Chapter Eleven

Chapter Eleven

Vault

Five years later

LIFE HAS BEEN fucking pure hell for the last five years. The first thing I did when I got back home so many years ago was talk to Slim and the rest of the club about helping everyone in Cedar Bay. We got rid of the pimps and dealers so the community could clean the town up and get it back to what it was previously. Everyone was completely on board with going in and getting rid of the trash and it didn't take long at all. Slim got in touch with the head of the mafia Antonio belonged to and he didn't even know they were in Cedar Bay or what they were doing. He gave us the go ahead to take out the trash and promised there would be no blow back from getting rid of them. In fact, he gave Slim a marker for any help we might need in the future. No one else does that shit because they'd rather deal with their problem on their own. Anyway, we cleaned up the town and that's when I dropped the next bomb. I could no longer stay in Benton Falls. Slim gave me permission to start a new chapter of the club as long as I did the research necessary to start the club close to Cedar Bay. There's so much more that goes into something like that.

Thankfully there aren't any other clubs in the area of Cedar Bay. That eliminated the need to make phone calls to them to ask permission to start a chapter of the Phantom Bastards MC. However, I did have to search the area and figure out which town I wanted to move to. After looking at maps and traveling the area, I finally decided on a small city named Pine View. It's not that far from Cedar Bay and seems to have everything we could want around us when we start the club. Plus, there's land to buy for a few businesses we want to start and also where the clubhouse will be. Slim called in some favors and got a construction crew working on things after we made offers on everything and they went through. He's completely behind my moving away from Benton Falls because he knows it's what I need in order to heal and get past the loss of my dad.

After getting everything figured out when it comes to where I was going to start the club, the next major step for me was finding guys who wanted to move with me. Valor decided that he was going to head to Pine View with me because he wasn't going to let me go alone. That's my brother for you. Even though our relationship is still strained and we haven't talked about anything that needs to be said between the two of us or discussed the massive rift between us. Maybe starting over somewhere new will give us the opportunity to finally get all that out in the open and dealt with. Some of the younger boys have expressed an interest in moving to Pine View when they were old enough and had earned their full patch after Prospecting with the club. I'll take them in a heartbeat because I've watched them grow up and want to include them in this new chapter of the club. For now, I have to find guys who can sit at the table with Valor and me to get this club off the ground and made into something before the younger guys move to Pine View.

Once a week I had to check in with Slim and let him know how everything was going. During one of our check-ins, he suggested getting a hold of our Nomad chapter and seeing if they'd be willing to hang out in Pine View for a while until the younger boys were ready to move down there with us. So, that's what I did. Most of the guys were on board. They're all getting older and want to settle down and not travel the country as much as they did in their younger days. With them on board, there was still a lot to do before I could leave Benton Falls behind.

The one person I didn't see when I was home was Annabell. My sweet Angel got really good at avoiding me any time I even went in search of her. Just after getting home, I saw her long enough for her to make sure I was okay and that nothing happened to me in the two weeks I was gone. After that, I saw her in passing but nothing more. She refused to sit down and talk to me for some reason. Shy and Slim told me it was a really busy time for her because she was starting to study for her finals which were everyone else's midterms, and working with a new cheerleading team for one of those competitive cheer squads. She didn't want to join because she was going to be leaving for college soon and it would screw them over. I didn't go up to the house to see Bell because that's her sanctuary and I didn't want to take that away from her. I've hurt her enough and refuse to add another way to the list. So, I put all of my focus on starting the new chapter of the club and taking trips to Pine View when it was necessary so I could oversee everything.

I'm also not sure what the hell is going on with my brother and Savannah. They've always been really close and I know they were having sex and building something, but suddenly it's as if she wants nothing to do with Valor. When Savannah sees him, she glares in his direction before leaving the area with her sisters following behind her. I want to talk to Valor and figure out some way to help him, but there's nothing I can do. Not until he wants to talk to me again. Valor won't open up about his feelings until we've dealt with the last few months and settled everything that happened between us. All I know is the two of them aren't spending time together and Valor has moved back into the clubhouse instead of staying in the house with Savannah and the girls. He's miserable and mopes around the clubhouse. The only time I ever see him looking alive is when he's helping me do something for the new club. Valor's even volunteered to ride to Pine View on his own in my place. I always turn him down and ride out with him because I need to be the one double checking everything.

After determining which of the Nomads were going to join us in Pine View, I made a ton of phone calls to them about the various businesses we were planning on opening to earn money. So far, we've decided that we'll open a garage, bar, strip club, tattoo parlor, a security company, and an auto parts store. The auto parts store is actually something that we're taking over from a local resident, Ned, who wants to retire but doesn't want to see years of his hard work and dedication go down the drain for nothing. After talking to Ned several times with Slim, we bought his business and plan to rename it but keep everything else the same. Valor is going to run the security company. It's something he's always been interested in and I love that he's going to follow his dream and help others out any way he can. I'll be running the garage in honor of our dad. We spent countless hours working with him in the shop or at home on bikes and cars. He always wanted to have his own shop, but ended up working with Slim in the club's garage. Now, I'm going to let him live out his dream through me. We even decided to name the garage Hound's in honor of him. The rest of the guys will handle the other businesses until the guys get their patch and move down to Pine View with us.

Now, it's finally time for us to head out and leave Benton Falls behind after almost two years of putting everything together and getting all of the construction complete on the clubhouse and businesses we're opening. I've packed up everything I plan to take with me and it's been loaded in a massive U-Haul that Killer will be driving down. Valor has also packed everything and loaded it up. We're taking a lot from dad's house so that we have a piece of him with us in the new clubhouse. However, Slim and the guys will take care of the house here so nothing happens to it. Valor and I have talked to Slim and the club wants to use it as a safehouse of sorts and we're fine with that. As long as nothing happens to it, Valor and I don't want it sitting empty. We trust Slim enough to take care of things for us.

"Vault, what the fuck is takin' you so long?" Court asks me, pulling me out of my head and thinking about the most important parts of the last five years. At least until I got to the part where my heart shattered in my chest.

The day we left Benton Falls behind, Annabell didn't come to tell us goodbye. I never got to see her and talk about things when I was home. Or give her the gift I got to celebrate her birthday. She had left early for college so she could get settled into the dorms and I know it's just an excuse so she didn't have to see me. I'm not gonna bitch about it though because it shows just how deeply I've hurt her.

"I'm comin'. Get everyone around the table," I return, sitting at my desk in the office at the clubhouse with a bottle of water and a ton of paperwork in front of me that I need to take care of.

Pushing out of my chair, I feel the weight of the world resting on my shoulders. It's fucking horrible and I don't know what the fuck to do. That's why we're having church in the middle of the fucking day during the week. I need to make a call and get some damn help. It's been five fucking years and I still have no clue what the fuck to do or where to go. This shit is harder than anything I've ever done before in my life and I don't regret a single second of it. Helping the town of Cedar Bay and now putting all of this shit together is exactly what I needed to heal and move on from losing my dad. I haven't had time to focus on the loss of him and letting it impact every aspect of my life. It's only when I sleep that the doubts and memories fill me to the point I wake up in agonizing pain and a sadness that shakes me to my core.

George, one of our two Prospects, stands outside the door of church and I hand him over my phone and gun. The gun I carry belonged to my dad and I make sure it's with me at all times. The only exception is when we're in church. George and Martin both know they're not to touch it once I set it down or I'll cut their fucking hands off. Yeah, I've told them both that over the years since we've been in Pine View.

Walking into church, I find the men sitting at the table around me. Taking my seat at the head of the table I look around the men who have put their faith in me and made sure that this chapter of the Phantom Bastards is a success. I don't see it, but our businesses are doing well and that's one of the biggest things I was worried about. Coming into a small city as bikers and not knowing anyone here could have meant that we would've lost everything. Residents of Pine View didn't have to give our businesses a chance at all. However, they lined up to see what we were doing and about as a way to get close to us and make sure we weren't here to do more harm than good. For the most part, the city of Pine View has welcomed us with open arms and embraced the MC instead of turning us away and acting as if we're worse than the drug dealers in town.

For a minute, I stare down at the table we all sit around when we're in church. It was custom made by Slim as a gift to the new chapter of the club. In the very center of the table are the club's colors. They've been burned into the wood in a way that makes it seem as if the design is staring at you no matter where you are in the room. After it was burned into the table, it was stained a dark cherry before a gloss was put over it. I love the table and every time we have church, a sense of pride fills me with the thought of Slim believing in us enough to have this made for us.

"Church in session," I state, slamming the gavel on the table in front of me before lighting a cigarette. "We've got a few problems to take care of today. The main one bein' the drug problem we have goin' on in Pine View. I've heard from Officer Ted Monroe and he informed me that there were four more teenagers rushed to the hospital with an overdose. One of them didn't make it and the rest are in critical condition. We need to get this fuckin' situation under control and find the source of the drugs. Ted told me that this is a new drug and no one's ever seen anythin' like it on the market before now. So, our first order of business is findin' out who the fuck is pushin' this shit here and then followin' it up the food chain until we get the fucker in charge of the operation. Any ideas about how we do this when the cops can't even get a lead on this shit?"

"We've all been out ridin' around and lookin' for anyone suspected of dealin'. Every fuckin' time we get close to them, the assholes disappear as if they know we're out to get them. Slider and I can go back out after church to look again and see what we can find. Plus, we gotta find a contact in the school. With the number of teens gettin' their hands on this shit, there's no doubt in my mind that someone is specifically dealin' there. We won't find shit out until we can get someone on the inside," Abyss says, a voice of reason when the rest of us are spiraling out of control.

Abyss is an older Nomad and he can't wait to get back on the road. Out of all of us here, he's the one I wouldn't want to meet in a dark alley if I didn't know him. Abyss is over six and a half feet tall. His deeply tanned skin is covered in tattoos and his beard is long but always trimmed and neat. Abyss doesn't ever smile unless he's causing mayhem and beating the fuck out of someone. Then, you can't get the smile off of his face. Every other time I look at him, he's wearing a scowl and looks as if he wants to kill you instead of having a conversation. Everyone runs in fear of him and I can't blame them. It kills Abyss to remain in one place for long periods of time. He became a Nomad for a reason and it's because he's never been able to remain in one location for long periods of time. The main way we combat that shit is by letting him go out in search of things when he needs to. It gives him the sense of freedom and peace he needs while still remaining in Pine View. He's just counting down the days until the boys patch in and move down here so he can head back out.

"How the fuck are we gonna get a contact in the school, Abyss?" Court barks out from his seat at the table.

Court is the complete opposite of Abyss in every way. He's still over six feet tall but always has a friendly demeanor. No, I wouldn't want to run into him on the street because the man can snap in the blink of an eye. However, where Abyss is all dark and demented, Court is light and jovial. He's got short dirty blond hair that he styles as he did when he was a lawyer. Every strand of hair is always in place and nothing can change that with the amount of product he uses on a daily basis. His light blue eyes pierce your soul and always make you feel as if he's searching you for every wrongdoing you've ever committed in your life. Yeah, like the rest of us, he's got tattoos that cover his skin, but they aren't menacing and evil looking like Abyss'. Most of Court's tattoos revolve around a few sentimental times in his life and the justice system. Something he no longer believes in. The two men always butt heads and provide ample entertainment for the rest of us.

"I don't fuckin' know. Seduce one of the teachers there and fuck her until we get the answers we want," Abyss says, shrugging his shoulders with a smirk on his face because he knows it's the kind of shit Court lives to do.

"Fuck that shit! I haven't ever met a single teacher I want to fuck or seduce for any reason. You seduce a fuckin' teacher and get an in at the school," Court argues back, his voice full of anger at the thought of him having to do that shit.

"No one's gonna seduce any of the fuckin' teachers," I state, knowing if I don't put an end to their arguing now it will go on for hours as I shake my head with all the thoughts filling my mind. I take the last drag of my cigarette before crushing it in the ashtray in front of me. "I'll get the name of the resource officer for the school and see if Ted believes he's trustworthy and will help us. Once I make contact, we'll go from there. Everyone else, I want you out ridin' around town and searchin' for these fuckers dealin' in Pine View. We're gonna make a fuckin' statement when we take these assholes out. Even if we have to do it one by one. Report to me immediately if you find anythin' we can use. You manage to capture one of the dealers, I want them brought in and held in the cells downstairs.

"Movin' on. What do we think about me makin' a call to Slim to find out how we can get this shit taken care of? I'm fuckin' drownin' here boys. I can't get a handle on everythin' here at the clubhouse, workin' at the garage, and makin' sure all the paperwork and shit is taken care of. I need help from someone and that's the only thing I can think of doin' to get some help."

"You know I'll help you anyway I can," my brother says, his voice strong and low as he stares at me from his seat. "I've been handlin' the books for the businesses and all that shit. I know you've got a desk littered with more that needs to be taken care of. I can help you for now, but we really do need someone that can work at least one of the businesses and help take a load off your shoulders on a daily basis. Most of the paperwork you're goin' through in the office here someone else can see. I trust you enough to know you won't let our ledgers and other shit that's for our eyes only be seen by someone who shouldn't see it. If you feel the need to call Slim and get his advice or help, I'm all for it. Anythin' to help you and the club out."

The men sitting around me agree with Valor as they all voice their opinions on me getting the help I need. Before I close the meeting, Valor goes over the numbers for our businesses and assures us all we're in the black but things could definitely be better after this long. We need fresh ideas and shit to draw people back in and get them wanting to make repeat business with us. Dismissing church, I slam the gavel against the table once again.

Heading straight for my office after grabbing my gun and phone, I close myself away to call Slim. It's a call I'm dreading making but one that's necessary. Taking a deep breath, I open my phone and call Slim.

"Vault, it's good to hear from you. How are things goin' down there in Pine View?" he answers the phone, sounding as if he's in a great mood today.

"Well, that's actually why I'm callin', Slim. I'm fuckin' drownin' here. I've got so much shit to do and there's not enough hours in the day to get it all done. I feel as if I'm spiralin' out of control and I need some help. We haven't asked for help since movin' down here, but I'm reachin' out for it now," I tell him, letting my vulnerability show as I talk to my former President and my dad's best friend in the world.

"I know you haven't asked for help, Vault. I'm so fuckin' proud of you for tryin' to handle everythin' on your own with the few men you have there in Pine View. Tell me exactly what's goin' on so we can figure this shit out," he responds, shuffling something around in the background as I get his full attention.

"Our main issue is this drug problem we got goin' on in town. We're figurin' out the best way to handle it, but it's gonna take time. Time is somethin' we don't have. Four fuckin' kids were just rushed to the hospital from overdoses. One of them died and the other three are in critical condition. It's some kind of new drug. We're puttin' plans in place to get to the dealers so we can follow the food chain up to the top fucker. That's not what I'm drownin' under though. We need help with the businesses and the paperwork. I'm barely sleepin' these days because when I'm not at the garage tryin' to make sure it's a success, I'm doin' all the paperwork that keeps pilin' up," I tell him honestly as I lean back in my chair and stare at two pictures I have on my desk side-by-side. One of them is a picture of my dad and the other is my favorite picture of Annabell. They're what I stare at when I need the strength to move forward each day and not forget everything.

"Okay. I've got a possible solution. I'm just not sure if either one of you are gonna like it. I'm pretty sure you will, but the other half is a wild card and I'm not sure they'll go for it," Slim says making my heart rate skyrocket as my breath stalls in my chest and a fine layer of sweat coats my back and face. I know exactly what Slim is gonna suggest before he even says the words. "I'll talk to Annabell and see if she'd be willin' to move down there for a while to help you. She can work at Hound's and help with the paperwork and office shit there. When she's not workin' you can have her go through the paperwork for the clubhouse. You know what she can and can't see. This only happens if she'll agree to it. I'm not gonna force my daughter to do anythin' she's not comfortable doin'."

"Okay," I say, my voice coming out hoarse from the sudden dryness of my mouth. "What can we do if she doesn't want to move down here?"

"We'll figure somethin' out. It won't be much longer and the boys will be ready to come down and join you. They'll help take some of the weight off your shoulders so you won't have to spend hours doin' all the shit you've been doin', Vault. We will get a solution to this problem. I'll be in touch later today or tomorrow with an answer for you," he says before hanging up the phone on me. It's Slim's way and I can't help but laugh at him because he's never gonna change.

Setting my phone down on the desk in front of me, I once again lean back in my chair and try to keep every image and thought of Annabell out of my head. It's hard as fuck and there isn't a day that goes by when I'm not thinking about her. Wondering what she's doing, how she's been since the last time I saw her, and if she's found her happily ever after yet. I hate that she might have found a man to spend her life with who isn't me. Yes, I know I ruined anything we could've had between us. I fully accept that shit and live with it daily. And I will always want my sweet Angel to be happy and healthy. Instead I find myself wondering if I can get through to her and try to start repairing our relationship while she's here in Pine View. Instead of dreading seeing her, thoughts start forming in my mind about all the ways I can apologize and make it up to her. To get us back where we need to be so I can finally hold my Angel in my arms once again.