Chapter 78

Anna
Anger has never been more clearly evident on someone as it is on me at this moment. As I watch my father waltz into a club full of men who could kill him simply by flicking their wrists, I wonder what his motive must be. If he has been tailing me, and I know he has because he showed up at my apartment the night I flew in from Minneapolis, then he knows what a mistake this is. Alan is here, and if father's plan is to get Alan to see that we still keep in contact, then it's working.
"What are you doing here father?" I snare at his pungent face. Now that Alan and I are over, something father doesn't know because I bullshited the story of me going over there in the first place, I want him gone even more.
After I got home, I was broken. Alan had said some horrible, but truthful things to me and the last thing I wanted was to come home to father sitting comfortably in my armchair. He did what I figured he would. Questioned my trip with the Kings. I told him the very basics. The interview, the family togetherness, and the fact that they will be coming down for Christmas. Father seemed pleased, ecstatic that everything was going exactly to plan. That was the last time I had spoken to him. I also never got another letter from my brother, nor a text from whomever this third party is that he goes through. He will be out by next week and yet I have no idea what to expect of that.
"I could ask you the same thing Annabelle. I am here to speak with the leader of this so-called club." Father is wearing a suit, one that fits him to a tee. Its dark grey and his hair is cropped short and slicked back. I don't think I have ever seen him look so sophisticated before. Austin walks up behind me and gently pushes me to the side. Father gives me one last leering look until he transfers his gaze over to Austin.
"Can I help you with something?" Austin's tone is deep and perturbed but there is a level of confidence in it that makes you blink a few times before attempting an actual sentence.
"Yes, you can. Is there somewhere we can go to talk Mr. Stone?" Austin stares long and hard for a few seconds then slowly nods his head. He jerks his head towards a hallway corridor that leads to a few different doors of which I'm guessing they use for offices when the club is open.
I look around and notice several of the brothers are following Austin and father into the room. I look back towards Alan, but he has already joined Laynie, Jared and Candice with her mother at the other end of the club. I want to leave, I want to run back to my house and lock the door. This is too close to home. Father not only came without back up, but he was angry to see me here. That worries me. He is either extremely stressed out or is secretly planning my doom for another time.
"What was that about?" Alan says form behind me. I turn around quickly and nearly run into him. I have no idea what to say to him, so I do the only thing I can think of. I lie.
"Not sure. I had no idea my father was even in New York. I asked him what he was doing here, and he said he some business with Austin's club." I look down because I've never been one that can lie while looking someone in the eyes. Especially someone that I care about.
"Hmm." Alan mums but makes no other attempt to figure out why my father of all people, just walked into a private party and practically called out the leader of these ferocious men surrounding us.
We spend the rest of the time hanging out with Candice and her mother and grandmother. They are sweet people and remind me a little of Alan's family. Jared smiles so much I almost don't recognize him. I can tell he is happy and proud of his little sister. I keep an eye on the door Austin, along with father and a few other men went into. It's been an hour and they are still inside. I kind of wouldn't be surprised if they killed him.
"Anna, did you see where Austin went?" Candice asks. I snap out of my door stalking and look over to her and our group of friends. Alan is speaking to one of the members that introduced himself as Miles and Jared is assisting Laynie in putting her coat on. There is a large storm and it's beginning to get ugly outside, so many are calling it a night.
I look over to the clock, my fifth time doing it since father has come in.
Eleven twenty-four.
I look back over to Candice and shrug. I don't miss the glance I receive from Miles when she asked me about the whereabouts of her boyfriend, nor did I not miss the fact that he came over to us as soon as Austin went inside. His job was to watch me. Guess I don't have to ask Austin if he knows if that was my father or not.
"Oh, there he is. Be right back mom." Candice walks over to Austin but stops just shy of him. His face is contorted with anger and his glance is straight at me. Oh boy. Nothing like a big scary biker looking like he wants to chew you up and spit you out.
I see father walk straight out the door, his face, the opposite of Austin's. His demeanor is calm and collected but I know better. Father may have a great poker face for everyone, but I know the man better than he knows himself. Father is upset. For what I don't know, but the last look he gives me before he walks out the door, screams anger, and it's completely directed at me.
Austin walks over and kisses Candice on the forehead. He then turns toward Jared and tells him and Laynie goodbye. Laynie gives me a curious look, most likely wondering why I am not following along. I can tell with the look Austin keeps glaring my way, that he needs me to stay.
"Anna, you hanging around for a bit?" I nod my head slowly at Austin and face Alan. I know this probably doesn't look right, but he says nothing as he says goodbye to the warriors and Candice and heads out with Jared and Laynie. Austin turns back to me, but his words are directed at Candice.
"Babe, why don't you with Miles and go drop your family off at home. I'll be there shortly." Candice looks towards me and glances behind me. I'm sure I have a few brothers surrounding me, probably wondering where they can hide my body.
"Okay honey. But be home soon. I want to head to the shelter early tomorrow morning." Austin nods his head towards her, does a weird chin lift thing to Miles and they all leave. I am left alone with a whole slew of scary bearded bikers. I don't know whether or not to bow down and kiss their boots or run and scream.
"Walk with me." Austin turns and says to me. He walks towards the very room father and the rest of the warriors had walked out of. My nerves are shooting, and I fleetingly wonder if I could take at least one of them down while they all attack me at once.
We reach the room and I walk inside to find a large oak desk with a large black padded chair behind it. There are several bookshelves on the opposite wall with tons of books about bartending and appetizers. The carpet looks clean and new and there is a large fern in the corner next to the desk. The office is comfortable, not at all what I would expect from a group of bikers.
Austin walks in behind me and closes the door behind him. I don't know whether to be relaxed or more worried that it's just me and him in here. If anything, I would want at least one easy going guy in here with us, like his brother Max. Someone to steer the bolts of lightning that are radiating off Austin right now.
Take a seat Anna." Austin says while walking over to the comfortable chair behind the desk.
"No thanks, think I'll stand." I may be shaking in my boots, but I won't let him think he has me pegged. He has no idea what I am trying to do, and I don't have to tell him shit. Austin is a smart man, I'm sure he can guess father is one loose screw away from losing his mind and that I have nothing to do with him.
"Okay fine, then I'll get right to it. You want to explain why your dear old dad just waltz into my goddamn club Christmas party and started spewing shit about us staying out of his way."
"No." I say crossing my arms.
Austin narrows his gaze at me and it's taking everything that I have not to just tell him everything and ask him to help me. Unfortunately, I am a firm believer in the less hands on the steering wheel the better. I can't essentially trust Austin with everything my brother and I are working towards. Plus, Candice has told me of how Austin and the club are finally going legit after losing his dad to some bullshit drug run. I won't bring someone into a situation like mine, that has been through what he has.
"I'll try this again. Want to tell me why he seemed almost outraged that you were here 'fraternizing with the enemy'." I roll my eyes at father's dramatics. He was always a strategic person, but it seems something has him feeling like he is losing his grip on the business. Father would normally never go into a vendetta alone. The only thing I can think of, that would cause father to be so careless, is Cole. He really can't find Nicholas.
"Anna, I'm not fucking kidding around here. Your friends with my girl, so I'm trying my best to give you the benefit of the doubt, but you got to give me something here. I can't let you walk out of here, not knowing shit about you. You father is Craig Delula, right? Notorious bad guy. Our guy Torque hasn't learned much about him other than his son went to prison for something he was responsible for. Now that I know you're his daughter, I don't know if I feel comfortable with Candice hanging around you."
My vision blurs with impending tears straining to escape. That has always been my life's fears. When I told Alan about my past I wasn't one hundred percent honest with him. He has no idea what father and our family are truly capable of.
No one does.
So, I understood if I ever told anyone the absolute truth, they would steer clear of me. Austin is right for wanting Candice safe, I would do the same.
"Look Austin, all I can tell you is that I am not with him. I don't have anything to do with his bullshit. Believe it or not, I was surprised to see him here. I won't lie to you and tell you that I don't know what my father does, or has done, but I am no longer with the family business. It's been almost six years since I've left, and I don't plan on going back."
Austin's face turns more reserved and I find myself relaxing at his gently tone as he gives me the okay you can leave. Before I reach the door, I hear him say something but make no move to turn around.
"I hope your telling me the truth Anna. Hate to have this get around to your friends that your nothing but a backstabber."
I walk out of the office, out of the door of Club Magic, and to my car, where I finally let my tears flow. It take me ten minutes to finally get it together enough to drive home.

"Disappointment seems to be the only thing I know to count on when it comes to you Annabelle." Father says from my armchair as I walk inside my apartment.
After the half hour drive back to my apartment, I found myself wanting to call Alan and see if he could meet up with me somewhere, but I knew he had to work in the morning and the last thing I wanted was to make him hate me even more. I wanted to talk to someone about all of this. I feel like I am being pulled in eight different directions and can't make my way through any of them. I no longer feel whole.
"I was there for a Christmas party father. Alan and I were invited by Austin's girlfriend."
"You think I didn't put two and two together, you idiot." He yells and stands up. I already know where this is heading, and I just thank God I have tomorrow off. Some bruises I may not be able to hide. "I'm talking about why you refused to tell me about the warriors looking into me and the business."
Yes, he's right that I never told him, but it's because I didn't know. I had no idea the warriors were looking into anything but now that I do, it makes more sense how Candice and Jared were able to gather more information on Nicholas. She had the help of the warriors and this Torque guy seems to be their tech guru. He must have seen Nicholas and father together. I don't know everything that they have on father, nor Nicholas, but whatever it is, father seems worried. Anxious even. It's never a good combination.
"I had no idea father. Why would I put myself in the line of fire if I knew they had something on you?" My voice screams calm but right now I'm anything but. Father is angry, angrier than I've seen him since we have reconnected here in New York. Father studies me for some time and finally breaks the silence stretching between us.
"We shall see, won't we?" Father says as he starts walking towards my front door. Just as I think he is about to walk out and I am safe for the night, he turns and grips my throat as hard as he can.
I land on the ground near my coffee table and father lands on top of me. I can see the anger in his eyes as he cuts my air off. I claw at his arms and get small satisfaction as I hear him curse and release me. I must have drawn blood. Not the smartest thing to do, but with enough desperation I had no choice.
"You fucking bitch." I hear him call out as he sits back on his knees holding his arm like a wounded deer. I take the opportunity to catch my breath. Father wouldn't have killed me. I know this, but I wasn't just going to allow him to hurt me.
Before I could register the next attack, father is above me again. There is a small vein popping out aggressively on his neck as his fist connects with my face. Over and over does he drive blows into my face. I get a chance to cover my face while he drives them over and over my body. When he is finished he stands and fixes his tie which is tainted in a small splatter of blood from hitting my nose. I look up to him, barely making him out past my swollen eyes.
"When your brother gets out, he is coming to me. I expect you to show up the very same day. We have much to go over and even more to do. Do not let me down again Annabelle." With that he leaves my apartment, slamming the door on his way out.
I roll over and look towards the coffee table. I can barely move but I attempt to sit up so that I can make my way over to clean myself up. After three attempts, I can finally lift myself to my knees and crawl slowly over to the restroom. A knock at my door sounds and I sit in between my hallway and the living room. I want to cry, whoever it is can't know what has just happened to me and I have no plans of opening the door.
After another five knocks in a row, it's clear this person isn't going away anytime soon. I slowly crawl over to the door, use the wall to stand, and look into the peephole. A gasp leaves me mouth and I look back to my blood spill on the living room carpet.
Is this real?
Using my hand, I lightly grip the doorknob but pause before turning it.
"Anna, I know your home. I'm not here to hurt you in anyway. I just want to speak with you. It's important." The voice calls from outside the door. I close my eyes and immediately shake my head which cause a whine to cry out of my mouth.
"Anna please, I know you don't trust me but please open the door. Your father can't know I am here. It would ruin everything you and Jed have been working towards." My eyes pope open at his admission.
He's the one Jed has been working with?
I open the door and come face to face with Detective Stephanson.