Page 112 of Victorious: Part 3
We’re all gathered in the main room, watching the evening news coverage of what the media is calling ‘the largest multi-front operation against organized crime in California history.’ They don’t know who’s responsible—we made sure of that—but the reporters are having a field day with the story.
The widescreen television hangs down from the rafters, and we sit back in the clubroom beneath it, catching up on the latest daily information coming out about the Cartel.
“In related news…” The anchor continues, “Corrections Officer Rhonda Williams has been arrested in connection with the prison corruption scandal. Bank records show she received payments totaling over two hundred thousand dollars from accounts linked to The Rojas Cartel over an eight-month period.”
Alpha turns up the volume as the camera cuts to footage of Rhonda being led away in handcuffs.
Montana throws his popcorn at the screen. “Boo!” he calls out, making us all chuckle.
“Sources close to the investigation report that Williams never spent the money, claiming she was being coerced into cooperation through threats against her sister, who was being held at another facility. The district attorney’s office has not yet announced whether they will pursue full charges or consider a plea agreement based on the coercive circumstances.”
“Think they’ll go easy on her?” Haven asks.
Montana shrugs. “She helped them hurt Mom. Made her life hell for months. But she was also a victim in her own way. Whatever happens to her, happens.”
The news switches to coverage of Valerie’s situation, and Montana sits up straighter, the popcorn in his lap almost slipping with his eagerness. “Hey, everyone, shut up! Shh!”
“Valerie Drake, the woman whose case sparked this investigation, has been transferred to a minimum-security facility while Warden Garver’s prison undergoes extensive renovations and investigations. Drake, who killed her abusive husband in defense of her son, helped authorities gather crucial evidence against the Cartel from inside the prison system.”
The screen shows footage of Montana visiting his mother,both of them smiling as they sit across from each other in a bright, clean visiting room.
“Drake now has unlimited visitation rights with her son and has been granted special privileges in recognition of her cooperation. Several high-profile attorneys have taken an interest in her case, and there’s talk of a significant sentence reduction. Hollywood has also come calling, with multiple studios interested in optioning her story.”
Cheering erupts around the clubhouse as brothers slap Montana in the back, while he continues to eat his popcorn with a shit-eating grin.
“Movie deals,” Clover says, grinning at Montana. “Your mom’s gonna be famous.”
Montana chuckles. “She deserves every bit of good that comes her way after what she’s been through.”
“Think they’ll want to include the club in the movie?” Rhyan asks, bouncing in her seat.
“Fuck, no!” Alpha says firmly. “And we’re keeping it that way. The less the outside world knows about our involvement, the better.”
But honestly, I’m not really focused on the news or the media circus or any of it. My attention keeps drifting to Clover, who’s curled up next to me on the couch, Dracula purring in her lap. She’s wearing one of my T-shirts and a pair of shorts, her hair in a messy bun, looking absolutely perfect without even trying.
We’ve been married for almost two weeks now, but we’re still wearing the cheesy Vegas wedding rings we bought on impulse. They’re cute and symbolic, but they’re also cheap trinkets that won’t last forever.
Clover deserves better.
She deserves something permanent, something real, something that shows the worldexactlyhow much she means to me.
Which is why yesterday, I took Sadie with me to the best jewelry store in the city and bought Clover a real engagement ring and wedding band. The engagement ring is a stunning solitaire diamond that catches the light from every angle, and the wedding band is a delicate channel-set design that complements it perfectly.
And tonight, I’m going to give them both to her.
Tonight, I’m going to propose to my wife properly.
I catch Sadie’s eye across the room and give her a subtle nod. She grins and reaches for the remote, aiming it at the television.
“What are you—” Alpha starts to say, but Sadie has already hit the power button. The television goes dark, followed immediately by all the lights in the clubhouse.
“What the fuck?” Dutch’s voice cuts through the darkness.
I lean in against Clover, pressing a kiss to her temple. “Be right back,” I whisper, standing before walking off.
“Power must have gone out,” Haven says, the confusion in her voice makes me smile as I make my way to the center of the clubhouse floor just as the spotlight blazes to life in the center of the room, illuminating me as I drop to one knee.
The opening notes of “Can’t Help Falling in Love” begin to play over the sound system, and a disco ball descends from the ceiling, sending sparkles of light dancing across the walls.
