Bear by Lily J. Adams

Chapter Fifteen:  Chaos Brewing

 

Bear

 

I was more than worried about Delphia. Something was entirely off. The fire in her kiss when I left her at the house today. She had kissed me like there wasn’t another one coming. I didn’t know what it was, but it felt off. I knew she was scared, but she wasn’t alone anymore. I felt antsy to get my meetings over with and get back to her.

Maybe it was due to the article coming out. When I called Angie to get an update from her, she echoed the same sentiments.

“Yeah. I don’t know,” Angie replied. “We have to watch her a little more. I think she’s just worried about Rocky being caught this time. He’s now a person of interest with the police. I sent them a copy of the article and they’re starting to take notice of what I’m telling them. They can’t ignore evidence if it’s right in front of their face.” She argued.

“They can and will. They did it last time when Rocky should have been convicted.” I was starting to sound like Delphia, but now with the dragging out of everything, I could understand why she felt the way she did about the case.

“Bear. Not you too. I have too much riding on this. Trust me we are not going to lose,” she insisted.

“I trust you, Angie. I gotta go. Touch base with you soon.”

“I’ll see you at Wheelz.”

Clicking off the call, I checked in with my army boys. I had to tell them about Delphia. I wasn’t going to get any of the Rebels to watch after her anymore. It was my duty, not theirs. Besides, in my head she was my girl. I wanted to be with her.

“Yo! Big guy,” Keys greeted me over the cell. “We have a long way to go to get to ya. Everything copacetic?”

Keys’ amped up attitude was not for me right now. I wanted to figure out what Delphia’s next move was. “No and yes. I’m going to need your help. This might turn into a mission and a good time. I don’t want it to, but I’ll explain when you get here. Think you guys can handle it?”

Keys scoffed at my request. “Who are you talking to? We were in the same unit. If this turns into a mission, I’m down for it, and the guys will be too. That’s no contest. Come on now.”

I let the brick of weight stuck on my chest lift as I breathed heavily down the phone. “That’s all I needed to hear. Have a safe ride. If you get stuck or need something let me know.”

“No doubt. We’re about to bounce, so I’m out. A mission—man that would be cool.”

“Later, Keys.” If he knew how I felt about Delphia he wouldn’t be so quick to think the mission was cool.

Shaking off my fears about her, I rode over to Wheelz. I had to attend the meeting with Bones about the casino, so my last stop was one I was in two minds about. I wanted to run back to the house and check in on Delphia, but I also didn’t want to crowd her. All of it sounded kind of stalkerish, but it would be for her safety at the end of the day.

Ink wasn’t at the bar as he was back at my house now, watching the perimeter. But I was surprised to see Smoke here. “Hey Smoke, what are you doing here? Too early for you.”

I grinned at him as we clasped hands in a greeting.

“I’m checking on a few things at the bar. I have to get some more kegs organized, and the beer supplier is due today. You know how it is.”

“Do your thing.”

Smoke then made eye contact with me. “I haven’t seen you around so much.”

“I’ve been around, I’ve been on a mission, kind of. I’ve been working on keeping a certain someone safe is all.”

“By any chance, is her name Delphia?” Smoke smirked.

“You know it is.” I sighed.

Smoke wasn’t stupid. He knew what was going on, his wise eyes told me so. “Are you just protecting her, or is there something more to it?”

I threw my leg over the stool and looked at him. “There’s more to it. I care about her, and the article that Angie wrote is on the way out. I want to make sure she’s safe. I got the guys coming up from the West Coast, and it’s good timing because if Rocky decides he wants to take Delphia out, I got the boys with me to combat him.”

“Good for you. She seems like a nice one. I’m glad to see you happy with someone, Bear. It’s been a while. Didn’t wanna let us know about your little secret huh?”

“I don’t give a shit about that. I made a promise to Delphia to wait until we worked out what was going on between us. That’s all.” If I wanted to be with someone I wouldn’t let the guys stop me. I would be with who I wanted.

“Fair enough, brother, and so you shouldn’t. Hard time to work it out. Rocky has a bounty on his head. He has to be handled.”

“You’re telling me, I got that soldier’s sixth sense about it. Something doesn’t feel right about how she’s acting.”

“Then you’re probably right. Make her the priority,” Smoke advised.

“How are things for you? You and Naomi? Gavin?” I asked, diverting the subject.

“We’re sweet, things are running smoothly for us. Bones not so much. He’s having real problems with Ryan.”

I sighed, stretching upwards. “I know. I can tell, he’s becoming a little harder around the edges and seems so frustrated about the deal and everything.”

“Yep. He does seem off these days. Ryan is acting a fool. I think he’s going through one of those rebel stages we all go through as young men.” Smoke justified Ryan’s behavior and a large dose of suspicion covered me.

“I don’t know about that. He’s old enough to know better. He needs to pull up out of it.” I heard myself and cringing as I combed my hair back with my hand. “I sound like an old grumpy bear. Forget it. You’re right, Bones has it covered.”

Smoke looked to the stairs where the voices of Bones and what sounded like Numbers could be heard. “I’m going to get up there. I gotta go.”

“Okay. I’m supposed to come too. That’s why I’m here.”

“Cool, let’s go up then.” Smoke started up the stairs.

I followed him up.

Bones and Numbers nodded at us when we came in through the door.

Bones waved at me. “We’ve been getting some calls in for high level and private security gigs. Numbers is teeing things up where we might have some opportunities coming our way. From the security detail we provided at the casino it seems like we have some interest. And as you are our enforcer, you will head this team.”

I wasn’t surprised about the new pathways that were opening up to the Rebel Saints. “Security detail would be ideal for most of us. That’s a good little gig, right up my alley.”

“Thought as much. I will let everyone know at the next meeting, I’m sure.”

“We’re doing alright as a club aren’t we? Not too bad at all.” I nodded latching on to the good news. We all really need some of that.

“Yup. We got it going on right now. We just have to maintain what we’ve built and not let anyone come in and tear it down.”

“Wholeheartedly agree.” I nodded at Bones then at Numbers. “Let me get out of here now and I’ll talk to all you soon.”

“Gotcha.” Numbers nodded.

I headed out into the daylight of Holbeck. I straddled my Harley to ride back home and my phone rang. “Yo. Bear here.”

“Bear, it’s Bones,” he greeted. “I forgot to tell you what I really called you over for.”

“Yeah, I thought the security detail was the news?”

“I wanted to keep you in the loop about the casino.” He paused.

“What about it?”

“A third bidder has put in a bid that is nuts and we are going to have to make a call about bidding any further. I’ve put a lot on the line to win this casino. I’m close to pulling the plug, but I figure we have about two more bids left in us before we have to pull out altogether.”

“Is it a case of needing a little extra cash? I have some money stashed away if that’s the problem. I’d loan it to the club if it’s going to get us over the line and through those doors into the casino,” I offered.

“Thanks, I might need you. I might not. We have enough earnings from the bar to keep us held over. If we win the casino though… what we lose in the bidding process will magnify and come back to us times ten.”

“Remember that I have it if you need it. I know you’re good for it.”

“Thanks, man,” Bones replied. “So how ya doing? You looked a bit distracted.”

Bones had always been keen on all the men, knowing when something seemed wrong. “Better than you are, I hear,” I responded carefully.

“You’re right about that. Ryan hasn’t been at home with us for the last little while, me and Harper are starting to fight about things. It’s boring, and it’s causing a bunch of havoc between us. It will clear up some time. I don’t know when, but it will clear up.”

“Tough. Ryan is such a decent kid. Must be the people he’s connected to.”

“It’s more than that, but hey, at that age I was worse than him so what can I say or do? He’s going to do what he does.” Bones sighed, sounding like he was in a hard place.

“Hang in there man. And I will do the same.”

“Yeah. Let me know if you need help with…The girl and Rocky. The club is behind you.”

“Thanks, Prez. It means a lot to me.” I ended the call and then gave into my gut instinct again. Delphia needed me and 2 hours had been too long to be leaving her by herself. Yes, Ink was there but it was my job to protect her.