Page 7 of Spock’s Snare
I nod as I stand up and toss the cloth into a nearby trash receptacle.
“I can do that. Spark has already researched each of them. That’s how we narrowed our choices down to DC Construction. However, I’ll have him dig further. I’ll also have him include those companies that we interviewed but didn’t make the original cut. They could have waited until we decided to seek revenge.”
“Good idea. None of these companies may be involved, but it’s a start. We’ll go over all of it at Church in the morning. We’ll put together a plan to protect Chloe and this place.”
I nod in agreement. Puma was right about Chloe building our future. Inferno Ridge is where we all plan to raise our families. For Puma, there is nothing more important than family.
After Puma rides off, I pull out my phone and call Spark. As soon as he picks up, I explain what’s been happening and pass along Puma’s instructions.
“That sucks. I like Chloe. You’re right, I still have all the data I pulled on the construction companies that didn’t make the cut. Let me dig deeper. Our supply of security cameras is limited, so I’ll order more. In the meantime, I’ll send what I have with the prospects.”
“Thanks.” I spot the foreman walking toward me, Steven Blackwood. He has dark brown hair and a day’s worth of growth along his jaw. We’d left him behind when Chloe got the call about her dad.
“Hey, Spock, I wasn’t expecting you to be here still. I heard what happened from Declan. I guess Chloe is with Bill? How is he doing? Do you know?” He scans the room, his eyes widening at the message on the wall. “Well, shit. Declan said they left a message this time. But I wasn’t expecting this.”
“Chloe mentioned that she’s been having some trouble. Any idea of who could be behind it?” I ask him.
He shrugs. “Who knows. A competitor, maybe. I know there are some guys out there who don’t like competing against a woman. Hell, we have problems hiring workers because most don’t want to take orders from a woman. They think she doesn’t know what she’s doing.”
I glance at the message and consider his words. Is that what this is? Simple misogyny? Maybe.
“You don’t have a problem working for her?” I ask.
He laughs. “Nah, she’s a good boss. She knows her stuff. Her dad helps out, but she’s the one in charge. We’ve had to sack a couple of guys because they couldn’t handle taking orders from her.”
I consider his words and make a note to have Spark look into those men. If any guy had the small dick energy to bash a guy on the back of the head and then write a threatening message, it would be an asshole who considers women beneath him.
“Can you get me the names of the guys you sacked?”
Blackwood balks at the request. “You don’t think they’re the ones causing problems, do you?”
“We want to check them out. We’re going to find out who is causing Chloe problems.”
“Why do you care? They haven’t attacked the Inferno Ridge site. Just this one.”
I study Blackwood for several seconds before responding. “Chloe is one of ours now. We protect our people. What Chloe is doing at Inferno Ridge is important to us. We won’t let anything happen to her.”
Blackwood looks ready to argue with me, but before he can say anything, I hear a vehicle pull in outside. Blackwood follows me out of the building to where Gears has parked the club SUV. Gears and Reggie spot me and make their way over.
“Puma said you had some clean-up work for us,” Reggie says.
“Yeah, follow me.”
I lead them inside and show them the painted wall.
“I want this message gone. Not a trace left. Got me?”
Gears nods. “Absolutely.”
“Also, check the floor for bloodstains. I don’t want Chloe seeing those, either.”
Gears raises an eyebrow, but he doesn’t question my orders. They immediately get to work gathering supplies.
“We could take care of that,” Steven offers.
I shake my head. “Puma promised Chloe that he’d handle it. Puma never backs down on a promise. Chloe is too important to our club. Inferno Ridge means too much to Puma.”
Steven nods. “Yeah, that was a big contract for Chloe. She was pretty excited when she heard she won it.”
