Page 40 of Wizard's Spitfire

“Don’t worry. Those girls won’t ever know he showed up.”

I nod and head to the conference room, grateful for Grace Appleton’s protective nature. I hear raised voices.

“I told you I’m not saying anything else or showing you the papers until Charlie arrives.”

Pushing open the door, I take in the scene before me. Principal Stanley sits on one side of the table. JR sits next to him, away from Wizard and Smoke, the club’s enforcer. Wizard looks to the door. He’s up off his feet the moment he sees me. His muscular arms wrap around me, and he drops a kiss on top of my head.

JR remains surprisingly quiet for all of thirty seconds. Then stands up and clears his throat. He draws an envelope out of his inner jacket pocket before thrusting it toward me.

“These papers give me the right to take the girls.”

I grab the papers, but he doesn’t let go. Furious, our eyes meet and I'm shocked beyond reason when he mouths,Help me.

Chapter 25

Charlie

What the hell is going on?He’s saying one thing out loud and mouthing,help me? I take the papers when he finally lets go of them. I speed read through the information, my heart beating faster with each word. By the time I get to the last page, I’m seconds away from full-blown panic mode when the bottom of the page catches my eyes. The judge’s signature doesn’t match the printed name. Plus, the document isn’t notarized.

A solid wall of muscle steps up behind me. I can feel Wizard leaning over my shoulder. Yeah, I know it’s him. He leans in until I feel his lips on the shell of my ear.

“Let’s play along.”

“You’ll take my girls over my dead body,” I say.

“I’ll call the police if you fight me on this,” JR replies

Wizard steps around me and puts himself in between me and JR. In a split-second, he cocks his fist and clocks JR on the jaw. My ex crumples like a sack of potatoes. Smoke picks him up off the floor and slings him fireman style over his shoulder.

“I’ll take out the trash, Principal Stanley.”

For his part, Jorden Stanley doesn't bat an eyelash. He nods, and I follow Smoke out of the conference room.

“I’m parked right out front.”

Smoke nods and heads in that direction. Everyone in the office stands and begins to applaud as we walk by. Maybe I’ll get through this day without getting arrested.

Wizard

SMOKE TOSSED JR INTOthe back of the SUV.

“I can drive,” Charlie says.

“We’ll follow you.”

She wraps her arms around my neck. I bend to give her a brief but passionate kiss. I watch as she gets into the cage before hurrying to my sled. Smoke follows, as does Havoc and Mayhem. Hustle, Hurl, and Honda are on their way to give extra eyes on the school grounds.

I keep my eyes on roam as we drive back to the compound. JR was scared when he handed those papers to Charlie. I let my anger bleed away enough to see it when he mouthed, help me.

Tension flows from me the moment the gates close behind us. I direct Charlie to drive to the clubhouse. She parks in front. Smoke and I park behind her. Havoc and Mayhem grab a woozy JR out of the back, helping him to his feet and inside the clubhouse.

“Take him to Gambit’s office, boys.”

The alarm on my phone starts beeping.

“Fuck. Change of plans. Get him to the pool NOW!”

Havoc picks up JR, slings him over his shoulder and dashes through the clubhouse and out the back with the rest of us close on his heels.

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