Page 15 of Creed

“Nothing, just annoyed, that’s all.”

He nodded. “Yeah, the Rejects? The shit they were saying about that hot as hell actress was even too fucked up for me to listen.”

I drew in a frustrated breath and let it out. “I talked to Darren about it, and he wants us to keep an eye on them and Miss Rossi tonight. He’s pretty damn protective of his niece. He’s going to talk to her father about bringing in some outside security for her. If the Rejects learn how much she cares for Callie and her daughter, I could see them making a move to not just get her but her money as well. They’d have no shame in using the little girl as collateral, and it’s not like that little girl’s piece of shit dad would protect her.”

He leaned in close and whispered. “Why not bring her to Creed’s Lake? I know it’s against the rules to let non-residents enter without the necessary paperwork, but she’s a special circumstance. I officially volunteer to be her protector.”

“The fuck you will.” I growled.

He backed away just a little as his eyes grew. “Whoa, what’s that about?”

“Nothing. We won’t be bending any rules for some spoiled actress. Providing security is not what we do, and we will not be starting that just for her. She has Patrick, Tanner, and Darren to protect her. She’s their responsibility, not ours.” So, some of that was bullshit. She wouldn’t be coming to Creed’s Lake because a woman that had that kind of effect on me would make me weak, and I had a lot of people depending on me.

I kept an eye on her as she walked toward the food with a beer in hand. If she were mine, I’d smack her on her bare ass just for looking so damn adorable. A woman like that had no right to look so innocent but that red solo cup made her look down to earth or something. She seemed comfortable with that solo cup when most women of her status drank out of something no less than a crystal wine glass. I tilted my head when a few young girls approached her and she smiled, making those unnaturallygorgeous eyes gleam and sparkle. She was being kind and inviting as she posed for a selfie with the girls.

“She doesn’t seem spoiled and stuck up.” Drakos said.

I rolled my eyes. “She’s an actress or for better words, she’s a chameleon. She can easily fit in any environment without much effort.”

He laughed at me. “She grew up here, and why the hell would she care about fitting in? We’re standing in a VFW hall where nobody here could possibly advance her career or provide much of anything but friendship. Plus, I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about, since you’re the richest person in the room. You’re the one that was like a chameleon so you would fit in better with all of us during your entire military career. You fucking lied to us, man. You’re being a hypocrite, and that woman has nothing to gain from these people. This town is more her home than it is ours. You should probably keep that in mind. Oh, and guess who donated fifty grand tonight?”

My eyes met his. “Fifty grand?”

“Yep, and she doesn’t have billions like you do, she’s a millionaire, not a spoiled rotten billionaire like someone I know.”

“I’m not spoiled.” Fuck him. I knew hunger, pain, despair, and torture no less than him or any other man that lived on Creed’s Lake. War isn’t picky and it doesn’t care who has the most money in the bank. I was a soldier just like him, so he could fuck off.

“Yeah, and who has the massive log home on the lake while the rest of us live in rustic cabins?”

It took everything in me not to grab him by the throat and remind him not to bite the hand that fed him. It was my father’s money that built his fucking house and provided him with a job. Everything my men had came from my father’s hard work, so fuck him. “You better watch what you say to your fucking boss, Drakos.” I warned him as I leaned in closer and whispered. “It was my family money that started what we have, and you’d do yourself a favor by not forgetting it.” I snarled.

He put his hands up in surrender. “I’m just trying to help you see my point. That woman probably worked pretty damn hard to have what she has earned. She didn’t grow up rich, so what you’re seeing today is probably a true side of her. By the way those Reject’s acted today, she could be in danger. That’s why we are here today, because we help people. Why does she have to be different just because she makes movies? You and I both know we could protect her better than any private security. She’s going to start poking around about the Devil’s Reject’s and they have a run coming up. The last thing they want is a famous person poking around about them just before their next run. Plus, they’re not all that smart and they’d hurt her without even thinking of the press it would bring them.”

“If Darren or Tanner ask for help we will step in, but until then she’s not our problem.” I made myself clear.

A woman almost ran over Drakos as she practically danced by us. “We sold out, no more meal tickets. We’ve surpassed our goal.” She sing songed as she danced toward the ladies serving the food.

“Thank God I got my ticket.” Drakos said.

We finally advanced and had our trays in hand as the ladies piled food on our plates.

“I’ll give you a grand for a take home box.” I heard a feminine voice and looked up from the food to see Morgan Rossi trying to negotiate.

“I’m sorry, Morgan. We’re sold out and people already bought all the food.” The older woman explained.

“Fine, I will take you to LA for my movie premier and even buy your dress if you make me one small box to take home.”

I had to smile at her persistence.

“Morgan, its not ours to give you. They’ve all purchased meal tickets.” The woman said.

“Okay, fine. I guess I need to sweeten the pot a little, Mrs. White. I’ll take you to my premier, buy you anything you want in New York, and go on that date with your grandson. Hell, I’ll even have his babies if you give me those three pieces of white meat right there and another piece of pie.”

Mrs. White burst into laughter. “My grandson will kill me for this, but the answer is still no.”

“Ugh, there has to be something! Fine, I will take you to my premier, buy you whatever you want in New York, have babies with your grandson and change Mr. White’s Depends for the duration of one year, for four pieces of white meat and two pieces of pie.”

Mrs. White dropped her serving spoon and I unfortunately let a laugh escape.

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