Chapter 7

7

STONE

I t was two days before anyone found something for us to put our plans in motion. One thing we discovered was that Tommaso had been charged with murder and was currently in jail without parole. When it came to Marylin, that news could be bad or worse.

They might have snatched Britta’s mom and were holding her until Tommaso was released. Deviant said this would happen soon because the evidence against Tommaso was circumstantial and the key witness had just disappeared. Or they’d taken Marilyn simply to get rid of her, and she was already dead.

As much as I hated to keep shit from my woman, I didn’t think sharing that information would do any good. It was all speculation at this point anyway. So I filed it away as club business in my mind.

Britta had already been plagued with worry and despair, but she’d tried to hide it. I still managed to distract her more often than not. Not just with sex—although we fucked like bunnies—but by showing her around town, telling her more about club life, and getting to know each other better.

Britta had quickly become my emotionally safe space. My nightmares hadn’t been as intense after that first night, and I had a feeling that with her in my bed, they might go away completely someday.

We were cuddled up in the lounge, talking with a few of my brothers and their old ladies when my phone rang. It was on the end table beside me, so I reached over and picked it up. The number was one that I memorized so that it wasn’t written down anywhere or saved in my phone—Francesco’s private line.

I flashed the screen at Whiskey, who immediately pulled his phone from the inner pocket of his cut and sent a text.

“Gotta take this, baby,” I murmured to Britta before kissing her temple and pushing to my feet.

“Stone,” I answered as I walked toward my office.

Neither of us bothered with pleasantries.

“Carlos checked in. Apparently, he managed to get Darius smashed. Carlos didn’t want to endanger his cover if the asshole happened to remember their conversation, so he was cagey with his questions. Darius is definitely aware of the situation. He confirmed that they were holding—I won’t use his language—someone who’d been hiding from them. Unfortunately, he doesn’t know where Miss Hughes is.”

“Fuck,” I muttered.

So far, Deviant and Grey had both struck out when it came to finding Marylin. They’d followed the trail, but eventually it just ended. As if it’d simply ceased to exist. They were monumentally pissed about it, and both their egos were smarting over it.

“One positive is that by Darius telling Carlos he didn’t know where she was being held, he essentially confirmed that she’s still alive.”

He had a point. We had no idea what condition she was in or what was being done to her, but she was alive.

“However,” Francesco continued, “it’s looking more like they’re holding her for Tommaso.”

“So we need to get to her before he’s released.”

“That would be my assumption as well. Unfortunately, Carlos heard this morning that Tommaso’s lawyer managed to get the case transferred to a judge they control. The case goes before him in two days, and if he isn’t able to get it thrown out, the judge will most certainly release Tommaso on bail.”

“Son of a bitch,” I cursed, holding the phone so tight it was just luck that it didn’t crack.

My gaze was on the ceiling until I heard people entering my office. Whiskey walked in with Maverick, Deviant, and Hunter right behind him. Fox was home with his wife and sick twins, but the VP would fill him in later.

“Anything new on Portia?”

“No. I—” He stopped speaking for a beat, then went on. “Actually, Carlos did say something about her. It didn’t seem significant, so I almost forgot about it. However, maybe I’m overlooking something. It seems Darius is quite bitter over the fact that he hasn’t been able to get into Portia’s bed. But Carlos got the impression from several people that her bedroom has a revolving door.”

“Is Darius an exception, or does she avoid sleeping with the people she works with?”

“I didn’t ask. Do you think it’s important? If so, I’ll get a message to Carlos.”

“Could be. Not quite sure how yet. But my instincts are telling me to find out.”

“I’ll get back to you as soon as I have an answer.”

“Thanks.”

“Of course. Ciao .”

After hanging up, I filled my brothers in on what I’d learned from Francesco. While they discussed what I’d told them, my eyes drifted around my office. It was almost as big as the prez’s and VP’s because nearly three-quarters of the walls were taken up by bookshelves.

The books were all meticulously arranged in the order that made it easier for me to find what I needed. Because the majority of them were law books.

You’re a fucking lawyer, dipshit .

“Deviant,” I called, interrupting the conversation. “Get me all the files involved in Tommaso’s case.”

He raised his brow but nodded. “Sure.”

I was already out of my chair and scanning a particular set of books as I gave orders. “The rest of you touch base with King. Give him what we know to see if it helps with his angle.”

“Think there’s a legal solution to keep Tommaso in jail?” Hunter guessed.

“Possibly. But it’s a long shot,” I admitted as I grabbed several large volumes and dropped them onto my desk.

“Text you when I send the files,” Deviant told me before exiting the office.

The others turned to follow him, but I called out to Maverick, who stopped and pivoted.

“The Chicago chapter have a lawyer?” I asked.

He thought for a minute, scratching the side of his jaw. “Not a patch. But I think one of the officers has a sister with a law degree.”

“Have her get in touch with me. Even if I figure something out, I might not be able to handle it from here. But I’m not leaving Britta unless we’re ready to bring Tommaso and the boss to The Room.”

“Done.” He jerked his chin up and down once, then left.

I could do a few things before I got the information from Deviant, but I decided to go find my girl.

Less than an hour later, Britta and I were in the kitchen rustling up some dinner when my phone chirped with a text from Deviant.

Deviant

Sent the files.

Me

Thanks

Deviant

It’s a lot to sort through, but I figured it couldn’t hurt to get the files for the dirty judge too.

Me

Good thinking.

Damn, that was going to be a fuck ton of information to go through. There was no way I could do it on my own.

“What do you want to drink?” Britta inquired, drawing me out of my thoughts.

“I’ll get the drinks, baby. Go sit and relax.”

Britta sighed, but the corners of her mouth lifted slightly. “Telling me to relax doesn’t make me actually relax, you know.”

I grabbed a beer and a sparkling water from the fridge before answering her as I walked to the table. “Yeah, but it’s my job to take care of you, so I’ll keep trying.”

“I’d rather have something to do,” she muttered. “I love spending time with you, but I’m going a little stir-crazy. Especially when there’s nothing I can do to help my mom.”

An idea began to form, but before I could put much thought into it, my phone rang. It was Francesco again.

“I’m sorry, baby,” I apologized with a grimace. “I need to take this in my office.”

“Okay,” she said sweetly, without a trace of anything except understanding in her voice.

“You’re fucking perfect, baby,” I told her before heading toward the kitchen door.

“You can prove it to me later,” she called out, making me chuckle and get hard at the same time.

“Give me a second. I’m almost to my office.” Once I was inside, with the door firmly closed, I sat in my desk chair and put the phone to my ear again. “That was fast.”

“Carlos was in a situation that made it possible for him to answer right away,” Francesco explained. “From what he’s seen, Portia only spends significant amounts of time in bed with people who are above her— perdono , no pun intended. But from gossip—which means the accuracy is questionable, but I still thought we should take it into account—she generally uses her body to get information or other things that she wants. It has me wondering…”

He trailed off, and I picked up his line of thought. “If she found out where Britta and Marylin were by fucking the right people?”

“Yes, but I can’t find the connection.”

“I’ll put Deviant and Grey on it, and in the meantime, I’m gonna talk to King and see if it strikes a chord with him.”

We ended the call, and I mused over what I’d learned for a few minutes, then called Deviant and Gray to fill them in. I decided to put off my conversation with King until tomorrow and get back to Britta.

“Everything okay?” she asked, trying not to look anxious.

The idea that had occurred to me earlier had been percolating, and I’d decided it was a good solution. Even though it would require telling Britta some shit I’d hoped to shield her from.

“Actually, we got some new information today.” Britta’s face brightened, and I hated that I was going to chase that hopeful expression away. I stood and moved to her chair, lifted her into my arms, then sat and settled her on my lap.

“I wanted to spare you the details until I had something concrete to tell you,” I admitted reluctantly. “But the truth is, I could use your help. It would give you something to do, and you’d be helping us to find your mom and get these assholes taken care of once and for all.”

Britta sat up and stared at me eagerly. “Seriously? I can help?”

I shared almost everything we knew, without divulging things that needed to remain club business. To my surprise, she wasn’t the least bit angry with me for withholding.

“I get it,” she sighed. “I want to help, but it was better for my nerves when I wasn’t sure that they were planning to kill my mom.”

“At least we know she’s still alive, baby,” I reminded her gently.

She looked at her lap and nodded. Then she met my eyes, and my heart squeezed painfully at the fear and anguish in her green pools. “You know he’s going to beat her to death if he gets the chance, right?”

“I won’t let it come to that,” I promised her. I was gonna make sure Tommaso had the same fate he was planning for Marylin. Except I knew how to draw it out, to make it as painful as possible. Before I let him die, he’d wish that he’d never touched a woman in anger.

“Let’s go to bed, and I’ll explain how you can help.”

I told her about all the files that needed to be combed through and why. She might not have any training in law, but with some guidance, I knew she was smart enough to spot what I was looking for.

When we’d shed our clothes and got into bed, she kissed me softly and whispered, “Thank you.”

Before I could respond, she kissed me again, but this time it was full of passion. Then she straddled me and rode my cock like a wild woman until she was gushing on my dick, soaking it so I slid in and out with ease. After giving her two screaming orgasms, I finally let go and filled her to the brim with my come.

She collapsed on top of me and was asleep seconds later. So fucking adorable.

I maneuvered us so that we were both on our sides. Then I pulled her against me and wrapped my body around hers.

The nightmares didn’t wake me that night. But her sexy little ass wiggling against my cock did. Groaning, I lifted her leg and draped it over mine, opening her up so I could slide into her tight pussy. She moaned and pressed her ass back against me every time my hips bucked, driving me deeper inside her. I palmed her big, sexy tits, squeezing them and playing with her diamond hard nipples.

It wasn’t long before we both reached completion, shouting in ecstasy as we dove off the cliff together.

I fell back asleep still buried inside her.