CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

For more than a week, AJ was interviewed and investigated regarding the two fires at both her properties. Accelerants were found in both fires, and they were deemed to be arson.

She was a nervous wreck—firstly because someone was apparently targeting her and secondly because the investigation was centered on her.

On Saturday morning, it was quiet at the clubhouse, and she and Undertaker were lying in bed.

Derek stared at the ceiling. “Cat found Holly a safe apartment right near the UNO. Classes start in a few weeks.”

“Do you think she’s ready?” AJ asked him.

He turned his head on the pillow. “Yeah, I do. Don’t you?”

She nodded. “More than ready, but I still think she’s hung up on you. I still think this is her safe place. She’ll probably resist leaving.”

“I’ve got someone lined up to look after her. He’ll do a good job.”

“Is he anywhere near her age?”

“Yeah. He’s one of my younger guys.”

“And what if she falls for him?”

“I already told him, hands off. He won’t touch her.”

She chuckled. “You underestimate the male-female dynamic. Temptation makes it all the more enticing if it’s forbidden.”

“Hmm. You may be right.”

“Maybe it would be good for her to have someone to transfer the attraction to. Is he a good guy?”

“Yeah. He’s a good guy.”

“Maybe you should remove that restriction.”

Derek huffed out a laugh. “We’ll see. If I think the boy’s been tortured over it enough, I may let him loose. But, for now, he stays on the leash.”

“I suppose you’re right. She needs time to spread her wings.”

“First, I’m always right. Second, there will be no wing spreading. I’m making sure he keeps close tabs on her.”

“Oh, Lord. That’s a disaster in the making.”

Derek laughed. “She’s vulnerable right now. Any jerk could try and take advantage of her. That ain’t happening. Not when Joker’s on the job. He won’t let anyone within ten feet of her.”

The sound of boots running down the hall carried to them, and Derek was instantly alert, his body going tense a split second before he was vaulting from the bed and yanking his jeans on.

There was a pounding on his door, and his name being called. He jerked it open. Bug was standing there, breathing hard. “It’s a raid. They’re coming through the gate.”

“Put a call into Richardson. Now!” Derek closed the door and looked over at AJ. “Quick, babe, get dressed.”

She sat up, her anxiety soaring her already frazzled nerves. “What’s going on?”

He pulled on his boots and shirt. “The police are about to raid the place. Get your clothes on! You’ve only got about thirty seconds. Hurry!”

She jumped out of bed and scrambled into her jeans, throwing one of his T-shirts on over her head when she couldn’t find hers.

He held his hand out. “Come on. I want to be downstairs when they come through the door.”

She took his hand, and they ran down the hall toward the stairs, him in boots and her in bare feet. The building vibrated as several blows from a battering ram echoed through it.

AJ and Derek were dashing down the steps when the door crashed open under the force.

“Police! Hands in the air.”

Derek stopped on the landing, stepped in front of AJ, and raised his hands. She did the same.

About a dozen officers in bulletproof vests stormed in.

There were only a few people in the clubhouse that morning, Holly having gone to stay with her sister Cat the night before. That left Mooch, Bug, Mama Ray, and the two of them. She was surprised to see Blood standing next to the bar with his hands up. He must have ridden up not long ago.

Two officers with guns drawn approached them and pulled Undertaker off the stairs, pushed him down on the floor, and searched him. He was cuffed and hauled to his feet.

“Derek Deschaine, you’re under arrest for arson,” one of the officers said. “Take him out to the squad and read him his rights.”

AJ’s mouth dropped open. “Arson? Of what?”

“The New Horizons Woman’s Center.”

“What?” She felt time slow as a roaring in her head began. She watched things happening as if in slow motion. They hauled Derek toward the door. He looked back at her.

“I had nothing to do with it, AJ. You know that.”

She nodded in stunned shock.

His eyes pinned Blood. “Take care of her.”

“I got her. Don’t worry,” Blood reassured him.

He gaze cut to Mooch. “You know what to do.”

“Yep. I’m on it.”

AJ couldn’t believe what she was seeing; the man she loved was being hauled away in handcuffs. They reached the door and then he was gone.

She and Mama Ray were herded against one side of the room, and the men were ordered face down on the floor. One of the officers said they had a warrant to search the place. People were coming and going through the door and more vehicles arrived. She wasn’t sure how much time had passed, but she’d stared at the floor in a daze trying to understand how this could be happening.

“Ms. Carter?” a voice that sounded deep and familiar asked in a stunned tone.

She peered up.

Detective Williams stood staring at her with a confused look on his face. “AJ? What are you doing here?”

“Joe? What’s going on? Why is Derek being arrested?”

“Derek? You know him?”

She nodded slowly.

Joe took a step back, his eyes sweeping over her and taking in the Evil Dead shirt she wore and her bare feet. “What the hell is going on here? Are you two in on this together?”

She blinked. “In on what?”

“The arson of your two buildings.”

“What are you talking about? Derek didn’t start those fires. This is crazy. You have the wrong man.”

He ran a hand over his jaw in frustration. “We’ve got evidence, AJ. Strong evidence that says we have the right man.”

She shook her head. She’d never believe that. Never. “No. That can’t be. Derek would never have anything to do with those fires.”

“How can you be so sure about that? And how the hell do you know him?”

“He brought a client for counseling.” It wasn’t the entire truth, but it was close enough for what he was asking.

“You have a reason for wanting someone to burn your building down? Did you hire him to do the dirty work?”

“What? No! I’ve been asked all these questions a million times. I didn’t have any motive to burn anything down.”

“Your being here puts a ton of suspicion back on you, AJ. You have to know that!”

“What are you even doing here, Joe? You don’t do arson cases. You’re homicide.”

“I’m here because I took a special interest in this case—because of my friendship with you. I wanted to be in on this arrest, maybe to make up for how we failed for you the last time. Now I’m wondering why the hell I bothered.”

“Joe, they’ve got the wrong guy. He didn’t do it. He was with me at the time of the fire.”

“Can you prove that?”

“Prove it? My word isn’t good enough anymore?”

“Considering where I found you, no.”

“Are you kidding me right now?”

“You’re standing in the clubhouse of the Evil Dead MC, AJ. Are you kidding me? So I’m asking again, what the hell are you doing here?”

She lifted her chin, not about to feel ashamed by anything. “That’s none of your business, Joe.”

His brows lifted. “None of my business? I thought we were friends. What the hell is going on here?”

She turned away. “Am I under arrest for something?”

“Not yet,” he bit back.

An officer approached and told him they’d finished their search and were wrapping it up.

“Find anything?” Joe snapped.

The officer shook his head.

“Thanks,” Joe said. When the man walked off, he turned back to AJ and moved in close, murmuring to her information about the MC that he probably could be thrown off the force for disclosing. Still he did it, apparently feeling the need to warn her of how dangerous these men could be.

With every incidence he reeled off, she felt the knot in her stomach grow larger until she thought she would be sick.