“You really don’t like following the rules, do you?”
I stopped wiping the bar and turned to Jasmin, pulled from my thoughts. “What?”
She sighed, twisting her red pouty lips. “Look, this has got to stop, Melody. We have rules for a reason. They protect our place and keep us strong.”
“Why don’t you enlighten me.”
“To the outside world, the women who live with bikers are stupid, drug-fueled whores who like getting beat up and used. They think we don’t get to sit at the table and know about business, and, yeah, there are clubs out there just like that, but not here.”
“What are you saying, Jasmin? I know this.”
“Old Ladies don’t work the bar because we have a place beside our men. We have careers and support the legal funds coming through the door. We take care of our bikers and we support them. Hell, we like it loud and rowdy, rough and hard, but we’re homemakers, too, business women. Honeys haven’t earned that. They haven’t earned the protection of the club or the respect of being an Old Lady. Most of them? They’re drifters. How many have you seen come and go, even in the short time you’ve been here?”
I thought back and shrugged. “About three. Janet and Lana have been here the longest, since I’ve been here.”
“Exactly. Jack took you out of there, gave you position. And then you spit in his face, wearing his name and working like some in-and-out chick for the club. He’s an officer, he can’t afford that sort of play.”
“Wouldn’t that match what you want?” I asked her. From the beginning, Jasmin and Samuel had made it clear they wanted us gone. I didn’t trust her switch, even if the words rung true.
Jasmin sighed and sat down on a stool. When she flicked her hair over her shoulder, her pensive look took me aback. I didn’t associate Jasmin with anything deeper than what color she liked on her nails. Now, I saw a different side of her.
“I’m not here to help you, Melody. I’m here because I am the First Lady. You’re a cancer in our organization, and so is Jack. You threaten my girls because you know our rules and flaunt them when it’s convenient for you. We take pride in the fact we don’t work the bar, that we are considered above menial labor. You need shit to do with your time, get a job, or ask to help the others. Jack reminds my man of his pain every day. He has to look at the child who shielded the man who took his father away. To Samuel, Jack might as well have shanked his father.”
“That wasn’t Jack’s fault. He wasn’t the one to snitch, and you guys hold it over his head.”
“Wouldn’t you? If it was your father, what would you do? I’m going to protect my club, my man, and my girls. That means getting rid of you, and I won’t apologize to you.”
She stood slowly and backed away. Too deep in my thoughts before, I hadn’t realized how quiet the clubhouse was. The televisions weren’t on, the men were gone, and the Honeys had ducked into the storage room. My heart thundered in my ears as I turned wild eyes on Jasmin.
“What have you done?”
“What I had to do.”
My world crumbled when she opened the clubhouse door. Blue and red lights swirled, dancing over the Diamond Eater stamp on the walls. Two men in suits, one a tawny color and the other navy blue, walked into the room. I’d seen enough detectives in my life and I knew who’d they come for. She’d turned me in. While the men were away on business, she’d opened the club to the very example of the system DE ran from.
“You bitch,” I raged, but it didn’t matter. No one helped me as the detective gripped my arms. I cried as she watched them cuff me, the cool metal links cutting into my skin, and hauled me away. Her smile tore me up as they put me in the backseat of a police car.
I didn’t even get a chance to say goodbye.
“Where were you the night of September twentieth?”
“I already told you. I was cruising Felthill testing myself. It’s been hard getting off the horse, and I was so tempted to go back. I needed to know I was stronger, that I could resist it, but at the same time, I didn’t think I could survive without another hit. Where is my lawyer?” I asked.
Goose bumps raced down my arms in the frigid room. The cold metal seat they’d plunked me in stole what warmth the clubhouse had given me. At least they’d removed my cuffs, but that was of small consolation. Nothing more than a walk-in closet with a table and three chairs, the interrogation room had been my home for the last ten hours. My head hurt and I could barely keep my eyes open. I hung my head to the side, forced my eyes to stay open.
“Come on, witnesses put you in the vicinity of a crime, and we know you saw something. You just happen to end up hiding away in some biker club where the potential suspect resides?”
My fingers twitched, but I didn’t let any reaction show on my face. How would they have a suspect at the club? Jack had left no evidence behind, and no one saw me run into that building. Tony hadn’t even been able to find me, and he would never have talked to the cops. And even if he’d been tempted, Jack took care of that problem long before the cops came.
Jasmin.
That bitch had done more than turn me in. She’d given them a direction to go after Jack, too. I bit the inside of my cheek until I tasted blood. The metallic tang washed over my taste buds and centered me. I could deal with pain, I knew it intimately. They could put me in jail, take away my rights, and throw away the key, but I’d never give them Jack. Never.
“You know why I ended up at that club? Because there was a fucking hot guy who told me he could fuck me fifty shades to Sunday, and I took him up on the offer. I let him have me, on his bike, on the gravel next to it, and in his clubhouse later. I liked what he did to me so much I didn’t want to stay away. I’m a grown woman, I can do that. Where is that lawyer I asked for?”
“So you left your job, apartment, and life and didn’t look back? Over some dick?”
“Yeah. I told you already,” I said, showing my arms, “I was a drug addict for years. I’ve made some messed-up decisions in my life. Going home with a random biker isn’t really going to be a stretch, is it?”
“We have a witness who states you saw the murder, then went with the biker after he threatened your life. Just tell us what happened. If you don’t, we can’t protect you, and you can be charged as an accessory. Don’t do this to yourself. You beat drugs, and you can get through this, too. Are you afraid? No one can get you here. We’ll put you into police custody, just talk to us.”
I glared at the brown-eyed bastard who tried to play good cop. His dark suit jacket hung on the back of the seat he sat in, and he’d rolled up his white sleeves. Though his eyes were kind, I didn’t miss the calculation he tried to mask. His partner, the resident bad cop, stood against the wall glaring at me. Unfortunately, I’d been here before—in the system, caught in a dragnet, and released after my time off the streets. It never changed.
“This witness you say you have … how’d they see me ‘witness the crime’ without seeing it themselves? Smells like set-up to me.”
Bad cop, in his ill-fitting suit, stepped away from the wall. “I’ve had enough.” I jumped as he slammed his palms on the table in front of me. Then he reached to the side of the table and picked up some manila folders.
“Melody Renee Hughes, three counts Class 1 Felony possession of a controlled substance, one count of solicitation, and another for loitering. Charges were reduced in court due to insufficient evidence. You got out on account of technicalities, you and I both know it. It also means you are accustomed to lying to the police. Based on witness testimony, we are going to charge you with murder if you don’t tell us what happened. Do you know what that means for you?”
“It means you’re going to lose your case, and I’m going to sue the state of Illinois as soon as I walk out of jail. You have nothing because I didn’t see anything. I told you where I was, what I was doing, and I have nothing else for you. Go back to your snitch and see what they really saw.”
My body shook but I held my head high. T
hey weren’t going to beat me. Finally, someone was going to fight for Jack. He’d had enough hell, and despite the way we’d been the last week, I knew the truth. Jack held on to pain so deep he couldn’t break free of it. I wasn’t going to be the final nail in his coffin.
“I would like to speak to a lawyer,” I said.
“You’ll get a lawyer when we are through talking.”
“She’ll get one now, and I’m going to file due to civil rights violations, as my client was denied her attorney upon asking for one.”
If I hadn’t been so tired, or sick with worry, I’d have fallen out of my chair. Lana stood tall in a pewter skirt suit with a white silk blouse. Her taupe heels were a demure three inches compared to her normal attire, and she had her auburn hair pulled back in bun at the nape of her neck. I’d never seen her makeup so light and beautiful.
“Ms. Hughes, you and I will speak, but first, gentleman, I need you to clear the room so I can speak with my client.”
“This isn’t over,” Bad Cop said as they cleared out.
Lana stopped them at the door. “Oh, I believe it is.”
As the door shut behind her, she shrugged. “I like the club atmosphere, but it’s not my day job. You can close your mouth now.”
“How—”
She sat across from me and placed her briefcase on the table. When she glanced back up at me, I saw the tears in her eyes, and my heart ached for her.
“You love him,” I stated. Her faint nod was answer enough. “I’m sorry.”
“When Jasmin told the girls to take cover, I knew something was up. I headed out the back and saw the police. I couldn’t stop anything from happening, but I can get you out of here.”
I hesitated to reach out to her, but as one tear fell to the table, I reached for her hand. “I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.”
“I know, and that’s why I’m here. I hate you. God, I hate you, for being what he needed. But I love him more. And I know I only hate you because I wish I could be you. After this, I’m going to leave the club, I can’t stay there and watch how he looks at you. But if he ever needs a good lawyer …” She let the rest trail off.
“I’ll make sure he has you,” I whispered.
“They don’t have a case, besides what Jasmin said. And her witness statement is anonymous. Without her there to testify, they don’t have anything. How much did you tell them before I could get in to see you?”
“I told them I was out there to test myself, since they already knew about my drug use, but then I met a biker I couldn’t say no to.”
“Did you describe him, or mention Jack’s name?”
“Of course not. I asked for a lawyer three times, though.”
“Good to know, and I can get the footage pulled. But I’d rather use the threat of it to make this go away, you understand?”
“Whatever you need to do to make sure he’s safe.”
“Then I’ll get with the contacts here in the department and make sure these guys are on ice.”
“Where do I go now?” I asked.
She frowned and sighed, closing her eyes. “You don’t know, do you? Of course you don’t, you’ve been in here. Things have changed, Melody.”
I gripped her hand tighter. “Is Jack okay?”
“Let me get you out of here first.”
20
Jack
“The Prospect hasn’t called in yet?” I asked, watching Samuel. He was a bit jumpy, and I didn’t fucking like it. His gaze darted from side to side as we waited to get confirmation of the money transfer and the location of the guns drop.
“Not yet or I would have told you, wouldn’t I?” Samuel bit out.
“We’ve been out here for two hours, Samuel. You’ve got to think that’s odd. Think the Prospect botched it?” Rex asked.
“If he did, that would reflect badly on you since you vouched for him, Rex,” Sloan returned.
“Enough, we need to know where to move. If things have gone south, we can believe they’ll be heading to our location next. We need to clear out of here as quickly as possible and make sure we’re clean.” I directed. “Rex, call in to—”
“No, we are going nowhere. This isn’t your operation, Jack, it’s mine. We stay here until I get fucking word. Ain’t no one at the club worth worrying about but some fucking women,” Samuel said.
“My Old Lady is there,” Sloan said, which surprised the fuck out of me.
“So is mine. Hell, most of our girls are there. They no one?”
“Jack, don’t start some shit. You’ve been chomping at the bit lately, bucking at me, and that stops today. You want to remain an officer, you shape up, or you’re out.”
I bit off my reply when my phone vibrated in my pocket. I pressed the silence button, only to have it go off again after a few seconds. Rex lifted his brows at me, and I shrugged as I pulled the phone out of my pocket.
“Lana,” I mouthed. He rolled his eyes, but I looked at the message.
COPS
“Cops at the clubhouse.”
Everyone turned in disbelief, except Samuel.
“Lana texted me. Hold on.”
I dialed the number quickly, and Lana answered on the first ring.
“What is—”
“Put me on speakerphone.”
“Lana, I don’t have time—”
“Dammit, neither do I. Put me on speakerphone so I can help you.”
I did as she instructed. “What is wrong, Lana?”
“Jasmin called the cops and brought them in to pick up Melody. They’ve taken her, and I’m heading to my office now to get myself put on her case. They said they got a witness statement that put her at the scene of the murder you committed. I don’t know what’s going on, but something doesn’t smell right. Who’d tell on club business like that? Does Samuel know his girl is a snitch?”
“Do you, Samuel?” I asked.
“Oh my God, you had me on speaker. Jack, no. She must be screwing you, Pres. I—”
I hung up on her convincing performance, clearing her of outward help. It wouldn’t matter, though. After tonight, there would be no more Samuel, or Jasmin.
“You knew about this?” Rex asked.
Samuel got off his bike and spit. “I made the decision to get that bitch out of here. She’s fucking with the club, and Jack has been letting her.”
“So you called the cops on your own club? The same bullshit you punished Jack for?” Sloan asked. “You actually called them?”
“Sloan, you knew I had to do something.”
“We don’t bring the cops in to handle our shit. I was prepared to bury him out here, on your word. You lied to me.”
“The fuck you talking about, Sloan?” Rex asked.
Sloan laughed sarcastically. “This fucker had me put a hit on Jack. Says he’s trying to send Samuel to jail and fucking with things. Tonight was to prove that to me. Want to know why we are all out here? Because the cops were going to bust in on a raid. Why? Because Jack called them in, working as a snitch, like his dad. Isn’t that what you told me, Samuel?”
What in the flying fuck had happened? Sloan had been angling for President chair for a while, but this was something different. No way would Sloan make President. Only thing I could gather was he was more for the club than Samuel had expected.
His fucking loss.
I gripped the handlebars on my bike and stood slowly. “Rex, remind me of the bylaws for club members who bring in law enforcement on fellow bikers, because I seem to have forgotten.”
“Immediate expulsion.”
“And for a Diamond Eater, what does that mean?”
“Death.”
“I’m saving the club, just like I said I would,” Samuel argued.
“No, you’re using it for your own fucking revenge,” Sloan argued. “I don’t want the presidency. I didn’t see it before, and that means I’m not good for the seat. I’m going to step down, in fact, from position of officer.”
“No, you won�
��t. We have half the members here right now. Well, over half if we count the guys on road duty. Someone get them on a line,” Rex called.
I got off my bike and made the most important walk I’d ever done in my life. Samuel, the little shit he was, didn’t run when I grabbed him. He babbled and roared but got to his knees.
“We’re here,” Lance said.
“Vote call. Samuel is to be removed as President. How many say aye?”
A flood of ayes filled the air, and my heart felt lighter than it had in years.
“Vote call. Jack is to be instated as President. How many say aye?”
Again, the ayes rang, and I gripped Samuel harder.
“My Vice President should be Rex, Treasurer, Gary, Sergeant of Arms, Lance, and Road Captain, Sloan. How many say aye?” I asked.
The only no I heard was Sloan’s.
“I don’t trust myself,” he said when I looked at him.
“Then you’ll earn our trust. As Road Captain, you work with Lance. He will watch you, keep you in line. You don’t deserve to lose your rank for following your leader, you deserve to do so because you didn’t question it when you did. Will you make that same mistake again?”
“No,” he said, bowing his head.
“Then your single no doesn’t matter. The officers are appointed. First matter of business, Samuel is taken care of tonight. Someone find his Old Lady to join him.”
The drive back to the clubhouse stretched for hours instead of thirty minutes, even at my top speeds. We couldn’t go directly back, not after what we’d done, and the open air cleared my head. After all he’d done, the end he deserved, it still rocked me to the core to send my one-time best friend screaming to his grave. Out in that open wasteland he was buried, next to his Old Lady. At least, in the end, I gave him that. I didn’t know if I’d have the same honor.
Going Under Page 14
