Iced vii knights mc, p.5
Iced (VII Knights MC), page 5
Hell, he might be pissed as fuck when I walk up to him with Hannah in tow and start asking about Blanche.
“That a big enough in for you?” I asked.
Hannah brushed her hands on her lap and shrugged. “I think that might work.”
It was more than going to work.
*
Chapter Nine
Hannah
“What are you doing?”
My head snapped up, and my heart skipped. “Uh, nothing. Nothing at all.” But really, a lot. Thinking of every possible bad scenario, what could happen when I met with Ice and Mercury after work.
Nessa leaned against my door and folded her arms over her chest. “That is exactly what you would say when you were little and doing something you should not be doing,” she laughed.
I blindly reached to my right and grabbed a Chinese menu. “Uh, well, I was thinking about ordering Chinese when I’ve been trying not to eat so crappy.” I nodded to my little fridge across from my desk. “I even brought lunch today, but fried rice and egg rolls sound better than soggy salad and fat-free dressing.”
Nessa laughed and pushed off the door. She flopped down in the chair on the other side of my desk and sighed. “Well, I’m totally in if you are ordering. You know you don’t need to be eating salads, Hannah. You’re perfect.”
I was pretty sure Nessa’s idea of perfect was not right, but she always insisted I was just that; perfect. “You’re pretty perfect, too, Ness.” I handed her the menu so she could figure out what she wanted. I hadn’t been thinking about ordering Chinese, but I didn’t need to look over the menu to know what I wanted.
Pork fried rice, two veggie egg rolls, and chicken egg foo young. I never deviated from that, and it never failed me.
“Are you getting your usual?” she asked.
I nodded and sat back in my chair. “That doesn’t change.”
She glanced up at me and smiled. “You know I always like to try something new.”
She did. While I always stuck by what I knew, Nessa always went for the unknown.
Maybe that was why Marcus had convinced her to start working for Blanche Halo. Or whatever it was she was doing.
I yearned to just talk to Nessa about what she was doing, but I didn’t know how to do that. I had tried the other night at the party by telling her about Ice, but I had completely blundered that one.
Today was the first day she had voluntarily sought me out. I had spoken to her a couple of times on the phone, but that had been during work and only about work.
“Does this mean you are done being mad at me?” I asked.
Nessa scoffed. “I was never mad at you, Hannah.”
“You could have fooled me.”
She flipped over the menu and sighed. “I just have a lot going on right now, Hannah, and I don’t want to add in worrying about you with some stranger.”
“Everyone is a stranger until you get to know them, Nessa. I won’t get to know any man if you think I shouldn’t talk to strangers,” I insisted.
She sighed and handed the menu back to me. “I know that. I just was a little taken back by you springing it on me like you did. But I do stand by the fact that you maybe should have talked to the guy for longer than a minute before giving him your number.”
“He’s a nice guy, Nessa.”
She tipped her head to the side. “Does that mean he called you?”
I pursed my lips and shrugged. “Maybe.”
“Are you guys going to talk more now that he called?”
I nodded. “Yeah. We are.”
“Do you at least know his name now?”
“Kristopher.”
She nodded. “Nice, friendly name. What does he do for a living?”
Gang member? No, no. Motorcycle club member. “He’s a project site manager.”
Nessa seemed impressed. “And you met him at the party? I wonder if I have met him before? Some pretty cute guys buy from Mitcham Metals.”
I nodded and smiled. “Yes, there are.”
“You’re not going to tell me anything more than his first name, are you?” she laughed.
I shook my head. “Not right now. If things keep going well, I’ll introduce you two.” Hannah was going to meet Ice, and more than likely Mercury, too.
“Well, just make sure he treats you like the princess you are, Hannah.”
Kristopher calling Nessa the Ice Princess popped into my head. I blinked and really looked at her. She had a cool, icy presence about her, and the silver hair just added to that feeling. I suppose I could see why he would call her that.
Most didn’t know her for the caring woman she could be. She kept that for the people she really cared about. Which, I guess, was just me now.
I reached for my phone and dialed the number to the Chinese place. “Do you know what you want?” I asked.
She nodded. “I want the Ma Po Tofu, Peking duck, and white rice.”
I shook my head. “Girl, I hope you know what you just ordered. That first one sounds like a spell.” I placed our order and asked them to deliver it to my office.
“I’m going to ignore the fact that you didn’t even tell them your name, Hannah,” Nessa giggled.
So, I may order Chinese more often than I would admit. “They have caller ID, Nessa.”
Nessa smirked. “I know that, but I’m pretty sure that called ID says Mitcham Metals, not Hannah Mitcham.”
She was right. “That was why I was going to eat my soggy salad today, but you convinced me to order Chinese.”
Nessa sighed and sat back. “You’re right, Hannah. You know I’ve been the bad influence.”
“You were the one who told me if I jumped high enough, I would fly.” I had been five and very naïve—much more than I was now. I think.
“If it makes you feel better, I really did think for a second that you were going to take off.” She winced and splayed her hands out in front of her. “But then you hit the ground so quick.”
I had, and when I finally came to, I had a busted nose and a cracked rib. When I decided to do something, I really committed to it.
Nessa and I both laughed until we were out of breath.
“Oh man, we had some crazy times growing up.” Nessa’s phone rang in her pocket.
Instantly the laughing and carefree Nessa was gone again. She pulled out her phone and frowned. “I need to take this. I’ll be back before the food gets here,” she muttered absently. She walked out with the phone pressed to her ear and a scowl on her lips.
I took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
So much was weighing down on Nessa, and she chose not to tell me. She had to know that I would listen and help her in any way I could. She had to know.
But yet she didn’t tell me anything. It was like once mom and dad had died, she had closed the door on us and felt she had to be the one to take on everything. Sure, she was the president of Mitcham Metals, but that didn’t mean she had to shut me out.
I wasn’t going to let her do that anymore, though. Today I was going to meet with Mercury, and then things were going to change.
Nessa and I were going to work together to get out of whatever mess she had going with Blanche Halo, and then we were going to run this company together. Marcus was going to be out, and I was going to be her right-hand man.
Today things were going to start changing.
*
Chapter Ten
Ice
“Not happening.”
“Mercury.”
Mercury shook his head. “Whatever deal Blanche has with Mitcham Metals has absolutely nothing to do with me, you, or the club. We are not sticking our noses in it.”
“We have to help, Hannah,” I insisted.
“You didn’t even know this chick existed a week ago, Ice, and now you are telling me we have to help her?”
“She isn’t anything like her sister,” I promised.
“Ice, if you’re just trying to get into this chick’s pants, you’re doing way more than what it’s worth.” Mercury held up his hands. “Going up against Blanche is not something I recommend anyone doing. She didn’t get where she is by being nice and doing favors for people.”
“I know someone shouldn’t go up against Blanche, but you aren’t just someone.”
“No,” Mercury growled.
“Brother, you used to sleep with this woman. You were in her lair and made it out alive.”
“She’s not an actual barracuda,” Mercury drawled.
“You sure about that? I heard some of those stories you told about your time with her.” I wiggled my eyebrows. “Maybe you could even rekindle those old feelings you two have for each other.”
“Ab-so-fucking-lute-ley not. I am not with Blanche for a reason. And that reason is not going to change just because you’re trying to score with the Ice Princess’ sister.”
“Just hear her out, brother. Listen to what she has to say, and then you can decide if you’ll help her.”
Mercury glared at me. “I do not want to be doing this, Ice.”
I know he didn’t, but I knew if he could just listen to Hannah, he would feel the same way I did. Hannah needed help, and the VII Knights were going to be the ones to help her.
Samson let out a woof from the common room.
Mercury’s eyes bulged out, and he pointed his finger at me. “No!” he growled.
I held up my hands. “She’s just here to talk to you. You can tell her to get lost as soon as you see her if you want.”
“You need to tell her to get lost,” Mercury insisted.
I shook my head. “I’m just the VP. You’re the one who can veto ideas right away, not me.”
“Can I fucking veto you being in this damn club anymore?”
I cringed and shook my head. “That one you can’t do without the whole club behind you.” Thank god.
Mercury’s nostrils flared. “She gets five fucking minutes, and then she is out on her ass. My answer will be no.”
Five minutes was good. I knew Hannah could plead her case in that time.
“Ice!” Moore called. “You got a chick here looking for you.”
Mercury rolled his eyes and folded his arms over his chest. “Call church and bring her in,” he ordered.
“She can’t just talk to you and me?” I asked.
Mercury shook his head and smirked. “You know this is going to involve the whole damn club. Call church, and bring her in,” he repeated.
Fuck. This was not what I had told Hannah was going to happen.
She was about to walk into the lion’s den of the VII Knights.
Hannah was standing by the front door when I walked into the common room with Moore next to her and the rest of the guys watching her with peaked interest.
It wasn’t every day we had a woman walk into the clubhouse wearing business slacks and a blouse. I probably should have told her to tone down the accountant attire, but I wasn’t entirely sure she really could do that. While Hannah was seriously beautiful, she also gave off an air of high intelligence.
Moore was explaining something with a wave of his hand, and a smile crossed her lips. Maybe she wasn’t as intimidated or scared as I thought she would be.
“Church!” I shouted. “Everyone gets their asses up and going.”
Moore folded his arms over his chest. “I’m guessing you’re the reason behind church, babe.”
Hannah bit her bottom lip and shrugged. Her eyes connected with mine. “Uh, well, maybe?”
I slapped Moore on the shoulder and pushed him in the direction of church. “Get going.”
Moore stumbled but pointed at Hannah. “She coming, too?”
“Move,” I growled at him.
Moore held up his hands. “You got it, VP.” He followed behind the rest of the guys, who were all glancing behind them at Hannah and me.
When they were all gone, I turned to Hannah.
“Uh, hi?” she squeaked. “I didn’t know I was going to be walking into, well, everyone.”
“That kind of always happens around here,” I explained. “We’re either working together or hanging out together.”
“Like family.”
I nodded. “Just like family, darlin’.”
“Why are they all going to church, though? It’s a Wednesday night. Is it lent already?” She tipped her head to the side and squinted. “In August?” she laughed.
I laughed and shook my head. “Not that kind of church, Hannah. Church is what we call our club meetings.”
“Oh,” she gasped. “I see.”
“Sort of like what goes on behind the doors is sacred,” I explained.
“So I’m interrupting your meeting.” She stepped back. “I am so sorry. I don’t want you to miss your meeting, uh, church. Thing.”
I reached out and grabbed her arm. “Uh, well, I’m not going to miss church, and neither are you.”
She tipped her head to the side. “I thought you said I should come so I could talk to Mercury.”
“Well, I did, and that is what you are going to do along with all of the other club members. What you want to talk to Mercury about is club business, and we don’t keep club business from any of the members,” I explained.
“I don’t want everyone knowing my problem, Ice. I told you that. I know Nessa has possibly messed up big time, but I don’t want everyone knowing. She could get into huge trouble if the wrong people find out.” She leaned toward me and bugged her eyes out. “If the police find out about any of this, she will go to jail, and maybe even I would.”
There was no way Hannah would go to jail for any of this. Now Nessa, on the other hand, might have a problem if shit went sideways with Blanche Rose. Mercury wasn’t kissing when he said you did not want to get on the wrong side of that woman.
“What is said in church no one speaks about. It’ll stay club business.”
“But what if one of your guys tries to get me in trouble.”
If that happened, I could guarantee whoever it was wouldn’t live long enough to make it to the cops. “You’re gonna have to trust me, Hannah. If you want my help, and the help of Mercury, then you’re gonna have to walk into church, and tell them everything you know.”
She furrowed her brow. “I don’t know you very well, Ice,” she whispered.
“And I don’t know you very well either, Hannah.”
“But something tells me I can trust you with my life.”
I nodded and reached up to brush a stray strand of hair from her face. “And I have that same feeling, darlin’.”
“So I guess if I want your help, I have to walk into that meeting, huh?”
I nodded. “That’s sort of how things work around here.”
She took a deep breath and let it out. “Let’s go.”
I laced my fingers through her’s and pulled her through the common room and down the hallway to the room where we held church.
“Is there like a secret knock or handshake I need to know before we walk in?” she whispered. “I want their advice, and I don’t want to offend them or anything.”
I stopped and looked down at Hannah. “Just be yourself.”
“And the handshake?” she asked.
Jesus. Thank god I walked in with her; otherwise, I knew the guys would eat her alive. Or fall head over heels for her just like I had. “No handshake, darlin’. Not sure where you got that from.”
The church door was open, and I pulled Hannah in behind me.
“Clock is ticking,” Mercury growled.
“Clock?” Hannah whispered.
I squeezed her hand. “Everyone, this is Hannah Mitcham. She needs a little advice and maybe some help if we can provide it.” We moved to the side of Mercury, and Hannah let out a little squeak.
“You leaking air or something?” Raff laughed.
Hannah cleared her throat. “Uh, no. Sorry. You guys are just a little intimidating, is all.”
“Good,” Mercury grunted.
Hannah was already crashing and burning.
“So, the reason I’m here is that I need some help, and Ice told me you guys might be the people to help me. And my sister.”
“Ice Princess?” North asked.
“Um,” Hannah tipped her head to the side. “Yes, that would be her. Also known as Nessa.” She raised her finger and clicked her tongue. “Preferably.”
Yeah, getting the guys to call her Nessa was something that was not going to happen.
“Four minutes,” Mercury called.
“Am I on a timer?” Hannah whispered.
“Uh, yeah.” I nodded.
“Well, fiddlesticks,” she muttered. “Let me get right to it then. My parents died four months ago, and my sister has taken over Mitcham Metals. I am the head of accounting, so you know, I know stuff, but like I’m not the all-knowing knower.”
“Hannah,” I growled.
“Right, right,” she stammered. “So, there is Marcus. Bad guy. Don’t like him. Never really have.”
“We get to kill that douche?” Raff asked. “I am so in on that.”
Riff bumped his fist to Raff’s.
“No, no.” Hannah waved her hands. “No killing should be necessary. At least I hope not, and if there is, I would not like to be privy to that.”
“Privy?” Buck grunted. “This chick is as fancy as the dress she was wearing the other night.”
“Not fancy,” she insisted. “I just seem to ramble and talk like an old lady when I’m on a timer, apparently.”
“Three minutes,” Mercury called.
“Really?” Hannah gasped. “Are you sure you’re using the right watch? That did not seem like two minutes already.”
“I like her,” Riggs called.
“She’s nice to look at,” Crow agreed.
Hannah stepped back and pressed a hand to her chest. “Why, thank you. Normally Nessa gets those compliments, and I’m just in the background with my nose in a book.”
Moore reached toward Hannah. “I got somewhere else you can put your n–.”
I lunged toward Moore. “Watch the next word that comes out of your mouth, brother.” I hadn’t planned on staking my claim with Hannah, but of course, these guys would force my hand.
