Twisted Pieces (Back Down Devil MC #5)(34)

Everyone shared a laugh. When Mr. Strokner stopped laughing, the men hurried to do the same. Jordyn realized then that Mr. Strokner was enjoying this power he had over the these men.

“We’re all working together here,” one of the man said.

“Bullshit,” Mr. Strokner yelled. “You need me. You want me. I have the money. I have the power and the lawyers you don’t. You’re afraid to take those guys on."

“It’s not the image we are concerned about,” another man said. “It’s a long history. Plenty of respectable people have taken up with them in one way or another.”

“Just like me?”

“You’re on a different mindset, Mr. Strokner.”

“That I am.” Mr. Strokner made a fist and slammed it to the table. “But I have no interest in getting involved. I prefer to hold my position. Let them have it. They know I’m sniffing. I’ve made that very clear. That alone is enough fear, correct?”

The room was quiet for a few seconds.

“Well, it certainly helps…”

“And because it doesn’t cost me a dime, it’s a win for all of us,” Mr. Strokner said. “Right now, gentlemen…” Mr. Strokner stood and adjusted his tie. “Right now, I have some pressing matters at hand here. There are several business propositions on my table that I cannot ignore. This, sadly, isn’t one of them. I don’t like doing business with cowards. I'm sorry.”

“We're not cowards…”

“You are. You can leave now.”

The men stood. One of the men crept closer to Mr. Strokner. “This isn’t right. You know it isn’t right.”

“But it doesn’t affect me. This is your problem, Steve. Not mine. Maybe it'll become mine. But right now, I’m going to hold out. Take it easy, guys.”

The men left the room and Jordyn hurried to her feet. She really wasn’t sure what she had just been part of.

Mr. Strokner stood and shook his head. He then pointed to the door and told Jordyn to lock it. He was closer to the door, but he had the power so people listened when he spoke.

Jordyn hated it. So much. She locked the door and then paused for a few seconds, preparing herself for Mr. Strokner to touch her. But he didn’t. Instead, he leaned close to her and whispered, “You’re so loyal. I like that. Now come sit with me, so we can have a meeting ourselves.”

Jordyn nodded. She turned and sat down at the table again. Mr. Strokner put his briefcase on the table next to her and opened it. He pulled out another folder. He then reached into his pocket and took out Jordyn’s panties. He smelled them again before tossing them into the briefcase. He closed it and opened the folder in front of him.

“Those men are desperate for me to purchase a piece of land,” Mr. Strokner said. “Do you know why?”

“No, sir.”

He took out the listing of the land with a detailed picture of it. He pushed the folder away and turned the paper for Jordyn to see.

“Looks like a serene, quiet piece of land in Frelen away from everything, right?”

“Sure.”

“Other people see it as a huge opportunity to develop for commercial use and turn massive profits. They want me to buy this. But not develop it.”

“So you can turn it when the market stabilizes?” Jordyn asked.

“Oh, look at that beautiful mind of yours working. That would be a nice play, wouldn’t it? Grab it cheap, hold it for a few years, let it sit on my books, write off the taxes and other measly expenses, and then develop it, sure. The problem is that it’s not for sale. Someone owns it.”

“Who?”

“Back Down Devil MC,” Mr. Strokner said with contempt in his voice. “Those pricks own it. It’s all theirs.”

“That’s why they’re afraid?” Jordyn asked.

“Yes. They can’t take on the MC. Miller would never let the land be sold. So these savvy political *s decided to give me a chance to basically steal the property from the club. They’d sue, but it would get lost in the court system for a long time. So long that maybe Back Down Devil wouldn’t exist anymore. Actually, that’s exactly what would happen. Do you know why?”

“No, sir, I don’t.”

Mr. Strokner leaned toward Jordyn. He put a finger to the paper. “Because this is where they hide bodies, Jordyn. This is where they rid their evidence. This is why they need the land. And if I bought it and started digging… do you know what would happen?”

Jordyn nodded. “They’d get into trouble.”

“Trouble? What a cute word. From such a cute woman.”

Mr. Strokner ran a hand up Jordyn’s leg. He slipped his fingers under her skirt and climbed up her bare leg. It took all of Jordyn’s focus not to smack his hand away and scream.

She stared at the piece of paper with the land on it.

More murder. So much more…

She thought about a time - not that long ago - that she had a really long conversation with her grandmother about life, love, family, careers, and money. In Jordyn’s mind, it almost seemed laid out, like the plan she had in college. She would get her dream job and then, at some random point, a wonderful man would step into her life and change everything. That man would be handsome, successful, and have a heart worth loving for the rest of her life. She pictured the two story house with shudders that matched the door. The elegant landscaping and white picket fence.