CHAPTER ELEVEN

-:- DESTINY -:-

Rushing to get ready to meet Jo at the clubhouse, I rinse the breakfast dishes and leave them on the drainer. Pushing my feet into espadrilles and grabbing my purse on the way out the front door. Locking up, I give a wave to the cab driver, and sigh at the amount it’s costing to use a cab or Uber.

My laptop has everything set up ready to show Jo, and hope she likes what I have in mind for her first campaign. I’ve been working on this since she asked to speak to me. I like to have things ready because scrambling at the last minute tends to have problems thrown in.

Arriving at the clubhouse, I pay the driver and quickly make my way to the gate. Noticing a biker almost quick-marching towards me, I’m thankful to recognize it’s Knuckles who I ate with last night.

“Come on, Destiny. Let’s get you inside and settled with Jo. She’s been excited since she got outta bed.” Grinning at me, I notice the dimple on his cheek pop. Hearing him chuckle, I look up and blush when I realize he’s noticed me checking it out. “Don’t worry about it. Seems most of the ladies like dimples.”

Smiling, I keep quiet, because I think I made enough of a fool of myself for the moment. Knuckles takes my laptop and guides me through the front door of the clubhouse to where Jo is sitting in the large room waiting.

“Good morning, Jo,” smiling and taking a seat next to her at the table. I give Knuckles a smile, too, when he places the laptop case in front of me, kisses Jo on the forehead, then saunters away.

“Morning, Destiny. Here is the contract. I did as you asked and had PT look over it. TwoCents, of course, had to stick his nose in and look too, but both said it was nothing to worry about and admired you covered yourself with it, without pushing your clients.” Jo slides the contract over to me, and I take it, tucking it safely away in my purse.

Taking out the laptop, I quickly set it up, and show Jo the ideas I have ready to start her campaign if she is happy with what she sees. I have images for advertising on all social media, a book signing in three months, which is fairly local as it is only six towns away. I have organized a radio interview which I’ve used only once before which was successful for the author.

Jo likes what she is seeing so far, so I open up the next folder where I have ideas stored for merchandise. “There are basic things you can give away as you do book signings in the bookstores I organize. We can also do items that you can sell. We just need to use a reliable person to design and create the merchandise. My usual one has retired and I’m trying to find someone else, but it’s hard to find one that you can trust.”

“Oh, leave that with me because Tilly owns the Florista and Craft Arcade. I know that Drew does a lot of craft things now. She used to do just candles, but she’s open to doing all types of things. She has an area set up in the shop where she prints t-shirts, mugs and all types of things. It’s a big thing now, and she has the Florista on the internet as a shop and it’s bringing in a lot of work.”

“Oh, that’s good to know. I may go over and speak with them about doing things for my other authors too.” I’m quite excited to hear about this because it’s hard to find good suppliers, and ones that don’t let you down on a regular basis.

“I’m good with all of this, Destiny. If you let me have solid dates and times, I’ll make sure I’m available.”

“Okay. If you let me know what your friend says about merchandise, I’ll make sure all the media is covered. I’ll speak to you on a weekly basis, unless something needs to be discussed sooner.” I pack up my laptop ready to leave, then Jo surprises me when she gives me a hug.

One of the brothers walks over to us and gives us both a smile, “I’m going into town, Destiny, so I can drop you at home. I’m Stitch by the way.”

“Oh, that’s great. Come on, Destiny, I’ll wave you off.” Jo smiles.

Waving at Stitch as he pulls away after dropping me off, I turn and open the front door. I’m pleased that saved me some cash because I’m trying to save as much as I can. I’m going to speak to Garrett today about Jerica using what I’m sending, but not touching the savings in the second bank account. It feels wrong when I’m working hard, looking after Jessica and going to be the one with nothing at the end.

After freshening up, eating a piece of toast and grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge, I rush to answer the door because it’s time for Fist to pick me up for the visit with Garrett.

Opening the door, I’m surprised when it’s not Fist, but Rock standing looking smart in a pair of jeans and a black t-shirt. “Hi, Red. Fist was busy at the shop with a vehicle we had to have finished. He’s spraying for all he’s worth today, and I hope he’s done on time.” Chuckling, more to himself than to me.

“Oh, okay. Let me grab my purse and I’m ready.” I snatch my purse from the small table near the front door, and the bag which has the t-shirt and underwear that Garrett had asked if I could bring for him on my last visit.

“What’s in that bag?” Rock asks.

“Clothing Garrett asked me to bring for him. He’ll have the maximum he’s allowed once he has these.” Climbing into the SUV before Rock can help, I give a small smirk when I hear him grunt, then grumble about women being too independent these days.

I place the bag, purse and the bottle of water near my feet, and watch as Rock walks around the front of the SUV, before climbing into the driver's side. Turning and looking at me, “Next time, wait for me to help you into the vehicle.”

Blinking as I’m shocked he’s so adamant about this, but I give in and nod agreement. Not sure how many times he thinks I’ll be getting into a vehicle with him has me not bothering to argue about it.

We’ve been traveling about twenty minutes with me watching the scenery passing, and Rock concentrating on traffic. But I turn when he speaks. “You know what you need to ask Garrett?”

“Yes, I think so. Do you?”

“Yeah, I was given all the questions by Pres.”

“Have you heard anything about Stone?” I ask. I’m worried about him finding us, and I’m not sure how I can protect Jessica if that happens.

“Not yet, but Pres updates everyone in church on Sundays. Unless something needs done before that.”

“You go to church?” I ask, shocked because I can’t imagine all these men, down on their knees, praying on a Sunday.

“Not a church, church. It’s a meeting which we class as holy to us and the club. We discuss club business, and what is spoken about in church is not discussed with anyone other than a brother,” Rock explains.

“Oh, okay,” I giggle, then look at Rock. “I was imagining you all on your knees praying.”

“Fuckin’ hell, not likely. We are religious in our own way, but not to go to church and get on our fuckin’ knees.”

Arriving at the prison, we go through all the security checks. The clothing is taken from me, checked and placed on one side for the officer to hand out after visiting.

Sitting behind the table next to Rock, we wait for the door at the back of the room to open, as that’s where the prisoners will enter the room.

“You nervous, Red?” Rock asks.

“Not really. I’m just nervous about what he’ll say.”

The door opens and prisoners enter, some smiling at family members as they see them. Garrett walks into the room and heads our way quickly, takes his seat opposite us and gives Rock a long look.

“Name’s Rock. I’m a brother with the Raging Barons MC. Fist was too busy to come with Red today…”

“Red, you call Destiny, Red?” Garrett growls.

“Yeah, I sure call her, Red. She’s mine. I’m just waiting for her to catch up.”

I turn my head and give Rock a look of astonishment because, honestly, this is madness. I don’t even know him. Chuckling has me looking at Garrett, who has such an amused look on his face that I do a double take after giving Rock a filthy look.

“You know you said that out loud, Dest?” Garrett continues, chuckling.

“Okay, enough. I want to talk to you about Jerica and what she’s doing.”

“What do you mean, what she’s doing?” Now with a serious look on his face, all amusement gone. “How is Jessica?”

“Jessica is fine. She is doing well in school, she’s made friends, and she’s happy enough. She does, however, miss you and I’ve had her writing a journal that she can give you when you come home. Then you’ll know what she’s been doing, and how much she loves you.”

“Thank you, Dest. You do not know how much it means to me you are looking after Jessica. I don’t worry about her because I know she is well and safe with you. Now tell me what’s going on with Jerica.”

“You have the account at the bank with your savings for your house. You have the other account that you pay your bills and use as a day-to-day account. I took on a second job working at the Fire Department. That salary I pay into your day-to-day account, and me and Jessica live from the salary I earn from marketing for my author clients.” Pausing and swallowing, as I feel like crying at this point.

“Okay?” Garrett asks questioningly. “Thank you for doing that, Dest, but you don’t need to because we have enough in the account we were saving for the house. Jerica can use that. I told her she can use that.”

“Well, she’s not fuckin’ using that. She’s using the account that Red is placing her Fire Department salary into. That’s all she’s using, Garrett, she’s not used a dime from the savings account,” Rock snarls.

Garrett sits back in his seat and looks more than a little shocked. “You telling me, Dest, that Jerica is living off the salary you earn?”

“Yes,” I reply, and I can see Garrett isn’t happy to hear this.

“What the fuck is she thinking? Listen to me, Dest. You jack the Fire Department job. You are not doing two jobs and looking after Jessica. Jerica can get a fuckin’ job wherever she is, and if the well runs dry, she’ll have no choice. If she contacts you, then you be firm, and you tell her I’m more than pissed she’s being a jerk.”

“She’s not contacted me in months, Garrett. But she’s taking money out of the bank every few days, so she’s alive. That is about all I can tell you.”

“My Pres has called out to a friendly MC in Oregon, where she is. They are going to find her and take her to their clubhouse. She’ll earn her keep working the bar, or cleaning. They’ll not allow her to sit doing nothing. She’ll have to help when and where she’s asked. But she’ll be safe while we check out this Stone asshole and take him down along with his prostitution racket.”

Rock has leaned forward and lowered his voice when saying the last about Stone. I look around to see if anyone is paying attention to our table, and seeing everyone is busy with their visitor, and the guards talking between themselves, I’m confident no one hears what we are saying.

Once we’ve covered the list of questions that Fist put together, which wasn’t extensive, we have a general chat until visitation is over.

Once home Rock hands me my key after opening the front door. He places his hands on either side of my face, giving me a soft, but serious look. “I’ll pick you and Jessica up on Saturday afternoon and we’ll have a ride out, get an ice cream, maybe have a pleasant walk. If you think of something we can do that Jessica will enjoy, then we can do that. But know you’ll be mine one day, and fairly soon, too.”

Slamming his lips onto mine, taking me by surprise, as I gasp he pushes his tongue into my mouth and takes everything he wants. When he steps back, he’s grinning massively, and I’m stunned into total silence. Pushing me through the door, and closing it I hear Rock chuckling as he walks away, back to the SUV. What the hell! I place a finger on my lips and can’t hold back the smile that appears.