Page 37 of Unveiled Wounds

“Just pictures, preferably wide shots, and if Grease could give me a general idea of what he’s looking for, I can do the rest.”

“Alright, baby. You okay?”

“Yeah, but I’m getting a little anxious not being able to leave. It wasn’t so bad when I didn’t want to. Not to say I do, but I can’t.” She sighed through the phone.

“No, I get it. You can go out in the back if you want to, and I’ll see about maybe going on a drive or something.” I was humoring her, and we both knew it, but I put the thought on the back burner for now. Saying goodbye, I hung up the phone.

Turning towards Grease, I was about ready to tell him what Meredith had said when my phone rang again. Looking at thecall screen, I saw it was Thunder.Why the fuck is Thunder calling me?

“What?” I answered.

“VP? It’s the prospect.” After Pulse, no one was interested in getting to know the prospects until they could prove they were actually going to be patched. We had four in the rotation, and they all went by a letter.

“Why do you have Thunder’s phone?” I hadn’t dropped my suspicions yet.

“Aunt E had a physical therapy appointment today, and we’re sitting in the lobby waiting for her, but there’s a black SUV with black tinted windows in the parking lot. Thunder has a volume problem, and he didn’t think you’d answer if I called from my phone.” The prospect’s voice shook.

“Fuck. What are they doing?”

“Nothing. They backed into a parking space, so they’re facing the front door, but they haven’t moved. We think there’s at least two men in the front seat, but we’re not sure.”

“Tell Thunder the two of you are to keep Aunt E within your sights. Don’t go outside. I’m on the way.” I hung up on him, immediately dialing Twig. “Where are you?” I asked when he picked up.

“Cleaning the Playroom.” He was going to love me. Cleaning the Playroom was the worst punishment Sabre could think of. There was no guarantee what bodily functions you were going to find, but when it was quiet, the enforcers were stuck doing it.

“The cartel showed up at Aunt E’s appointment. I want you to grab Berry and head over there. You’re going to tail them, and hopefully get something.” Twig hung up on me, but I didn’t take it personally. They had to move quick if they were going to get into position.

My last call was to Sabre, and I didn’t even bother to say hello. “Do you know about the cartel? I already sent Twig and Berry.”

“Yeah, the prospect called. They’re targeting Aunt E because they can’t get to the other two. I’m on my way with a few more brothers. Meet us at the gas station down the street, and we’ll regroup.”

***

Meredith

I hung up the phone with Grizz, not sure what to think about my new project. I wouldn’t fail. Garages were easy, and the design firms often gave them to the newest employees. However, there was a part of me that needed this to be successful. I wanted to take the garage’s success and shove it down the throat of every brother who thought I was worthless. Failure wasn’t an option, as I didn’t need another strike on my record.

I went back to working on the track system I wanted to install in the banquet center, trying not to think about the auto body shop. There was no point in working on a project I had no information on. The city had finally issued the blueprints for the banquet center, and I was matching the tracks to the beams in the ceiling. We’d have to hire out for the actual construction, but if I could get it as close as possible, it would save on funds later on. Dead and I sat on the couch with the prints spread out on the coffee table in front of the TV. The animal channel was playing in the background.

It was quiet in the main room, considering how many brothers were lounging around. I was becoming desensitized to the noise. The wise men were playing poker, but without Thunder, they weren’t yelling over each other to be heard. There was a group of brothers surrounding the pool table, but I tuned out the sound of the balls moving around the table. A few brothers were playing darts, and they’d eventually swap winners with the pool table crew. There was probably some bet going on.

Sabre came running into the main room from the hallway where his office was. “The cartel is sitting outside of Aunt E’s appointment. Get ready to ride!” he directed towards the brothers lounging around.

Everything stopped, and then the brothers ran to their rooms for riding gloves, helmets, guns, and whatever else they would need, causing the volume to soar. I noticed Dead didn’t move from his spot, but he’d shifted on the couch so that he was watching the rest of the room.

“I’m with you, girlie pop,” he said when he caught my eye.

My bodyguard. It then hit me like a ton of bricks, and Sabre’s words flooded my mind. Aunt E was in danger. The cartel was sitting outside of her physical therapist. I closed my eyes, but the images played behind my eyelids. The soldiers would jump out of the car, and Aunt E would disappear as they found Thunder and the prospect dead in the parking lot.

Dead shook my elbow, and the images disappeared as I opened my eyes. Aunt E was a tough broad wrapped in a designer dress and pearls, and I internally scolded myself.

I mirrored Dead’s position, watching the activity from my safe zone. Sabre had run back to his office, and when he came into the main room for the second time, Grace was standing in the doorway to the kitchen.

“Stay out of sight and make sure Chef knows where you are.”

She nodded, not saying anything.

Sabre was about to run past her when he stopped and turned towards Grace. He wrapped his arm around her, pulling her in tight, and I wished Grizz were here.

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