Losing Control (26 page)

He ground his back teeth, he had deliberately told her not to say a word.

“Well that’s just too damn bad. This badge and gun give me carte blanche on a lot that other people get pissed off about. It’s not the first time and it won’t be the last time someone didn’t want to speak to me. Is he in there?” he pointed to the office door that was cracked open.

“He is.”

Glancing at the clock, he took note of the time. “Do me a favor. If we’re still in here when school lets out, don’t let Bianca Hawks in here. Just take her stuff out to her.”

“Is something going on with her?”

“I don’t know,” he answered honestly. “Let’s just say I don’t trust your boss around her, and in the interest of public safety, perhaps we should keep her out of here.”

Bianca couldn’t help but let her mind wander as she watched her class labor on the packet of busy work the normal teacher left for them. For most of the day, the kids had been good. One boy had gotten a little mouthy with her and she was pretty proud of the way she handled it—when really she wanted to tell him to stop being a smart-ass. The time on the clock told her she had another hour to go before the school day would be over, and she couldn’t help but think about what was going on in the office. Knowing that Money Bags was being talked to by the police gave her pause and made her stomach roll.

“Ms. Hawks, can I have a bathroom pass?” One of the children asked. She hadn’t even heard them walk up to the desk she sat at.

“Sure.” She shook her head, trying to get her mind back in the game.

Reaching into the desk, she pulled out the pass and handed it to the student who had asked. At this moment, she would give anything to have to go to the office for something. She wanted desperately to know what Rooster was asking and how Money Bags was answering. She wanted this over, and over for good. It seemed to be a defining moment in her relationship with Jagger. If they couldn’t get rid of Money Bags, it seemed like they wouldn’t ever move further from where they were. Not to mention, Money Bags really did give her the creeps. He made her feel dirty and a little bit like a whore. She didn’t like that feeling at all. If she could get rid of him, it felt like her self-worth would be where it was supposed to be.

I’m outside waiting on you.

The text came through on her phone, and she wanted to grind her teeth.

I don’t get out of here for another hour. So you’re gonna be waiting a while. I told you that you didn’t have to come. Whatever Rooster said, I’m not worried.

But I am
, Jagger texted back.

Frustrated, she put her phone in her purse and turned her attention back to the class.

The student who had gone to the bathroom came back, redness in her cheeks. “Ms. Hawks, there’s a group of men on motorcycles outside. I think it’s Mandy and Drew’s dad!”

She groaned. This was the absolute last thing she needed.

“I just have a few questions for you, Mr. Tucker,” Rooster told the older man as he walked into the office and had a seat.

“I didn’t invite you to sit down, Officer.”

Rooster smiled, intentionally. “This could be a long conversation, Mr. Tucker. My legs hurt from being cramped up in that police cruiser all day, I’m sure you understand.” He stretched his long legs out in front of him, purposely crossing them at the ankle.

“Both of our time is very valuable, Officer Hancock, so can we please get this over with?”

“Sure.” Rooster pulled a little notebook out of his pocket. “Like I said, I just have a few questions. How well do you know Bianca Hawks?”

Immediately, Rooster saw that Mr. Tucker’s face reddened, all the way to his neck where the collar of his shirt rested. “She’s a substitute teacher here.”

“So you’ve never seen her outside of work? Say at
Wet Wanda’s
?”

Mr. Tucker stuttered. “I resent the implication that you’re making. As you know, my contract with the school board—as a principal—has a morality clause in it.”

“I am. That’s what makes me wonder what you’re doing at a titty bar and why you seem to have a lot of cash that’s unaccounted for,” he threw that in, just to see if he could throw the other man off.

“Excuse me?”

“Cash. Someone like you that does frequent
Wet Wanda’s
, you’ve got to have cash lying around, but I’m not sure where you’re getting it. We’ve pulled your financials, and you’re in the red most the time. How can you afford to be there so much?”

Rooster had to give it to the other man, he was holding it together pretty well, but sweat was beading at his hairline. He was shifting in his chair now, very uncomfortable under Rooster’s gaze.

“I don’t think this is appropriate,” Mr. Tucker blustered.

Leaning forward, Rooster set his hand the desk where Mr. Tucker sat. “I’ll tell you what’s not appropriate, Mr. Tucker. Numerous people have come to me saying that you’re a very inappropriate man outside the walls of this school. I’ve got my eye on you, and I’ll prove it if it’s the last thing I do. I also know that you have a ton of cash in your house and financials from the school board. You tell me how you came about having that? Whatever this is that you’ve got going, it’s not gonna last because now I’m watching you. I just wanted to let you know that.”

“Noted.” The principal swallowed hard. “Now get the fuck out of my office.”

Rooster stood, holding out a card to Mr. Tucker. “If you want to get all your criminal misdeeds off your chest, you can always give me a call.”

Raymond waited until Rooster left and then slammed the door shut, feeling accomplishment when it made a loud crash. Stalking over to his desk, he had a seat and rested his shaking hands on his forehead. With nothing else to do, he picked up his phone and dialed a number. Finally after numerous rings, someone answered.

“Dino, I need help,” he choked out, scared to admit to the leader of the European gang just what was happening. Raymond had a feeling that he probably wouldn’t survive this, but he had to ask for a way out.

Chapter Thirty-Two

B
ianca fumed as she stomped out of the front door of the school. As Rooster asked her to do, Stacey had met her outside the office and given her what she needed to get paid for her day. Bianca hadn’t missed that look in Stacey’s eyes that said she knew something was going on. The secretary just hadn’t been sure of what it was. Her blood boiled as she hit the front stoop and saw Liam, Jagger, and Rooster hanging out in the parking lot. She wanted to turn and walk towards her car, but if she did, she would never get a mad on like this again.

“Fuck it,” she mumbled and made her way to over where the three men lounged against a police cruiser and their bikes. Her heels sounded against the blacktop, and she knew by the frequency of the clicks she really should have been running.

“Hey baby,” Jagger greeted her, opening his arms for her.

She moved so that he couldn’t wrap them around her body and held her finger up. “Don’t ‘baby’ me. I’m furious at the three of you.”

Jagger took a moment to get a good look at her. Her cheeks were red, eyes flashing, chest heaving. The only other time she looked like this was when they got done in bed. Maybe this hadn’t been such a good idea.

“Why?” Rooster asked, unsure of why she seemed to be so pissed off.

“Oh hell,” Liam breathed. Having an old lady of his own, he knew that was not the question to ask.

“Really?” she put her hand on her hip and tapped her fingers against the waistband of the skirt. “You really have to ask me that question?”

Jagger reached over and put a hand on Rooster’s arm. “Don’t answer that man.”

“And you.” She turned her angry eyes at Jagger. “I’m more pissed off at you than I care to even let you know. If I was a physical sort, I’d beat the shit out of you. I told you to leave this alone.”

“B, I can’t in good conscience-”

“Stop,” she cut him off, the venom in her voice going straight to his gut. “I don’t give a good goddamn about your conscience. I don’t ask you for much Jagger. I never have and I never will because I’m used to taking care of myself. But what I did ask you for was to let me handle this. To not make this into a big deal. What the fuck do you think this is?” She motioned to the police car and Rooster.

“This is more than what you think it is,” Jagger argued. “There’s a lot more goin’ on here than you even know. This guy is dangerous.”

“He was dangerous to begin with,” she blurted. “Before you even knew he was bothering me. Don’t you think I’ve dealt with people like him before?”

“I know you have,” he told her through clenched teeth. “But that doesn’t change the fact that you don’t have to deal with them now. I’m here to do that for you.”

She took a deep breath and stomped her foot. “I love you and you know that, but loving you does not take away the fact that I am independent and I don’t need you to fight my battles for me.”

“And loving you doesn’t mean that I’ll sit idly by knowing this jackass is out there.” He pointed a finger in her face, advancing on her.

If Jagger expected her to back down, he had another thing coming. Bianca stood her ground, planting her feet against the ground, not giving anything. “I can take care of this.” She folded her arms across her chest.

He had never been so pissed in his life. His heart thundered in his chest, sweat broke out on his brow. Turning from her, he focused his gaze on the cars that traveled the road parallel to the school. Jagger couldn’t believe they were having this out with witnesses, including a cop and the president of the club. He turned back around and took a deep breath. “You haven’t handled it so far,” he told her, taking the emotion out of his voice.

“How dare you say that to me? He’s been coming to see me much longer than I’ve been with you. I was handling it just fine before you decided to show me you had a bigger dick than him and started all this shit.”

Jagger hated to do this, but he had to. He had to make her see just who this man was, just how powerful he thought he was. He turned so that he could look Rooster in the eye. “I’m not gonna hurt her, but she has to understand.”