Chapter 14

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Maddox

One of my least favorite things was theclub's business side.I was all about the riding and thecamaraderie, but theactualday-to-day grind was a painin my ass. How I'd ended up as club president was beyond me. Thankfully, thatwas one of the reasons we had officers in the MC. I made the most of mine.

Going through finances and the books was one of the nitty-gritty areas that combined everything that I disliked, math which I wasn't good at, organizing shit, and sitting still. All of it gave me hives, invisible ones. Fuck I'm funny.

Thankfully, Ihad Rabbit, although he was admittedly sub-par. Rabbit was currently the club's treasurer, but maybe not for long. Right now, he was looking a little like his namesake – twitchy.However, he was new to the job, so I hadn't expected that much.Even that was too much. What a fucking headache.

"You want to explain this to me?" I poked at the ledger and the offending column of numbers.

Rabbit scratched his head, his eyes scanning the figures nervously. "Uh, well, I... I'm not sure, prez.There might be some discrepancies in the expenses for the last few months."

I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. "Discrepancies? Rabbit, we can't afford discrepancies. We need to know where every dime is going. That's how this works—money in and money out." It was like speaking to a toddler. Sure, I was happy that he'd brought it to my attention that there were some inconsistencies, but it would have been better if he'd come up with specific information and solutions. I didn't have time for maybes or mights.

"I know, prez. I'll dig deeper into it and see if I can track down where the money was going." He nodded earnestly, his expression grim. "Don't worry; I'm your man. I'll get it figured out."

I leaned back in my chair, frustration coursing through me.Our last treasurer wasn't a manI trusted, soit had been an easy decision to replace him.Club politics sometimes got a little sticky at the best of times, especially once you got into the ranks. The last thing we needed was any financial trouble, especially with potential agreements coming to fruition with the Cobras. The deal was supposed to bring stability and protection, not more complications, but that was exactly what was on the horizon. Not that Pike would want to go over our books, but if there were some issues with money being "borrowed" or some shit – well, that needed to be solved ASAP. The last thing I needed right now was more complications.

The deal with Pike was going to be clutch, that was for sure, with the trouble withHelena. Iwouldneed him and his MC if the Bratva came knocking at the door.

"Sorry, prez," Rabbit mumbled, scratching his head nervously. He was a wiry guy, always on edge, and dealing with numbers that didn't make sense seemed to make him even more anxious than usual. It made me doubt again whether I'd made the right choice in picking him to be treasurer. He seemed more than a little on edge, which didn't inspire confidence.

I heaved a sigh, trying to suppress my frustration. "Just walk me through it. What's going on here?"

Rabbit adjusted his glasses and cleared his throat before pointing at the column. "It's these expenses, see? They're way higher than they should be for this quarter. And I've gone over the receipts, but some haven't added up. It's like money's disappeared somewhere, and I can't figure out where."

I narrowed my eyes, scanning the numbers on the page. "How much are we talking about here?"

Rabbit hesitated before answering, his voice barely above a whisper. "It's a significant amount, prez. Enough to cause some serious problems if it keeps going unchecked."

I clenched my jaw, my mind racing with possibilities. Could someone within the club be stealing from us? Or was there amore straightforwardexplanation? An accident of inputting costs or income? God knew that I wasn't great at numbers.Either way, it needed to be dealt with swiftly and discreetly.If someone wasstealing,it was going tobe ugly.A thief wouldn't be tolerated in the Brotherhood.

"Keep digging, Rabbit. I want a detailed report on every transaction andevery receipt. Bring it to me personally whenyou're done," I ground out.

Rabbit should have been named weasel.Helooked a bit like one withhisgreasy shirt and pale face. I couldn't say I liked him very much, especially with the subject matter orhowhe conducted himself. Honestly, I wasn't sure I trusted him either.

He bobbed his head, his expression serious. "Yes, Maddox. I'll get on it right away."

As Rabbit left the room, I leaned back in my chair, my mind swirling with worries. Between Helena's unexpected return, the tension with Dimitri, and now this bullshit, a lot was going on. I rubbed mytemplesand tried to relax a little. I tried to remember that everything was manageable … one bite at a time, Roscoeused to say.

I reached for my pack of cigarettes, lighting one up. The smoke curled around me, the bitter taste filling my lungs as I considered this problem with Makarovich.

A knock sounded on the door. "Come in," I called out. Helena entered, that ponytail swinging, brushing her shoulders as she bounced in, even though her expression was wary. I wasn't sure what she needed, but the memory of her against the wall lightened my mood instantly.

"Hey,princess, you're a sight for sore eyes this morning. Did you bring me that flash drive?" She looked delicious in those tiny shorts and those silly little red earrings. "Come closer to me, baby."

She held up the drive, her fingernails winking red. God, she was funny. Today, they were red instead of yesterday's green for ‘go.'She was a riot and a half.

"You need something?" she taunted,puttingone hand on her hip ponytailbouncing.

"Yeah, I needa little taste to get me through the day. Come give me some of your sunshine." She flounced over, laughing at me, but I darted my hands forward and caught at her hips to pull her forward as soon as she was close enough.

Complying neatly, she straddled me. "Like this Maddox? You wanted me this close? I like this new version of you," she admitted. Leaningforward,she pressed her lips to mine.

"What version?" I asked, but I knew what she meant.

"The one that touches me," she murmured.

"Oh, I'm going to touch you alright later," I promised.

I kissed her hungrily as if I hadn't just had the opportunity to have her in my arms an hour ago.It still felt as if she'd return to being an imageI saw on my screen at a distance.I wanted to capture her and hold onto her, swallow her whole. She tasted sweet; maplesyrup ghosted her lips from the pancakes she had for breakfast.

"Is everything okay?" she asked, concern lacing her voice.

"Sure, everything is fine." It was automatic, andshe immediately frowned at me.

Capitulating, Isaid, "Well, we've got some issues with the finances, and I've got a meeting with the Cobras later today. It's good timing." My eyes slid to hers as my fingers massaged the soft and exposed bare skin of her legs. She was silk and satin, whileI was steel and leather. I couldn't look away from the expanse of exposed peachy skin. "They'll be decent allies and extra muscle."

Helena's gaze flickered with concern. "Problems with the finances? Is there anything I can do to help with that?" Her brow furrowed, andthose little stop signs swung. "I could help with that."

I considered her offer for a moment, weighing the risks. "You helped on the club books before, right?" I remembered her dad boasting about her helping out before.The club had a complicated set of double books,making them difficultto navigate.Butif I were honest, I'd feel way better about having a competent accountant looking for a thief than Rabbit.

"Yeah, I helped with the books for my dad.I'm trainedin that sort ofstuff,you know." She gave me a saucy wink and leaned down again for another kiss. "I'd like to help."

"I realize.Thatyou're trained," I qualified, punctuatingthe statement with another nibble at her neck, rocking my dick up against her at the same time."Actually, yeah. Rabbit could use some extra hands going over the books. If you're up for it, that'd be great. I'd love another person's eyes on it. Someone not in the club, but someone I trust." Keeping my gaze onher,I got serious for a moment. "This is completely between us, though. I don't want anyone else to know about it. I'm not sure Rabbit knows what he's doing."

"Of course, Maddox. I'm happy to help. I understand how rumors like thatstart,so I'll keep my mouth shut."

"Ok," I nodded. It made me feel better thatshe'dbe looking overthem. If thereweresomething to find,she'd be another set of eyes looking for it. If someone was stealing from the club, I wanted them found so I could concentrate on more important things.

"Let's see that flash drive you brought me. I'd like to see what we're dealing with." Maybeit wasn't as bad as she thought, but that was probablywishful thinking. Helena had never been stupid. It was probably worse than I had imagined.

"Alright. Yeah, let me show you what I have.Thisis a copy, but before you open it, let memake sureyour IP is bouncing." Climbing off my lap, which was a shame, she moved to the computer.

It all sounded like Greek to me. I had no idea what the fuck she was talking about. It must have shown because she laughed and pushed me away from my desk. We had a pretty simple setup at the club, but we did have the security set up with camera systems that I could view from the office.Luckily, thevideo feed to her apartment had been closed, sothat window wasn't open.That would have been awkward.

Cocking my head at her inpuzzlement,I watched as she did some random crap in the settings that were well beyond me. She whipped through window after window, closing and opening setting after setting, mouse clicking a mile a minute.

"It's just so ifthey havesomeone on their teamwhocan hack."She shrugged, the hair from her ponytail falling over her shoulder as she finally plugged in the drive and opened it. "I made copies of the spreadsheets and screenshots of the auction sites, but if you click the active links, it might ping an alert. This way, youractual IP will be masked. I've got you set up on a VPN. You should have been already anyway." She scrunched her nose while she thought about it.

"Let's see what you've got." I waved for her to proceed, bracing myself.

My blood chilled as she showed me the files. Holy shit. Clickingthrough the spreadsheets,she reviewed the connections she had highlighted, the accounts she'd tagged, and the screenshots. Swallowing, Iran my hand over my beard.

"I didn't know what it was when I clicked the link. I wasn't as careful as I should have been,"sheconfessed. "They'll figure it out. I only used cash when I left, but there shouldn't be a paper trail."

"Good girl. You did the right thing," I assured her. Already, just thinking of those haunted faces made my skin crawl. The fact that she was so close to Makarovich and others that were capable of this level of atrocity scared the ever-living shit out of me. I should have been more careful about who she was working with – kept her away from it. Swallowing, Itried to breathe in her coconut scent to calm myself.

"The guy, Sergei … he knew I found something," she adds. "I'm pretty sure they'll be suspicious when I don't show up forwork, but I just couldn't go back after finding this." She chews on her lips for a minute, worrying it back and forth.

"Of course, you couldn't princess. You did the right thing. If you had gone back, they'dhave killed you – or worse." I doubt I need to tell her that she could have ended up on one of these pages, her face one of thehollow,haunted women for sale by these sick fucks.

"I need to call Church. Talk to the boys. There were children there too. I can call insome favors."

The sex trade wasn't new to the Bratva or the criminal world, but there was an order to everything that involved it. There hadn't been a peep about the Bratva being engaged in the flesh trade on the West Coast. That was the domain of the cartels, a murky business that we intervened in when we could, but the cartels were tricky—knowing who was who was difficult. But this? I was prettyconfidentMakarovich was operating completely rogue, and that was how I'd bury him. If the Iron Brotherhood had any chance, we'd need to use all our tricks.

"Are you sure it's okay for me to stay here? I don't want to endanger anyone." She hesitated as she pushed away from the computer. Hervoice was quiet. "If someone got hurt because ofme, I'm not sure I'd forgive myself."

"Listen, you aren't going anywhere, princess, andI won'tlet anyone get hurt.As a matter of fact, I already got ahold of my guy for IDs, so that's already in the works. No sense going anywhere right now. The Brotherhood can keep you safe; don't doubt it."

Getting to myfeet,I pushed into her space and peppered kisses along her neck as I settled my racing heartbeat at the mention of her leaving.

"Don't worry, princess. I'll protect you," I reassured her.Tipping back to gaze ather, I sawherlooking over her shoulder at the computer screen.

"What about all those people, Maddox? Can we help them?" Her sad eyes flickered over the images on the screen. It was hard to blame her since they weren't facesIwas about to forget anytime soon, either.

"I hope so."What was happening there wasn't okay with me by any stretch, andif I could stopit, Iwould."I'm going to try. Help Rabbit today for me."

"Yeah, all right." As she leaned forward to kiss me, I closed my eyes and savored the moment as she tilted her mouth to meet mine. Helena tasted like family and hope.

Just before she left theoffice,she stopped, "One more thing.Would it be safe for meto get a job at the Odd Duck? Under the table – just for tips?" She shifted from foot to foot, lookingnervous. "There's an opening there for a waitress.You wouldn't need to tell them to hire me, but I thoughtI could call and ask them for some info."

"I think it should be safe enough.When I talk to the guys,I'll askthem to keep watch in town."There wasn't any way I could intend for her to stay here and be locked up.If I had any chance with Helena Marsh putting down roots again in Haverboro and with the MC, she'd have to feel like she had options. If one of those options were working at the Duck, then that would be fine. I gritted my teeth at the thought of her shlepping plates, but if that's what she wanted.

"Ask for Daisy or Vito."The club owned the little dineronly as an investment in Haverboro.The town had begun to decline about ten years ago, so the club had picked up a few businesses to help keep it going. Roscoe had called it a win-win as an investment opportunity. He got a fewbusinessesto launder cash throughandtownspeople got jobs.

There was also the bonus that places we liked in town stayed open, like the Duck. There shouldn't be any issue with her working there if she wanted to pad her nest egg, not that I wouldn't give it to her. Somehow, I didn't think that'd be welcome right now. Helena didn't know it yet, but she wasn't going anywhere.

"Thanks," she said, clearing her throat and gesturing towards the door. "I'll go find the books. Rabbit, right?"

"Right. Thanks, Helena. The club'll pay you," I added in the last part, thinking about her worrying about money.

She crossed her arms over her chest, her mouth in a mulish line. "Consider it a trade. For the IDs. It's only right."

"Fine. A trade."Giving her a wink as she left, Igently tapped the deskas I thought through thefollowingsteps.We met with the Cobras this afternoon, but I needed tocheck inwith Dimitri.

I couldn't help but feel the urge to call her back. I liked having her where I could see her, which was ridiculous. Helena was perfectly safe here at the club.Not to mention that I had business to handle.The faster I could solve these issues, thequickerI could move my focus to more important things – like Helena.

Giving Dimitri a call, Ifiddled with security cameras until I could see Helena in the computer room, adjusting the angle until I was satisfied. It was shit, but at least I could see that she was okay. It settled me a little to see her swinging ponytail.

Dimitri smashed his way into the office, makingme close the computer window; hisface was setin a frown, which wasn't a surprise. He had been pissed offat the world for years.

"You rang asshole?" He slumped into an office chair, throwing a leg up on the battered coffee tablehe'ddrug into the office specifically for that purpose a few years ago.

"Yeah. I needed to show you something."Turning the computer towardshim, I openedHelena's fileson the drive and flipped through the images.It wiped the smirk right off his face.

"What the fuck is that?" Putting his legsdown, he scooted the chair closer, and his eyes roamed the images. "Is this a live site or static images?"

"There's one more image thatwas included." I pulled it up on thescreenand showed it to him.

"For fuck's sake, where'dyou get this shit, Maddox?" Dimitri asked, stupefied. "What's the time stamp on these."

The muscle tightened in myjaw.I dreaded telling him where the information came from, but there was no getting around it. Not to mention, Dimitriwas the guy I needed for this. My reticence must have shown.

"Spit it out," he added. "Might as well get it over with. Where'd you get this from?"

"Helena," I bit out reluctantly. He sat back in his chair in a rush of air.

"Okay, where the fuck did she get it from?" He ran his hand over his buzz cut, agitated.

"Her work. She's a CPA at an accounting firm. They had her on some special project. I had beenwatchingher, but, at some point, a department chair changed — to Makarovich." The more I talked, themore upset Dimitri was getting; hiseyes grew wild.

"Makarovich? Man …" he breathed out on an exhale. "Oh fuck."

"She didn't know Dimitri. When she was pegged for this project this month, they had her under guard in this room with this other woman. Helena started getting suspicious of these deposits and some talk of an auction. Then she did some digging." My shoulders slumped.

"Youfucked up," he pointed at me. "I thought you were watchingherin your own weird fucked up little way.Taking care of her andmaking sureshe wasn't inanytrouble."He jabbed a finger at me. "This wasn't taking care of her. Asshole."

"I was." It comes out sulkier than I intended.

"Really?" His eyebrow lifted in a challenge. "Then you should have known that the business was a front, forfuck's sake, andgotten her out of there. She had no business being there when that piece of scum was there.Digging?Jesus. What if henabbedher? Look at those people." Dimitri gestured at the computer screen and then stood in fury and smashed through the office supplies on the back countertop, sendingthem crashing to the floor. "Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck!"

"You're right. I assumedshewas safe. That was stupid."Thiswas one hundred percent on me. I could see Dimitri taking deep breaths; hisback rose and fell slowly as he leaned heavily on the countertop.

"Okay. Okay." He turned around, a hand held to his temple. "Let's think this through. This shitstorm can'tbe sanctioned– no way would the Bratva have allowed this. How far back did Helena have records of this?"

"Three months," I answered.Thiswas the direction my brain had beenheading: Makarovich had gone off-book. We'd be ableto potentially use this information in our favor. "She has evidence of the money trail—all of it."

"Ballsy," Dimitri commented. He moved over to the computer screen and looked through the photos again, pausing on each screenshot. "Is this a live link?" he finally asked.

"Yeah, Helena did something with system settings.She saidit should be safe to click it without being followed, traced, or whatever."

I gotup from thechairandmoved out of the way so he could take a look.The chair jolted as he sat, which wasn't a surprise because Dimitri probably was over the weight limit for the thing. The guy was probably out eating rhinoceros or something. Hewas so jacked.

"Don't break my chair, dick," I muttered.

"Fuck off," he retorted as he flipped me off and spun the chair. It gave an ominous creak of protest.

His hand moved to the mouse, hoveringover it momentarily before resolutely moving it forward."Well, let's see how stupid they are."

Sure enough, the damn site was live. Both of us remained silent as we examined the pagesbeforeus.Dimitri took additional screenshots, but it was easy to see that the images had changed even after Helena had found thesite.Some of the individuals who were present in the screenshots that Helena had taken were no longer on the live site. It could mean that sales had gone through.

"Time for some real talk then, brother." Dimitri shut the website down and spun the chair.