Page 11 of Arrow

Arrow knew Jay wasn’t lying. They finished up their conversation, and Arrow went into the kitchen for a fresh cup of coffee. Returning to his desk, he took a long drink before turning back to the computer screen in front of him. Rubbing his chin, he scowled. The numbers were not adding up. His home office was quiet, the way he liked it. In a couple of hours, he would arrive at the Watchmen Clubhouse and unlike the calm sanctuary of his house, the clubhouse would be loud with boisterous men and the roar of Harleys. The noise and interruptions would make it hard to concentrate.

The Spartan Watchmen Motorcycle Club’s finances were still a bit of a mess. He’d taken them over after the former treasurer had betrayed the club. Arrow knew there was some suspicion that Crock had skimmed off the top. But, Arrow hadn’t expected such a cluster fuck of issues to arise in the few months he’d been at it. When Irish’s new girlfriend pointed out the issues in Irish’s non-profit, the hair on the back of his arms stood up. Irish’s son hadn’t only worked for his father, Wyatt had also worked for the former treasurer and was paid to do some work aroundthe clubhouse. After he helped Makenzie find and show Irish the theft, he’d returned to look at their own ledgers, hoping Irish’s ex-wife’s treachery stopped with Irish’s business. Unfortunately, things weren’t adding up the way they were supposed to.

“Damn discrepancies,” he muttered, staring at the document. He cherished order. The first born of a large tight knit family, he’d been the dictionary definition of a type A personality. He took a leadership position in every club and sport he’d participated in. Leading was as natural to him as breathing air. He’d fought hard to pass his classes in school, his dyslexia undiagnosed until high school. Words weren’t his friend, but numbers were. He’d advanced in upper-level mathematics. Once diagnosed, his parents worked hard, equipping him with all the tools he would need for success. He scored high on his ASVAB and moved quickly through the ranks. It’d taken two years to go through the special operations and reconnaissance training before he’d become a commando. Twenty years later and he retired at forty-two from the military. Never been married. No kids. A couple of relationships scattered in but nothing serious. He enjoyed playing at The Citadel. There were several submissives who didn’t mind participating in a good scene or two. No one had caught his attention before.

He glanced down as a notification lit up his Apple Watch. Emilee was texting him. Siri read the texts aloud to him. Although he could read, he preferred audible. Lucky for him, there were an abundance of apps and devices out there that he hadn’t had as a teenager. He listened to the text and spoke his reply into his watch.

Emilee: I think I left something at your house, mind if I swing by and grab it after work?

Arrow: Of course I don’t mind. We need to talk anyway. What time do you get off?

Emilee: 1

Arrow: Are you having lunch at work?

Emilee: No. This week is training. 9-1

Arrow: Good. I’ll make us some lunch.

Emilee: You don’t have to do that.

Arrow: I want to.

Emilee: But, why? You barely know me.

Arrow: Like I said, it’s what Daddies do. Now get back to work.

He waited for her answer, and when one didn’t come, he smiled to himself before turning back to the computer screen. His smile quickly turned to a frown.

Fuck.

He double checked the dates of the discrepancies against the times when Irish had the kids. Spring break. Christmas break. Summer. They lined up, just like he knew they would. He needed to talk to Wyatt. The boy had moved in with his dad a couple of months back, after they’d uncovered the fraud. Once he’d confronted his mother about the missing money, there was no going back. Irish said a light had been shined on his ex’s criminal behavior, and Wyatt wasn’t willing to step back into the darkness. Arrow knew Wyatt to be a good kid, and he’d apologized profusely for his part in the deceit. Arrow doubted the teen knew exactly how far his mother had gone.

After going through the past month’s finances, he started paying the current month’s bills. The clubhouse cost money to maintain. They bought the property outright in cash; there wasn’t a mortgage. There were, however, yearly property taxes, utility bills and general upkeep associated with the building. Besides the cost of maintaining the building, there were the mounting grocery costs, the insurance payments and many other odds and ends. Still, the club was more than financially stable. In addition to the dues each member paid annually, they had several fundraising rides and events. Not to mention the investment portfolio Arrow had set up, yielding impressive gains. Regardless of the number of zeros in the club’s bank account, no one should take any of their money without approval.

The noise of his alarm system momentarily drew away from the computer screen arrow's attention. Glancing down at his watch, he watched Emilee’s car drive up. Standing from the desk chair, he stretched and headed to meet her at the front door. Standing in the open door, he was immediately aware of her weariness. Her shoulders were hunched up, and she looked down at the sidewalk as she walked towards him.

“Hey, Kitten.” She looked up at him, her eyebrows drawn together as if something puzzled her, but said nothing back, only raised her hand in a slight wave.

“I know you are working. I’ll just grab my item and be on my way.”

Her item? Interesting way to put it. What was it she’d left behind? “Actually, I ordered us lunch. I think we should talk.”

“We don’t really have anything to talk about.” She entered the house and walked by him, heading down the hall to the room she’d slept in the night before. He stood in the doorway and watched as she reached under the pillow and pulled out her bear before quickly placing it in her bag.

Interesting. She knew he was a Daddy. Why hide her stuffy from him? She pushed by him standing in the doorway and headed back to the front of the house.

“Thanks again for letting me stay here last night. I appreciate the gesture. I guess I’ll see you around.”

“Kitten, stop.” There was an edge of warning in his tone. He’d used it many times to demand obedience from his airmen and his ex. She hesitated in the doorway but didn’t turn around. He strode towards her, took her by the arm and turned her to face him. “I ordered us lunch. Please stay and eat with me.” He tipped her chin up and stared into her eyes. Despite the shadows that played beneath her deep blue eyes, and the defiance he saw glaring back at him, a resilient spark still flickered in their depths, refusing to be extinguished.

Slowly, she nodded. He smiled reassuringly at her, took her by the hand and led her into the kitchen. He was glad she’d given in, it would make life easier on both of them if she’d simply listened and obeyed him. He knew she wasn’t the submissive type. It was a good thing he was up for the challenge.

CHAPTER 5

EMILEE

Arrow placed a plate of chicken tenders, French fries and fruit salad in front of her. Her stomach growled at the sight. No doubt it’d come from her favorite fast food chicken restaurant.

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