Page 24 of Mav

“No. But the last time I was talking to her, she was thinking about traveling. Maybe travel around Europe, visit the UK, and even Australia. She’s worked hard, but she’s ready to move on. I know she’s restless and trying to find where she belongs. She knows she can come to us anytime she wants, but I don’t think she will.” Mia sounds a little on the sad side, but knowing Shar, she’ll bounce wherever she lands,

“I thought she was going to get with Hammer, but it didn’t work out. She’ll be okay Mia. She’s a strong woman and a survivor.”

“I know.”

I let the subject drop, and arriving at Nell’s, I watch Mia become animated as she enters the kitchen, and takes a seat, throwing one question after another at Nell. I sit back and rest my head on the wall, making sure my seat is opposite Mia, so she doesn’t feel I’m on guard.

I close myself off to their gossip until I hear Vincenzo’s name mentioned, then I have to admit my hearing takes a turn for the better.

“Well, he’s a dick, and I know he’s a powerful man being fit physically, but it’s mentally I’m talking about. He controls all his men without hardly trying. They respect him and what he is doing for them all. You know he’s cleaned up and got rid of a lot, and I mean a lot of evil men and a few evil women. My gators never ate so well.” Nell places a rack of muffins onto the table that she’s obviously made earlier. I don’t wait to be asked if I want one. I grab one and take a massive bite.

“Damn good, Nell.” I hum as I finish this one and grab another. I close off to the rest of the gossip until Mark Milana's name is mentioned. Then my ears really do prick up.

“I’ve heard this asshole is selling drugs that are used for date rape, and I’ve had two or three men here, you know, for interrogation. It seems that this Mark is trying to get into the fight scene, but also wants to get into trafficking. He wants to be a billionaire…yeah, you heard, not a millionaire, but a billionaire…!” Nell sounds exasperated.

“I’ll speak to Axel. We can’t allow this and if you hear anything let me know, and I’ll do the same.” Mia is looking like she’s found a new hobby, and I’m not sure any of us want her to get too involved with Nell, interrogations or the gators!

I’m going to have to watch Mia, and if I need to, I will inform Pres, and I’m sure Mia isn’t going to be happy with me when she finds out I’ve informed on her. Oh, happy days!

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

-:- BLAKE -:-

It’s Friday lunchtime and I’m getting ready to have a break from working. I am enjoying working the day job, the people are nice to work beside and Liam is a good boss. He doesn’t ask any of us to do anything that he wouldn’t do himself. He often takes out the large trashcans we have in the kitchen, and doesn’t complain if he gets covered in anything nasty either.

I pour a tall glass of cold water and take it outside where I sit at the small bench we have behind the shop. Closing my eyes a moment, I count my blessings that I am able to pay all the utilities with no issue. I’m going to sell the house that Yax is living in. There is no point my keeping it as I would never live in it, and I certainly don’t want to be a landlady.

Hearing my name, I turn and smile at Bitty, who is bustling over to me from the side of the shop. “Hello, Bitty.”

“I’m getting too old to be coming into town all the time. I’m going to introduce you to the people at the clubhouse, then you can come and see me. I’ve asked the realtor to look at my place and hopefully I can get it up for sale soon. Now, I have the news that Specs has gotten rid of all the debts, so you don’t have to pay them anymore, forget them. The only payments you need to make are the mortgage on that house Yax is living in, which we’ll get rid of soon, and your own utilities, grocery shopping, etcetera.”

“What do you mean he got rid of them? Gone, as paid?” I’m shocked and worried that this may come back and bite me on the ass.

“Specs found all the debts in your late husband's name, and yours, and he had them all gotten rid of. Puff, gone…”

Bitty is grinning at me as though she’s a magician that just waved her wand and everything in the world is right. But looking at her, she’s nobody’s fairy godmother I’m positive on that. I’ve seen her do too many things to even think she is anything but innocent.

“Puff, gone? I’m not going to get into trouble with the Sheriff, am I?”

Giggling like a teenager, Bitty winks, “Forest is one of us, Blake. He’d never arrest you or we’d make sure he and Heather had more issues than they could cope with. I’d even consider getting Meat, Wings and Chaos onboard.”

I’ve heard the name Meat, and know he’s the man that came to my house with the food. But there are so many odd names that I’m not keeping up that well. I’m not going to ask. No Blake, I think to myself, just keep your head down and say nothing. “Am I really free of debt?”

“Yes, you are. Now, you don’t have to work two jobs if you don’t want to. You can kick one to the curb and have a bit of an easier time,” Bitty grins, giving my hand a squeeze where I had it laid on the table.

“I’ll keep my jobs as I like them both. I’ve been meaning to ask if I can use one of your chairs as I’m going to ask my clients to come for a meal one Sunday. I don’t have enough chairs as I need five and I only have four.”

“Of course you can. In fact, I’ve been meaning to ask if you want anything from my place before it’s sold. My dining table and six chairs are in better condition than yours, and if you want the set,it’s yours. Oh, my washing machine is only a year old, if that’s better than yours?”

“I would love your dining table and chairs, and the washing machine too if that is really okay? My washer has been leaking for a while and I have to keep mopping the water that comes from under it every time I use it.” I blush a little at that admission, but I’m not going to withhold the truth from Bitty. She’s being the support I’ve not had in a long time.

“Okay, well I’ll get the boys to come over and sort it out. It will be Sunday afternoon more than likely as they have training, and then they have church on Sundays. We can’t rely on that mind you, so don’t take it as gospel.”

Church? Blimey, I didn’t realize they were religious…maybe they are a cult after all!

Once Bitty has gone back to wherever she appeared from, I make my way back inside and finish my shift. Walking home later that day I ponder on how busy the place has been. I never realized how busy a café can be, which is basically what it is, in my opinion anyway. It is staggering to have seen how many people have been in for a drink and panini in just one day. I’ve washed so many cups, saucers, plates, mugs and trays that it’s been like a factory line of dirty dishes.

Eight-thirty and I’ve gotten Audrey, Pru, who is Prunella, and Robert organized and they have agreed to come for a meal at my home once I have Bitty’s dining table at the house. I’ve left them all with a chicken stir-fry which I threw together from the groceries that I purchased. I have a few groceries for each of them, and they were so grateful that it left me with tears in my eyes.

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