Chapter Twenty

Geek

L EAVING ALANA THIS morning was the hardest thing I’ve had to do. Yesterday was a shitshow for her and all I wanted to do was remain with her and make sure nothing hurt her today. She deserves to have peace in her life and right now all the horrible shit seems to be coming at her from every fucking side. Alana can’t catch a break and that’s all Ghost and I want for her. I’ll have to talk to him when we get home tonight about taking her on a trip when this is all over with. When she no longer has to worry about Terrence randomly showing up or Liz trying to stake a claim on Ghost, we should take her away from Pine View and spend our days and nights worshiping her and giving her all the love and attention we have to give her. We can go to the beach and play in the water or lay on chairs as she takes pictures of her surroundings like I know she’d love to do. Alana has an amazing way of capturing what’s going on around her and turning it into more than a simple picture. Her images come to life and that’s from the few pictures I’ve seen as she was first starting out. I can’t imagine what she’d do today with experience and the various pieces of equipment she’s gotten over the years.

Pulling up to the job, I head for the building I’ll be installing the new security equipment in. No one’s here, but there’s a note for me with the code of the door that tells me just to get started because the owners can’t be here. They had to go out of town for an emergency. I drop my head and let it hang as I head back to the truck to gather what I need. This is a small office building and needs cameras installed on three floors in each corner, the offices, and all open areas. The only place that won’t have any kind of surveillance is inside the bathrooms. We won’t invade anyone’s privacy like that for any reason. That’s something Valor fought with this client over and he almost terminated the contract when they wouldn’t back down. In the end, they realized we’re the best and gave up the insane idea to put cameras in the bathrooms. Stupid fucks!

I look for the tools I need after pulling out the cart I’ve already loaded up the various cameras on. Half the tools I need aren’t in the truck where they usually are as I continue to search for them. After half an hour, I realize they were removed from my truck and I have no clue when since everything was here last night when I parked. No one touches our trucks for the security company because they’re parked behind a locked gate and kept in a garage that you need a code to enter. With our alarm system in place, no one would have access without all of us who work at P.B. Security being alerted to someone tampering with our system. Valor spent hours thinking through everything and installing it himself before finally getting the final approval from Vault and the rest of the club. This was all done before we were patched in and moved to Pine View.

Growling and mumbling under my breath, I pull out my phone and call Valor.

“What’s up, Geek?” he answers his phone, his tone distracted.

“Who the fuck was around my work truck? I’m here at the job, alone, and nothin’ is here. I don’t have half the fuckin’ tools and I know everythin’ was here when I parked yesterday,” I bark out, my voice hard and cold as frustration fills me to the point I can hardly see.

“No one to my knowledge. Do you have the equipment?” he returns, his voice alert now.

“Yeah. I’ve got all the cameras and alarm panel loaded on the cart. Went to get the fuckin’ tools and nothin’ is here. Everythin’ is useless for what I need to do inside. And, the fuckin’ client isn’t even here to do the final walkthrough with me. What the fuck is goin’ on?”

“I don’t know, Geek. I can call them and find out why they aren’t there when I specifically told them they were needed. As for the tools, is there anythin’ you can do with what you have?” he questions me, his voice confused as he tries to figure out what’s going on with this job today.

“Don’t fuckin’ bother. I don’t want to see anyone right now. Told you I didn’t want any out of town jobs until the situation with Terrence was over. Yet, here I am. Not to mention, this job should have someone else with me and I’m alone. Now this bullshit is fuckin’ everythin’ up even more. I won’t be home with my girl until tomorrow at the fuckin’ rate this shit is goin’,” I vent, letting all the anger coursing through me out.

“I know, Geek. I’m sorry you’re alone. King is still diggin’ into Terrence and wants to be close to Brynn and the triplets. I just got to the security firm from my job and the others are out on more jobs,” Valor says, trying to calm me down and only succeeding in pissing me off even more.

“Exactly. King wants to be close to his wife and the babies. She’s not goin’ through a fuckin’ thing these days and he gets to be close to her. Alana’s goin’ out of her fuckin’ mind and can hardly leave the compound without havin’ a fuckin’ panic attack and yet I’m hours away. If somethin’ happens, I can’t just show up and be there for her. I’ll have to drive hours to get back to her. And it’s nice that you’re done with your job for the day already when I can’t even fuckin’ start mine yet. It’s already goin’ on noon and this shit is gonna take me at least eight hours. Then I have to clean up, pack the truck again, and drive hours back home. Really fuckin’ good plannin’, Valor,” I state, hanging up the phone and shoving it back in my pocket as I grab the tools I do have on the truck so I can get this shit taken care of.

Making my way inside, I use the code to get through the door and start on the third floor of the building. I methodically work from one end of the hall to the other before making my way through the ten offices. There’s a lounge on each floor and two cameras will be installed in there. Without having the proper tools, it takes double the time to get the cameras up. Then I have to check all the angles with an app on my phone and make adjustments as they’re needed. Again, this shit takes more time than normal. If a second person was here with me, I could be doing the installation as they check each angle and we make the adjustment right then. Two and half hours later, I make my way to the second floor. This floor has more offices and takes even longer to go through the process. Every fucking minute that passes leaves me angrier because I have nothing to do but think of everything going on and about how far away I am from Alana.

I ’m finally down on the first floor and night has fallen. I haven’t stopped working for a second so I can get back on the road and head home. As I start the installation process at the back of the building, my phone vibrates in my pocket. Sighing, I pull it out and see Ghost’s name on the screen. Panic fills me as I quickly answer.

“What’s wrong? Where’s Alana?” I question my best friend, already pulling down the ladder I’ve put in the corner of the hall.

“She’s okay, Colton. She’s at home with our moms makin’ dinner. King just called me. He’s been workin’ all day long and finally got a hit on Terrence. He’s fuckin’ close to Pine View. Said he should be in the city by tonight. We have no clue what he’s gonna do when he shows up at this point. King’s got alerts set in case he finally fucks up and uses the one credit card he’s got in his name,” he informs me as the anger that’s been simmering all day long turns to rage as it courses through my veins.

“Are you fuckin’ kiddin’ me? I’ve still got fuckin’ hours here on this damn job. Been alone all fuckin’ day and nothin’ is goin’ right. Bitched at Valor when I got here and the job has just gotten worse and worse. The last three cameras I put up weren’t workin’ and I had to replace them with ones for the first floor. Now I’m short on shit for this floor and I know I’ll be sent back here tomorrow to finish,” I growl, wanting to punch the wall next to me but refraining because I know the client won’t like a hole the size of my fist here when they get back.

“Fuck! Valor didn’t send anyone to you? I thought I overheard Vault say he was gonna,” Ghost questions me, frustration filling his voice.

“No, he didn’t. I’ve been here alone all fuckin’ day long. I’m literally just startin’ the first floor of the job and as I just said I’m three cameras short and still have to hook up the alarm panel after makin’ sure everythin’ is ready for it. I have a feelin’ it’s not gonna work because it doesn’t look like any wirin’ has been connected to the doors leadin’ outside. Even the emergency exits aren’t hooked up properly at this point,” I state, the rage almost boiling over as I look around the building surrounding me.

“That means you’ll be gone even longer. What are you gonna do?” he asks, his voice getting harder as I hear him moving around wherever he is right now.

“I’m fuckin’ leavin’ here right now. I’ll load everythin’ back up in the truck and head out after sendin’ Valor a message that someone else can finish this fuckin’ job,” I tell him as I grab the ladder and close it before grabbing it and pushing the cart in front of me.

“You sure?”

“Yeah. Knew I never should’ve taken this job today and it’s all gone downhill from the second I left the house this mornin’. I’ll see you in a few hours.”

Hanging up the phone, I shove it roughly in my pocket and leave the building. I make sure the door locks behind me before heading for the truck and putting everything back where it belongs. I take the three cameras that weren’t working after I installed them and toss them in the backseat of the truck so whoever comes out next can grab three news ones from the warehouse before they make their way here. I’m not lying when I said I wasn’t coming back to finish this shit. Valor can come see what a fucking mess this place is and how the client didn’t do what was asked of him. Things that are stated in the contract. If Valor wants to get pissed at me, he can. I’m not backing down from this though.

I read each contract of the jobs I have to go out on. Every single stipulation is stated clearly and changes based on the job and what the client needs. This one stated that all the wiring and everything needed was to be completed by their electrician so all I had to do was hook it up to the alarm panel. None of it was done. It also stated we weren’t going to do anything with the emergency exits as the client requested and I can see why now. They’re trying to cut corners and using us to make it easier. I’m not taking the hit for this one. Now, I’ll let Valor know what’s going on and he can make the decision to finish the job or terminate the contract. That’s not my job and I refuse to do more right now.

After putting everything away and making sure it’s secure, I pull out my phone as I climb in behind the wheel.

Me: The job isn’t done. Can’t fuckin’ finish it. I’m headin’ back now after gettin’ a call from Ghost that Terrence will be in the city tonight. Be prepared to talk when I get to the clubhouse because this is bullshit.

Starting the truck’s engine, I pull away from the building and head back home. This trip is gonna fucking drag by and I know Alana will more than likely be asleep by the time I get home. Stupid bullshit!

T he only stop I made was through the drive thru of a fast food place on the way home. I’ve sped and broken countless rules of the road in my haste to get back to Pine View. Still, I don’t give a fuck as I pull up to P.B. Security and let myself through the gate with my code. After parking in the garage I make my way inside to find Valor sitting in his office waiting for me.

“I’m not fuckin’ goin’ back there, Valor. Don’t give a fuck what you gotta do to me, but I won’t do it,” I state, startling him as he works on paperwork that’s been piling up.

“That bad?” he returns, giving me his full attention.

“Even fuckin’ worse. Three cameras weren’t workin’ so the job is down three. Didn’t even get started on the first floor. None of the wirin’ is done. There’s nothin’ for the emergency exits from what I could see. It’s a fuckin’ mess and I refuse to go back. You want the job done, take care of it yourself,” I say, my voice even colder than earlier when I talked to him.

“I’ll take Zayden with me tomorrow and we’ll get it taken care of. If the contract stipulations aren’t completed, I’ll terminate the contract. Did you find the missin’ tools from your truck?”

“No, I didn’t. Not gonna sit here and hash all the details out with you, Valor. I want to get home and make sure Alana’s okay. We aren’t keepin’ anythin’ a secret when it comes to Terrence and I know she’s havin’ a fuckin’ hard time. Didn’t need Ghost to tell me that,” I tell him before leaving the office and heading out to my truck so I can get back to the compound.

Leaving the security company behind, I drive through the city on empty streets since it’s almost one in the morning in the middle of the week. There are areas of Pine View that are still alive and bustling at this time, but not where we chose to settle down. Speeding through the streets, it doesn’t take me long to pull into the compound where Kian closes the gate behind me and I head straight for our house. There isn’t a doubt in my mind that Alana’s there and already in bed with Ghost.

Pulling up outside, I find my dad sitting in the dark and know he’s waiting for me. I quickly shut the truck off after parking next to Ghost’s truck. Making my way up to my dad’s side, I take a seat next to him and we remain in silence for a few minutes.

“Heard you didn’t have the best day today,” he says, not looking at me as we look out across the field in front of our home with only the moon lighting the world around us up.

“Wasn’t the best day. Knew I never should’ve went on the job from the second I left the house this mornin’. Told Valor I’m not goin’ back tomorrow and he’s gonna go in my place. More than likely gonna terminate the contract and pull the equipment I already installed before he leaves. That shit only pisses me off more because the hours I’ve been away from Alana truly mean nothin’ if that’s what he does,” I tell him, the anger and rage once again bubbling to the surface. “How’s she doin’ today?”

“She was quiet. Looks as if the weight of the world is holdin’ her down and she can’t get a full breath. It’s a look we’ve all seen on our women’s faces at one point or another. Alana’s strong and she’s not gonna let this keep controllin’ her. We’ll get Terrence now that we know he’s in the city and she’ll be able to breathe easy. Ghost left work early to be here with her. He’s gonna try to talk her into goin’ to work tomorrow with him. If she goes, Kian, Deegan, Cage, Joker, and Stryker will be with them. They’ll try to make it look as if they’re waitin’ to get work done, but you know her dads aren’t gonna be able to control themselves for very long,” my dad says, a smirk on his face because he knows Cage and Joker.

“Where’s Uncle Tank? I haven’t seen him yet,” I ask, worried there’s something wrong with someone else.

“He’ll be here tomorrow. Wanted to stop in Cedar Bay to see the kids. They’re thinkin’ of movin’ there when he retires from the club. He wants to be close to his kids. He knows Zoey is bein’ taken care of by Savage and if they’re in Cedar Bay it will make it easier for visits to happen,” my dad informs me as I hear a scream from inside the house.

Without a word, I leave the porch and rush up to our bedroom. Ghost is trying to calm Alana down as she tangles herself in the blankets on our bed while battling a nightmare. I slide in bed behind her and wrap my arms around her body with Kaden. We hold her close and murmur words of love and comfort in her ear until she finally calms down and wakes up. Alana’s body is covered in sweat, her hair sticking to her face and neck while tears run down her face and land on the three of us. She sobs in my chest as I lift her in my arms and carry her into the bathroom. Kaden joins us and turns on the shower as I hold our girl and let the anger of the day disappear. My entire focus is on her as we help her wash the sweat from her body before washing ourselves and getting out of the shower once more. I dress her in one of my tee-shirts after drying her off before the three of us climb in bed. This entire exchange is done without a single word being spoken and that tells me how rattled Alana truly is. I lay awake as she fights to go back to sleep and simply hold her close so she knows we’re here for her.