Chapter 8

CHAPTER EIGHT

O n his way to the agency, Barron made a quick stop at the first discount department store he saw. He lived in a home geared for a single man and his dog. That needed instant adjustment. He skipped through the aisles picking up the first round of items necessary to make a Little feel welcome and happy. Before he hit the cashier, two stuffies, a rabbit and a unicorn, found their way into his cart.

Loaded with all his goodies, he sped to the agency. By now, Shifter was likely climbing the walls with impatience. The man was such a drama queen.

“It’s about time you showed up,” Shifter grumbled as Barron entered the computer room.

“Chill, dude. Blade asked me to stay. What do you want from me? Should I tell our prez I can’t talk to him ’cause Shifter’s waiting?”

Shifter narrowed his eyes. “Nice try, bud. I wasn’t born yesterday, and I know a special Little is staying in that pigsty you call home. I wouldn’t doubt it for a second if you went shopping. Hmmm? ”

Barron’s face got hot. “Well…”

Shifter laughed. “You’re the worst liar. And forget bluffing. I’ll never take you to a poker game. They’d stripped you clean in a heartbeat.”

“So I stopped, okay?” he huffed. “Go fuck yourself. Stop chewing my ear off and show me whatever it is you’re doing.”

“Aren’t we touchy?” Shifter grinned. “Pull up a chair next to me and take a peek at the screen.” He circled the mouse on the pad, moving the cursor. “Five of us, you, Blade, Johnny Gun, Lobo, and yours truly have credentials to log in to the computer and access the main folders.”

As he explained, he clicked on folders with drop-down information and smaller files. “Each folder is titled with the name of each case and all the collected information. Eventually, I’ll create a main folder with subfiles. But for now, they’re individual cases. Now, here…” He opened the internet through a VPN, and a new screen opened with official-looking logos.

Barron pointed at the screen. “Are those…?”

Shifter nodded. “Government sites.”

“But why? How?”

“There’s always a back door in. To be used when all else fails. What I’m after is mostly domestic, nonclassified information. I don’t want to go near international or sensitive data unless we get a case that requires such digging. We’ll cross that bridge if and when we get there. Plus, Blade would have to agree.”

“Sorry, man. This stuff is way above my pay grade.”

“Duh.” Shifter grinned. “I’m only showing you where we are and our potential, but I’m not giving you or the other guys access to the VPN. There’s only one other person, my backup man, who’ll have limited access in case of an emergency.”

“Who?”

“Funny you ask. As we speak, Deacon is on his way over. He’s going to supervise my system’s stability and give me a thumbs up or down on the VPN and my open-source tools.”

Barron waved a hand over his head. “Whew! That went right over me.”

“You’ve seen the movies, though the process in real life is trickier and more dangerous. A hacker attempts to gain access to a high-security computer, but in order to enter without being caught right away, the signal has to bounce from one proxy server to the other and be done correctly to avoid detection. The guys at the other end have every resource available to them and are just as good, if not better, than you.”

“Gotcha.”

“After Deacon checks me out, I’ll tweak my software again. It’s important to change and rearrange things. Otherwise, you get picked up.”

“Hmm… I don’t think I know this Deacon.”

Shifter leaned back, stretching his legs. “Deacon was one of the first, a true Devils’ Spawn original. He rode with the MC during the Warden days. Dude’s now in Dalton. After Warden got shot, Deacon got sick of the violence and wanted a peaceful life. He opened the Spawn chapter in Dalton. Sadly, his wife passed a few years ago. Now, it’s just him and his daughter. He was army intelligence and is real tech savvy. I wouldn’t mind another pair of expert eyes to check this project.”

“Dalton is near Chattanooga. It’s a hell of a ride for a favor.”

“Well, Savannah used to be the guy’s old stomping grounds. I have a feeling he’s bringing his daughter and turning the invitation into a short vacay.”

“I would too…” Barron paused as an idea floated into his mind. “What about facial recognition software?”

Shifter frowned. “What about it?”

“Are you allowed to buy facial recognition software or do you have to hack a law enforcement agency to find someone?”

“You can always check a database. The software speeds up the search, but it depends on what it’s for,” Shifter said slowly. “It’s very tricky. Some states regulate the use of facial recognition software, especially without the consent of an individual. That would ruin the privacy reputation the agency is trying to build. But something tells me you have a specific person in mind. Spit it out.”

Sighing, Barron folded his arms. “Dude, it’s this thing with Yoanni. I have this weird feeling, an itch in the back of my neck…like I’m missing a big clue. What if I give you someone’s photo? Could you check a person’s real identity or find out if he or she has a record?”

Shifter nodded thoughtfully. “It’s possible. As long as we’re not publishing the person’s identity or anything like that.”

“No. This information would remain in-house. For our private files. To figure out who this person really is and should I worry or let it go.”

“Do you have anyone in mind?”

“I do, but I don’t want to jump the gun just yet.”

“Take your time.” Shifter straightened. “Someone’s at the door.”

“Heard it too. Hey, Johnny G,” Barron called out to his friend, who was moving and arranging equipment in the next room.

“I’ll get it,” Johnny Gun answered.

Moments later, several voices reached Barron’s ear. Smiling, Shifter stood and walked to the doorway.

A good-looking, gray-haired man with bright blue eyes somewhere in his mid-forties, and a pretty girl in her early twenties with a curtain of silky shoulder-length black hair appeared at the threshold. The guy’s faded leather cut had seen decades of road miles, but the front Deacon and Founder patches kept the Spawn colors .

Shifter and the newcomer embraced warmly. This guy had to be Deacon.

“It’s good to see you, man,” Shifter said. “How long has it been?”

“Years, dude,” Deacon replied. “I don’t care to count them.”

“Well, you look great,” Shifter added. “Time’s been good to you.”

“Always the charmer.” Deacon smiled.

Shifter turned his attention to the young woman. “Don’t tell me, is this little Isolde?”

“For heaven’s sake, child.” Deacon spoke to the young woman. “Stop dragging your feet. Move forward. I tell you, these kids today… They’re impossible.”

Kids? Which kids? Barron thought as he studied Deacon’s daughter. Isolde, had a young look. He put her at twenty to twenty-two, nineteen at the youngest. But there was nothing childish about her. Isolde was a woman. The light sparkling in her emerald eyes spoke of passion and a vibrant sexual awareness focused on…

Holy fuck!

Barron swallowed. The sneaky peek she sent Johnny Gun was loaded with heat. Her father didn’t notice because she kept her place just behind him, but Barron faced her directly. Worse, Johnny G’s reaction to Isolde’s glance put Barron on high alert. His friend’s eyes locked with hers for the briefest moment, then quickly shifted to the floor. When she moved forward to obey her father, Johnny G sighed and lifted his head. Guilt and sadness enfolded him. Plus, he knew Barron had noticed the smoldering connection between him and Isolde.

“What are you talking about, man?” Shifter’s abrupt protest snapped Barron back. “Isolde ain’t no kid.” Hell, yeah. The guy had to make the point to everyone in the room, including an irritable and possessive father .

“She is to me,” Deacon grumbled.

“Don’t listen to your daddy. He ain’t changed much, always madder than a puffed-up toad.” Chuckling, Shifter held her hand. “You probably don’t remember me. I think you were five the last time I saw you. You look so much like your mama, God bless her.”

“Sorry, I don’t remember,” she murmured as a light blush covered her cheeks.

“I hope you have a good time in Savannah.” Shifter turned, extending a hand toward Barron. “This is Barron. He’ll be working with me in the agency. And the guy behind you with the long hair is Johnny Gun. Guys, this is Steven Lennox, better known as Deacon, and his daughter, Isolde.”

“Nice meeting you both,” Barron said almost at the same time that Johnny Gun nodded and mumbled his goodbyes. “Nice to meet you. If you’ll excuse me, I have work to do.” He pointed over his shoulder and was gone in a flash.

“Huh? Guess he’s in a hurry,” Deacon said. “He seems familiar.”

“Actually, we are in a hurry, so if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to join him,” Barron said quickly, hoping to divert the attention from his friend. “We’ve been working day and night to get this agency ready to roll. Can’t wait to get everything straightened out. Nice meeting you again.”

Barron went after Johnny Gun. This was bad. His friend wasn’t the type to get flustered. As he left the computer room, he overheard Deacon speaking. “Isolde, honey, didn’t you bring your tablet? No? Play on your phone while I work with Shifter.”

“Sure, Daddy.”

Play on her phone? The father-and-daughter exchange took less than one minute. It was enough for Barron to read the situation clearly. Paternal possessiveness had blinded Steven Lennox, a.k.a. Deacon. In his mind, Isolde was still a little girl. And in a strange way, she was. Barron had noticed the difference. Isolde was an adult Little, maybe a Middle. This father had no idea what was happening under his nose, and Isolde played a good game. If and when the truth came out, the explosion could be nasty. Barron didn’t want his friend hurt in the blast. Shaking his head, he walked into the next room.

“Don’t you dare hide shit from me, dude,” he thundered at Johnny Gun.

“What?” Johnny Gun stopped pushing a cabinet to the wall.

“No.” Frowning, Barron lifted a finger. “I thought I was your best bud. Why the fuck don’t I know about Isolde?”

“Hush, man.” Johnny Gun hurried to close the door. “You wanna get her in trouble? There’s nothing to tell.”

“Really? We both know that’s pure bullshit.” He sat on a crate half full of file folders. “I mean, what are you thinking? How old are you now, thirty-one, thirty-two?”

Johnny Gun blew out a breath. “I’ll be thirty-three in September.”

“Exactly, and she’s…what…twenty-one, twenty-two?”

“Twenty-one,” Johnny G replied.

“Christ.” Barron wiped his forehead. “That Deacon dude is a beast of a man. You’re twelve years older than his precious little girl. He’ll tear you to pieces if he finds out you’re sniffing after her.”

“Eleven and a few months.”

“Eleven and a what?”

“She’ll be twenty-two soon. We’ll be eleven years and a few months apart.”

“Good Lord above,” Barron muttered. “Do you think the tiny distinction is going to make a fucking difference when Deacon is wringing your neck?”

Silently, Johnny G shook his head.

“Don’t you have any survival instincts, man? When? How did this disaster happen? ”

“For the last time, nothing’s happened.”

“All right. Not yet,” Barron argued. “I watched the girl out there. She wants you, my man. And if she’s anything like her daddy, you ain’t escaping her. So, tell me.”

Johnny Gun dragged a full crate across from Barron to sit. “This happened a while ago. Last June, I’m pretty sure.” He rubbed his whiskered jaw. “You were on a mission Weaver sent you on, and Blade needed to send physical documents to Dalton. You know how Blade feels about regular mail.” He shrugged. “He asked the guys, and I volunteered. I should’ve hired a fucking courier service.”

“Go on.”

“Nothing. I walked into the Dalton clubhouse with my bag, asking for Deacon. A couple of the brothers were having beers and playing poker…”

Losing his patience, Barron held out his hands. “For fuck’s sake, do I have to drag it out of you?”

“One guy pointed to a hallway. He said, ‘Deacon’s that way.’ So I followed the hallway’s right turn, and I ran into an angel. In my clumsiness, I nearly trampled this gorgeous creature. She gasped in surprise.” Johnny G wiped his face with both palms.

“I stood there, mumbling like a fool and trying to keep her from falling… Her amazing green eyes looked my way, and I knew right then and there I was in trouble. It happened so quickly. I was kinda dazed and dropped the bag. The documents spilled out. I got on one knee to pick up the papers. She laughed and knelt to help me. God, her scent hit me.” He grabbed the back of his neck. “I’ve never smelled anything so delicious or heard such laughter before. Like the sound of little bells at Christmas.”

“Fuck. This is getting worse by the minute. Now you’re waxing poetic,” Barron muttered. “What else?”

“I stuffed the documents as best I could. Repeated my apologies while the angel insisted no harm was done. That’s when this big dude, Deacon, I figured out, came out of nowhere, barking questions. Not a very pleasant man. I introduced myself, still feeling totally out of place. The guy didn’t loosen up, not even when I explained that I was on MC business, Blade had sent me, and I was a Spawn brother. He directed me to his office. I went, but he stayed with Isolde in the hallway. I don’t know what was said.”

“Pretty uptight. Anything else?”

“I waited in the office for Deacon to read and sign the papers. By then, he’d relaxed some. He invited me to stay the night. Offered me one of the guest rooms in the clubhouse. Hell no. I didn’t want to spend another minute in that clubhouse. The vibes were fucking uncomfortable, as if something bad had happened.”

“Did you know Deacon’s wife had passed away?”

“Not then,” Johnny G replied. “I found out later. Blade told me. Think about this. I spent close to an hour in that man’s office watching him sign documents. He’s so self-absorbed, he didn’t recognize me just now. I shouldn’t bitch. It’s safer for Isolde and me.”

“You have a point, my friend. Anything else?”

“I was in the front yard, getting ready to leave Dalton, when she snuck out the side of the clubhouse. I didn’t notice how young she was in the hallway, but out in the yard…” He sighed. “Her age was fucking obvious, and she was even more beautiful. Isolde was cool, though. She gave me her name again. Fuck, like I could ever forget it, but she didn’t flirt or anything. She only said she was sad I was going home and hoped to see me again, but she knew it would be difficult.” He stood abruptly. “I came this close”—pinching his fingers together, he thrust them at Barron’s face—“to asking her to get on the bike and come home with me.”

“Thank goodness you didn’t.”

“Yeah. Sanity prevailed. Even though I’d do anything for her. Get a new job, leave the MC, go back to school, get my degree. Give her the fucking moon. She’s everything I’ve ever wanted. She’s the half I’m missing.”

“I don’t get you, man. How can you say that when you barely know her?”

“Why would you get it? Took you months to really see Yoanni.”

“Ouch,” Barron said.

“No. Don’t take it the wrong way. We’re friends and MC brothers, but we’re not the same. I don’t need or want months or years of dates and conversation to know her. My soul recognized Isolde from the first moment. Unfortunately, she has a possessive father who refuses to accept the woman she is blocking our way. I won’t make her choose.”

“She strikes me as a pretty smart cookie. Maybe she’ll find a way to convince him she’s not a baby.”

“In ten years.” Johnny Gun gave a short, humorless laugh.

“Is he seeing anybody? I bet you a significant other could loosen up the grip he has on his daughter.”

“Now we’re talking about miracles. Those don’t happen.”

“When you least expect them, my man.” Barron’s phone dinged. Yoanni’s name flashed on the screen. “Hold on a sec. It’s Yoanni.”

Johnny G waved a hand, and Barron turned his attention to the call.

“Hey, baby girl. What’s up?”

“We’re done for the day. It’s still early, and I wanted to stop by my place to pick up a few more things.”

“Stay where you are. I’ll drive over.”

“My place is close to the station. Doesn’t make sense for you to pick me up to go back there. I remember I’m not allowed to ride with anyone but you or the captain. But the captain has an errand to run and wants to know if Officer Billings can drive me over.”

Who the fuck is Officer Billings ?

“Officer Billings, you say?”

“Yes, Daddy. Remember when the calculator was left on my car? Officer Billings escorted me home. You probably crossed each other on the road.”

Barron did a quick mental calculation. The agency was close to Yoanni’s place. He’d likely get there before she did.

“Since Officer Billings escorted you once before, I’ll agree this one time. But no more. You hear me?”

“I do.”

“All right. I’ll meet you at your place in a few minutes. Be careful, princess.”

“I will, and Daddy?”

“Yes?”

“If you want to go inside, there’s a key under the terracotta pot by the kitchen door.”

“Are you kidding me?”

“No, why?”

He blew out a breath. Now he knew how the intruder got into her place. “I’ll tell you later.”

Barron dropped the phone in his pocket. “I need to meet up with Yoanni. She’s done for the day.” He glanced over his shoulder. “Trouble is at the gate. Will you be okay? I hate to leave you without backup.”

“Don’t worry. I’ve no intention of running into either one. Once I finish lining up the cabinets, I’ll slink out the back door. They’ll never hear me leave.”

“But what if Isolde tries to sneak in here?”

“She won’t. Not with Deacon so close, watching her every move.”

“All right, my man. Stay safe. I’ll catch up with you later.”

“Later.”

Barron dashed down the hallway. Just before he walked out, he paused at the computer room. “Shifter, I’m on my way to pick up Yoanni. I’ll call you later. Nice meeting y’all.” He waved and left, worried about the two people he cared for most in life. He’d protect his baby girl like a hawk, but this development with his best friend… Johnny G had never let on he was so in love with a girl ten years younger. And her maniacally possessive father gave him the shivers down his spine. His friend was in for a rough ride.

Barron reached Yoanni’s neighborhood in ten minutes. As he drove to her house, a wicked impulse to watch her in action prompted him to park down the block. It was a sneaky thing to do, but he had to confirm she obeyed his orders and not yessed him to death whenever he wasn’t present.

Once parked, he approached the house from the side yard to the kitchen door. Barron found the terracotta pot where she said the key would be, one step down from the doorway. He lifted the pot and found no key. With a jerk, he glanced at the door, touched it, and the door ever so gently opened a sliver. Every hair on his body stood at attention.

Pulling the Glock from the back of his pants, he racked the slide, pushed the door a little more, and silently walked inside. He wanted to exhale in shock, but he suppressed the reaction. Someone had gone out of his way to trash Yoanni’s kitchen. Shattered cups, dishes, and even her flower pots and mangled plants covered the tile floor. The intruder had thrown the cute flowery images she’d hung on her walls onto the floor. Heel-like smudges appeared on cracked glass, broken frames, and soiled prints. Carefully, he continued into the doorway connecting the kitchen to her small living room. Every piece of furniture lay sideways or upside down. Gibberish graffiti covered her walls except one. On this one, the words DIE BITCH, written at an angle, started at the floor and stopped at the ceiling .

A sudden shadow sped past at the corner of his eye. He ran after it, yelling, “Stop!” He jumped over the sofa, and the invader tucked and scurried around, trying to reach the front door. Shifting, Barron blocked the path. But this individual was smaller than he’d anticipated and slower. Pumping his legs, Barron lunged forward. On his way down, his curved fingers latched onto the runner’s pants. The invader rolled to the floor with a painful yelp.

Barron growled, “Got you now, motherfucker.” He crawled forward, caging the smaller form between his legs. He snatched the hoodie, but the invader wore a heavy ski mask. The two fought against each other, the intruder to keep the mask on, Barron to pull it up desperate to see the face underneath it. Before he could, a sharp pain struck the back of his head, and the world went black.