DNA, my one nemesis.
Especially when it belonged to fucking strangers.
Inwardly shuddering as I took a seat at the cane chair which squeaked under my weight, I glanced around the brothers. They were all squeezed inside here, because this place was not built for groups. The khaki walls had old-fashioned lights on them, hovering over the bed so it felt like you were under the spotlight when you were reading. The sheets and blankets were a kind of cream that I figured, once upon a time, had been white, making me doubly grateful for Indy and her place. Then, there was the sofa whose red and green stripes hid a multitude of sins.
At least, they would when three bikers weren’t squished onto it.
“What’s going on?” I asked, casting each of the men a look.
“Lodestar got a hit on a couple of Maverick’s searches,” Nyx explained.
I blinked. “Which searches?”
“Firstly, David.” He cut the rest of the council a look. “They all know what happened with Indy.”
Seldom did I ever feel nervous, but for Indy, I did. “It was self-defense,” I argued immediately, going with my gut because fuck, they looked grim.
Nyx waved a hand. “That isn’t an issue. Mav was looking into him for me, because I wanted to make sure there’d be no bite back. As it stands, he was a good candidate for just going off grid. Then Mav found out his uncle works for the sheriff’s office in Crooks’ County, down in Louisiana.”
“Shit,” I hissed under my breath.
“Exactly.” He scraped a hand over his chin. “Now, I could tell Indy what to do, but from experience, I’ve long since learned there’s no telling Indy shit. She’ll do what she wants and when—”
“Not with this,” I countered. “She’s scared.”
“Indy’s never scared,” Sin scoffed.
“She is. You give her too much credit,” I retorted, pissed on her behalf at his cavalier response. “She killed someone who was threatening her, threatening the MC. She did us a favor.”
“We know she did.” Nyx sighed. “Mav’s searches also confirmed that Tatána was the one who’d planted bugs and shit around the compound.”
“Christ.”
“Yeah. Lodestar found the cloud where the equipment was syncing, and she’s managed to delete it, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that we need to know if he shared what he learned with anyone.”
“I get that.”
“Good. So, what you need to get Indy to do is file a missing persons’ report. It’s already been, what, five days since the fucker died? She should have called in by now. We need to twist things around so that she looks like she’s in the clear.”
“I understand. When I get back, I’ll tell her.” Uneasy now, I asked, “Did the Feds ever get near the Fridge?”
“Not according to the alarms Maverick has in place,” Storm rasped, cracking his knuckles. “Speaking of, don’t clear the bath out until we know for sure the Feds don’t have any monitoring equipment on the compound. Last thing we need is our asses hauled in on first-degree murder charges.”
“Sure, I’ll leave it,” I confirmed, though my heart sank. That was going to be a fucker to clean up…
“Can’t Lodestar figure that out?” Nyx asked, jerking his chin up in inquiry. “The monitoring equipment, I mean?”
Steel shook his head. “She’s out of it, but she’s doing what she can. We need Mav on this one. You know he’s like a sniffer dog for this shit.”
Nyx and I shared a look, but Link commented, “Guess it’s a good thing Lodestar can help out, period, even if it’s just a little, especially with him…” Link blew out a breath. “Well, wherever his mind’s at.”
“Not wherever, whenever,” Steel corrected with a grimace.
Link winced. “True, man. Can’t believe the fucker’s head is back when he was in the sandbox.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “You think he and Nic hooked up?”
I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to be privy to this conversation, not when they were talking like I wasn’t here anymore, but I wouldn’t argue.
“Maybe. Lodestar never said. Just told us who he was.”
Curiosity hit at Storm’s answer. “Who was he?” I asked.
The ex-VP of this chapter muttered, “His battalion leader.”
“We all know Mav swings both ways. I don’t think he’d have been that upset if he wasn’t emotionally involved with him," Nyx said, a tired sigh rushing from his lips as he scraped a hand over his head.
"Is he dead?" I queried grimly.
Link nodded. “Died in Kembesh.”
"Jesus," I muttered.
"About sums it up." Sin pursed his lips.
“More fucked up that he served in Afghanistan and we never fucking knew it,” Nyx grated out, prompting all of us to wince.
The lack of trust hurt me, so it had to be killing them to know how much he’d hidden from them when they were like legit family.
Clearing his throat, Sin groused, “This is the first time I've heard him mention Nic though. So, all this time, he was hiding the guy from us. What's that about?"
"I don't know, and it doesn't look like we're going to find out," Link rumbled. "Poor Ghost. She looked like Mav reached in and tore her fucking heart out."
"And with the standing up shit?" Nyx shook his head. "That bastard's been hiding that from us for a while as well. It's a good thing I love the fucker, or I'd be in his face right now.
"Who the fuck chooses to live in a wheelchair when they don't have to?"
"Someone who's psychologically damaged?" I pointed out, arching a brow at him.
Nyx huffed. "I'm psychologically damaged. You don't see me free-riding around in a mobility scooter."
"I'd pay to see that," Link said, his tone dead serious, and he earned himself the bird Nyx flipped his way.
"Children, we're getting off-topic," Storm grumbled. "Maverick has always done what he wanted to do. That tells me, for whatever reason, it suited him for people to believe that he couldn't walk."
A thought occurred to me. "You don't think he's in danger, do you?"
"From who? Aside from the Famiglia who are already willing to bomb our compound, you mean?" was Storm's pissed answer.
"I don't know. It just... people might think he isn't a threat if he's in a wheelchair."
"Mav's a threat when he's asleep," Nyx pointed out. "God, it's only recently that we got him to get rid of those fucking crutches." He rubbed his forehead. "I'm so fucking confused."
"Lot to be confused about," Storm agreed, "but as it stands, we got shit to get done. I asked Cruz to start drafting our new clubhouse, and I’ve called in brothers from the other chapters who are in construction.”
Nodding, Link asked, ”Cruz, you think you can handle the drawings?"
"Sure. I've built more complicated things than a clubhouse," I remarked simply, not a whisper of ego to the statement.
Link tipped his head to the side. “Like what?"
I flickered back through my mental portfolio and murmured, "Had to build a bridge once in South America."
Nyx snickered. "I think he can handle the clubhouse."
Storm grunted. "Good. We need you to deal with Indy and this situation with David, Cruz. You can handle that?"
"Of course."
"You going to brand her?" Nyx asked stonily, but his gaze didn't meet mine so I didn't take the question as a threat.
Not that there wasn't a threat brewing...
"When she's ready," I told him.
He muttered, "Good."
Storm cleared his throat. "The guys were telling me that you and your ma cut ties."
"I guess. I mean, I can call on her again. We don't exactly have a mother-son relationship that a lot of people might have, but she'll still pick up the phone if I call." I grimaced. "At least, I think she would. Why?"
"No reason." He stared at me, which made a liar out of his words because there was definitely a reason why he asked.
And then, the
rest of my brothers turned to look at me, each of them giving me their attention.
"What is it?"
Half expecting for them to give me more shit over my mom or Indy, when Storm asked, "We need you to build something else for the club, Cruz."
I leaped at the chance to help my brothers.
I could just never have imagined what that 'something' would be.
Twenty-Four
Indy
I hated the cops in Verona. What I'd give to be dealing with the sheriff's department in West Orange, because at least they were on the Sinners' payroll. But Verona PD were a bunch of stuck up asses who, as expected, and which would probably work to my benefit in the long run, dismissed my 'missing persons' case.
They promised to file a report, especially as David had been missing for so long, but their disinterest was clear. If I'd actually cared about my ex-stalker's whereabouts, I'd have been pretty fucking devastated by their cavalier treatment.
Not that I should have expected anymore from the guys who made donut runs look like a professional sport.
Huffing at the thought, I stalked out of the small building which was probably as small as their dicks, and was a tad aggressive when I answered my phone, "What?"
I winced because that was more of a snarl than I'd been aiming for...
"Is that Indiana Sisson?"
"Yes, this is she."
"I'm so glad I managed to get through to you. I've been trying this past week but it's been hard—"
"I'm sorry about that. I've had a lot of personal issues. My family home just burned down."
Understatement.
"Wow, I'm so sorry!" the woman repeated, and it came as no surprise that she sounded more embarrassed than sincere.
"Yeah, it's been hard. Anyway," I asked, after I cleared my throat. "Is there something I can do for you, Miss...?"
"My name's Aly. I work with City Ink, the TV show?"
Eyes widening, I tucked the phone into my shoulder and started rustling through my purse for my drawing pad and pencil.
It wasn't the first time I'd been approached to go on TV, and each time, it had worked wonders for the parlor I was attached to.
This was the first time it had happened, though, since I'd opened Indiana Ink.
"I love that show," I told Aly. "You do great things to showcase the art."
"Thanks. My husband is the executive producer, so it's his baby."
If my eyes were wide before, they pretty much started to bug out of the sockets. "Jesus. You're Trade's wife?"
Aly laughed. "You really are a fan."
"More of his work than the show," I admitted.
"So, you wouldn't be interested in being featured?" Aly teased.
"Hell, yes, I would, but will I get to meet Trade too?"
"Yeah, you will," she said around a chuckle. "That's great you're interested."
"Let me guess, this is about Steeler's back piece?"
"It sure is. He submitted the photos himself. It's a pretty fantastic work of art, Indiana."
"Thanks. You know when you finish a piece and just get chills? That one did that for me."
"I can see why. Those chills were earned.
"So, this is a preliminary call, but if you're interested and have a lawyer we could send over the contract to, you can see what the feature entails and if you're interested, you can come into the studio and get a feel for what will go down."
"That sounds great to me." Without a second's thought, I gave her Rachel's info, and as she made a note, I murmured, "Just so you know, she's family too, so I'll make sure she watches out for the contract but we're all still trying to piece everything together after the fire."
"I totally understand. Normally we have a two-week time limit, but I'm not going to lie to you, Indy, Trade wants you on the show. So, I'll up the time frame to four weeks, okay?"
"Wow, I really appreciate that," I replied, taken aback by the offer. "Thank you so much."
"Thank you for inspiring my husband. He's been at the drawing board ever since we got the latest set of submissions sent over to us by the studio." I could hear the smile in her voice. "I'll be in touch, and you can tell your attorney to expect an email today or tomorrow, okay?"
"I'll tell her. Thanks so much for calling!"
"No problem. Can't wait to hear from you."
As the call ended, with my heart beating a thousand rounds a second, I knew it was lame, but the only person I wanted to tell was Cruz.
But then, I had to reason, was it lame? Or was this exactly what happened when two people were dating?
I bit my lip at the thought, because I knew Cruz would be beyond stoked for me, and I really wanted to share this with him.
I'd never been that open to any of the few guys I'd actually dated before. But Cruz was different.
Cruz had my back.
He'd have been here today if I hadn't told him to get on with his work as he was drawing up plans for the new clubhouse with Giulia bitching at him over his shoulder.
Only the fact that she was the VP's woman, Nyx's Old Lady, stopped him from telling her to back the fuck off.
Which Giulia was using to her full advantage, of course.
With the store only a hundred feet away, I took off at a run, knowing that's where Cruz would be since I'd forbade him from joining me.
The cops saw a Sinner and instantly, things escalated.
As it was, I kept my nose clean, and the locals knew I had no real affiliation to the Sinners so they cut me some slack.
That would change, though, when people realized Cruz and I were together.
The notion should have gnawed at me, because I was losing a lot by coming out with Cruz, yet, as I headed into Indiana Ink, and saw him, I knew it was right. That it was going to be worth it.
He looked harried. His brows furrowed, his eyes stormy with temper, and his jaw was gritted even as a nerve ticked in it. He glowered at Giulia before he whipped around to look at me as the bell tinkled in the door, and when our gazes collided, his eyes softened, his frown lessened, and he inhaled sharply, like he was trying to calm down.
Not for himself, not for Giulia, but for me.
God, how I appreciated that.
I smiled at him, not a fake one, or an excited one because of the show offer, not even a warm one.
It was loving, the smile I bestowed on him. It had to be. Because my heart did the whole Roger Rabbit thing and went 'kebang' in my chest.
Seeing him, connecting with him... I wasn't sure there'd been a more powerful moment in my entire life.
"What is it?"
Giulia's question felt like it came from underwater, but I blinked a few times, and turned to her, saw from her impatient glower that wasn't the first time she'd asked.
I swallowed. "You know City Ink?"
"The show?"
I nodded. "The show. They asked me to be featured!"
My excitement burst out, and even as Giulia whooped, Cruz was rolling out from behind the desk he'd commandeered to work at, and making his way to me.
I leaped at him, not stopping until he was holding my ass, and as I sank my lips onto his, that sense of rightness just hit me once more.
He was a Sinner.
He was dangerous.
But he was so much more than that.
He was mine.
As I sank my tongue between his lips, thrusting against his, uncaring that Giulia could see, not giving a damn if the entire street was standing outside the storefront gawping at us, I gave him my all.
This man had my heart, and for the first time in my life, I wasn't terrified what someone would do with it, because even as I loved him, I trusted him.
And for someone like me, that meant so much more. He'd probably never understand that, but it wasn't like I needed to tell him, was it? That was the joy of this man.
He already fucking knew.
Twenty-Five
Rex
When I thought of how many of my brothers had lost their p
arents at a young age, I knew I'd been lucky.
I was nearing forty and my mom had only died eight years ago, and Dad was still here, barely hanging on, but still here.
The thought of losing him was crippling.
The MC didn't exactly rear kids to be Mommy's or Daddy's boys, but I loved my folks. Always had. Respect had been easy, and loyalty too. We were tight knit for a reason, and seeing him here, literally half of him left, I was so far down the tunnel to insanity that I wasn't sure how I'd get back out again if he died like this.
It was one thing for him to perish because of old age, but he wasn't fucking old. Not really. Jesus, it wasn't like he couldn't ride his goddamn bike across the country and lived at the doctor's office.
He was strong. Still as powerful as he'd been when I was younger. And if it weren't for Mom's death, then he'd have been leading the Sinners and I'd just be his VP.
"Rex?"
He couldn't die. Not like this. This couldn't be the end.
The doctors kept on telling me he'd pull through, but I wasn't sure I believed them.
I wasn't sure who I could believe right now.
Dad had been coming home with a storm cloud hanging over him, one that spoke of years’ worth of cover ups. Cover ups that he'd been hiding from me.
Me.
The fucking Prez of the Sinners.
A man who wielded his own goddamn battalion of men. His own personal, private fucking army.
Of course, the second he'd shared that news with me, had told me about the LEAs who were stitching up ex-cons, this happened.
The clubhouse was no more.
The compound was a wreckage.
We'd lost men and clubwhores.
And all while a pair of corpses decomposed in a bath of fucking lye on our property.
It was a wonder we hadn't been hauled into jail. We had pull, but not with the fucking Feds. The O'Donnellys had more reach than we did with the alphabet agencies, and they could help, but—
"Rex?"
The voice was like a buzzing in my ear, and I wanted to bat at it with my hand. Shoo it off like it was a fucking mosquito, but then soft fingers squeezed my shoulder, and the scent of lilies and citrus filled my nostrils.
Cruz : A Dark MC Romance (A Dark and Dirty Sinners’ MC Book 5) Page 31
