Chapter 19
Cara and Joe Hernandez leaned against her black Charger in the parking lot of the Rave, waiting for their mark to arrive. The clubs doors opened promptly at eight every evening, even on Sundays. A quick glance at her watch told her that someone should be arriving soon. Hernandez stood beside her, arms crossed over his chest, looking pretty damned pleased with himself. Her partner had to know exactly what this interrogation would cost her.
Kane would no doubt have her head. Cara had made a brief call to him, informing him that she would be working late. At the time, she had no idea that the person Joe had in mind was Draven, the Blood ‘n’ Rave’s elusive owner.
Yep, she would be dead meat.
The minute they left the club Draven would no doubt put a call in to Kane, asking him what the hell gives. Cara and Kane both used the Rave for donors. It was what Draven had given them, a place of anonymity to feed, women to provide that nourishment. Cara hoped to put in a request for male donors one day. Why should the men have all the enjoyment? Her sly smile at the thought was hard to contain. She doubted Kane would ever allow the petition. The look on his face, knowing she had asked, would be worth the trouble though. Cara needed to keep Kane on his toes, keep him from getting complacent in their relationship.
Now? She’d be lucky to live through the night. Figuratively of course. Cara knew Kane would never raise a hand to her in harm. But she’d certainly consider herself lucky if he spoke to her at all. Not to mention what the rest of the Sons would think.
Yep, dead meat.
The rumble of a Harley’s V-twin caught her attention, telling her of someone’s arrival, long before she caught sight of the black bike, red flames gracing the gas tank, pulling into the paved parking area. Cara recognized the barkeep, even before he removed his helmet. They hadn’t escaped his notice as his gaze swung to them briefly. Stepping over the bike, he tucked his skullcap under his arm as he removed a set of keys from his pocket and headed toward the side door of the building. Joe pushed off the car first, and walked at a clipped pace, no doubt hoping to head Draven off before he entered the building and forced them to knock, and possibly not gain an audience with him.
“Draven,” he said, securing the man’s attention.
Draven paused, booted foot between the door and the frame to keep it from closing. He barely gave her partner a glance before his gaze landed on Cara. “What the hell you want, copper?” he addressed Joe.
As Cara came to stand beside her partner, Draven’s lips turned down, obviously pissed to see her in the company of the Sheriff’s Office. Cara hadn’t exactly advertised the fact she was back on the job. Word would soon spread.
Joe broke the tension by clearing his throat and gaining Draven’s attention. “Just a few questions for you, if you have time.”
Draven shrugged, opened the door wide and indicated with his hand for them to proceed him into the backroom. The barkeep followed them through the side door and flipped the switch, flooding the room with light. Running his hand through his longish dark hair, he then set the skull cap on an old vinyl and steel high top chair sitting beside the exit.
Cara had never been in this part of the club before, never really had a reason to. Since Kane and some of the other Sons frequently used Draven’s upstairs office, she supposed he needed his own place to hang. The office upstairs was far more plush. A plaid orange and brown sofa bed sat along the back wall with a matching ottoman in the center of the small room. A tweed, brown chair that looked as if it had seen better days, graced the other wall. A scarred end table sat to one side with what looked like last night’s empty glasses.
A dark walnut, pantry-style cabinet took up the entire wall across from the sofa bed, possibly containing extra bottles of liquor, or whatever might spill over from the storeroom behind the bar that Cara knew to be on the other side of the interior door facing them. The only other piece of furniture gracing the tiny backroom was a rolltop desk, with a worn black leather desk chair. The top had been left in the up position, papers and whatnot strewn in a haphazard fashion. If this was Draven’s private space, it didn’t appear as if he concerned himself with neatness.
Draven placed one black booted foot on the steel round of the yellow vinyl chair by the door and crossed his arms over his knee as he leaned in and gave them his attention. “What sort of questions? Ones that I might need a lawyer for?”
“You have a reason to need one, Draven?” Joe didn’t hide the smirk on his face. He baited the barkeep.
“Why don’t you ask your questions, copper … then be on your way. I have a business to open.”
Draven’s gaze went back to Cara, making her uneasy. She was pretty sure Draven was angry with her for not giving him a heads-up about their little visit, when in truth, she hadn’t known herself.
“You know anything about drugs being dealt from your nightclub?”
Draven’s expression remained unchanged, even though Cara knew for a fact Draven personally sold X to some of his customers. “Nope.”
“You sure about that?” Joe rubbed his chin between forefinger and thumb. “I have it on pretty good word that you might.”
Again, Draven’s gaze went to Cara before landing back on Joe. “I say your source is fucking lying. You got no proof. And unless you provide it, hit the door.”
Great, now Draven thought she was the snitch. This couldn’t be going worse for her at the moment. And yet, she had no clue how to fix it. If she didn’t say something soon, she’d be lucky if Kane ever talked to her again.
“Draven,” Cara said, hoping her eyes conveyed what her mouth could not, “no one mentioned your name. We need you to keep an eye on things, and if you see anything, promise you’ll call one of us.”
Cara handed Draven her business card, which he took. Joe, on the other hand, nearly murdered her with his dark look. No doubt unhappy that she had all but excused the barkeep’s involvement. The “damned if you do and damned if you don’t phrase” stared her in the face. No doubt about it, either way she’d be damned for her association with the case.
Draven looked at her business card, then tapped it on his raised knee. “I’ll be sure to do that. Now if you don’t mind—”
“Look,” Joe said, “my partner may excuse away your part in this, but I don’t. Honestly, Draven, I think you’re in this up to your neck. I won’t go as far as saying that you are personally dealing the X from your club, but someone is and I think you know who that person is.”
“As I said earlier, show me the proof. Now unless you have a warrant to search the place, I’d say it’s time for you to get the fuck off my property.”
“We’ll be back. I’m far from done.” Joe squared his shoulders. “But just so you know, it’s not you I want to take down. You’re small time, Draven. I could care less what you do. I want the name of your supplier. You provide me with that, and I’ll cut you a break.”
“Are you done?”
Joe smiled. “Think about what I said. We’ll show ourselves out.”
“You do that. Come back again and you best have a warrant.”
“You call that number on Brahnam’s card if you have a change of heart and want to talk.” He winked at Draven, whose scowl blackened. “But until you do, know that we’re watching your every step.”
Draven didn’t move a muscle as Cara exited the door behind Joe. Thanks to her partner’s closing statement, she’d be lucky if she were ever allowed in the front door of the Rave to feed. Cara shook her head as she followed Joe to her car. Shit just got complicated and Kane would no doubt let loose on her the moment she walked through the clubhouse door.
* * *
Kane paced the clubhouse. His gums ached with the need to unleash his checked anger. He wasn’t used to holding back. But where his mate was concerned, he needed all the self-control he could get at the moment.
What the hell was she thinking?
He knew her job meant nearly as much to her as he did, but she had just crossed the line. Maybe allowing her to go back to work had been a mistake from the beginning. Kane would have to tell the rest of the Sons, and certainly didn’t relish the idea, but first he needed to talk to his mate and see where the fuck her head was.
A car door slammed and her scent hit him long before the door opened. Kane thanked his good luck that the rest of his brethren weren’t in residence at the moment. He needed some alone time, and not for his usual reasons. If Cara didn’t quit her job following this major fuck-up, he’d walk into Sheriff Ducat’s office himself and hand the bastard his mate’s badge. If she stayed, no way in hell the rest of the Sons would forgive her. Cara messed with their lives. They couldn’t very well live without their donors, and Draven had the power to take that all away.
The door opened, and Cara walked through. His heart panged. He wanted nothing more than to go to her, wrap her in his protective arms to shield her from the oncoming shit-storm. If Kane knew about her actions, it wouldn’t be long before Kaleb did. His twin hadn’t liked Cara from the beginning, but seemed to be slowly softening where his mate was concerned. What a fucking mess she had just created.
Cara paused inside the doorway, her blue gaze landing on his. He saw genuine fear in the ocean-blue depths. At least she had the decency to feel bad for her ultimate betrayal to the club. They’d never trust her again and this time Kane couldn’t say that he blamed them.
Tears immediately spilled from her lashes. Kane opened his arms and she walked into his embrace. “I’m so sorry,” she said into the front of his tee.
Kane smoothed his hand down her back. Hell, he couldn’t even get rightly pissed at her when she turned on the waterworks. He kissed the top of her blonde head, then inhaled the scent he loved so much. He needed to figure out how best to handle this situation, with the least amount of damage for everyone. His biggest obstacle in this mess would be Kaleb, no two ways about it.
He gripped the sides of her head and tilted her gaze up. “You want to tell me what the hell happened so I can possibly help?”
Her lower lip quivered. She pulled it between her teeth as though trying to hold back more tears. “I never meant for this to happen. I thought I could handle it.”
“You should have come to me, mia bella.”
“I couldn’t, don’t you see?” Another tear fell from her lashes to mix with the others already wetting her cheeks “Joe would’ve spotted the fact I told you the minute we questioned Draven. It’s probably why he never told me who he wanted to question tonight until we were already there. And by then, I couldn’t so much as warn you.”
“Draven called.”
“I knew he would.”
“Look, I don’t approve of the drugs he deals from the nightclub. I’m not a big fan of the club drug. But other than the fact Draven provides us cover and manages all donors, I don’t give a rat’s ass what the man does in his spare time. You do understand, he can’t get busted for this, correct?”
She gave him a quick nod.
“If his club is closed down due to the drugs he runs through there, we’re all fucked. I supposed we could find another place, someone else to watch over the donors … but it would be damn inconvenient and take more time than we have to spare. I’ll make sure the drugs disappear from the club. You get the heat off Draven’s back. Is that understood?”
Again she nodded. Kane leaned down and kissed her lips briefly, tasting the salt of her tears. When he pulled away, her pink tongue darted out and licked her full bottom lip. Damn if the sight didn’t stir his groin. It didn’t take much when it came to his mate. But right now wasn’t the time to get side-tracked. They needed a plan to placate Kaleb or they’d be looking for new digs before the sun rose. Kane had already lost too much when it came to the MC and being stripped of his pres patch. He didn’t think he could stand losing the rockers off the back of his cut as well.
“The first you got wind of this was tonight? When you went to question Draven?”
She shook her head, her lower lip quivering again.
“Jesus, Cara. When the hell did you hear about this and why didn’t you come to me?” Kane worked his jaw, trying to ease the tension. “You only started back to the Sheriff’s Office yesterday.”
She took a deep shuddering breath. “Yesterday Joe presented me with the case. Apparently the feds are looking into Draven because they think he can provide them with the bigger picture.”
“They want his supplier.”
Again, she nodded. “Draven isn’t the target, Kane. Maybe if we can get him to roll over, I can convince the feds to leave him out of it.”
“What if I bring you the supplier?”
“How?”
“You may not be able to get Draven talking, but I can.”
Her gaze widened. “Kane, these aren’t small time dealers. They think this leads back to the cartel.”
“The same cartel, no doubt, responsible for Ion’s death. I know. They run drugs up the west coast. I’m betting Draven gets his supplies from the Devils MC, who in turn gets it from the cartel.”
Cara swallowed, her tongue wetting her lips again. “I can’t let you do this. Those men killed your son. I can’t chance losing you too.”
“You aren’t going—”
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing, Brahnam?” came from the direction of the door as it bounced off the interior wall. Kaleb stormed in, his vampire features unleashed in his anger. “I ought to have your fucking head for this.”
“Hawk,” Kane warned.
“You stay the hell out of this, Viper. If you can’t control your mate, then someone else needs to.”
Kane placed himself between Cara and his pissed-off twin. His reflection mirrored in his brother’s obsidian gaze spoke of his own rising ire.
“Your anger will solve nothing, Hawk,” he said, barely holding himself in check. He needed Kaleb’s understanding, resorting to fists would gain them nothing.
“You knew about this?” Kaleb asked, one of his brow’s arching upward.
“No.” Kane let out a deep sigh. “I just found out moments ago the same way you did—Draven called me.”
Kaleb nodded in Cara’s direction. “And what do you plan to do to her?”
Kane growled. “I don’t plan to do anything to her, dear brother. And you will likewise keep your hands off my mate.”
“Then control her, damn it!” Kaleb bared his teeth. “Before she brings this fucking club down on all of our heads.”
Cara poked her head from around Kane’s biceps. “You’re an ass, Hawk. I’d never do anything to harm this club.”
Kaleb tilted his head back and laughed, one that didn’t reach his eyes. “You could have fooled me, bit—”
“Hawk,” he warned. “Watch yourself.”
Kane clenched his jaw and his hands. Nothing would give him more pleasure than making his brother eat his fist at the moment. But he needed Kaleb’s understanding and cooperation if they were to help both his mate and Draven. They needed a solid plan and he needed every member of the Sons with him if they were going to take on the cartel. Kane never got restitution for Ion. Maybe Cara had just handed him the perfect opportunity.
“Hear me out.”
“Yeah?” Kaleb scoffed. “Give me one good reason why I need to listen to anything your mate or you have to say when she is jeopardizing our way of nutrition? Even you aren’t that pussy-whipped, are you?”
“Do you seriously want me to beat your ass?” Kane had reached his breaking point. One more fucking comment…
“You let that bitch—” was all Kaleb got out of his mouth before his head snapped back from Kane’s fist connecting with it. Cara squealed as she jumped from around Kane and put herself between them.
Kaleb wiped the blood from his nose with the back of his hand, a grin splitting his face. “Glad to know you still have it in you, Viper. Now what the hell is this plan you’re talking about?”
Grayson and Anton walked into the clubhouse, both bikers looking at the stream of blood coming from Kaleb’s nose that had already started to slow.
“Looks like I’m always missing out on the fun,” Grayson chuckled. “What the hell? Hawk can’t watch his mouth around the ladies?”
“There has to be a lady—”
“I’m going to give you a serious beating, Hawk,” Kane growled.
“Okay, okay,” Kaleb raised his hands in surrender. “Not that I seriously think you can best me, brother, but I do think we have more serious issues to deal with.”
“Somebody want to fill me in?” Anton asked, pulling out a barstool.
Kaleb turned to Anton. “Call a church meeting, Blondy. Tomorrow night, here. Mandatory. I believe we have a couple of issues that need tabled.”
“You want to give me a heads-up?” Anton asked.
“Nope,” Kaleb replied. “You just get everyone here.”