I should call Mason. Have him check the cameras. But then he’ll just rush over here demanding we go with him to the clubhouse again. And what if it is just my imagination? What if it’s all in my head?
It must be.
My body is so exhausted that my mind is playing tricks on me. I just need to sleep it off. I’ll be fine in the morning. I can call Wyatt and ask him to check the cameras then and tell him I’m just being extra cautious for Kaylie’s sake.
I make the pass through the house three more times before I finally convince myself to go to bed and get some sleep. I keep the baseball bat within reach, just in case I’m not imagining things, and snuggle down into my bed.
Unfortunately, sleep never finds me.
6
MASON
Pulling into the Velvet Pearl, I take a moment and sit in my truck contemplating what I’m about to do. Normally, I’d take a ride through the mountains and clear my head before making such a rash decision, but the weather is still too cold for that. So, I’m going to trust my gut on this one and hope I’m making the right choice.
I knew I needed to make the call to Parisi.
Normally, as a prospect, we wouldn’t have been privy to those documents or the type of information Kayce had collected, but Pres didn’t trust anyone but the club after the Feds double-crossed Hawk. He didn’t trust Kayce either, with how easily he was able to fuck with our shit and get people in and out of our clubhouse. Hawk is pretty fucking good at what he does, but Kayce had someone helping him on the other side that’s better. Of course, Hawk will never admit Sadie is better than him out loud.
Pres was pissed at all the behind the back bullshit and made us all study up on all the faces of the men in Kayce’s investigation and their information in case we ever came across them in our town.
I know I should’ve told Pres the moment I recognized the guy on the video attacking Everly’s salon. We caught a break when one of the other cameras from across the street caught his face. Of course, we haven’t told Mike yet. Pres wants time for our guys to hunt him down first and get some answers.
I recognized the bastard’s face and the tattoo on his neck right away. He’s one of the men from Kayce’s case file on the trafficking ring we all just busted up in Florida. He’s also another Devil. I don’t know if Pres noticed who he was too or not, but that little piece of information is what I’m going to use to get Vincenzo’s help in catching these bastards.
Part of my training from my time in the military taught me how to key in on minute details, like tattoos, tells, and mannerisms. The guy on the video at Glitz 'n Tass was in the file of people they found holed up at the warehouse in Florida. The same warehouse where everyone else with a Devil’s tattoo was found dead.
Apparently, they missed one.
The story told in the clubhouse was that our guys arrived on the scene with some of Parisi’s men, but the fight was already over. Vincenzo’s cousins, Nazario and Enzo, had sent a crew in to handle business. Some of theirfriendswho are into some weird ritualistic shit, or something, because Caleb said, “It looked like their souls left their bodies.” He told stories of their eyes being black and soulless, as if the life had been sucked out of them. Whatever happened, it rattled the old bastard, and nothing gets him rattled.Ever.
Pres was busting up foster homes with me, Blake, and a couple of Kayce’s boys. But it looks like a few stragglers got away and have somehow managed to find their way into Oakridge.
Peeling off my cut, I lay it over the back of my seat and straighten out my shirt. The Pearl doesn’t allow colors. It’s a little more upscale than say, Ghost’s club. Vincenzo’s placescreams high-class gentlemen’s club, but it caters to almost everyone’s tastes. Even bachelorette parties where half-naked men grind and dance all over the bridal party. I’m still pissed at Hawk for that. Although Everly doesn’t like strange men rubbing up on her.Thank fuck.So, she didn’t get into the game like the other women did. She sat on her hands and refused to touch the man.
Probably better for him in hindsight. Because I might’ve killed him, and then I wouldn’t have gotten my patch. It would’ve been a whole mess with Vincenzo and Pres too, I’m sure, resulting in my death one way or another.
You don’t cross the Mob Boss or the Kings.
The consolation prize for all of us, though, was watching Jake punch Hawk in the face and of course Sadie winning their little bet and making Hawk parade around in an adult-store style elf costume while playing Santa’s Helper at the clubhouse for everyone. The pictures are amazing and I’m sure will be used for blackmail at some point by Ghost and Jake. The punch to the face will forever be a part of my mental highlight reel.
The hostess, Rene, greets me in the lobby. “Mr. Wright. Mr. Parisi is expecting you. You can follow me back to the office.” I do as she asks, moving through the halls like I’ve done it a thousand times, unaffected as we pass women with big tits changing into their skimpy costumes along the way. Santiago gives me a quick nod. I’ve learned that’s his small token of thanks for not making him have to beat my ass for ogling the women he’s paid to protect.
When we reach Parisi’s office door, Rene knocks, waiting for a response.
“Enter,” Vincenzo’s voice booms. Rene opens, and I follow her in.
“Sir.” She nods, not making eye contact with him. “Mr. Wright is here to see you. Would you like me to have anything brought up for your meeting?”
“No, Rene. That will be all. Thank you.”
“Of course, sir.” Rene nods again, then excuses herself from the room.
“Have a seat, Mr. Wright.” Vincenzo leans back in his seat, one leg crossed over the knee of the other. He appears to be relaxed and calm, but then don’t most predators before they strike? “Tell me about this favor you need from me?”
I don’t bother beating around the bush and just tell him straight. “There’s been some new developments with the Devils. They’re back in Oakridge. As much as I trust my club, my woman doesn’t, so I’m going to need some extra manpower to help me ensure Everly and her sister’s safety while we work to exterminate the infestation.”
Vincenzo smirks, clasping his hands in his lap. “You don’t believe you and your brothers can handle a couple of Devils, Mr. Wright? I’m insulted on Gabriel's behalf at your lack of trust. I’m sure he wouldn’t have given you that shiny new patch you wear these days if he had known you had such little faith in him and his men. No?” He smirks. “Or perhaps it’s that you can’t handle your woman? Is that it? I hear Mrs. Greene is quite independent and headstrong. Perhaps you should consider bringing her to heel.” Matteo snickers from his spot on the wall.
