Chapter Two
“I don’t like this one bit,” Reed said, pacing back and forth in front of a large map on the wall adorned with pushpins. Being the owner of the security firm and the head of the team meant he needed eyes everywhere, but this job was a little outside their normal scope. “All this vandalism and petty theft. Finn’s right. This isn’t because the Irish are pulling out of crime. There’s something else going on.”
He pointed to some empty warehouses on the map. “They’ve got to be in here somewhere,” he said.
Ryder shook his head and folded his arms.
“Nothing,” he said. “I took Cage, and we found nothing. There weren’t even new cigarette butts.”
Reed stared hard at him. Ryder’s younger brother wasn’t really a fan of being told he was wrong. At least his wife had done some to cool his hot temper, but it could still flare up from time to time.
“Are you saying there was nothing there, or that it had been wiped?” Reed asked.
Ryder held up his hands. “I can’t say, but it was clean, and there didn’t appear to be any activity there.”
Reed frowned and hit the table. “Damn,” he said. “Where the fuck are these guys?”
Ryder leaned in. Though Reed losing his temper wasn’t exactly rare, he wasn’t one to get antsy when it came to activity like this.
“Think it’s the Russians?” Ryder asked.
They all had their share of issues with the Russians recently, and in some cases, things had nearly ended up deadly.
“No, this doesn’t really seem like them,” he said. “But I don’t trust that they wouldn’t hire outside help.”
Ryder nodded.
“Want me to check with my sources?” he said.
He looked up when his brother didn’t say anything. Reed was wearing that same look he got when he wanted to ask something but didn’t quite know how to do it.
“You know Charlie Jones is the best one to ask on this,” Reed said.
Ryder instinctively stood up and frowned.
“No fucking way,” he said.
Reed held up a hand. “You went with Olivia.”
“Yeah, and he’d already forgotten my face.” Ryder frowned. “I want it to stay that way.”
“You can’t keep avoiding people because it’s easier,” Reed said.
“I don’t see why not,” Ryder said and stood to his full height. Reed might be the owner and leader, but Ryder was still the tallest of them. “Just because you were able to take out your demons doesn’t mean the rest of us have had that chance.”
Anger poured over him, and he pushed past Reed to the door. It was a cheap shot, and Ryder had actually already forgiven his brother for his misplaced trust in a woman leading to Ryder being tortured and scarred.
“Ryder,” Reed shouted.
He stopped at the door, his back still to Reed.
“What am I supposed to do?” Reed asked.
Ryder’s shoulders slumped forward as his own guilt kicked in. He didn’t want this. He didn’t want to carry the weight that anger caused. It wasn’t good for him, and it certainly wasn’t going to get him the girl in the end.
“I’ll go see him,” he said after a moment and glanced over his shoulder. “But I’m not making nice with the fucknut. He steps out of line, I’m going to find a new spot for his nose.”
Reed held up his hands. “Fair enough.”
Ryder sighed as he walked down the hall and down the stairs to the main training facility. Maybe he was finished in this business. He thought his hard edge would keep him in, but lately, all it seemed to do was slow him down. Several of the new men stopped to stare. He hated it. It was bad enough having a scar like that on his face, but knowing that everyone was looking just made it even worse. He glared at the men until they went back to their workout.
Outside, he felt a little better. The fall had brought cooler air, especially at night. He loved this time of year. Maybe that was what inspired him to break out his bike again. Ryder looked over at the shiny bike and shook his head. No, it hadn’t been the weather. Several falls had passed since he really wanted to ride. No, it had to be her. Everything seemed to lead back to her. Something about Irene inspired him to be the man that he was before.
He scrubbed a hand over his face and frowned as he touched the deep scar. The real question was if he could be the man he was before. That man had been more carefree, had taken people at their word and trusted. He wasn’t that man. As much as he tried, there were just some things he couldn’t get over.
“Wait up,” Cage called out to him. More and more, he was getting paired with his easy-going brother.
Ryder turned to look at him. Like always, Cage was the picture of perfection, not a hair out of place.
“You going to see Charlie?” Cage asked.
Ryder groaned. Great. Now they were sending him with a babysitter.
“Yeah,” he said.
“I’ll meet you there,” Cage said. “I don’t like everything that’s going on.”
Ryder frowned. “He sending you to babysit me?”
Cage shook his head. “Nope, just need something to keep my mind on.”
“That vet lady?” Ryder asked.
Cage sighed. “Damn woman,” he said. “Won’t give me the time of day. Keeps acting like I’m just out to get in her pants.”
Ryder raised a brow. “And you aren’t?”
“Well, yeah,” Cage said and grinned. “But she’s different. Not like the others.”
Ryder grabbed his helmet. “Well then, maybe you should quit trying to treat her like the others.”
He revved his bike, drowning out whatever he had to say next. Sometimes his little brother needed to pull his head out of his ass and buy a clue. He might have all the charm in the world, but that wasn’t going to work with this one.
* * *
Irene sighed. Business had picked up after Ryder left, and they had all been busy trying to get things out fast enough. She was glad to finally have a lull in customers, so she could straighten things up before closing.
The door chimed, and she groaned inwardly. Outward, she smiled and looked up. It didn’t last long though. As the smile slipped from her face, Irene felt her stomach lurch.
“What the fuck are you doing here, Todd?” Taylor said.
Irene was grateful. She couldn’t have said something, even if she tried. As she stared at him, blond hair and politician smile, all she saw were the years she had to endure the pain of not being near her family because of him.
“Language, Taylor.” Todd glared at her.
“I’ll show you some fucking language.” Taylor stepped forward, hands balled into fists.
Irene held up a hand to stop her.
“What do you want, Todd?” Irene asked. She could hear the weariness in her voice, and it bothered her that he still did that to her.
As if oblivious to the feelings in the room, Todd stepped in and walked around the dining room. Every sneer or eye roll only added fuel to her fire, but she pushed it down. None of that was going to get her anywhere with him.
He looked to her after a moment.
“So, I guess you did it,” he said, his tone bored.
“I did,” she said, ignoring her still fuming cousin.
“Doesn’t look very busy in here,” he said, looking around the place.
Her face flamed at the obvious insult, and she wondered if she could be arrested for just choking him out a little bit. Surely that couldn’t be that big a crime.
“Is there something you want?” Irene shook a little as she spoke to him. It still wasn’t easy to be so blunt with some people. Years of training from her parents to be a certain way didn’t go away overnight.
Todd narrowed his eyes. It was obvious he wasn’t thrilled with being talked to like that.
“I’m going to ask Mary Harper to marry me,” he said.
Her eyes went wide with shock. All through school he’d done nothing but talk badly about Mary.
“Good,” Taylor said near her. “Maybe you and Mary will take a flying fucking leap.”
“Now what did I say about language?” Todd stepped forward and poked his finger at Taylor, but she was ready.
“Oh, I don’t think so,” Taylor said and grabbed his finger and yanked back. Todd yelped in pain and buckled to the floor. “Don’t point your finger at me, you little douche, or I’ll rip it clean off, along with a couple other things.”
Irene winced.
Todd glared at Taylor from the floor. “I should call the police.”
“Go ahead.” Taylor leaned over him. “I’ll be happy to tell them how you put your hands on me, and I defended myself. You’re a long way from home, and the church isn’t going to protect you here.”
Irene stepped between the two before it escalated even more.
“At least one of you has some sense here to know her place,” he said to Irene.
Something snapped deep inside.
“I’m not the one on the floor,” Irene said as she looked down at him. “Get out.”
“What?” Todd stood and dusted himself off.
“You heard me. Get out,” she said and stepped forward. “I’m the owner. I told you to leave. Now get out, or I’m calling the police.”
Victoria stepped out from the backroom and glared at Todd. She moved toward Taylor and Irene.
For the first time, Todd took a step back. His face went red with rage.
“So, that’s how it is? You’ve been totally corrupted by the outside now,” he said. His lip curled as he spoke, and the more he did, the less she was able to see the person she had loved.
“I guess I have,” she said and took another step forward, each one pushing him closer and closer to the door.
“And to think, I was going to offer you another chance,” he said. A harsh laugh followed. His face twisted into pure hate as he made his way to the door. “Now I wouldn’t even have you do my wedding cake.”
“I don’t want another chance with you,” she laughed. “And I don’t think I should design your cake since the only thing I can think to put at the top is R-U-N.”
“You cunt,” he seethed.
Taylor and Victoria stepped up next to her.
“Ah-ah,” Taylor said, waggling her finger. “Language.”
Todd stared at them for a moment before storming out the door.
Irene stood, stunned for a moment as she watched him through the window.
“Well,” Taylor began. She clicked the lock in place. “I think that’s about enough of that.”
Irene walked over to a table nearby and sank into a chair. She really didn’t want to let him get to her, but he had. There was no question about it.
“You okay?” Victoria sat on the other side of her.
Irene looked at the younger girl. She really was very sweet. It was no surprise she was going to be a teacher in just a year.
“I’m fine,” Irene said.
Taylor plopped down into the chair across from her.
“You’re not,” she said firmly. Something metal slid across the table and hit her hands. “But you will be.”
“What’s this?” Irene picked up the tin.
“Whiskey.” Taylor grinned.
Irene gasped. “You aren’t even twenty-one yet.”
“’Kay, mom.” She rolled her eyes. “Couple months, and I will be. Just take a drink and you’ll feel a little better.”
Irene unscrewed the cap and put the flask to her mouth. The harsh smell of alcohol hit her, but she ignored the urge to put it down. It burned like fire as she swallowed a few large gulps.
It wasn’t like she hadn’t done shots before, but whiskey wasn’t something she was really familiar with. She coughed a little as she put the lid back on and handed it back.
Taylor grinned at her. “Better?”
Irene sighed and leaned back. She could already feel the effects and smiled.
“Ask me again in thirty minutes.” She grinned.
* * *
Ryder climbed off his bike when Cage pulled up behind him. He could tell Cage was still pissed about his remark, but his baby brother needed to grow the fuck up. He couldn’t spend the rest of his life chasing after that vet woman. Not that Ryder was one to talk.
He sighed.
“Find out where she volunteers at,” he grumbled.
“What?” Cage said when he got closer.
Ryder stared him down. “Woman like that is going to volunteer in her spare time,” he said. “Find out where and plan a meeting. Maybe if she sees you’re more than a walking dick, you might have a chance.”
“Hey!” Cage frowned.
Ryder snorted. “Whatever. We got shit to do.”
He turned to look at the bright yellow building in front of him. Big red letters that read PAWN were sprawled on the top of the building and clashed with the banana yellow.
His stomach twisted. Fuck, how he hated this place.
He hated Charlie Jones and his lying fucking face. Ryder didn’t even know what he was doing here other than to make Reed happy. When he’d come a year before with Olivia, it had been under duress. There hadn’t been another option, and, in the end, things had worked out well. Charlie hadn’t recognized him, and Olivia had gotten to Reed.
The loud doorbell went off as they walked through the door. The same old smell of armpit, tobacco and old things. It nearly choked him, but he breathed slowly through his mouth. Charlie stood at the counter.
“What can I do for you, boys?” he asked.
He really wasn’t anything special, just an average middle age man with thinning gray hair, beer gut and a stained t-shirt.
Ryder frowned.
“We’re looking for information,” he said. The faster he got the job done, the faster he could get out of there.
“Oh?” Charlie held out his hand.
They knew the drill. He didn’t start talking for less than one hundred. If he knew something, it was going to cost more.
Ryder slammed the bills on the glass counter.
“Lot of weird break-ins going on,” he said. “Vandalism and theft. This the Russians?”
Charlie's eyes widened. Ryder held his breath, hoping it was some other crazy reason than simple recognition.
“You’re the one that was with Olivia,” Charlie whispered. He nodded to Cage. “Who’s he?”
“Part of the team,” Ryder said and watched as Charlie pocketed the money. Apparently, there wasn’t such a thing as a family favor in his book.
Charlie shrugged when Ryder looked down at him. “Man’s got to eat.”
“You seem to be doing just fine,” Ryder said.
Charlie ignored his comment and leaned forward. Cage, likely feeling antsy, moved to stand beside him.
“It’s not Russians,” he said quietly. “I really don’t know who it is. These fellas seem to be from all over and from different groups. All motorcycle gangs but nothing to really tie it all in.”
“Is there a rally or something?” Cage asked.
Charlie shook his head. “Nothing. It’s like they all just showed up for fun.”
Ryder frowned. “But that doesn’t make sense.”
“That’s what I keep saying,” Charlie said with a shrug. As much as he didn’t want to agree with Charlie, there was something going on. “What’s even weirder, no one knows where they are going at night. It’s like they just ride off into the sun.”
Cage snorted. “Sounds like a metal song.”
Ryder shot him a look. This wasn’t funny. This was bad. Biker gangs could be some of the worst. Most didn’t care about women or children and had no problem leaving a path of death and destruction in their wake.
Ryder flipped out another hundred onto the counter and his card. “You call if you hear something?”
Charlie nodded and pocketed the wad. Ryder didn’t have much hope, but it was better than nothing.
They had nearly made it out the door when Charlie spoke up.
“You know, I remember you from that night.”
Ryder froze.
“I didn’t know that was going to happen,” he said. “She was such a crazy bitch, that Niki. Never much liked her.”
Ryder turned to look at him. He didn’t know what he was expecting, but it wasn’t that.
“What?” His voice was low, and he knew that if he spoke any louder, it might give away the emotion he was feeling.
“When she came in and told me about the shipment, I should have known something wasn’t right,” Charlie said.
Ryder stood and stared at the other man for a moment. He shook his head.
“We all should have known something wasn’t right,” Ryder said and turned to the door again.
Charlie gave a hollow laugh. “Well, if it makes you feel any better, I lost out on the deal.”
“How much?” Ryder asked without turning back.
“Ten K,” he said. “Make you feel better?”
Ryder turned and gave a small smile. “A little.”