“You mean to tell me that the Collector is one of our own?” I asked, shocked. Yet when Kitty nodded, I sat stunned.
“Pops and Diablo took what their father started and expanded the cartel of trafficking guns and drugs, to trafficking men, women, children. Over the years, the club branched out. Instead of dealing and selling with the world’s worst criminals, they started catering to those with money and influence. That was the missing nugget you idiots couldn’t figure out.”
“How do you know all this,” Massacre asked.
“I listen. I’m a girl. Nobody paid attention to me. I was small and moved about the club without anyone the wiser. I would hide in this very room for hours, listening to men talk, plan, fuck, you name it. I’ve heard it all and seen it all.”
“And yet you’ve said nothing. To no one.”
“Nope. I knew what would happen if I talked. I’d seen too many women killed for having loose lips. So, no. I kept my fucking mouth shut, and I would appreciate it if you would all stop making the same fucking mistakes. Why do you think I left? I wanted nothing to do with this club. I was tired of the guns, drugs, women, the killings. I wanted nothing to do with it. But once you’re in, your in. There is no way out. You guys think you know everything. But you don’t. Now that the can is open, the worms are spreading out. The truth will always come out. Remember that. Now, if you don’t need me anymore, I’m going back to my daughter.”
With that, Kitty got up and left the room, leaving the rest of us stunned.
Thirty-One
Aariaani
“So, I heard that you forgave him last night?” Remi grinned before taking a bite of an apple.
Blushing, I nodded. What could I say? I loved him, and though I wished things went differently with his daughter, I couldn’t deny him. He’d been through so much already, and I didn’t want to add to his pain.
“Aunt Remi, can we watch Frozen today?” Rebekah asked, looking up from her coloring book. She was indeed a fantastic child, and I couldn’t wait to get to know her better.
When I got up this morning, I hadn’t meant to wake her when I checked on her, but seeing her awake, playing on her bed with her dolls, I walked in to see if she was hungry. When she nodded, I helped her get dressed, did her hair, and together we headed downstairs to make breakfast for everyone. Only to discover that the cupboards were bare. Sighing, I turned to Rebekah and asked, “Well, what are we going to do now?”
“We can order pizza!” She chirped. Shaking my head, I nixed that idea right away. Sitting at the table, I drummed my fingers against the hardwood, thinking what I could make when a young man walked in the back door.
“Hello, pretty ladies. What are you both doing up this early?”
“We’re gonna make breakfast, but there is no food,” Rebekah sternly said as I tried to stifle my grin. She truly was a precocious child.
“Really?” the young man gasped. “Want me to go kill a cow? A goat? A rabbit? You name it, I’ll kill it.”
“Ewe, Uncle Jake. No!” Rebekah laughed. “I want pancakes!”
“Jake,” I said, interrupting their banter. “I’m Ari, Ghost’s wife. If you don’t mind, would you run to the store for me? This place could really use some provisions. I would go, but I don’t know how to drive.”
“Sure, Ari,” Jake grinned. “I’ll get Billy to go with me.”
“Thank you,” I said, getting up searching for a pen and paper when Rebekah handed me a sheet of pink construction paper and a green marker. “Here, use this, Ari!”
Smiling, I did just that.
While Jake and Billy ran to the store, I busied myself making coffee for everyone. I found that there was plenty of grounds in the cabinets. Sighing, I quickly made a fresh pot and started boiling water for those who might want tea.
“Ari, why did you sleep in my daddy’s bed? If you want, you can sleep with me. I won’t mind.”
Smiling, I looked at the curious young girl and sat down. I knew this conversation was going to happen. I just didn’t think it would be the day after I met her. “I slept in your daddy’s bed because we are married. I am his wife. That’s where I’m supposed to sleep.”
“Like boyfriend and girlfriend?”
“Kind of, yes.”
“Uncle Sham has lots of girlfriends, but they don’t sleep in his bed.”
“Well, I will have to talk with Uncle Sham then.”
“Better talk with Uncle Savage too.”