Page 5 of Cooper

Duke

“Stone,good to see you. Saige, Cooper. To answer your question, yes, she really believes I’m dead. We couldn’t arrest everyone and get out from the undercover job without her thinking that.”

I look at the phone at Saige. “You’ll never know how sorry I am to have done the things I did to you. I never knew what Pyro did until your dad told me. Tonya is the one that told the guys to get you, not me. When I found out from another undercover in the group, I had to make it look like it was my idea. I had it out with her, and she said she did it for me, so that I could have my revenge for my father. Snake wasn’t really my father, but with all the work that went into the job, it appeared that he was. He thought I was his son by one of the club whores. Anyways, I took over the club with a few other officers who went in with me. It didn’t take long to find out who all was doing the sex trafficking. She was over it all, Stone. She was the one driving that van the night Saige killed that woman outside the Vipers Pit. She was Tonya’s partner. That’s why she wanted Saige, she thought she saw her that night. Even when she knew she hadn’t, she didn’t want to take the chance. Saige was to go to Michael with Bexley. He is in on it too, but he is making it look like his brother is part of it. John is clean of this, but where he takes bribes, and bribes others, it was easy for them to blackmail him to cover it all up.”

Saige looks like she is about to pass out. “But your appearance? How did you pull it all off? You’ve completely changed.”

I give her a small smile. “Prosthetics. They are state of the art prosthetics. I slowly built up the stomach with them, the scar, contacts, it was all carefully done. I had to look and play the part. There were times when I felt I really was this dirty, evil man. I was undercover for nearly twenty-three years. We had to build up and go down on things over the years. I had to do things I’m not proud of, and the biggest regret I’ll ever have, is you getting hurt. Your mom, man, that’s the real monster. I have some info on the guy Beth was dating and why she and Buck were killed. Richard. He’s working for Michael. He tried getting Beth to help him get close to everyone. That way he had an in to get to Bexley or Saige. He knew if he got to Saige, Bexley would give herself up to save her. He’s one crazy son of a bitch. Buck must have figured it out, he talked to Beth about it. She didn’t believe him completely, but she did enough to make sure her kid was taken care of. I don’t know why Buck and Beth were killed unless Buck confronted Richard. It may look like Michael is laying low, but he isn’t. I hope you have guys watching over both Bexley and Saige at all times.”

Stone is taking everything in stride. He knew I was undercover and who I was. He was still on the force at the time. “I’m thankful for you letting me know that you were coming in and letting me get the other guys out.”

He looks at me and nods. “You’ve sacrificed a lot over the years, and to learn you have a little brother and lose him all in the same month, I know was hard. But he had to go.”

I look at Stone, then Cooper and Saige through the phone. “I know, and I am sorry for what he did. I wish I could take it all back, but I can’t.” I sigh and run my hand through my hair.

“I can’t say that I’ll forgive you, but I do understand what you are saying, and I’ll work on it. I get that you were doing your job and trying to protect the ones that needed to be. “Saige says.

Cooper looks at me, “I agree with Sis. I get that you were doing your job, but that doesn’t mean that I am going to trust you right off the bat. I know dad trusts you, but…”

I nod as I sit back in the chair, “I get it, honestly. Just whatever you do, don’t let anyone know about me right now. I have to be dead.”

Cooper

We all agree to Dukes request and go into another room where Tonya is being brought in, her hands handcuffed in front of her. She starts crying when she sees us. “Cooper, Stone, you have to help me, get me out of here.”

I look at her and hold the phone up so that she can see Saige as well, as she is told to sit at the table. Tonya lets the crocodile tears flow. “Saige my baby girl, Stone, I need one of you to bail me out, and let me move in with you. I’m not safe in here. I thought I might be, that’s why I broke into the store, that I thought was yours. It was dark, so I got turned around in the back alley. Please you have to help me!”

“Who are you needing protection from Tonya?” dad asks her. She looks at him like he has grown horns.

“I need protection from the man that Rancor sold Bexley and Saige too. Since Rancor is dead, and he didn’t deliver the girls to him, he is demanding that I do it, or he’ll kill me! I don’t know what else to do, except move in with y’all! You have protection all around the clubhouse, and I know Saige is protected at her house. Baby I should move in with you, you are about to have the twins, and I want to be with you and them.”

“Oh, I don’t think so Tonya. You don’t need to be with the twins or Saige if that man is after you too. You would be leading him right to her. I think you are in the safest place for you right now. Let me see what we can do about having you in a private cell, with men that I know and trust that work here to watch over you for now?” dad says as he is staring daggers at her.

“Tonya, do you know who the man is that is after Bexley and Saige?’’ I ask.

She looks at me, “Why yes. His name is Richard. Richard Tedder. He has blonde hair, skinny but built. He is mean, and always gets what he wants. As for leading him to Saige, he already knows where she is. He isn’t stupid, he’s just bidding his time.”

Saige looks at Tonya, “Did he kill Beth and Buck? If he did, why?”

Tonya looks at the phone, staring at Saige, “Does he have to have a reason for killing them? Yes. He killed them because they wouldn’t bring him to the clubhouse to get close to y’all, and to show me what he is capable of. He is ruthless. He would have killed Bethany too if you didn’t have her.”

I just watch the expressions that cross Tonya’s face, the look in her eyes. You can tell that she is angry, and she is trying to hide it for all that she’s worth. I agree with dad, her staying here where we know she is, is the best thing for her. It isn’t until Saige talks again that I realize that I’ve been staring at her.

“Look mom, I agree with dad. If we get you in a private cell, have guys here that he knows and trusts to watch you, you’ll be safe. I don’t want anything to happen to you, maybe Grange can come down and watch over you too. That way you have someone you know here. Will you please do this for me? For your grandkids?”

Damn Saige even has tears running down her face. Maybe she’s better at the acting stuff than I ever gave her credit for. Tonya just sits and stares at the phone screen where Saige is crying. She finally gives in, slumping forward some and nodding her head. “I’ll do it for now, so long as Grange can stay here as much as possible. Cooper, maybe you and your dad can come stay some too?”

I look at her then dad. I nod to agree. Dad motions to the guard who is standing outside the room along with Commander Thomas. Dad asks for the private cell for her and for a couple of guys he knows to watch her. He tells Thomas that she’s a suicide risk as well as in trouble on the outside. He would explain the rest to him later. Tonya never looks up, but she has a slight smile on her face. I get up from the table and walk outside. I need air.

“Sis, you okay with everything we learned today?” I ask her, looking at her face.

She sighs, “I’m not really. I need to process everything. But Tonya has been all over the place personality wise since I met her. I honestly think that if she could, she would try to sell the twins and Bethany. I have no clue what to do. I know that we need to get a few guys to watch her, even when Grange is with her. You know that he sent her photos of me, my whole life. So, who’s to say he isn’t helping her somehow?”

“Damn Sis! That thought never entered my mind. I know he’s related to her and sent her pics, but do you really think that he would turn on the club and help her?” I ask.

“Yes, I do. I had talked to dad about that last night. I didn’t know she was over everything until today, but I knew she was up to something, I just didn’t know what. I think everything she does is a signal to someone else to know what is up. After talking to Ra, I mean Duke, I really think that Michael is close, and Richard is closer. It terrifies me, not for me to be hurt, but for Bex and my kids.” Saige says crying.

“We won’t let it come to that Sis; I promise. I won’t let any of you get hurt. I’d die first. As would Cotton and all the guys.” I say, thinking about what she said. It’s aggravating to know that the enemy is so close.

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