“You know I don’t do sap.”
“I know, I know,” Kimber muttered. “I just like making you uncomfortable.”
“Only like a true best friend would,” I laughed.
Kimber hopped off the couch and ran the ice cream back to the freezer. “You want a drink?” she called.
“Nah, I’m not really into working with a raging headache tomorrow.”
Kimber strolled back into the living room. “You sure about that?”
“More than sure.” I was not into reliving working an eight hour shift hungover.
She sat back down and pulled a blanket over her lap. “So, we’re actually giving Kent a chance?”
“We?” I laughed.
“Hey,” she insisted. “Half the time, it feels like you’re right along with me dating Quinn, so it’s only fair that I’m all in on Kent.”
I huffed and folded my arms over my chest. “Yes, we’re giving Kent a chance, and right now, there aren’t any other guys in the chamber.”
“Did we date through all of the eligible men of Marion?”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Yes. At least, all of the good ones.”
“So, if Kent doesn’t work out then we scrape the bottom of the barrel, right?”
I cringed and patted her on the leg. “How about I call the shots on that one?”
Scraping the bottom of the barrel did not sound like a promising way to date.
“If you say so. I am the one who does actually have a pretty solid relationship.”
Kimber did have an amazing relationship, but she didn’t meet Quinn the way I was hoping to meet someone. Online dating was a crazy and hectic world that I don’t think Kimber really understood.
I barely understood it.
✽✽✽
Dyno
“I’ll get in touch with Brick in the morning.”
“You think he’s going to be able to help?” I asked.
Quinn nodded. “He’s the only person I can think of who might be able to point us in the right direction.”
We were scratching our heads trying to figure out who had called Quinn last night. Though we had unanimously decided whoever the Rolling Devils had made a deal with had called, that was all we had figured out.
Zephyr cleared his throat. “I’ve got some connections in Wisconsin and Illinois that I’ll talk to. Not sure they’ll go anywhere, but it won’t hurt to check them out.”
Quinn nodded his agreement. “These guys could be from anywhere. Right now, if you know of anyone who could help us out, contact them. Even if we can’t figure out who it is, maybe these guys will get wind that we’re looking for them and come to the surface.”
“Do we think these guys knew that the Rolling Devils had Kimber and Petra picked out before?” I asked.
Last night, when I was lying in bed, I had meticulously gone over every person who had been involved in the Rolling Devils fiasco. Quinn didn’t want to tell Kimber about what was going on, but for all we know, she might be in danger again.
Quinn shrugged. “It’s possible. I want someone on each of them until we get this figured out.”
“Am I bringing Petra back to the clubhouse?” Rhino asked.
“You think you can keep her safe at her house?” I questioned.
Rhino shrugged. “She lives in a tiny house with a cat. I think if we bring her here, we are going to have to bring the damn cat with.”
“For her safety, I think it will be best to bring her here. I was going to wait until the weekend to buy furniture, but once Kimber gets out of work tomorrow, we’ll buy whatever we can. We need to get bedrooms done as soon as possible.” Quinn nodded to me. “You think you can kick this shit into high gear and have at least a couple rooms ready to be moved into tomorrow?”
“You just want them livable, right? I can have all walls mudded, doors, and power to at least five rooms tomorrow night. They aren’t going to be pretty, though.” Paint was a few days off, but they would be more than ready for someone to move into them.
Quinn nodded. “Yeah. We’re going to stick Petra in one and then Kimber and I will be in another.”
“You don’t think it’s safe at your place?” Zephyr asked.
Quinn shook his head. “I’ll feel a hell of a lot safer with you guys around me than at home. Kimber will probably throw a fit and want to know what is going on, but she’ll just have to deal with it and whatever information I give her.”
Point tapped his finger on the table. “Maybe she might know something about the guys who were buying her.”
Core grunted. “If I didn’t know who the guys were, then how the hell would she know?”
Rhino shrugged. “You say the Rolling Devils hated you. Maybe they liked Kimber and somehow let it slip about who the guys were.”
“That’s bullshit,” Core spat. “I was the only one who had contact with Kimber. There is no way she would know who the guys are. Telling her about what is happening could possibly put her into danger again.”
Quinn slowing tilted his head and glared at Core. “You telling me what I should do with my ol’ lady?”
Our illustrious leader had told me Kimber had fought for Core to be a part of the Kings of Vengeance, and while I knew she only stepped up for Core because he had helped keep her safe, that didn’t mean Quinn didn’t have a slight chip on his shoulder when it came to Core because he wasn’t the one to keep Kimber safe.
“I never said that, Quinn. I’m just trying to think of a way to keep everyone safe.” Core fingered the collar of his shirt. “I was just thinking out loud,” he added defensively.
“Right,” Quinn drawled. Quinn sat back in his chair and sighed. “I don’t know what the hell is going on right now, Core, and honestly, I don’t need your shit of acting like you know what’s best.”
Core held up his hands. “I know, Quinn. I was just trying to help.”
I could see how Core got on the wrong side of the Rolling Devils. The guy was harmless in my eyes, but he didn’t know when to keep his fucking mouth shut.
Quinn ran his fingers through his hair. “That’s it for tonight. I’m headed home to Kimber. We’ll stay in the apartment tonight, but come tomorrow, everyone will be here.” Quinn spoke to Rhino. “Lord knows how Petra is going to react to all of this, but try not to make it seem like you are kidnapping her. We don’t need chick drama on top of all of this.”
Rhino nodded. “I don’t think Petra will be a problem.”
Quinn stood up and looked around at us. “We need to figure this shit out as soon as possible. I don’t like having our asses in a sling and not knowing who’s holding the strings.” He pulled his keys out of his pocket and nodded to me. “Walk with me to my bike.”
I followed Quinn out of the clubhouse and over to his bike. “What’s up, brother?”
“What’s your take on all of this?” He threw his leg over the bike and rested his hands on the handlebars.
“I think we’ll find whoever these guys are and work things out. I’m hoping the guys have a bit of brains upstairs and will realize shit happened and there wasn’t anything else we could have done.”
Quinn dropped his chin to his chest. “That’s what I’m hoping for too.”
“But we’re prepared for the worst.”
Quinn raised his head. “And that is why you’re my VP.” Quinn started the bike and revved the engine. “Keep an eye out until I get back in the morning.”
I nodded and watched Quinn ride out of the parking lot. I kept my eyes on the road until his taillights disappeared. I turned to head back into the clubhouse, but headlights came into view.
A tan Corolla drove by the clubhouse. The tinted black windows prevented me from seeing the driver, and music bumped softly from the car. I watched it ‘til it turned down Frame Street and stayed outside until I didn’t hear the music anymore.
I ducked back into the clubhouse, all thought of the tan car gone from my mind.
At least, for now.
✽�
�✽
Chapter Eight
Another one…
Fancy
“Fancy!”
I rolled over and looked at the clock.
“Fancy! Open up!”
“Sweet Jesus, Kimber,” I growled. “It’s not even seven!” I hollered.
“I don’t care. Open up the damn door and turn on the news!”
I grumbled about the paper thin walls of my apartment and rolled out of bed. “Don’t you have a key?” I pulled on a pair of shorts and stomped to the front door.
Kimber had her arm raised to pound on the door. “I couldn’t find the key.” She pushed past me and beelined straight to the TV.
“It’s on your car keys.” I shut the door and turned the lock.
Kimber waved her hand at me. “I didn’t have time to look. I was watching the news, and I had to come over as soon as I saw it.”
“Saw what?” I plopped down on the couch and closed my eyes. “All I want to see right now are the backs of my eyelids.”
Kimber dropped down next to me and slapped my knee. “Open your damn eyes, woman. It’s coming on.”
“Good God, Kimber. Do you think you can bring it down a notch?” I cracked open my eyes and watched a news anchor fill the screen.
“And in breaking news, the body of another unidentified woman has been found.”
My eyes opened wide, and I sat up straight.
“Less than an hour ago, a call came into the Marion Police department for a possible dead body in an empty parking lot on Frame Street. We have a news crew on the way to the scene, and once we know more, we’ll be updating everyone.”
“Another one?” I gasped. “How can that be?”
Kimber muted the TV and tossed the remote on the couch. “Girl, I don’t know, but this shit is freaking me out.”
“Have they been able to identify any of the girls?” I was trying to keep up with everything that was going on with the bodies, but I knew Kimber was immersed in it all.
“They haven’t said anything yet. It’s been seven days since they found the first girl, and they aren’t saying anything.”
“Well,” I sighed. “It’s pretty damn hard to deny that they aren’t related at all.”
“I think that’s why Quinn is wanting me to move to the clubhouse until all of this gets figured out.”
My jaw dropped, and I gasped. “What? You’re moving to the clubhouse? That place is a hell hole, Kimber. You can’t possibly live there.”
She laughed and shook her head. “You haven’t been there in a week, Fancy. Dyno and the guys have all of the walls and drywall up, and Quinn and I are going furniture shopping after work tonight.”
“I don’t get why you’re moving there.” I loved having my best friend just down the hallway.
“Quinn didn’t really elaborate on it much. He just said with the club building and getting the construction company off the ground that he is going to be there a lot so it made sense for me to stay there for a while.”
“Kimber.”
“I know, I know,” she said flustered. “It doesn’t make sense. I have a feeling something else going on. I don’t know if Quinn is lowkey concerned about these women being found dead or what.”
“But when did he mention you moving to the clubhouse?” I really doubted Quinn was awake at the buttcrack of dawn to watch the news with Kimber.
“Last night.”
“Last night we didn’t know that there was a third girl murdered, Kimber. He’s not worried about that.”
There was something else going on. I knew Quinn was super cautious when it came to Kimber since she was kidnapped, but suddenly deciding she needed to move to the clubhouse was strange.
“I know. I’m going to figure out what it is, but I knew not to press him about it last night.”
Quinn was showing extreme signs of being an alpha biker who thought he knew best. That would never work for me. “Girl, you are a sucker when it comes to that man.”
“I am not,” she insisted. “I just know how to read him, and last night was not the time to press him. Besides, if I’m tucked away in the clubhouse, I can try to figure out what exactly is going on.”
“You gonna Sherlock Holmes this shit without me?”
Kimber glanced at me. “You would have to come to the clubhouse and see Dyno if you want to figure this out with me.”
I scoffed. “Pfft, girl, I don’t have to worry about Dyno.”
“Is that so?”
That was most definitely so. The clubhouse was big, even if it was damn rough around the edges. I could be there without having to see Dyno. “I don’t even know why you brought that asshole up.”
“Because I find it odd how he ruffles your feathers so much.”
I rolled my eyes. “Because he is just cocky and annoying, Kimber. If Quinn was the same way, he would piss me off.”
Kimber eyed me knowingly.
“What?” I grumbled.
She shook her head and stood. “Nothing.”
“What the hell is going on inside that head, Kimber?”
Kimber and I knew each other inside and out, but right now I had no idea what she was thinking.
“Just thinking about how much I should pack.”
I rolled my eyes. “Right.”
“So, tonight I’m going to buy furniture and what not with Quinn. Tomorrow night, you should come over to the clubhouse and then we can start figuring out what is going on.”
“You’re going to make me use one of my days off to come over to the clubhouse?” That was not exactly how I wanted to spend a night off. Don’t get me wrong, I loved spending time with Kimber, but the whole clubhouse scene I wasn’t too sure about after my last time there.
“You have a hot date with Kent?”
I shook my head. “No, I do not. He’s out of town, remember?”
Not that I hadn’t checked my phone twice today just to make sure I hadn’t missed a message from him. I couldn’t pinpoint why, but for some reason I felt like things were going to be different with Kent.
“Hmm, I guess he doesn’t quite stick in my mind yet.”
I pointed to the door. “Out, woman. I have two hours before I need to be to work, and I plan on sleeping for one of those hours.”
Kimber clicked her tongue and winked. “I plan on using that hour for something else entirely.”
“Have fun with that,” I called.
She strutted out the door and pulled it shut behind her.
An odd sensation settled over as I sat in my apartment alone.
I knew I was the only one there, but it felt like someone else was there or somehow watching me. I dashed to the door, twisted the lock, and hooked the chain.
The feeling didn’t disappear, and I spun around to my windows on the far wall. The curtains were wide open, and the early morning sun was streaming in. The windows faced another apartment building across the street.
I stalked to the window and pulled the curtains shut.
“Pull it together, Fancy,” I whispered. The news of another girl being found was messing with my head. Thinking someone was watching me was insane. “No one is watching you.”
I lived on the fourth floor of the building, and there was no way someone could see into my apartment. Damn Kimber and all her talk about the murders.
I flopped back into bed and pulled the covers over my head. Nobody was watching me, and nothing was going to happen to me. At least, that was what I told myself as I fell back asleep.
I couldn’t have been more wrong, though.
✽✽✽
Chapter Nine
She brought the cat…
Dyno
“We were only able to get six mattresses today. The rest will be delivered on Monday.”
I closed the tailgate of the truck and leaned against it. “Six is pretty good. Kimber and Petra will each have a bed and then the rest of the guys will have to duke it out over them. Speaking of Petra,” I laughed.
“What?” Q
uinn asked.
“Well, she’s here, but she isn’t exactly happy about it.” I cleared my throat and tried not to smile. “She also brought her cat.”
“You’re shitting me.”
I shook my head. “Nah, brother. Told Rhino the only way she was going to come stay at the clubhouse is if Oscar could come with her.”
“The cat’s name is Oscar?”
I nodded and couldn’t hold back my smile.
Quinn shook his head and cursed under his breath. “Trying to start a fucking MC here, not an animal shelter.”
I knew Quinn wasn’t going to be happy about the cat, but at least it was only one cat and not ten. “It’s a cat, Q. Hopefully, she’ll just keep the damn thing in her room and we won’t even see it.”
“Quinn,” Kimber called from the open door of the clubhouse. “You have to come see this cat! He is the cutest thing ever. He’s playing with the shoelaces of your boots.”
Quinn glared at me. “What were you saying about the damn thing staying in her room?”
I chuckled and held up my hands. “Maybe I was wrong.”
“Leave the damn cat alone, Kimber, and get your ass back in the truck,” Quinn called.
“What? Why?” Kimber whined.
“Dinner and then we’re going to buy a TV.”
Kimber disappeared into the clubhouse then reappeared with her purse in hand. “Don’t see why we have to do that right now. I wanted to play with Oscar.”
“You don’t see why you need to go eat dinner now?” I laughed. It was half past seven. “Most people tend to need to eat.”
Kimber flipped me off. “I meant I don’t know why I need to come along to buy a TV. Quinn is just going to buy the biggest one he can find.”
Quinn grabbed her around the waist and pressed a kiss to the side of her head. “You’re not completely wrong, babe.”
She rolled her eyes and pulled her keys out of her purse. “You’re driving.”
“Babe,” Quinn laughed. “If I’m buying the biggest TV they have, we’re not going to be able to take your car.” Quinn pulled the truck keys out of his pocket. “Hop in, beautiful. I get the biggest TV, and then, I’ll buy you the biggest burger they have when we go to dinner.”
Lean Into It (Kings of Vengeance MC Book 2) Page 5
