“I’m getting married as soon as we can arrange the wedding. We are aiming for six weeks. But I want a house built on the land we are in the process of purchasing next to us. How fast could you get the house built?”
“Is that the piece of land Tracker told me was going to be like a village? You know where you all build a house and live with women and kids?” Jeremy is finding this highly amusing.
Scowling my best scowl, I reply. “Yeah, we want to build houses, but not sure you’d call it a village. I realize you’d have to sort out the infrastructure for amenities, but it could be done, right?”
“Yeah, it can be done. I know the asshole who owns the land and I’ll put in a word for the club. He’ll be okay with selling if the price is decent. He never wanted the land, but his uncle had no other living relatives, so he was landed with it. Excuse the pun,” Jeremy smirks, and Demon is frowning at him as though he’s not quite right.
“I found a group of men who left the service and they are doing odd jobs to earn a living. If I could pull them in to work for me I could have them build the housing, and it would leave me free to continue working my crew as usual.” Jeremy rubs the back of his neck. “Or, you could see if they want to prospectfor the club and build the housing as part of the prospect requirements?”
Both Demon and I look at Jeremy as if he’s lost his mind. But the more you think about it the more it sounds like a good idea. “We’ll speak with Pres, then let you know. He’d want to meet these people before committing to anything,” Demon states, and I nod in agreement.
Checking the time, I panic a little when I realize I’m late to pick up Cilla. Dashing back into the clubhouse I stop rushing when I see Cilla sitting in the middle of the common room like she’s holding court. Problem being she is talking to—no one. No one that we can see that is.
“What is she doing?” Jeremy asks while watching Cilla.
Sighing, because I have to respond to his question, and I suppose I’m going to have to get used to this sort of question. “She’s talking to the dead people who visit her.”
“Dead people?”
“Yeah, Jeremy, dead people...” I walk over to Cilla, wrap my arms around her from behind, the best I can with her sitting on a chair, but I kiss her on top of the head.
“Hi, Mason. I have four people left to speak to, and then we can go home.”
“Okay, babe. Give me a shout when you’re done.” I kiss her on the lips this time and leave her with a rosy glow as I walk back over to Jeremy, who is watching Cilla with a fascination I’m not sure I like.
“I wonder if she can contact my Pops?” Jeremy steps forward before I can stop him. “Excuse me, can you call up people?”
Cilla grins and replies with a little sassiness. “It’s not a dial-up for dead people. They come to me when they want me to helpthem, but I have Bono, Tank, and Pyro now, and if they come to me for any nasty reason, they see them off.”
Jeremy slowly lowers himself into a seat opposite Cilla. I don’t tell him to step away because he has such a look of reverence toward Cilla that you cannot take his actions as rude or aggressive.
“Oh, you have three guardian angels?” Jeremy whispers.
Cilla throws her head back, laughing. “That is the last thing you’d call these three. Bono is the levelheaded one of the three. Tank is like a bull in a china shop, and Pyro, well he’s a pyromaniac and still can mess with fire on the other side.”
Grinning, Jeremy leans forward slightly. “I just wondered if you could contact my Pops. He died of a heart attack nobody saw coming. Here one minute and gone the next. I always wished I’d told him how much I admired and loved him. But I suppose I’ll never get to tell him now.”
“Actually, you just did. Is your Pops around fifty-five, sandy short hair, brown eyes and a scar on his left cheek?” Cilla asks.
Tears sprang to Jeremy’s eyes as he gasped. “Yes, yes, that sounds like him.”
“He said to tell you he knows that you loved him, and he loved you and still loves you so much. He sees you working your business and is proud of you for achieving so much with so little help.” Cilla grasps Jeremy’s hand and gives it a light squeeze. “It seems your Pops has been waiting a long time to tell you that. He took the opportunity while you were here around me. Jumped the damn line to do so too. He has to go now, but he said he’s always around and sees you, even when you don’t see him. He hears you talking to him in the calm of the night, when you feel his presence.”
“Thank you so much. It feels good to know he knows that he is loved and is missed.” Jeremy stands and quietly walks back to Demon and me, giving us both a nod as he walks past and out of the clubhouse.
“Damn, Cilla. That was fucking awesome. But don’t bring my father, he’s an asshole and I don’t want him anywhere near me, or you if it comes to that,” Demon snarls the last, and to my surprise Cilla walks over and hugs Demon. Something I never thought I'd see, and that was Demon hugging her back, gently and brotherly.
Chapter 29
CILLA
Jet takes me to the clubhouse after work, as Mason is busy with something. I can’t help but think from the look on Jet’s face it's something they callClub Business,and I don’t get to know about. Their thinking is a little off because Bono, Tank, or Pyro would inform me if I asked. Especially if it had to do with, you know, offing someone. I’d see them cross over if one of the three made a move on whoever it is.
*You don’t need to know, Cilla*
“You’re right, Bono. I’m more than happy with not knowing what they are all up to at this time. I have other things to get sorted out now I’m here.”
I rush to Keys’ office because I’ve got to make sure he behaves himself. Shrugging as I lift my hand I open the door instead of knocking. “Hey, Keys.” I throw myself into a seat and notice the surprise on his face.