Wrath (Dirty Soul MC: Long Beach #2)

Chapter 18

“ Y ou're not on her visitor’s list.” The woman behind the desk studies me warily. I guess stopping at a motel to take a shower and change would have made convincing her a lot easier, but I was eager to get here.

I learned after doing a little Google research that Forestbank is actually a care home, and not a fuckin’ cuckoo’s nest, which makes me even more curious about this woman's involvement with my father.

“I know, but this is supposed to be a surprise. It’s been a long time since we last saw each other.” I try charming the middle-aged woman with a smile.

“And you're her…?”

“I’m a family friend, she knows my dad,” I explain and when I can see that she’s still not convinced, I rest my elbow on the counter and lean in closer.

“Listen, darlin’, I know you got rules and regulations and I respect that, you have a job to do and the last thing I wanna do is get ya into trouble.” I look her up and down and smile. “All I want is a few minutes, no one will even know I was here.” I’ve seen no signs of any CCTV cameras which is surprising these kinds of places are usually big on security. “C’mon, you could really make that old dear’s day.”

“Fine.” She glances around the reception area. “You’ll find her in room three, and if anyone asks, you’re her nephew.” She bats her lashes at me and I nod her my gratitude before heading off to locate the room.

The sound of classical music gets louder as I step up to the door, and when I see that it’s already slightly open already and I give it a gentle nudge so I peek inside.

There's a woman sitting up perfectly straight on the chaise lounge, reading a book and sipping tea from a teacup. If this is who my father was supposedly in love with, she don’t look how I expected at all.

“Sorry to interrupt.” I distract her from her page as I let myself in and when she looks up at me, she quickly shakes her head and smiles as if she welcomes the intrusion.

“Not at all, how can I help?” She places down her teacup and stands up, straightening the crease outta the skirt she’s wearing and holding her hands behind her back like she’s waiting to be inspected.

“My name's Aaron.” I close the door behind me, still wondering if I got the right room. This woman is nothing like the type my father would go for. Her long, straight hair is pinned up and there's not a strand out of place. “I’ve come to talk to you about someone, who I think you used to know.” I step closer and watch her smile slightly falter.

“Are you from the church?” She starts getting suspicious. “I keep telling the staff here that I need to be there, it’s been so long since I took communion and it must be my turn to do the flowers by now.” She lets out a chuckle and pats the side of her hair.

I try not to show my confusion.

“The staff here take you to church?” I check.

“They should, but they don’t. I’m surprised Peter hasn’t had a strong word with them. Church is very important to him.” I can see the smile she’s holding on her face is forced

“And Peter is…?”

“My husband. I’m sorry he’s not here, he works away a lot,” she explains.

“Okay.” I nod my head, taking in my surroundings. The room is full of elegant trinkets and is immaculately tidy and this woman looks like a housewife from the fifties. I can’t figure out how she has any connection to my father. “I was wonderin’ if the name Cliff Adams meant anythin’ to you.” I continue to glance around the well-kept room, it’s not just tidy, it’s elaborate, and must cost whoever pays for this place a fortune.

“Why are you asking me that?” I notice how she starts to fidget with her hands. Her eyes twitch a little too.

“Don’t be scared, I’m just here to get some information,” I try to assure her. The last thing I want is for her to panic.

“Did he send you, are you the person who’s been watching me?” Her eyes fill up with tears as she starts backing up toward the wall.

“No, none of that. I’m just here to find out who you were to him. Anita, I can see from your reaction, that you know how dangerous he is, and he hurt someone very special to me. I need you to help me.” I have to stop myself from moving toward her. This is not an interrogation. The woman needs her space.

“I can’t help you, and you need to leave. He’s always watching,” she whispers as her eyes flicker around the room.

“What do you mean by that?” I study her harder.

“I’ll never be free of him. Not while I’m here.” She plays with the buttons on her blouse.

“Anita, I can see you scared. Please don’t be scared.” I feel all kindsa awful for triggering this woman, but I didn’t come all this way to go home without answers.

“You need to leave before Peter hears you,” she whispers.

“Peter’s not gonna hear me,” I assure her. “I just need to know who ya are to Cliff.”

“I don’t know what I am to him, but he’s my curse.” She moves toward me and takes my arm, dragging me over to the door, her palms are clammy and she’s clearly petrified. “Leave now, before he knows you are here. If they find me, I’ll get locked away. I’ll never see Richie again.”

“Wait…” I take a moment to think about what I’m about to suggest. I don’t owe this woman a damn thing, but there's a warmth in her eyes that I’m drawn to. Whoever she is, she’s clearly suffered in the same kind of way Eden has and I suddenly feel a responsibility to save her. “What If I told ya I could take ya somewhere safe, somewhere far away from here, where even Cliff was afraid to go?” I don’t believe that this woman is crazy, she’s just been living in fear.

“Cliff’s not afraid of anything.” She looks up at me in confusion and when I see the mascara running down her cheeks I take hold of both her hands in an attempt to calm her down.

“He never used to be, but his whole world has been turned upside down, his club has turned against him and he’s alone,” I speak slowly to ensure she takes in every word.

“Are you a…?” She recoils as if she’s staring into the eyes of the devil.

“I’m a Dirty Soul, and I’m Cliff Adam’s son. Mrs Carter, I know you have no reason to trust me but I promise, if you help me, you’ll never have to worry about Cliff Adams ever again.”

I watch her face crease as she decides whether or not to believe me.

“Where is this place?” She takes a handkerchief from under her watch and dabs away her black-stained tears.

“It’s in Long Beach, where he used to be a charter president. He got overturned and it’s the last place he’d show his face now,” I explain.

“I’d have to call my son, he visits every other Sunday.” It seems that she’s considering my offer.

“We can do that, we can do anythin’ you want,” I promise

“And Peter, what about Peter? He’ll be so mad, I can’t have him take it out on Richie.”

“I can speak to Peter too, I’m sure he’d feel much better knowin’ you're safe, right?” I do my best to convince her. Knowing that there’s a chance Cliff could be watching us right now puts some urgency on the situation. “Anita, look at me.” I lower my head so my eyes are level with hers. “You can trust me.” My hands squeeze hers a little tighter, and when she slowly nods her head I feel a huge sense of relief.

“Okay, let me get my purse.” She fixes the smile back on her face in an instant and the way she slips back into being the woman she was when I first stepped into the room has me going back to my earlier evaluation. My father really did send her crazy.

“Listen, Anita, you remember what you told me about the staff not lettin’ ya leave for church?” I watch her pick up her purse and slip on the white pair of gloves that are placed neatly on the table beside it.

“Uhhh hmmm.” She nods, moving over to the mirror and ensuring she has no hair out of place.

“Well, they aren’t gonna be happy about me takin’ ya, so we have to get out of here discreetly. I’m gonna cause a distraction out in the foyer, when the coast is clear I want you to run out that door, down the corridor, and out through the front. There’s a black van parked in one of the bays,” I explain carefully, and she smiles vacantly as she takes in every word.

“You think you can do that?” I check, already certain that this plan is gonna go to shit. I can’t imagine Raze is gonna be too pleased about me bringing her back to the club either, but what am I supposed to do, leave another of my father’s victims?

“It’s all quite exciting isn’t it?” She shrugs her shoulders and giggles and I close my eyes and pray for a fuckin’ miracle as I grab her hand and start leading her back toward the door.

“Aaron, that's what you said your name was, isn’t it?” She stops me just before we get there.

“Yeah.” I look back at her, keen to keep her moving.

“I didn’t mean to kill him. He was mean but I never wanted him dead.” I frown, wondering who the hell she’s talking about. “God will forgive me, won’t he?” I see those tears building back up in her eyes and quickly nod her some reassurance. I can’t have her doubting herself at a time like this.

“Sure.” I smile. “Let’s hope he forgives us all.” I look up at the ceiling as I continue to bust this very vulnerable woman out of her care facility.

How does this woman not sleep? We've been on the road for most of the night and yet she’s still sitting bolt upright and taking everything. It’s as if she’s seeing the outside world for the first time.

“It wasn’t nice of you to choke that man, Aaron,” she speaks up as we get a little closer to home.

“I didn’t kill him. I just put his lights out for a while, he’ll be fine,” I look across the console to reassure her.

“He’s the one that usually gives me my meds, his name’s Lucian,” she points out. “He’s kind and very smart, he knows lots of things about herbology. Did you know plants can pretty much cure anything?”

“I did not know that.” I smile as if I’m grateful for yet another one of her facts.

“He has a girlfriend, and she teaches people how to ski.” I listen to the woman ramble, still questioning if I’ve got the right person. I really can’t imagine my father ever tolerating a person like her.

“Do you have a girlfriend, Aaron?” she asks.

“No.” I shake my head. I’d like to tell her differently but I got no chance with Eden after the way I left things. I should never have stormed out of her room. I should have held her in my arms and told her everything was gonna be okay. I just can’t make those promises until I know Cliff is fuckin’ dead.

“A handsome young man like you should have them lining up at the door.” She laughs to herself.

“Yeah, well, there's only one I want,” I admit, perhaps some conversation might make the journey go a little faster.

“So, there is a young lady?” Anita looks intrigued.

“Her name’s Eden but she’s been through some shi…She’s been hurt.” I mind my language and grip the steering wheel tight.

“Then you must treat her very preciously, I’m sure you can help her heal.” Anita has only known me a few hours and already sounds like she’s got a whole lotta faith in me.

“What if I was the one who did the hurtin’?” I glance across at her again.

“Well, then you must show her that you’ve learned from your mistakes.” She turns her attention back out the window and continues to enjoy her journey.