Page 4

Lavender

“What made everything worse was they’d lied and hid stuff from me. I’d not known any of this as I was a child. My parents scammed one point two million dollars a year from the Trust and lived the life they wanted,” I said, remembering how hurt I’d been.

“Damn!” Chance exclaimed.

“Oh, they’re paying for it now. The police are involved, and they’ve been arrested. Their assets have been frozen, and my lawyers are suing. Greed is an awful thing,” I announced.

“Yes, it is. So… you’re a trust fund baby,” Chance replied.

“No. I worked and still work like everyone else. Remember, I didn’t know about the Trust Fund. My parents suddenly started living the life of Riley, but I thought they’d come into money. I was completely unaware of the estate. And now it’s mine. And Aunt Aggie’s last gift to me, which means I’m not selling,” I stated, crossed my arms on my chest and stared Chance down.

“Fine by me, darlin’. If, of course, you change your mind, all I ask is you give us first refusal. But what’s this bullshit about Hellfire threatening you?” Chance asked.

I quickly reiterated what Shaye had said to me, and Sunny’s mouth tightened, and Chance took on a thunderous expression.

“Let me reassure you, Miss Torrell has no right to speak for the club in any shape or form. Hellfire made an inquiry as to whether you were selling. Clearly, she saw a nice fat commission and a bragging opportunity. We shall be speaking to her boss and filing our own complaint with the SPD,” Chance said.

“Yeah, an MC reporting to the cops.” I laughed, amused.

“Hellfire works with law enforcement. We stood shoulder to shoulder with officers when Rapid City was attacked,” Sunny replied.

I sobered. Naturally, I’d read of that; who hadn’t?

“You were there?” I asked quietly.

“Yes. On the front line. Several of my brothers were injured. But we were lucky, we didn’t have any deaths,” Chatter said.

The nightmare and horror in Chatter’s eyes was clear as he recalled some tragic memory. It was uncomfortable to be privy to it, and I squirmed.

“Sorry for your losses. From the reports, good men were killed,” I murmured.

Chance nodded, his eyes also having a faraway look.

“Heroes were made and lost,” Sunny added. Their pain was tangible, and I felt awful for making them relive that terrible experience.

“I’d never been a soldier,” Chatter said. “Not until that day.”

“Hell, I was a soldier and never expected that shit on US soil,” Sunny replied.

“Thank you for your service,” I stated and meant it. These were real heroes in front of me. “Sorry about the misunderstanding. I’ll make a call and amend the report.”

“That would be appreciated. The last thing we want is further notoriety,” Chance responded.

“I’d offer to show you the house, but the entrance hall is the least of it,” I murmured.

Chatter looked horrified. “There’re dolls throughout this place?”

“Every single room is crammed with them. Some are really valuable, others not so. Apparently, Aunt Aggie became a bit of an eccentric hoarder.”

“I need to leave!” Chatter exclaimed, peering around like he was about to be attacked.

“That’s gonna be a problem. Chatter’s gotta go back through the hall again, and I’m not carrying his lazy ass,” Sunny said.

Chatter scowled. “Ain’t going anywhere near those demon-possessed spawn.”

I bit my lip so I didn’t laugh and scratched my chin. We had to figure out how to get Chatter out.

“What if we cover Chatter’s eyes?” I suggested, and Chance shook his head.

“Tried that. Fucker took out five brothers when he swore there was the patter of tiny feet.”

Chatter paled at Chance’s words and drew his legs up.

Oh hell, he was bad.

“Shit, we didn’t think this one through,” Chance muttered.

“How about out of the window?” I proposed. “I left the boards up for security. However, we can remove it and let Chatter climb out. Otherwise, he’ll have to stay here until my team arrives.”

“Team?” Chance asked, ignoring my solution.

“I have several students coming that I teach to help pack up the dolls until I value them. Some are museum pieces. They’re that rare,” I replied.

“You’re a teacher?” Sunny inquired.

“Yes and no. I taught one day a week at my local university. There’s a lot of money to be made in dolls and I trained students who wanted to specialise in how to tell genuine from fake. And how to check for identifying marks and look at reputable sources. There’re some seriously good fakes out there, and when a doll can fetch six figures, it is a big business.

“I used to do a lot of travelling, but I plan to stay here now. If people want me to value their treasure, then they'll come to me. That sounds arrogant, and I don’t mean it like that. But I’ve seen most of the states and have travelled constantly for seven years. It’s nice to have somewhere to call home and put roots down.”

“Do you intend to teach here?” Chatter asked.

“In a way. I was thinking of working with universities and letting people lodge here. No more than six or seven. They’d come and stay as part of their course and learn what they needed to. At the uni, I taught one and a half days a week. A three-month program should be plenty. Several universities have shown interest, and I have loads of rooms here.”

“What about paying their way?” Chance inquired.

“Oh, that would be free. I’d sponsor them to be here and expand their knowledge. And considering I’m looking at thousands of dolls here, they’ve ample to go through,” I said.

Chatter paled. “Thousands?”

“Easily. Every single room I’ve seen is crammed with them. It’s clear what Aunt Aggie spent her money on,” I replied with a smile.

Chatter’s eyes rolled up in his head, and he collapsed on my bed.

“Oh shit!” I gasped.

“Fuckin’ pansy,” Chance muttered. “I’ll go remove those boards.”

“Yeah, that’s probably the best,” I said with a wince.

Such a shame Chatter had such an extreme reaction to dolls. Because Chatter was quite cute. He had two full sleeves of tattoos, and I loved them. Chatter’s hair was cropped short, and he had dark stubble. His face was lean but handsome, and he had soft brown eyes. Chatter also had muscles! But it wasn’t to be. My job would give him nightmares, I thought with a snicker.

“Not considering a career change any time soon?” Chance asked, his eyes narrowed on me.

“No, sorry!” I replied and moved my gaze away from Chatter. How embarrassing, I’d been caught checking this man’s brother out.

Chance grinned, and I gaped, spellbound at how his face changed, and it hit me how good-looking he was. In fact, Sunny was, too, for that matter.

Both men smirked as they left, and minutes later, they were tearing the boards from the frame outside. I didn’t feel so safe now, with just a pane of glass between me and the world. Several times, I’d heard people outside over the last two weeks. It was probably kids, but I planned to get a dog anyway. I liked being alone, but everyone knew this house had been empty for ages. It was a target.

“I’m looking to adopt a dog; do you have any suggestions?” I asked Chance as he returned.

“Guard or pet,” Chance inquired.

“Guard. Theres been noises outside a few times, and now that window’s un-boarded, I’m a little insecure,” I said.

“Jinx,” Sunny exclaimed.

Chance looked at him. “No, we couldn’t!”

“Yes. We’ve got a candidate we can assign to watch tonight. And also, a couple of brothers in another club own a sanctuary. I’m sure Calamity and Klutz would have a dog,” Sunny explained.

“Oh no, I don’t want someone having to sit outside all night!” I cried.

“And we don’t want our neighbour being terrified in her own home. We’ll send Jinx. Candidate can bunk in the hallway or the porch. Up to you. But we’re not going to leave you alone until you are safer,” Chance argued.

“I’ve lived by myself for nearly ten years,” I said.

“Good for you, but something’s worried you. And if you don’t feel safe, there’s a reason for it. So let us help you, and even if you don’t, we’ll still send Jinx.” Sunny grinned.

“Fine!” I exclaimed as Chatter began stirring again.

“Let’s get the delicate flower out of here,” Chance stated.

“Fuck you, asshole,” Chatter grumbled, but allowed Chance and Sunny to launch him out of the window. Chatter landed with a crash and a roar, and they swapped glances.

“Oh, my!” I gasped, rushing to the window to check on him.

“He’s fine!” Sunny said and walked out with Chance on his heels.

◆◆◆

No wonder Sunny had nominated Jinx. The man was a menace. He’d arrived at six, and a builder had dropped a hammer on his toes. Since then, everything bad that could happen had. The door, which had been fixed, jammed again. A workman fell down a hole in the garden, which suddenly appeared. The cherry picker got stuck with a tree cutter at the top and it wouldn’t lower for love or money.

Jinx took everything in his stride, but I found it odd it all began going wrong when he arrived. But he was lovely. Jinx rode his motorbike here and brought a sleeping bag, fold-up cot and a backpack. I was surprised at how Jinx fit it all on his bike.

“Hi, Ma’am, I’m Jinx and your guard for the next few nights. I’ll sleep outside on the porch and keep an eye out for you,” he said on arrival.

“Actually, I’ve made some room in the entrance hall,” I offered and waved my hand.

“No offence, ma’am, but I wouldn’t relax with all those eyes watching. That shit’s creepy,” Jinx replied.

I studied the young man in front of me. He was about twenty-one and, while tall and strongly built, had some growing remaining. Genuinely honest eyes watched me as I appraised him.

“I wouldn’t sleep knowing you’re out there alone. If something happened to you, I’d never forgive myself. We’ll share my room. You can bunk one side, and I can shift my bed to the other,” I said, opening the door.

Jinx looked around. “Your bed needs moving far from the window. I’ll do that now. I’ll also leave a gap between the wall and bed. If I tell you to take cover, slide down the side of it. I will put my bunk under the window. Should someone try to come through it, they’ll step on me.”

“Are you sure?” I asked.

“Ma’am, I’m here to keep an eye on you. I’m perfectly certain,” he answered. “I’m gonna take a walk around and check for any weak areas. If you hear doors rattling or windows shaking, it’s me. Or this time it is, anyway.”

“Thank you. That means a lot,” I replied. “I’m going to order Thai, what would you like?”

“Oh, I’m fine, I brought sandwiches,” Jinx said and held up a sorry-looking package.

“Is that it?” I exclaimed.

“Well, Ma’am, I don’t have a lot of ready cash. Candidates do get a cut of the profits the club makes, but only a slim one. My money was saved for my bike. The good news is everyone receives a free room at the clubhouse, so I ain’t gotta worry too much.”

“Call me Lavender, please. I’m about seven years older than you, and you’re making me feel ancient. Go do your checks, I’ll order food, and then we can talk. I have questions,” I bossed him.

Jinx smiled and disappeared, and I frowned. Candidate? That wasn’t a phrase I was familiar with around MCs. Not that I honestly knew much about them, I guess as much as anyone who watched TV. But most of that was fake. Cut of the profits? Yup, I’d wait and then grill Jinx.

And not a lot of money? Jinx couldn’t buy a meal? I’d be speaking to Chance about that as soon as I saw him again. Meanwhile, I needed to figure out Jinx’s wage. Jinx was working for me and would take payment come hell or high water.

◆◆◆

I smiled as I lay down. That had been a right battle. Jinx was overwhelmed by the amount of food I’d ordered but ate half of it. So those damned sandwiches wouldn’t have filled him long. Jinx was calm to be around, which was crazy, considering the weird stuff that happened near him. I could understand why he was called Jinx now.

Jinx was so good-natured with everything. He told me he’d warned Chance and everyone when he’d interviewed for the club about the strange shit, but they’d not listened. Jinx said his whacked out woo-woo crap—his words, not mine—had behaved for all of twenty-four hours when he’d been accepted. Then, it had erupted with a vengeance.

Jinx smiled sadly when he explained it had caused his mother no end of issues. When I asked if she was still alive, he nodded vigorously. Jinx was obviously close to her. Somehow, despite his closeness with his mom, I sensed a troubled life, one of poverty and something else. Jinx refused point blank to discuss certain subjects and would change the direction of the conversation abruptly.

He was also cagey about what he said about the club. He explained the candidate and prospect roles and how Hellfire and some of their allies’ recruited brothers. Jinx wouldn’t say too much, and I got the feeling that Hellfire had suffered a dark period. But when pressed about how much he earned, Jinx clammed right up. Stated that it was club business, and he declined to comment.

The annoying man also fought me over paying him. Jinx point blank refused to accept payment, stating he’d been ordered to do this for the club. Therefore, it was his role. I was unwilling to let Jinx stay unless he accepted payment.

In the end, distressed, he’d contacted Chance, who told him to take the wages I offered. Jinx grumbled a bit but finally gave me his bank details. I looked up what security guards usually got an hour, added on twenty per cent, and paid him for a week up front.

Once the argument was done, Jinx did another round of the outside, and we both headed for bed. He seemed quite happy with his put-up cot and sleeping bag, but I decided to get the room next to me cleared tomorrow. Then Jinx could have his own space. My team should be arriving early morning, and we could pack everything up and clean it for Jinx.

Smiling at my plans, I finally dosed off.

◆◆◆

I came too with a start. There’d been a noise. I looked over at Jinx and saw he was upright in bed but slumped as he peered out of the window.

“Jinx?” I whispered.

“I heard it too. Someone is out there, you’ve not been wrong,” Jinx murmured. I began to slide out of bed, and Jinx stopped me. “Lavender, stay there. If I say hide, slip down the side and curl up small.”

Jinx slowly slid from his bed and picked something up by his bed. “I’ll knock three times and then once after a count of five. If you don’t hear that second knock, it is not me. Shoot whoever comes through the door.”

“What?” I gasped.

“That’s a rubber bullet gun, and this is a taser. Don’t hesitate, okay?”

“Yes,” I said as he crossed the room in the moonlight and handed me two items.

“Lavender, I mean it. Don’t delay hiding, Lavender, this is about your safety,” he murmured.

“Yup. Got it,” I whispered, but I was shaking inside.

“I’ll lock the front door behind me. Remember, I’ll knock on this room’s door three times and then once.”

“If I don’t hear the second single knock, shoot!”

“Exactly!” Jinx said and disappeared.

I wanted to call him back.

Jinx faced a potential threat.

Something told me it wasn’t kids tonight.

The entire house felt watchful, and there was danger in the air.

The front door opened with a loud groan and squeak, and there went the element of surprise.

There was a shout, a bang, and I froze.

I fumbled my phone but didn’t know who to call.

A bright light swept my window, and I dived down the side of the bed and huddled up.

Was that the intruder? Who was it? What did they want? Where was Jinx? Questions flew from my mind as I began panting in fear and worry.

Minutes ticked past, and it seemed like hours, but in reality, it had only been fifteen minutes.

The front door opened.

There was a thump and a startled cry.

I couldn’t tell if that was Jinx and realised I’d dropped the weapons on the bed.

I groped around, found one, and grabbed it quickly.

There were three knocks, a pause, followed by a single rap.

Grateful it was Jinx, I relaxed as the door opened with moonlight lighting the doorway.

There was nobody there.

The hairs on the back of my neck stood up as I stared at the empty spot.

Somebody had to be there.

There’d been knocks, and somebody cried out.

My eyes widened in terror as the front door opened again, and someone entered.

“What the fuck?” Jinx exclaimed as he shut it behind him.

He rushed into the room, and I nearly fired but just held back.

“Jinx!” I shrieked with relief.

“Why is the door open?”

“Somebody came in, they did your knock, and the door opened. There was nobody there!” I explained as I scrambled out from the bed.

A tall, dark figure appeared from behind Jinx, and I cried out and screamed his name.

“That’s Fanatic! He’s with me!” Jinx shouted.

I winced, but it was too late. I’d fired, and unluckily for Fanatic, it was the taser! Fanatic went down like a ton of bricks and twitched alarmingly.

“What the hell?” Jinx murmured as he approached me carefully and took the weapon off me. “Oh, shit. That was set to maximum. They’re going to kill me!”

Jinx got on the phone as Fanatic shook and made little yipping noises. I managed to get a pillow under his head. A bright light appeared in the drive, and a bike parked up. Jinx let someone in, and I recognised Sunny.

“You tasered Fanatic?”

“It was an accident. I was freaked out,” I cried.

“Calm down, Lavender. Tell me what happened,” Sunny said as he bent and checked Fanatic’s pulse. He helped Fanatic slowly get to his feet, and Fanatic sent me a baleful look as his body jolted one way and then the other.

I quickly explained and turned to Jinx.

“There were three people outside. They all wore dark clothes. I don’t think they were kids either. Two were tall and bulky,” Jinx said.

“Highschool ballers?” Sunny asked.

“Possibly. They scarpered when they noticed me,” Jinx replied.

“What were they doing?”

“That’s the weird thing. Two were standing around while one checked the frames on the windows. They avoided this one. I reckon they had looked and seen us. It doesn’t make sense why they’d try to get inside knowing people were here. Something’s off,” Jinx said, scratching his belly.

“Some of these dolls were valuable, right?” Sunny turned to me.

“Yes, but without cataloguing them, I couldn’t tell you which. But there’s certainly some in the entrance hall alone. There was an original nineteen-fifty-nine Barbie in this room, which is worth about twenty-five thousand. The packing and everything were pristine. There’re a couple of other dolls of high value. And several Simon and Halbig dolls worth a small fortune. There was also a massive stack of about thirty cabbage patch dolls from before nineteen-eighty-two. They’re worth about five thousand a piece,” I explained.

Sunny’s eyes opened wide.

“Basically, you’re sitting on a fortune here,” he said. “Who the hell knew dolls would be so valuable?”

“There’re a lot of collectors out there, Sunny, and they’d kill to get their hands on this. Before my team enters the house in the morning, they’ll be signing NDAs and being warned. They will be prosecuted should they breach it.”

“That’s cutthroat,” Fanatic murmured. Good, he was feeling better despite jolting with an occasional twitch.

“That’s fact. They won’t even be allowed to work in a room alone, although that would probably make things quicker. All too easy to slip a valuable doll out, and it’s happened. Not to me, but yeah, I know colleagues who’ve had items stolen,” I replied.

“Perhaps someone’s listened to rumours and is trying to discover the truth?” Fanatic asked.

“No. Because apart from you two, Chance and Chatter, no one else has visited. I did have a team in to clean the kitchen today. But they entered through the kitchen door. The doors leading to the house and cellars were locked. They were constantly under surveillance by my camera. Nobody knows about this other than me,” I said.

“Somebody knows something,” Sunny stated ominously.

I couldn’t disagree as much as I wished to.