Chapter 143: Hansel 13

Hansel

The clubhouse was oddly quiet when I emerged the next morning. I had expected there to be at least some girly chatter. Since Gretal had come back, the common room seemed to be filled with girly chatter. But there was none and it made me feel oddly ill at ease.

One look at Fang who was pacing the length of the room, like some agitated bearded squirrel, and I knew I had every right to feel worried. Making my way over to him, I swung him around to face me.

“What's happened?” One glance at his face and I knew something had, his face was twisted in misery. “Where's Gypsy?” Another look around and I was sure she wasn’t there. None of the women were, not even the club girls had surfaced yet, the whole clubhouse felt like it was grieving.

There was only one thing to put that kind of misery on his face and it was if something had happened to Gypsy.

“What's happened? Fang talk to me.”

“She rang and said she wasn’t coming home for a few days. She sounded…” His voice broke and he cleared his throat quietly. Gathering his hard as ice shell about him, straightened. “She sounded different, like she was hiding something from me.”

I did a double take. “You think she is going to leave you?”

“I honestly have no fucking clue; something is up with her and she won't tell me what it is. It's probably nothing.”

I could tell by his face that he didn’t think it was nothing at all. He thought he was losing her. I recognised the look because I had worn it myself the moment I realised Gretal wasn’t coming back.

“Gretal is with her.” The Judge swept into the room, looking every bit the mob hitman he was. His clothes were totally unrumpled, he was as put together as he always was but there were shadows under his eyes that told me he hadn’t slept. “The others as well.”

We stared at him in shock, Fang with his jaw hanging open, so it was me who spoke first.

“What do you mean, the others are with her? You said Gretal?”

“Gretal, Iris, Darcie, Keeley…” He broke off, running a hand through his hair. “Gypsy, they are having some girly time. Don’t worry, they are safe. Gio has someone watching The Otter.”

Frowning, I felt my eyebrows slam down. They were at The Drunken Otter? A few girly days I could believe, but why had they left in the middle of the night? Why the secrecy? It was clear that something was going on. If his words hadn’t made me suspicious, then his face sure as hell did. For a hired and feared killer, The Judge had absolutely no poker face.

“Anyway they are fine. You don't need to worry about them, Fang.” His eyes turned to me. “You don’t need to worry either. Gio has a man watching from outside no one will get in or out without him knowing.”

No one will get in or out? Those had been his words. They were very specific words. Cocking my head to the side, I studied him.

“That’s good, as long as they are ok. Did you say Iris is there? So Cyber…?” Fang’s shoulders sagged.

“On daddy duties for the next few days, poor sod. That little princess of his is going to run him ragged.”

Fang gave a chuckle. “She does have everyone wrapped around her little finger, doesn’t she?”

There was the sound of swearing from out the front and the three of us turned in unison as Pope stormed in. His eyes were bloodshot and narrow, and even from across the room I could smell the alcohol coming from him.

“Where the fuck is Sylvie?”

There was a wildness about him.

“Calm down, brother, the women are together.” Like the good club president he was, Fang went to him. “All of them are together, having some girl time. Come on, you look like shit.”

I couldn’t agree more but I couldn’t dwell on the fact. Turning my face back to The Judge, I jutted with my chin for him to follow me. For a second he looked surprised, but he had to be expecting it. Reluctantly, he followed me out of the room.

“So, do you want to tell me what is actually going on? Gypsy wouldn’t just leave without telling Fang a reason. Gretal wouldn’t…” I couldn’t finish the sentence. Of course Gretal would leave without a word. She had done it before. It was a massive part of her personality.

But they hadn’t left, I reminded myself. They were at The Drunken Otter. The bar Gypsy co-owned with the club. All of them, together and safe. They hadn’t left town. They were just…

“What's going on Judge?” I repeated.

“It’s exactly like I said, Hansel. Stop getting your panties in a twist. They are safe, they have..”

“Yeah, you said before, no one will get in or out without you knowing. Which makes me wonder, who would be trying to get to them? Why the secrecy?” My fingers itched to twist the collar of his pristine shirt up and under his chin.

“It's not my secret to tell, Hansel. If I could, I would but your wife made me promise to keep my mouth shut.” The Judge’s eyes crinkled in amusement. “She's a bit of a firecracker that one.”

He sounded like he was impressed and I couldn’t blame him. Gretal was an impressive woman. But his admiration would have to wait. “If you don’t fucking tell me what is going on then I’m going…”

“I won't betray their trust. I won't go back on my word to Gretal.”

“You are more afraid of her than you are of me?”

He gave a short bark of a laugh. “Yeah, I think I am.”

“Hansel?” Fang's head appeared around the door. His eyebrows knitted together as he saw the two of us together.

“Yeah?” taking a step away from The Judge I turned towards my president and friend.

“With Cyber out of action I need you to do something for me. It won't take more than a day or two.”

I hesitated. I didn’t want to leave but this was exactly what I wanted only last night. “I kind of have things I need…”

The Judge cut me off. “I'll keep her safe, Hansel.” He whispered. “Do what you need to do. You can't do anything here.”

I still didn’t know what was going on. No one had told me shit. I was vice president and yet I was the last person to know anything, whether it was about this club or about my own wife.

“Fine I’ll do it, whatever it is.” I side eyed The Judge. “But when I am back then me and you are going to be having a long hard talk.”

“Do I even want to know what is going on between you two?” Shaking his head, Fang turned between us. “Between Pope being drunk at seven in the morning, the girls ditching us and now you two. I don't think I can take anymore.”

“It's probably best you don’t then.” The Judge chuckled.

I hated that laugh. “This isn’t over, Judge.”

He turned to me, the look on his face as stony and cold as any I had ever seen. It was the face of a killer. His mask had slipped. The man was gone and the killer looked back at me.

“It will hopefully be all over by the time you are back, Hansel.”