Page 35 of Chubs

“Hey.”

“I have to ask you something, brother. The seven men that were found dead, missing their dicks, was that you too? When I asked before, you said you played a part, but I don’t know how they fit into your plan,” Les questions.

“Those seven men were from a problem in Denver. Those weren’t fresh bodies when the authorities found them. Sex traffickers, who mostly moved young girls. I didn’t eliminate them myself. I just found the location of where they were doing a drop-off and turned it over to the club and some friends. It’s just a happy coincidence that they were dumped here while I’m doing my own thing. It’ll confuse the Feds and keep them busy trying to figure out how they tie into the Vero problem. It’ll also keep the Vero family nervous trying to figure it out also. Being worried about losing your dick is a big distraction,” I reply in between bites.

“Sex trafficking kids? Fucking hell, Drew. They didn’t die hard enough if you ask me,” Les barks into the phone.

“That feeling will triple if you ever get the pleasure of meeting Bella. The club saved her from that fate. Then a member adopted her. Beautiful, kind, and smart. Sad that a girl like her wasn’t wanted by her own mother, so she was sold to the highest bidder.”

“I think I’d like your club brothers. Sound like good people. Hope to meet them someday,” Les says.

“That’s something we need to talk about. Things are going to heat up around here, and I’d rather you, Mom, and Aria aren’t caught in the crossfire. I’m going to text you an address and instructions. Delete all of it after you’ve memorized it, though. If something happens to me, take the women and go there. You—”

“I’m not leaving you here alone. We can send Mom and Aria, but I’m staying,” Les interrupts me.

“If something happens to me, Les. Not now. If any of you three disappear, they’ll assume you’re in on the coup, so we can’t do anything to make them suspicious.”

“What are you planning for tomorrow?” Les questions.

“Nothing for a few days. Letting their suspicious natures make them paranoid. Paranoia plays heavy on the mind, and soon they’ll all start doubting each other.”

“Dad called today. He just wanted to check on Mom and Aria. He said the same thing you did, basically. Said not to arouse their suspicions by leaving town. Also said he has no idea as to what’s going on,” Les informs me.

“That must be irritating for him. Things are going down, and he’s not being kept informed even though he still works for them from the inside,” I say in a snarky tone.

“I get your anger with him, Drew. I get mad all over again some days, but he’s still our dad. He still loves all of us. He took your death hard,” Les gently reprimands.

“He was training us to be killers, Les. He’s doing life in prison for his actions and yet wanted us to become just like him. I do love him, but I’m bitter about his choices and how they kept me from you, Mom, and Aria all these years. It confuses my head and my heart because I missed out on having my family, and yet because of him, I made another family I love just as much. I broke Lucy’s heart and my own to fix mistakes I never made,” I reply adamantly.

The silence stretches between us before Les quietly breaks it.

“I know, Drew. We’ve paid for his choices, and it’s not fair. When he went to prison, the family made it clear that we were to stay put, stay under their watchful eye. We’ve lived with them hanging over our heads for years now. Mom was ordered to stay married and stay supportive of Dad. The family didn’t want Dad to go over the edge if Mom were to leave him. He might talk, and they couldn’t have that. I think that’s part of the reason Dad still does work on the inside for them. To protect Mom from them. They don’t dare touch her, or he could turn against them, but it’s like walking a tightrope. They could decide to have Dad taken out, and at that point, Mom has no value. Jesus Christ, why couldn’t he have just been a car salesman?”

I couldn’t agree more.

Over the next several weeks, I make the Vero crime family’s life hard by doing what I call hit-and-runs. After doing one, I’d lay low, usually changing hotels, for several days before going after another member in another manner. Using the long ago learned lessons of my father, I’ve caused a lot of chaos for a family of criminals that like to hide in the shadows. Thanks to me, they’re right out on Front Street for the world to see.

Sitting outside at a small coffee café, I keep my sunglasses on and hat pulled low. I wait patiently, sipping my coffee, eyes on the sidewalk on the other side of the street. When I see what I’m here to see, my heart literally stops for a few beats.

My sister, Aria, walking with another female, has her head up and her eyes carefully watching her surroundings. She’s not obvious about it, but I know—knew—her tells very well. It seems they haven’t changed since I last saw her. While her companion chatters on, oblivious to the world around her, Aria has already clocked that she has a tail.

I move my eyes to the two men sitting in a car and watch them to be sure they’re only here to observe Aria. Les mentioned that all three of them are tailed from time to time, and today seems to be Aria’s turn. The family is keeping tabs on whoever they consider a possible asset and/or threat.

I look back to my sister and duck my head a little more when she and her friend cross the street, heading toward me. They pass my table by mere feet before entering the café. Glancing carefully at the men, I find them parked and waiting for Aria to reappear. I casually zip up my hoodie and pull the hood over my hat blocking my profile. Holding my phone like I’m scrolling through it, I snap a picture of the men.

I hold my breath when Aria exits the café with her friend and a large container of coffee, then takes a seat at the table in front of me. Aria sits facing away from me, and I start breathing again.

“I don’t think he’s a very good hygienist. We could find a better one if we tried,” the blond woman with my sister says.

“You only feel that way because he dumped you. You thought he was a great hygienist when you two were dating,” Aria replies flatly.

“That’s not true! I’m just not sure our patients are comfortable with a male hygienist!”

“Not true. We’ve never had a single complaint about him, and he’s a great addition to the practice. Maybe if you didn’t foolishly hook up with a co-worker, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. Ruining someone’s career because you made a mistake is beyond wrong, Allison,” Aria states in a calm but serious tone.

“It would just be easier to let him move on to a different job,” the blond says in a whiny voice. “It’s just too uncomfortable with him there now.”

“That’s a ‘you’ problem. Not a ‘me’ problem. We agreed that we’d never date within the office. You did, and this is the consequence. I’m heading back to the office. I have a 12:45 appointment. You coming?” Aria asks while standing with her cup in hand.

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