Wrench

12 - Naïve little girl

Elie

Things are getting weird. I want to know about my birth mother, but I don’t know whom to ask without giving myself away. If I start asking questions, they’re going to want to know why, and I still don’t have the answers to give. I’ve kept away from the clubhouse since Coral spoke to me in the restroom. It’s been weeks, but I don’t feel confident enough to be there.

I wish I could find the courage to speak to my newfound aunt. She would be able to tell me everything I want to know about my mother. But I can’t because she’s part of that club. They were the reason her sister died, and she still stayed with them!

How could she?

Okay, she’s married to one of them, but she’s still friends with Hammer. The man who caused my mother’s death, and her sister is still friends with him!

How fucke.d up is that?!

I have a plan formed in my head, all thanks to Wrench and his love of talking after we’ve fucke.d. He has a big mouth, and he should really learn to keep it shut for his own good, if not that of his club.

After Wrench went to his sister’s yearly memorial the other day, he was vulnerable and needed comfort. It was easy to get information from him once he’d had a drink or two or ten. He had asked me to go with him, but I didn’t think it was appropriate. I cannot allow myself to get in too deep. I will not be staying around, so I don’t want to ingratiate myself too far into Wrench’s life.

I’d never heard of The Exorcist – person, not film, no shi.t. According to Wrench, this Exorcist person is the best hitman there is. He wouldn’t give up their identity; he said he’d never met the person, and anonymity is everything. I could understand that. I imagine every man and his dog wants the guy dead.

I did ask how a person would get in contact with this guy. Wrench just chuckled, told me that was top secret, and asked why a young girl like me would need to know. I laughed and agreed before attacking his coc.k with my mouth to stop him thinking about what I told him.

It won’t stop me from finding out what I want to know. There must be something in that clubhouse that will tell me who this Exorcist guy is, or at least some way to find him. If not there, then one of those idiots will slip up; I just have to pick the right one.

The VP is a no. Jett is too loyal to the club to tell me anything. The President would never give up that info. Tank is Hammer’s brother, so that’s a definite no...

Wait, maybe his wife could help me?

I mean, she’s the President’s daughter, the VP’s sister, and Hammer’s wife’s sister, too. She’ll never go against anyone in the club; she’s fiercely loyal, but she seems like the kind of woman who knows how to get things done. Nova gives off the feeling she’s done damage to people in her life. Actually, she’s incredibly intimidating, and she scares the hell out of me.

Who better to ask?

I won’t tell Nova whom I need taking care of; that would be suicid.e. She’d never agree to have her brother-in-law offed.

I listened when Wrench told me The Exorcist likes all the information you can gather on the person you want taking care of. I have the file ready, and I have ten thousand dollars in a bag back at the hotel — payment for the job I need doing. I have no idea what I’ll do if they want more money, but I have to try.

How did a nineteen-year-old get that kind of money?

I got it from my college fund. My mother left me three hundred thousand dollars in her will. Most of that was to help with school. I withdrew money from that account the day before I came here. I was going to use the money to set myself up here. That way, I could have stayed and gotten to know my mother. I could have found a college nearby and signed up. All would have been wonderful had it gone to plan.

Am I worried my brother will find out that I took the money?

No, the money is mine, in a bank account in my name. Even if he does somehow find out, the job will be done, and I’ll have a shitty excuse as to why I took the money — discovering myself.

This whole idea of mine is crazy; I know that. However, ever since I came here and found out my mother was gone, murdered because of the man who was supposed to love her, well, it killed me inside, and all I can think about is making the bastard pay! My mind will not calm down. It keeps telling me that I must do this for my mother.

Do I care that Hammer has a wife?

No. As far as I’m concerned, she betrayed my mother. She was my mother’s best friend, and she waited for her to die before stealing her man!

Do I care they have three sons?

Of course I do. Honestly, those boys are the only reason I’m doubting myself over this.

Can I really take their father from them?

Could I really allow those little boys to grow up feeling the way I do right now?

I don’t know if I can because this pain inside me for a woman I never even knew is devastating. I can’t imagine what it would be like for them. I don’t know if I can be the cause of that kind of pain.

If not offing Hammer, then what do I do?

Because I will not sit back and watch him have a happy life when my mother, the woman everyone tells me he loved more than anything before Willow, lies cold in her grave!

* * *

“Let me get this straight. You want me to hand this envelope to The Exorcist, assuming I know how to contact him, but you don’t want the person...” Nova slides her finger across her neck to imitate death. “You just want them put in a wheelchair for the rest of their lives?”

“Pretty much.” I nod.

I came to the decision that I didn’t want Hammer dead. He’ll suffer more if he’s left disabled, never able to play ball with his kids. Never able to run with them or play certain games with them. Never able to take long walks in the moonlight with his wife. Never able to make love or fuc.k her the way he’s used to. Never able to ride his damn bike again.

Yeah, I want him left damaged without ever being cured of it. I want him to know this happened to him because of what happened to Cindy. I want him to know it was all his fault, and then I will leave this shitty town and never look back.

I’m not scared that this will come back on me. I should be afraid. I’m more than certain Nova will work out that I was the reason her brother-in-law was left unable to walk. I’ll be long gone before that happens, however. Yes, I am well aware that I’m being naïve, but I’m young and foolish, and I don’t really understand what the hell I’m getting myself into. If Nova does know how to get hold of The Exorcist, she could send him after me. I’d be looking over my shoulder for the rest of my life, but I know it would all be worth it.

As long as Nova doesn’t open that envelope, then all should be good for me to get the hell out of town before she realizes it was me who had her brother-in-law crippled.

“Are you sure about this, Elie?” I nod my head. “I’m not going to ask what’s in the file, but can you really live with yourself once this is done? Because once I hand this file over, there is no coming back from it.”

So, she does know who The Exorcist is. Interesting.

“He’s the reason my mother is dead. He needs to pay for what he did. I can pay; I told you, I have ten thousand. I don’t think I could handle his death on my conscience, but I want him to pay for what he did; that’s why I want him to lose the use of his legs.”

“I see.” She nods her head as if she’s thinking hard. Then she looks up at me and smiles while holding out her hand. “Leave it with me.”

I breathe deeply, “Thank you,” I tell her. “Thank you.”

It’s okay, Mom. He’s going to get what he deserves. Soon, you’ll be avenged, and then we can both rest.

With everything set, I make my way out of the clubhouse, my heart racing and my stomach churning.

God, what am I doing?

This isn’t like me; I don’t sit planning the death and paralysis of men. However, I have a wave of anger inside me that just won’t quit.

I’m rushing out of that place so fast I don’t notice the enormous monster in front of me. “Whoa, there,” His deep chuckle makes me cringe. Of all the people to run into right now, it had to be Hammer.

“Sorry, I wasn’t looking where I was going.”

“No worries.” He says while releasing my arms, which he had hold of, stopping me from falling on my ass in front of him. “You look like you could do with a drink.”

“I’m not old enough,” Which is just fuckin.g great right now when I could do with a bottle or three of vodka. I feel sick, too many thoughts swimming through my head, and now I’m standing in front of the man I’ve just paid someone to all but kill.

“I won’t tell if you don’t.” Hammer winks at me with a smile on his face. He’s trying to be nice to me, but I can’t handle that right now.

I can’t have a drink with this man; I’m not that evil. Besides, I have a feeling that should I get to know him, I’ll end up liking him, and I can’t like the man who put my mother in mortal danger.

“Thank you, but no. I have to get back to my hotel; I have things I need to sort out.” Like an alibi for where I am at the time you’re being attacked.

God, it’s really going to happen. I’m finally going to get justice for my mother.

But why, then, do I feel so damn sick about it?

I’ve seen Hammer and how he is with his wife and kids. I’ve seen how devoted he is to them, how he’d die for them.

So why am I just going to sit back and watch the aftermath of what will be done to him?

I won’t. Once the job is done and news comes through that Hammer has been badly injured – however that may occur – I’ll be out of here quicker than anyone can blink. I won’t wait around for Nova to put two and two together. I won’t wait for these bikers to kill me for what I’ve done.

No. I’ll go back home to my brother and my best friends. I will forget ever coming here. I’ll forget ever meeting Wrench. At least, I’ll put him out of my head and heart, where he seems to be taking up residence.

I can’t afford to fall for him, but he makes it so damn hard. I ache for him when he’s not near me; when he is, I can’t wait for him to leave. I feel so conflicted in every way possible.

Coming here was the most stupid thing I have ever done. Coming here has turned me into someone I don’t even recognize. I’ll never be the same after this. Nothing I do will ever make me forget what I have done to another human being.

Am I having second thoughts?

Yes. In all honesty, I am.

Will I take back what I’ve asked of Nova?

No. There is no going back, I want justice for my mother, and this is the only way to get it. He won’t die; he’ll just never be able to walk again. He’ll still get to watch his kids grow and be with his wife. The only difference is he’ll be doing it in a wheelchair.

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

Please don’t be nice to me, Hammer. You have no idea what this is doing to me. But you deserve it; that’s what I keep telling myself anyway.

If I’m totally honest with myself, I know Cindy’s death wasn’t his fault, not entirely. Wrench told me enough of what happened to see that it could’ve been any of the women in this MC that was taken. However, it doesn’t stop my head from telling me to make it right, but my heart is pulling me in the other direction. However, it’s all set now, and there is no going back.

“Fine, thank you,” I plaster on my biggest fake smile and look him in the eye. “Just have to get back and get ready. Wrench is taking me out.”

“Well then, if Wrench is taking you out,” Hameer winks at me before kissing me on the cheek and walking away.

What the fuc.k was that?

Just remember why you’re doing this, and everything will be just fine.

Somehow, I don’t think it will.