That’s when I finally stopped typing and looked up at Jessa. She had tears in her eyes but she said fiercely, “You’re a good man, Mathias. You were born that way. So was Bishop.”
I kissed her, letting my mouth linger on hers for a second with a kiss that was more of a thank-you than anything. But the passion flared between us the way it had from the start.
Chapter Thirteen
So we cheated and we lied and we tested
Jessa
The next morning, Bishop brought me and Mathias breakfast. The first thing Mathias did when Bishop entered was to sign something, but Bishop was already staring at me when he said, “You think I can’t tell that she knows? Look how she’s looking at me.”
I blinked and realized I must’ve been wearing my heart on my sleeve for both of them, but Bishop didn’t sound angry, merely resigned. And then the subject was dropped and that was it. I knew, probably part of a very small group who did. And the three of us ate together, with candles instead of generator-powered lights.
“Defiance conserves as much as they can,” Bishop explained. “They’ve got a system worked out.”
Rain pattered the roof, but it was a regular rain and nothing like the storm from the other day. But it was still damp and cold and I was grateful for the heavy sweatshirt and jeans Tru had left. There were other clothes for me as well, and as I’d gone through them this morning I’d wondered how long I’d be staying here. But I didn’t want reality to continue rearing its ugly head and ruining things for me. Not when I had good food, good coffee...and not when I’d woken up next to Mathias.
There was a quick, decisive knock at the door and then Caspar was opening it without waiting. He walked across the room in his heavy black boots and asked, “You okay?”
It took me a second to realize he was asking me. I was taken aback, because even though I knew he was nothing like the head of the Lords, it still surprised me. I managed to nod, afraid I couldn’t find my voice. Plus, he looked scary, and even though it was in that movie-star bad-boy way—especially with the scar on his cheek and the icy blue eyes—I knew that he was as lethal as the men I sat with. And I also knew he had the authority in Defiance to turn me over to Keller or the LoV or my parents.
Mathias squeezed my thigh under the table as if he knew what I’d been thinking, then signed to Caspar who said, “Understandable.”
I guess Caspar understood sign language because Bishop didn’t translate. I didn’t ask what Mathias had said about me, because the look in his eyes was warm when he did so.
Mathias signed again and Caspar nodded, then said to me, “I’m going to talk to Charlie now. It would help if you’d listen in when I do, let me know if he’s telling the truth or lying. He won’t know you’re there, unless you want him to see you.”
Charlie was always in the back of my mind. I wasn’t worried about him, but rather, I was worried about what would happen if Defiance cut him loose. I was worried that the Secret Service would break the gates down to save him and destroy the only place I wanted to be. “I’ll listen, but I don’t know if I want to talk to him myself.”
I’ll stay with you, whether or not you decide to talk to him. Mathias’s words, Bishop’s voice. Mathias’s hand was still on my thigh and I reached out to hold it when I said, “Okay. But what are you going to do with him...I mean...?”
“Know what you mean, Jessa,” was all Caspar said, and motioned for me to follow him. I did, with Mathias and Bishop at my sides, until we walked back into the old warehouse.
It was bustling now, not quiet like the other night. But being here still gave me the same sense of peace.
Caspar left the door to the room where Charlie was being held partially open and Mathias and I stood behind it. I wasn’t ready to see Charlie again and the way my body reacted—a giant shiver—just on hearing his voice told me I’d done the right thing.
You’re okay, Mathias mouthed to me, just as Charlie bit out, “Where’s Jessa?”
“I’m askin’ the questions.”
“And who are you?”
“Name’s Caspar. I’m president of the Defiance MC.”
“Good for you. I’m the next president of the United States,” Charlie shot back. “Maybe now you can unchain me and we can talk.”
“Talkin’ now.”
I stared at Mathias, who in turn stared at the door like he had X-ray vision. If he’d gone in there, there would’ve been more fists than conversation.
“Did you not hear who I am?” Charlie demanded.
“Know who you are. Also know you were selling Jessa to Keller’s mafia.”
“They drugged me. I didn’t know what I was saying,” Charlie protested. “Where is Jessa? What did you all do with her?”
There was a long pause on Caspar’s end and Charlie spoke again. “Dammit, tell me if she’s okay.”
“Tell me what’ll happen if we get word for your father to come get you?”
“What do you think? I’ll tell them I was kidnapped. First by the Lords of Vengeance, and then by you. You need to contact my father. If it’s money you want, he’ll pay.”
“I want to know why you’re in bed with Keller and the LoV.”
“Jessa and I were kidnapped by that gang.” Charlie’s voice held just the right amount of anguish. “Look, please, is Jessa okay? I’ve been worried.”
“She’s fine.”
“I want to see her with my own eyes. That’s the only way I’ll believe it.”
“You’re not callin’ the shots. And I’m not callin’ your father,” Caspar said.
“Then what?” Charlie asked. “You can’t just keep me here.”
“Kinda can. Kinda will.” Caspar was so wholly unimpressed with Charlie. That rarely happened. In fact, this might actually be the first time someone didn’t get taken in by his charisma or be so scared of his pedigree that they’d agree to anything.
But that hadn’t happened with the LoV. Which was odd, because no one from that motorcycle club seemed as sure of themselves as Caspar was. Which meant Charlie hadn’t been trying to escape.
Which meant...
“Did you tell the LoV to call your father too?” Caspar asked.
“Of course.”
“How’d Keller get involved?”
“I don’t know.”
A strange sensation began in my belly. At first, it was a small pit and then it grew until my entire body trembled. I looked up at Mathias and mouthed, He knew. He planned the whole kidnapping.
Mathias turned to gaze at me sharply. His mouth opened a little and then he nodded in agreement.
“Why?”
Mathias mouthed back, Ask him.
But Caspar was a step ahead of me, asking Charlie, “You really think paying the LoV to kidnap you would work? Hell, politicians and the mob’ve been in each other’s pockets for years.”
“My family will take you down—with Keller’s help. I saw everything,” Charlie shot back. I could only imagine his face when he realized what he’d said...and how that made him a liability to everyone. Including himself. “Where’s Jessa? I want to see her.”
“Not sure she wants to see you,” was all Caspar said before he left the room and shut the door behind him.
Insane in the brain
Mathias
Caspar hadn’t needed Jessa to know that Charlie was lying, but he’d wanted her to see it for herself. It was an effective plan, and it rattled her badly. But hey, better to rip off the bandage quickly. The other choice was to let her continue to think that, up until Charlie’d tried to sell her, he hadn’t been in on the whole damned thing.