Page 7 of Stripping Keys (Devil’s Riot MC Tennessee #6)

CHAPTER FIVE

CALYX

Shoving my phone back in my pocket, I turn back to the two men still seated at the table. Only now with them sat my daughter and Storm.

It figures those two wouldn’t wait long to join the conversation. They at least waited until after West and Marla left to join.

“Whatever you two heard, it doesn’t leave this table. It’s not something you share. Ever,” I bite out. I don’t like being harsh with Meadow. Or Storm, for that matter.

When I found out about Meadow, it gutted me to know what she endured in her life. The fact that our lives could’ve been so different if only I’d known. I could’ve saved her mother and had the woman I loved in my life. Instead, I lost her. I lost them both without being able to do anything about it.

Now, I’ve got a daughter, and we’re doing the best we can to have a relationship. Storm has somewhat helped with that. She’s close with Meadow, and the two of them do a lot together along with Chelsea and the other ol’ ladies.

“I’m not going to share anything with anyone, Dad,” Meadow remarks softly.

Any time she calls me Dad, it’s like a punch to my gut. I love hearing it but hate it all the same.

“Is she okay?” Storm asks.

“Yeah.” I nod. “West said she barely made it to her room at the hotel before passing out.” I hated that she’s wearing herself as thin as she is.

She’s always done this when it comes to jobs she’s on.

Doesn’t sleep while she’s working on gathering intel.

She keeps herself alert at all times. Refuses to give in to the body’s need to pass out.

Then, when it comes time to crash, she crashes.

West told me that she’s been wearing herself out more and more with this one.

It’s why I made the decision I did to bring Blow and Nines in on what they need to know regarding Marla.

She has a way of causing chaos around her if she wants.

It’s because of that damn shield she keeps wrapped around her.

Damn woman is stronger than any I’ve ever come up with, and that’s saying something.

“You didn’t tell me that you had a godson,” Meadow murmurs as Nines wraps an arm around her, tucking her closer into his side, his free hand going to rest on her stomach.

They only just shared with me yesterday that Meadow was expecting their first child. It’s one of the reasons that I decided to bring Nines in on Marla and West.

“West is unique just as Marla is. His dad and I served together and remain close. He’s a part of my operation in a way,” I explain to Meadow.

“West is a good man to have at your back, but when he met Marla, the two of them clicked and have been a team ever since. I hate to think of what the man who ends up with Marla has to deal with. He gets her, West comes with. The two are practically inseparable.”

“Are they together?” Storm asks, raising a brow.

“No.” I snort and shake my head. “West and Marla are just close.”

“Not to change the subject and all, okay to change the subject,” Nines interjects, his gaze coming to mine. “We can’t keep all of this from the club.”

“We keep Marla’s history to ourselves, but share the rest with the club,” Blow retorts with a heavy breath.

“They’re going to question her reasons for helping the club. Especially the way she acts when she’s around Marley,” Nines shares.

“Yeah, and we’re gonna have to just explain to them that it’s not our shit to share.” I’ve got to respect Blow’s decision on this. It was good I could trust these two not to share Marla’s secrets.

“If they have a problem with Marla, they can get over it,” Storm announces. “She’s done everything she’s done not just to help the club, but to survive her own traumas without bringing anyone else into it.”

“I do think that she should talk to Marley. Marley would understand her,” Meadow adds.

“Marla will do what Marla wants,” I tell them all. Besides, I knew there was only one person who could get through to her more than anyone else. She just needs to not fight him on it. Better yet, he needs to be able to see through the bullshit, which I’m sure he already has.

I’m not stupid as to who all Marla works with.

Over the years, she’s shared intel with Keys to help the club at my request. She’s, for the most part, kept herself in the shadows.

She’d never met Keys, not in person, not face to face.

It’s only ever been either on the phone, text or email.

It’s how she kept herself for the most, invisible.

It’s how I kept her safe. If it hadn’t been for Marley and their parents, she’d have remained in the shadows, and none of this would be happening as it is now.

“I believe we need to at least fill Griz in on this shit. More of it than the rest,” Nines shares.

“No,” Blow grunts. “He’d go straight to Marley with it. No matter the order. He’d feel obligated to share with his woman. We can’t put him in that situation.”

Again, respect.

My phone vibrates in my pocket, and I pull it out to look at the screen. It was West.

West: You were right, he showed up.

Figured he would.

He had the program to be able to trace Marla’s phone. I’d given it to him months ago when I told Blow to update the women’s phones. They needed to be able to track them without anyone else being able to do so.

This worked out in my favor. It’s a tricky game I’m playing, and the only way to do it right is by staying one step ahead of them all.

I decide not to text West back and look to those in the room. “I’m heading out. I’ve got shit to do. If you need me, give me a call.”

The first thing I needed to do was meet up with Fox and the team I sent with him.

They’d been on a mission, and that mission wasn’t done yet.

Not until we put a stop to those behind everything else going down in Mississippi.

There’s more than even Fox’s brother knows about, and none of it we can fully share with them without exposing some very important people and wreaking havoc on others who are doing everything they can to stay ahead of the game.

This life I live is all a game of chess. To stay on the winning side, you have to master the board, and that’s where I come in. I’ll use the pawns, knights, rooks, and bishops as I see fit. I hold the king and queen for the most important roles, but they’ll be used just the same.

No one is without being useful to me in some way. Though, some are more important to me than others.