by Shayla Black
more broadly. I know it’s supposed to be someone who supposedly saw Hammer ‘rape’ me as a child, but does it have to be?”
Both men opened their mouths to rebut her.
Her brother frowned. “Storm cloud—”
“Just hear me out. A man would look at this logically. It’s black or white. It’s up or down. She saw the crime or she didn’t. But a woman who feels scorned might be more flexible with the truth, especially if she wasn’t well hinged in the first place.”
Seth and River both looked at one another. She saw their light bulbs go off.
“You’re saying bitch be crazy?” Seth asked. “Yeah. I’ve trailed absolutely psycho-ass chicks for cases back in New York. Some of these women made that home-wrecker in Fatal Attraction look sane. Go on.”
River turned to him. “Seriously?”
“How do you not know this?”
“Go spend ten years in Afghanistan. Every female out there is either wearing a military uniform or a burka. Not a lot of interaction, if you get my meaning.”
Seth shook his head. “Oh, you need an education about the fairer sex.”
River scowled. “I know my way around a woman.”
“Can we focus?” Raine chewed on a ragged nail. “If we’re looking for a blonde member in her thirties who felt scorned and is mental, only one person comes to mind. She’s been sticking in the back of my head since we talked on Sunday. We even dismissed her…but I’m starting to think we’re being too hasty.”
“The bitch who hit you?” River asked.
“That one.” Raine nodded. “Marlie.”
“I never met her.” Seth sent her a measuring glance. “Still have that footage? I’d like to see it.”
Raine smiled grimly. “Looking to gage her crazy?”
“Something like that.” Seth nodded. “I usually have a good sense about people.”
River sat back. “Yeah, I want to see that shit, too. But are you thinking this chick just…made up whatever Hammer supposedly did to you as a minor?”
“Maybe. I don’t know,” she said honestly. “But the copies of the money orders, together with whatever she said, convinced the feds there was smoke at least. They found the photos of teenage me following Bill’s beating after…”
“You sliced the mean son of a bitch in two?” River rubbed at her back, both giving her comfort and expressing his pride. “If you’re right, the feds started putting a case together then. But if Marlie didn’t actually see anything, how does she think she’s going to get on the witness stand and give testimony convincing enough to put Hammer away?”
“You mean besides perjure herself?” Raine shot back. “It’s her word against his.”
“But she wasn’t a member then,” River pointed out.
“Raine is right. It doesn’t matter.” Seth shrugged. “The feds never said this witness actually saw the event take place. A witness can testify that the defendant told them something incriminating. Maybe Marlie was going to claim that Hammer confessed to her that he’d had sex with you as a minor or had taken those pictures of your abuse.”
“But wouldn’t she have to prove it?” River frowned.
Raine paced again. “Not really. The circumstantial evidence looks bad. No jury in the world is going to listen to testimony like that and just dismiss her, especially since her parents are pillars of the community or some shit.”
Seth shot her a glare. “You know—”
“Liam hates language. Got it. C’mon. We have to focus. If I’m a juror, and someone tells me the owner of a sex club had a minor living there and he’d been paying her dad a lot of money for years and just happened to have pictures of her that depicted nudity…not sure I’d believe he’s a good guy, either.”
“Exactly. Especially since you’re pretty, young, and pregnant.”
“Hey, that’s my sister,” River piped up.
Seth shrugged. “I’ve already seen her naked. If I were going to jump her bones, I would have done it by now.”
“What the fuck?” Her brother leapt to his feet, then shot her an accusing glance. “So I was right.”
Raine sighed. “It doesn’t matter. We didn’t have sex, and I don’t have any new and different girl parts he’s never seen. Get over your thing about my nudity already.”
“Hey, how are those affirmations coming?” Seth teased.
Raine rolled her eyes. “I can even recite them with a smile. Number one: ‘I will open myself up and share, not only my needs but my emotions.’ Number two: ‘I will be totally honest at all times without fear of embarrassment or reprisal. Nor will I hold back for fear of hurting someone’s feelings.’ Number three: ‘I deserve happiness and love.’ There.”
“I’m impressed,” Seth admitted.
River just looked confused. “You didn’t know all that?”
Raine grimaced. “Back then? Not really.”
“Not at all,” Seth corrected.
She glared at him. “Hammer and Liam insisted I learn. Seth was my mentor. Seriously, can we focus?”
“Your tone is bossy, little one.”
Sometimes she thought of Seth as her buddy…and she forgot he was a Dom. “Sorry. I’m anxious.”
He nodded and let it go. “Actually, I think you’re on to something. Let’s watch the video.”
With a nod, she led them both down the hall to the security room and unlocked the door. Seth and River stood just outside since the little booth was too small for everyone. Lewis, the tech, looked up at her, startled. Frankly, she was surprised to see him, too.
“You’re here really early,” she observed.
He blanked the humiliation scene on the monitor he’d been watching. “Yeah. Um…things to do.”
More like he had his weenie to whack.
Raine tried not to gag. Lewis gave her the creeps. He always stared, not just at her but at most of the women around Shadows.
“You want something?” His stare walked all over her.
She acted as if she had no idea he was thinking perverted things about her right now. “I just need to see a security video. I know where to find it. Don’t mind me.”
“You sure? I’ll help you.”
“I’m good.” She pulled open the drawer behind the desk, acutely aware that in order to see the labels, she had to bend over and practically put her butt in his face. Not a good idea. She twisted to the side, ass facing the door, and tuned him out.
“What are you looking for, Raine?”
Damn, he was nosy. “I’ve just about found it. As you were.”
Beside her, his chair squeaked as he rolled closer. She tried not to shudder. Was he really staring at her boobs?
The drives holding November third and fourth were gone; she knew that. Thankfully, the fifth was exactly where it should be. She was just about to pluck it up when Lewis stood.
“Found what?” he murmured, inching closer, then behind her. “That video of Liam plowing your fine ass?”
Raine stiffened. He had not just said that. She stood, turned, and saw the proposition on his face. Yeah, he had.
“That’s one of my favorites. I’m glad it’s still on the cloud.” His whisper got lower as he tried to get closer. “I watch that one a lot.”
“Don’t.” She shook her head.
He dared to lean in and give her what he supposed was a come-on grin. “What? You know, if you like anal, I’ll give it to you, sweet thing. I’d fuck you better than those dudes in their thirties. You and I are the same age, and I can go all night. Now that Hammer is going to jail, if you need someone to keep you packed tight, I’d love the chance”—he curled his palm around her hip—“to get all up in you.”
Raine blinked at him, her temper spiraling up, swirling faster, until she felt like it might blow off the top of her head. She shoved his hand away and kneed him in the balls, then stomped on his instep with her little kitten heels.
When he bent over, clutching his gonads and moaning like he couldn’t breathe, she grabb
ed his hair and tugged his eyes up to her. “Are you fucking kidding me? First, that’s the most disgusting come-on ever, and you’ve got to be the most annoying twit to ever proposition me. Second, I’m pregnant and in a committed relationship with two men I love—one of whom is your boss. Third…” She smiled. “You’re fired.”
“You can’t do that,” he challenged, apparently finding his guts—and his balls. “You don’t have that power.”
She plucked her disposable phone from her pocket. “You know what? Maybe you’re right and I should just call Hammer now to come down to fire you himself. He’s in a great mood after spending last weekend in jail. And he’s not at all possessive of me…”
The little shit finally got smart enough to blanch. “Wait. You came in here wearing that little skirt and stuck your ass in my face. What was I supposed to think besides that you were hot for me?”
Slimy bastard. “That I’m your boss’s girlfriend, who was simply looking for a video in a small room I didn’t even expect you to be in. That I’m a woman—not a piece of ass—and I should be treated with respect. That Shadows isn’t a porn hub or a hook-up spot.” She raised a brow at him. “That I’ll let Hammer and Liam make you learn to respect the fairer sex.”
Lewis looked ready to piss himself. “Don’t—”
“Or you can grab your shit and get out of here right now.”
He cursed but he started gathering his stuff. “Bitch.”
“Make sure you say that again on your way out. There are two guys right outside the door who would be deeply interested in your opinion. You know Seth. He used to be a cop. The big one who’s six foot five and spent ten years in combat? He’s my brother.”
The tech nerd paled even more and shoved his belongings in his pockets faster. “I’m leaving now.”
“Good decision. Don’t come back.” Raine crossed her arms over her chest as he ran out of the room. She followed, watching him give Seth and River a wide berth as he hurried down the hall. A moment later, the front door shut with a resounding slam behind him.
She smiled and grabbed the drive from the drawer. Someone else would have to man the booth tonight—maybe she could sweet-talk Seth into it—but it was a relief to have Lewis the slimebag gone. Absently, she wondered if he’d had something to do with the disappearance of two days of surveillance recordings.
“What the hell happened to him?” Seth stared.
“I fired him.”
“For watching the footage? He’s been doing that since I arrived. I think he jacks off a bunch in there.”
The image made Raine shudder. “Not anymore. I might have suggested that his anal sex proposition would not be well received by Hammer and Liam. He might have then intimated that I’m a female dog in heat. I told him to repeat that in front of you guys…but yeah, he seemed really disinclined.”
River shook his head. “He’s lucky he left. I would have ripped his head from his body and spit down his throat.”
“Which is why I didn’t tell you sooner. I don’t want to clean up blood, and we really need to focus.” She turned to Seth. “Before you ask, yes, I’ll tell Hammer and Liam as soon as we’re done here. Can you fill in for Lewis tonight? Pretty please.”
Seth just laughed. “Look at you, batting those lashes over your big blue eyes. God, I’m a sucker. All right.”
She stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “Thanks. Maybe I’ll stop by the hospital and find Heavenly, tell her what a great guy you are.”
He looked at her as if that possibility had never occurred to him and he liked his chances with the nurse volunteer if Raine talked him up. “Would you?”
She led them back to Hammer’s office with a laugh, then inserted the drive into the USB port of Seth’s computer, fast-forwarding to the footage in the alley. Once she found Marlie following her out, cursing her existence, and slapping her, she stopped the video.
“What a cunt,” Seth spit out.
“Pretty but…a fucking bitch.” River sighed. “I see what you mean about hating you.”
Seth nodded. “Absolutely. And not having the firmest grasp on reality.”
“She’s pretty damn entitled,” her brother added.
“Because she’s the sort of woman who’s had every man she’s ever wanted her whole life. Why should Hammer be different?” She gasped and pressed her hand to her chest, imitating Marlie. “How could a perfect Barbie lose him to mere white trash?”
River cracked up.
Raine joined in the laughter. “Unfortunately, this footage only proves that she hit me once. Liam blessed her out. Ugly. I’ve hardly ever seen him so angry. Hammer took her aside. I’m sure he had choice words before he had her permanently removed. And everyone clapped.”
“I like her as a suspect, Raine,” Seth said. “I just don’t know how we figure out whether she’s guilty or not. We can’t go to the police with a hunch.”
Yeah, because everyone investigating this case had already made up their minds.
An idea rolled around in her head. Raine glanced between Seth and River. They’d object, but she was right, damn it. “Let me talk to her.”
“What?” They both turned to her in unison.
“No.” Seth shook his head.
“Hell no,” River put in. “She could be dangerous. If she’s got a gun—”
“She doesn’t,” Raine assured. “I’ll see her in public, surrounded by people. If I lead her into a conversation, provoke her a little…”
“No matter how you incite her, I doubt she’ll confess anything to you.” Seth sounded like the voice of reason.
“You’re right, and that’s okay. See, you only understand how to get women into bed. You don’t understand how they really operate.”
“Do tell,” he drawled.
“Yeah, I want to hear this.” River leaned forward like he was hanging on every word.
“Women like her aren’t that different from the playground bullies you grew up with. They’re all tough and full of themselves—until you call their bluff. I won’t challenge her. If I actually got her to confess, she might do something drastic—try to hurt me or go into hiding or…I don’t know. But if I poke her temper and dance around the subject, I’ll bet she’s so proud of what she’s done. Something will show on her face. I’ll see it.”
They were both quiet for a long moment. Their expressions said they weren’t thrilled.
Raine went in for the kill. “You got a better idea?”
Seth looked at River with a grimace. Her brother sighed.
The answer neither of them wanted to admit was no.
“We’ll have to talk to Liam and Hammer first. I won’t put you in her path—”
“We can’t tell them.” Raine grabbed his shoulder and willed him to understand.
“I’m not your Dom, and risking you without their knowledge or consent is damn irresponsible.”
Okay. Good point. “It’s all right. I’ll go alone.”
“Over my dead body.” Seth didn’t even blink at her.
“I’m with him on that,” River said. “No.”
“This is my family and my future. I’ll do whatever I have to.” Raine wanted to stamp her foot. “I just can’t ask their permission. I don’t want to get their hopes up unless I know I’m on to something. Macen is… Something is really wrong. He came home on Monday and—” Raine wasn’t even sure how to explain without saying too much. “He opened up to me in a way he never has. It was amazing but…he hasn’t been himself since. He’s frustrated, angry, withdrawn. I’m not supposed to see that but I can’t help it. I’m scared. And Liam has had to shoulder so much since this nightmare began. He’s constantly worried about me and the baby while trying to figure out how to keep Hammer out of prison, juggle his parents… I can’t lay more on him.”
“They would want you to,” Seth pushed back.
