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“No, Martha, that’s not it. I’ve told you before. Your grandfather tried to pay the boy off not to marry your mama. They didn’t like each other, and grandfather couldn’t control him like he could everyone else. That boy knew your grandfather would be nothing but trouble and tried to take your mama out of his reach. That’s why he paid that money to the biker without him knowing. He showed your mama the bank statement and twisted her mind. That young man was furious, and your mama wouldn’t believe him. When grandfather wanted his money back, the biker wouldn’t give it to him out of principle. That hurt your grandfather more than anything. Losing his money for nothing was how he saw it, but he got what he wanted. He stopped their romance and then he tried to poison everyone against that boy. It didn’t work except on your mama. She was the only one dumb enough not to see through his evil game.” Mary looks at her granddaughter.
“From that time on, I swore I’d never let my husband rule my life, and by God I didn’t. I became his bookkeeper and accountant. I knew everything he got involved in, and if I didn’t like it, I made sure he didn’t have the money to do it. He tried to ruin businesses because he didn’t like the people who built them. He’d become a racist and a snob as his wealth built. Make no mistake, I loved your grandfather, but he was such an asshole at times, I could’ve killed him myself.”
“But Grandma, Mama said that…”
“Listen to me child, I’m going to say this for the last time. Grandfather poisoned your mother’s mind, he ruled her life, and she’s poisoned yours. If what you believe is true, why would these people be helping you now? They have had nothing to do with you your whole life. The only dealings you have had with them are ones you instigated. Same with your mama. When did you ever see a biker while you were growing up? Never. You only heard stories. You don’t have a single memory or a shred of evidence that these are anything but ordinary folk going about their own business. Now I’m done talking. I’m staying here and staying safe. You do what you’ve a mind to.” Mary stands and gives Martha a look that says, ‘I’m done,’ and then looks at me. “Come on, Allegra. Let’s go invade the kitchen. Maybe I can teach your cook a thing or two about how to make meals stretch further, and maybe, just maybe, you can teach me something from your Italian repertoire.”
Julia takes to Mary like a second mother and soaks up every word Mary utters, like a sponge. They get so engrossed with each other that I just slip away and get ready to go back to Silas and the ranch.
Vortex runs me back to the ranch, and we have to go in an SUV because of his single seat on his hog. He gets a severe telling-off about this on the way, and although he agrees to get a passenger seat fitted, I also decide, without telling him, I’m having a bike of my own. Possibly a dirt bike for on the ranch? Hell, no. That would restrict my horse-riding. Maybe a trike? I’ve seen some beauties and they may be easier for me to ride, I don’t know.
When we get to the ranch, we see smoke rising from behind the house, so we rush around the building, fearing the worst. Rounding the corner, we relax when we see Silas at a burn barrel. It doesn’t take a genius to see that he is burning clothes and other things that were Marisela’s.
I walk over and put my arms around him. “How you doing, old timer?” I grin as he stiffens at the name.
“Cheeky young pup. Keep up with the disrespect and I might not sign on the dotted line.” His eyes sparkle as he watches for my reaction.
“What is ‘the dotted line’?” I ask before my brain catches up. “The dotted line! You have a contract for us to sign?”
“My lawyer spoke to your lawyer, and your lawyer spoke to Bank who spoke to someone else who forgot to speak to you in all the excitement, and we’re good to go.” He looks at Vortex who suddenly remembers that he forgot to speak to me. I see the panic in Vortex’s eyes, and as much as I want to tease him, I am too excited.
“Gimme a pen, I need a pen and a dotted line immediately.” I throw my arms around Silas and squeeze him until I hear a grunt. Letting him go, I pounce on my man and hug him. He gets a deliciously long and hard kiss to go with his hug, though.
“We need to be even more careful now. As soon as Cottonwood or Brandon get word of this, they could go after both of you. I’m sure they’ll have a contingency plan for any eventuality,” Vortex says and looks worried, but I’m too excited to worry about such things.
Chapter 25
*~* Vortex *~*
The ranch is ours. Well, Allegra’s for all intents and purposes. We’re co-owners with Silas, but he just doesn’t want it going to a stranger or some development company who’ll turn it into a mall or a ton of houses. I can understand that. He’s transformed the land from a wasteland to a prosperous ranch, and he wants to see it stay that way. I’m confident that Allegra will not only keep it a success but improve on it.
I’m sitting in Church, but my mind isn’t on it. Something's going on because the brothers keep smirking and only one or two will make eye contact with me. Someone is up to something, and I get the distinct impression they are all in on it and I’m the target.
We’ve done the business finances and everywhere is doing very well. The bar has taken off since Anya became their cook and started doing the snack foods. Andy and Thorn are doing great with the barber shop and have been thinking of adding another barber, one who could specialize in shaving. That has seen a surge in demand recently.
The pet crem has done better than any of us expected, and Mary-Lou is killing it as the receptionist. She takes no prisoners when she gets some dumbass on the phone. We should make a list of some of her comebacks and have a calendar printed. It would sell a million, I’m sure.
The storage facility has expanded with more Conex boxes. I’ve suggested they have another building erected for more undercover storage. It would boost the inside storage available to customers and also give the construction crew a change from flipping houses or building on the compound. The construction crew is always busy, but it must be nice to have something different to get your teeth into from time to time.
Recovery is never still. We could do more with that according to Bank, and he’s pushing for Ghost, Chips and myself to become active in it. It would mean buying more tow trucks, and although I’ll turn my hand to anything, I don’t see operating a tow truck as my career choice. Unless they diversified and made me a motorcycle recovery specialist. That I could probably do.
The mechanic shop has a reputation for excellent work and value for money. They extended their opening hours to include Saturday afternoons because of their workload, and Leo, the prospect learning that business, is getting a name for himself with the crowd that enjoys doing car modifications and engine upgrades. I can see that becoming a separate entity for him before long. I’ve booked my hog in for a modification with him myself. Allegra is not happy that we have to go everywhere in an SUV. She made it as plain as day that she is a biker girl, not an SUV girl, and won’t continue to be ferried around in a vehicle while others get to feel the wind in their hair. Leo has said he’ll get on it as soon as humanly possible.
Hearing a chorus of ‘Ayes’ going round the room. I sit up straight and feel stupid for not paying attention. Nudging Hellion, I ask what we’re voting on.
“Noah has been given permission by Pres to ask for a vote on taking an old lady,” Hellion answers.
“He has? Where is he and who’s the lucky lady?” I ask, looking around and not seeing Noah in the room.
“Pres is doing the asking for him, and the lucky lady is Allegra. No one else has taken her, so he’s slipping in under the radar it seems.” Hellion watches me closely for a reaction.
“Oh. Whoa! ‘Nay’ guys. Let’s have a few less of the ‘Ayes’ here. What the fuck!” I shoot out of my chair and it crashes into Riddle behind me. “That’s my woman you’re voting on.”
Riddle sets my chair upright and grins. “She’s not your woman until we say she is, and you haven’t brought it to Church, so Noah is well within his rights to stake a claim. I think they’d make a lovely couple, so I’m an ‘Aye’ all the way to the bank.”
“Fuck the lot of you. I claim Allegra as my old lady. You can vote on that, fuckers.” I wait for the ‘Ayes’ to start, but they all just mutter amongst themselves. “Aw, c’mon, guys. Don’t do this to me. I’m gonna kick Noah’s ass for putting you all up to this.”
“Noah knows nothing about it. It wasn’t him who put us up to it,” Pres states and nods to Cannon standing by the door. He pulls the door open, and an absolute vision strolls in.
