Page 155 of Ethan's Sky

“The men who killed my father came looking for me. I sort of went with them voluntarily after I got a glimpse of a nearly lifeless teenage girl in the back.” Violet’s eyes fill with tears.

“Did they…was she hurt?” Violet looks past me to where the children are playing the video game and trash talking one another.

“No. They were about to, but Gabe and the others arrived.”

“And where’s her family?”

“Doesn’t have any. Eli said he would be willing to take her with him to Mountain Heights, like what the club did for me.”

Violet studies me. “You don’t want her to go.” She’s not asking so I don’t offer a reply. “Would Ethan be willing to take her in? You guys are just getting started. Would he be willing to share you with a teenage girl? That’s a big responsibility to be taking on.”

“I haven’t asked him. I wanted to, but it didn’t seem like the right time. Maybe after they get done in church, I’ll ask.”

Violet doesn’t push the subject any further. We sit and watch the kids and talk about the overbearing men in this town and how they should be dealt with.

46

ETHAN

I knew bringing Skyler here so she could physically see for herself that Violet was all right was the best thing for her. For them both. Even though we talked last night, Skyler isn’t one to easily shed her guilt.

“Let’s get this shit show started.” Gabe claps the gavel down and everyone shuts up.

“Mack, Declan, do you have the information I asked for on the bastard who attacked Violet?”

Declan’s face is hard as stone, he looks ready to strike at any moment. Usually, he’s the picture of calm. Not today.

Mack starts, “Violet hasn’t given us much to go on. We tried to ask her about her ex-husband but every time we broached the subject she shut us down. So, I have Hawk run a background on Violet Dupree.”

“What did you find?” Jameson asks.

“Not a fucking thing. It’s an alias.”

Grumbles and curses, comments of disbelief, are all happening around the sanctuary.

“Dec, has she said anything to you?” Gabe inquires.

“No. She won’t give me much of anything. The same story she gave when she first moved here and took the job with Ethan at the gym.” He looks at me, for corroboration. “She moved here after a shitty divorce for a new start for herself and her son.”

I nod. It’s the story she gave me when I hired her.

“We all know there’s more to it than what she’s telling us based off the way Carter is so protective of her, and all his questions about stopping bad guys from hurting her.” Declan adds.

Hawk jumps in with his laptop, typing away at something. “I can’t find anything on Violet Dupree, no birth certificate, marriage license, or divorce papers filed. So, I started looking into Carter Dupree. There’s no record of him either.”

“Someone went through a lot of trouble to keep these two identities hidden.”

“We can’t do anything to help if she won’t give us what we need. For now, just keep an eye on her and the boy. Dec, get some time with the kid and remind him about contacting us if he ever feels like his mom is in danger.” Gabe commands.

“Got it, Pres.”

“Now, where are we with the Devil’s Order? How’s the clean-up at the strip club going?”

It’s Ghost’s turn to chime in. “Jameson’s crew got most of the plumbing and drywall done. We’re waiting on the paint and carpet, cosmetic shit to get done.”

Gabe nods.

“Any other blow back since we put those two assholes in the ground last night?”

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