Chapter Fifteen
Coop
I parked my motorcycle in the lot outside the clubhouse where several of my club brothers were stood around watching the fire rip through the building that was a second home to most if not all of us. A fire crew was busy trying to put out the flames, but it looked as if they were fighting a losing battle.
Luke and his father, Dean, came jogging to my side.
“What the fuck happened?” I said looking at the building in despair.
“Don’t know,” Luke said. “It had already started when I got here. “I called dad to make sure he wasn’t inside and he met me here.”
“Hunter was in there,” Dean said. “And a couple of the others. I think they all managed to get out in time. Hunter got burned though. It looked bad. Some of the boys took him to the hospital.
“Fuck! How the fuck did this happen?”
I ran a hand through my hair in frustration just as two FBI agents headed my way. Great, that was all I needed. They introduced themselves as Special Agent-in-Charge Graham Banks and Special Agent Paul Rees. I wasn’t in the mood to deal with the feds, especially considering the fact that they were baying for my blood.
“What can I do for you?” I asked in a clipped tone.
“You have any idea who started the fire?” Agent Banks asked.
The fact that he’d asked who had started the fire, not how it had got started was telling.
“The fuck should I know?” I said bitterly. “But you know we heard a little rumor on the grapevine that a certain drug dealer is after a little payback on the club so you might want to start there.”
“Bring us the evidence,” Agent Rees said, “And we’ll go and round him up.”
I glared at him. “I thought you were the fucking law. Why don’t you find the evidence?”
Dean put a hand on my arm. “It’s alright son,” he said. “No need to get het up.”
Dev, our club secretary came running over and handed me a note.
“What’s this?” I asked.
He frowned. “Just found it taped to my bike.”
I unfolded the note and read the contents out loud.
You fuck with us
We fuck you right back
But watch out, cause while the cat’s away…
“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” Luke asked.
Agent Banks reached for the note and when I handed it over to him, he gripped it in the very corner and studied it with pursed lips.
I frowned. While the cat’s away…
My eyes widened and bile rose in my throat.
“The fire is just a distraction,” I said. “It’s got to be.”
I pulled out my cell phone and dialed Faith’s number, my heart pounding against my ribcage. She picked up after a couple of rings.
“Hey, babe.”
I breathed a sigh of relief. “Hey. Where are you?”
“In your apartment. Why? Is everything okay? Did anyone get hurt?”
“Yeah, they’ve taken Hunter to the hospital. We’re not sure about anyone else yet. The fire’s still burning. Where’s Andrea.”
“She went home,” Faith said. Marcus offered to give her a lift.”
Luke was talking on his cell, but I met his gaze and frowned. “Are you sure that’s wise? We barely know this guy.”
“He’s a businessman and a client of hers,” Faith said. “I’m sure she’ll be fine with him. Let me know if you hear any more about Hunter, okay?”
“Will do. Love you.”
“I love you too.”
I disconnected the call and turned to watch the flames devour the building. Something about this entire situation wasn’t sitting right in my stomach. I turned to the FBI. Do we actually know what this Steele looks like?”
Agent Banks looked at me dubiously, as if I should already know.
“For fuck’s sake,” I spat. “You still think I’m working with him?” I glared at the agents in turn. “Even after this?” I said, nodding to the building.
Agent Rees pulled out his phone and pressed a few buttons before turning the screen to face me.
“This is Steele,” he said. “Though it’s just a nickname. His real name is Paul Kernick, but he goes by several aliases—that we know of.”
The sick feeling in my stomach returned tenfold as I stared at the image on the screen. “Is one of them Marcus White?”
The agent frowned. Nodded. “Yeah.”
“You’ve got to find Andrea Chase as quickly as possible,” I told him.
The agents glanced at each other briefly as Luke lowered the phone from his ear.
“What the fuck you talking about, Coop?” he asked.
I reached out and put a hand on his arm and lifted my eyes to meet his gaze. “She’s in trouble, Luke.”
As I lifted my phone again and dialed Ethan’s number, Luke let out an almighty roar.
“Fuuuck!”
The call to Ethan went to voicemail.