5

Venom ~

This little restaurant is rapidly becoming my favorite hangout. The food is good.. the service better. And Delaney is pleasing on the eyes.. about 5’4.. dark auburn hair.. a body to die for.. or kill for.. depending on the mood.

We ordered burgers and fries.. the damned things are addictive! Chainz asked “The little waitress.. she attached?” I grunted “Beats me. This is only the third time I have seen her. Don’t really know anything about her. I like it here because she doesn’t treat us like second class citizens.”

Chainz grins and says “One way to find out.” When she comes back with our food, he asks if she’s seeing anyone.. She grins and says “I pretty much see everyone.. being the best restaurant in town. If you are asking if I am dating anyone.. the answer is nope. Don’t need to. Don’t want to. I am raising my brother and running my restaurant. I don’t have a lot of free time.”

He shrugs and smirks “Shame. I could show you a real good time.” She laughed at him “I can show myself a good time, without the drama, sweetness!” And it was my turn to laugh. Really starting to like this girl!

She delivered our food.. asked if we were good. Then she excused herself, saying she needed to talk to Maddox and was within earshot if we needed anything.

I tuned my hearing to listen.. just to make sure everything was okay. She said, lowly.. “Okay, Maddie. Out with it.. you’re brooding.” His little boy voice sounded teary.. “Bert’s the mayor’s son, Laney. What if his mother sues me? I didn’t mean to jerk his arm out of its socket.. they just made me so mad.”

She hugged him and told him “My sweet little man. You did exactly what we train to do. You stood up for someone being abused. We don’t stand idly by and allow bullies to go unchecked. I am so very proud of you for protecting Valerie. She’s too small to be accosted by even one boy.. much less four. I meant it when I said you are a hero. I know Valerie thinks you are! As far as being sued.. I pray to the Goddess that woman gets me into court. I will eviscerate that entire family. Remember when I told you some people will always try to throw their weight around and force us into doing something we shouldn’t? And I told you that those same people always have skeletons hanging around they don’t want rattled? I make it my business to locate those skeletons, honey. And I ain’t afraid to rattle the shit out of them.”

He giggled and whispered “I am sorry, though..” Delaney shook her head “Never apologize for being right, Never tell anyone you regret standing up and doing the right thing, baby. There are a million injustices happening around us every day. If we can prevent even one.. then we are doing exactly what we are supposed to do!”

Maddox nearly whined “But, Laney.. what if they rattle our skeletons? What if they make me go back to Marcus when he gets out? What if they put you in jail for kidnapping me? I get so scared, Sissy.”

She pulled him into her lap.. “You listen to me. When I turned 21.. I had old Mr. Masters.. grandma’s attorney.. draft paperwork to adopt you. We can change your last name to Quinn to match mine.. instead of Walters.. Marcus isn’t eligible for parole for another eighteen months. When he was convicted, I was granted guardianship.. we have the adoption hearing in four days. Then… nobody can ever take you away from me, Bubby. No one! I will kill them first!”

As I listened to the love, support and understanding she gave, in listening to her little brother, I realized she is my kind of people.. She believes in much of the same things we stand for. I think I am going to be great friends with her.

That little boy dislocated someone’s shoulder? Damned impressive! She mentioned they train.. I wondered where.. I also wondered why. I found myself really wanting to know this girl’s story.

I mind linked Snake and told him I wanted everything he can find on a Marcus Walters.. on my desk.. within the hour.

We paid the check.. and as I was walking out, I handed her my card, and told her “I overheard what you were saying to your brother. Please. Don’t hesitate to call me.. my numbers are on the card. If you ever need help.. or find yourself in an untenable situation.. call me. It’s what we do.”

Her body language screamed her response. Proud stance.. face set. I grinned and said “You know what they say about pride, don’t you, Delaney?” She shrugged “Yeah.. it goeth before the fall.”

I nodded.. grinning wider “Everyone needs a little help sometimes. It’s okay to ask. Let me be your friend.. we all need to know someone is in our corner.”

She actually smiled.. some of the tension leaving her shoulders.. telling me “I will keep it in mind.”

Shaking my head and chuckling, I walked out.. climbed on my bike and headed to the clubhouse.

Snake met me at the door and said “I ran the info down. You’re gonna be pissed.. this guy is a piece of work!” I nodded my head and went straight to my office.

Opening the file.. I began reading.. Marcus Walters grew up in a group home in Idaho.. problems as a teenager landed him in juvie. Obtained his GED while incarcerated.

When he was released, he landed a mechanic’s position in a bike shop.. working his way up to manager.. eventually reaching the ability to buy the shop.

He married a widow with a nine year old daughter.. Marnie Quinn.. They had a son two years later.. Maddox.

Marcus fell in with some bad people from his juvie days. Started dealing drugs.. eventually doing them.. drinking and gambling. Every time he was financially strapped, he forced his wife to bail him out with her inheritance..

She started refusing.. and went to her attorney… having the inheritance locked down in her daughter’s name.. along with her daughter’s trust fund.

One fateful night, he came home.. demanding money to pay his drug supplier. Instead of selling the drugs.. he and his prison buddies did them.

When she informed him she could no longer access any cash.. he beat her to death. The daughter called 911.. and waited to hear the sirens.. before she ran off into the night.

At Marcus’s sentencing hearing.. an attorney appeared in Delaney’s stead.. seeking guardianship of her minor aged brother. It was granted and Marcus was sentenced to ten years for involuntary manslaughter.

I looked at Snake.. “Who do we know in Red Onion State Prison? I want eyes on this asshole at all times.”

He nodded and said “Let me get to looking. We don’t have that many we know left in Virginia.. but we may know a guy who knows a guy.”

I said “I don’t care who.. I just want someone keeping us apprised of this bastard’s movements. I want to know if anyone visits him.. who he calls.. Everything! Right down to whether he farts or not.”

Snake chuckles “Someone getting under your skin, Prez?” I said “No. I don’t know. Maybe. I only know I admire her strength. She loves that little boy so fiercely. Always stands up for what’s right. Anddd she digs dirt on anyone she perceives could be a threat. We’re similar in a lot of ways. I don’t know how to feel about that. It’s freaking me out