t mess around with Sasha’s safety,” he replies.

I had a good feeling about Simon from the start, and the more I speak with him, the more I like him.

But he’s right, Sasha comes first. This means that I need to trust Simon, and I’m not completely convinced yet.

Whether it be my army training or just the ugly shit I’ve seen over my life, trust is not something I give freely anymore.

I pull out a chair and sit across from him. Our eyes meet, and it’s clear he knows I’m skeptical. He holds firm but doesn’t say a word.

“Your sister is in the car. But before I bring her in, I want to see how committed you are about extracting Sasha from your father, and at the same time yourself,” I tell him.

“If you’ve found a way to do that, then I’m all in,” he replies, leaning forward. “What can I do?”

“Even if it means finding a way to get me into your father’s office?”

“Hell, I’ll get you into wherever the fuck you want,” he says, throwing out his hands.

“Your father is into some pretty bad shit. I haven’t had the chance to tell Sasha yet. He’s in deep with the Russian mob, bud. And Doc knows it. Your father is sacrificing your sister for his silence.”

His eyes grow wide, his jaw clenches, and the vein in his neck pops. “What the fuck!” he hisses.

“The only legit business he has is the one you’re running.

I wanted to give you the gist of it. I don’t want Sasha freaked anymore than she is.

I have a brother kitting out her house with a security system that will be next to impossible to penetrate.

I’m making her as safe as I can until this gets done.

I’m going to go get Sasha, Hawk, and Etain.

We’re going to focus on getting your father to relinquish the company to you.

We’re keeping the whole mob shit out of it.

Sasha will get all the information, but I’d rather break it to her gently. ”

He nods, still bewildered by my news and trying to digest all I’ve told him. I get up and move to the door, motioning to Hawk. He climbs out of the car and opens the door for the women. Sasha bolts right to me.

“Is he here?” she asks, looking past me into the diner.

“You think your brother would skip out on an opportunity to see his sister?” I tease. I guide her to Simon’s table. Hawk moves another table over to accommodate all of us. Etain and Hawk say their hellos after Sasha hugs her brother and takes the chair across from him.

Hawk starts off. “Let me just say that Sasha is protected by the Redemption Riders, which means that you are too. We’re looking for your help because Sasha won’t make a move so that you don’t get hurt, and you’re doing the same for her.

That’s admirable, but it’s getting you nowhere.

We’re here to suggest a plan and get your take on it. ”

“Look, I don’t care what happens to me, I just want Sasha to be able to live her life free.

This has gone on for too long. I wanted to report that pedophile that night.

It was Dad who refused. I wanted to take Sasha to the police station the next day, but she wouldn’t go,” Simon says, looking at his sister.

“Dad said he would send you away. I couldn’t handle that,” she says quietly. “How would I manage without you? I was still in high school. You just started college. I wasn’t going to ruin your future, and since he hadn’t actually, um, well…”

“The word is rape , sis. And he did plenty. I should have killed him that night,” Simon says venomously.

“We have to look forward,” Hawk cuts in. “Drifter, do you want to take it from here?”

“We haven’t fleshed it all out, and there’s more detail that we need to work through, but essentially, we want to buy up the remaining shares in the company.

Your father owns forty-nine percent. Simon owns ten.

That leaves forty-one percent that we can buy.

Once we have a controlling interest, your father’s out of the company.

He can collect on profit, but he no longer has control.

” I lay out the plan. The other parts of the plan regarding the evidence about the Russian mob and the doctor can wait for now.

“I do well, but I don’t have that kind of money, even if I could get the other shareholders to sell,” Simon says.

“If you don’t mind several biker clubs pooling their assets as partners, then we might be able to swing it.

We can also put a clause in place that you can buy back shares at the going rate once you’re in a position to do that.

As for how to get the shareholders to sell, I haven’t figured it out yet, but there’s no point in pursuing this if you’re not onboard,” I reply.

“I’ve thought of this before. I just don’t have the pull. The board still thinks Dad is making all the major decisions,” Simon huffs.

“His plan is to keep you as his workhorse while he reaps the rewards. It also keeps you and Sasha in check. Puppets on a string,” Hawk adds. “It’s a good plan. I could see which clubs want a piece of the action.”

“What if they don’t want to sell? We’re making a decent profit. What’s the incentive?” Simon’s got a valid point.

“Let’s cross that bridge when we get to it. Just tell me you’re down with this and we’ll find a way,” I tell him. I look at Sasha. “You have to be good with this too.”

Sasha places her hand over mine and turns to her brother. “I’m in if you are.”

He sighs, leaning back in his chair. “You guys really think you can pull this off?”

“With your help, yeah,” I respond.

“Then let’s give it a go,” he agrees.

We spend the next hour eating and assigning tasks. Simon has the bulk of it, and that’s getting the data we need to make a move. This is far from over, but we’re digging deeper. The Redemption Riders do not go into battle without the tools we need to win, and we will win.