Page 115 of Irons

“Travis, don’t you think your mom deserves to know? To finally find some sort of peace after thirty years?” My dad asked. “I won’t condone her treatment of you over the years. You know and so does Wrenly how I feel about her, but it’s something Tony desperately wanted for Paula. She is aware of how I feel about her after she abandoned you in that hospital. Tony wanted those answers for not just Robert and Paula, but himself and you. He knew how Bobby’s disappearance was ruining your life. It was the time he needed to dedicate to finding Bobby that kept him from being able to give you the stable home you deserved. He thought by finding Bobby or learning what happened to him he would be giving your parents back to you.”

My dad was right, but not at the expense of Travis’s freedom and possibly his life. The same could be said about my dad. I was devastated to learn what he had been doing. Creed’s Lake did not go out and murder people. They recovered people through contracts. Our objective in the DV division is to rescue the victims and give them new lives. If it was a simple as going out and killing predators we wouldn’t need all the programs we were putting into place in the community. Rescue and providesafety, help them start new lives, that’s it. I can’t say there won’t be a time that operatives have to make a snap decision that could result in a perpetrators death, but that’s different. It’s why Travis has to guard his secret. Whatever he did to Bobby’s kidnappers was personal, separate from Creed’s Lake.

Travis blurted out one sentence last night. One so confident that it confirmed he had all the information Paula needed for all these years.

Furious

Travis

I left Wrenly in the clubhouse to rip Clint a new ass while I called Creed. I could hear her inside screaming at him from the car where I fired up my laptop and stuck the thumb drive into it. Right away Creed said he had a hunch and spent his morning looking into every adult that was in my life as a child. He learned of the MC and it’s charters and consulted Darren.

As I opened files while listening to Creed, it was evident that they were a little too trusting when they let me walk out of the building with the thumb drive. As Creed and I talked, I viewed what they gave me, and I was shocked to say the least. There were cases from all over the country where the perpetrators got off on technicalities. Enough evidence for a conviction, but not in all states. Cases where the arresting officers screwed up, false alibis were given, and the victims were children that were still in danger of being victimized over and over again by their perpetrators. There were also rapists of women, and some older cases Tony handled that were local. I couldn’t believe they just handed it over to me.

We decided very quickly that we needed to involve all the Originals. They had a say on whether or not I discuss an alliance with the MC, and also Creed and I wanted their thoughts ontelling Clint, Charlie, and my mom what happened to Bobby and his perpetrators. Creed sent out a text for an emergency meeting and within ten minutes they were all in the conference room.

Before they voted on it, they wanted confirmation of the cases on the thumb drive, and sure as shit simple Google searches told us the perpetrators were either missing or their murders were going unsolved.

I didn’t know what to do, Creed had everything on the line. The entire community would be shut down, Creed and I would go to prison, and Addie would once again lose a father. The twins would be born and have to grow up without their dad.

My mom didn’t understand what she was asking of me. There was too much on the line. The only thing working in our favor, is that we kept no evidence of our crimes, unlike the dumb cops in the MC. Creed covered our tracks, even created alibis, and as far as anyone would ever know, we were in DC meeting with Pennington at the time of the murders. Yes, we are in that deep with the military. Past flight manifests can be manipulated, hotel records could also be changed, and surveillance footage could be erased. That’s what the Originals discussed. Clint and Charlie were cops, and my mother was a stranger that never put my best interest first, but I trusted Clint. That’s what ate at me. Clint. Wrenly’s father. The man she worshipped and loved beyond measure. The thumb drive could destroy her as well. If anything, ever happened to Clint…I couldn’t even think about it.

“I propose you give them nothing today, and Magnus will fly out and meet with them with you. Go to their clubhouse, check it out and let us do our research from back here. If they check out we can discuss an alliance, the leverage they gave us over them speaks volumes.” Creed said.

“We’ve done it for the Devil’s Rejects and The Fallen Angels.” Bolton said..”

“But also, with the State police.” Darren spoke up and I didn’t even know he was in the meeting. What the hell?

“What the hell is Darren doing in an Originals meeting?” I was not just pissed but a bit paranoid. It was one thing to consult him, but to bring him into a meeting?

“I brought him in for a reason, Irons. Go ahead and tell him what you told me, Darren.” Creed prompted.

“I don’t know much.” Darren said. “But there are chapters of this MC and it’s known they are cops. There’s rumors among law enforcement about them, but nothing to this magnitude. They’ve been known to shake up a few crooked politicians, but that’s all I ever heard. But yeah, they’re truly an MC. I have no idea how many members though.”

“They are listed as a charitable organization. I’m guessing that’s how their anonymous backers can legally donate.” Creed said.

“I say we vote.” Granger said.

“Okay, all in favor of sending Magnus out and explore the offer to join alliances raise your hands.”

I obviously couldn’t see them.

“That’s a pass, Irons.” Creed said.

“How about telling his mom the truth?” Bolton asked. “I think she deserves to know, even if it’s presented as a third person account of the details.”

“I think we should wait until I’m out there to feel out the situation.” Magnus said.

They all agreed.

“Alright, I’ll take the first flight out.” Magnus said and that ended the call. I shut down my laptop and put the thumb drive in my pocket before walking back inside the vacant building. They were all talking but it suddenly drew quiet when they looked at me.

I crossed my arms over my chest as I glared at the three people who disappointed me today. Well, mom couldn’t have disappointed me more than she had, but I was pretty damn disappointed in Clint and Charlie.

“Law enforcement officers are meant to be trustworthy individuals paid by tax dollars to uphold the law.” I stated. It was hypocritical, but oh well.

“None of us wear a badge when we are out there doing what’s right for innocent people. Not only that, but in most cases, we are giving these victims a chance at a safer life.” Charlie said.

He could fuck off for all I cared.

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