by Debra Kayn
"Olin—"
"We've made a commitment to each other, Ash. I'll support you. If you want to find another job, that's fine. If you don't. I'm fine with that, too."
She moved to stand up. He grabbed her wrist. She needed to hear what they were doing and believe him.
"Sit and listen." He let go of her.
She sat.
Grateful for her silence, he continued. "Willa and Elissa will get caught putting stolen goods on customers' cars, unknowingly to them or not. It's not a matter of if, but when."
Ashley's gaze narrowed. He wanted to shake her and force her to see the danger she was putting herself into before it was too late.
"Do you understand why I want you out of there?" he asked.
"Of course, but..." She leaned back in the chair, shaking her head. "I need to tell Elissa and Willa that the parts they purchased are stolen. They probably have—"
"They know."
Ashley cocked her head and frowned. "How would you know?"
"Because I started to suspect they were dealing under the table and I asked for a rare part that you can't find on the market today. They came through for me." He closed his mouth.
He'd given her enough. Brikken business was something he wouldn't talk about with her. For her own good.
"Still...maybe they—"
"Damnit, Ash. There's no way of getting around what is going on without implicating yourself. You've touched the books, and they need to disappear. You've worked there for close to ten months now. Nobody would believe you didn't know anything about what was going on." He stood and walked around the table, picking her up by the upper arms until she stood in front of him and had to listen. "You're done at Shechanics. That's it."
"Wait. Hold on." She stiffened, looking up at him. "What do you mean, they need to disappear? Elissa and Willa?"
"The books. The records. The copies of the bills you made and sent to the customers. They all need to go. The women had you committing a federal crime, Ash. It's serious." He held her face. "Brikken will take care of it all and make it go away."
"Oh, my God." She pulled away and paced in front of him. "Shit."
"Ash?"
"Shit." She muffled her scream and thrust her hands in her hair. "I can't believe this is happening. Y-you can't just make everything in the office disappear. It'll destroy Shechanics. How can they survive?"
He inhaled deeply and crossed his arms, tucking his chin. She needed to work through the questions herself and get her own answers. It wasn't up to her to worry about others.
Right now, she needed to think about saving her own ass.
She stopped at the table and grabbed the back of the chair, dipping her head. "Did they really know what they were doing?"
When she glanced at him, he nodded.
"Oh, my God." Her jaw dropped. "How could they hire me, invite me out after work as a friend, and then lie to me?" Her eyes widened. "The books were all a front to what they were doing, weren't they?"
"Yeah," he said quietly.
"Oh, my God." She pressed her hand to her stomach. "I feel sick. I helped them commit a crime. What did I do?"
Relief came to him. He widened his stance. Let her be angry and pissed off.
"I suspect the insurance claims were false. The books you kept were to entertain you while they kept a clean version to hide the stolen parts."
Ashley finger-combed her hair, heading out of the room. He followed her, knowing damn well when she got riled, she was unpredictable.
"Johanna knew. She recognized the van," muttered Ashley, opening up the closet. "I knew something was up." She yanked down a buttoned shirt and thrust her arms in the sleeves. "Weird delivery hours, my ass." Her voice changed. "Next week, we'll go over the books, Ashley. Go ahead and go home, Ashley. We've got deliveries coming. Oh, Ashley, you make everything run smoothly. Ashley, you're such a great addition to Shechanics."
Olin rubbed his jaw through his beard, amused at her livid ramblings, knowing he wasn't the cause of her problems this time.
She looked at him. "I'm going over there and telling them off."
"It's Sunday, and you're never going over there again."
She deflated like an over-filled balloon let loose to fly around the room. He caught her before the tears came after the rage.
"Ash, I'll take care of everything."
"You can't. If you're caught, you'll get arrested," she said.
He held her close and rubbed her back. "I'm not going to get caught."
"It's too risky. There are security cameras everywhere." She thumped her fists against his chest in frustration. "I'm going to the police. I'll tell them everything I know—the odd delivery schedules and how they kept making excuses about not letting me see or use the old books. That way the cops don't think I'm a part of it all. I can't believe this is happening. I thought I was working with two empowering women. I was proud of the work I was doing."
All law enforcement would need is a sniff of illegal activities of that magnitude, look into Ashley's character and find out she's linked to him, the vice president of Brikken Motorcycle Club, and they'd come after her, him, and anyone else.
Not to mention, following the trail for Krondy and his crew, who supplied Brikken for at least ten years. The Feds would be on speed dial, ready to take as many Brikken members and lock them behind bars.
But, he could cut the head off the snake. Keep Ashley safe, and Brikken out of any investigation. The sooner he acted, the faster Ashley would be cleared of any crime.
Chapter Eighteen
"We'll torch the place." Olin congregated a crew of six to go with him to Shechanics and make sure Ashley remained safe from any fallout from the crimes Elissa and Willa were committing. "In and out within ten minutes. I want to take advantage of dead-zone hours in case the owners come in early. Be careful of the cameras from the restaurant on the corner. We'll enter from the street out in front. Less risky."
"Got it." D-Con pulled on his skullcap.
Every member present was picked for the skills they possessed. Olin had run through everything needed to be done on his ride home from California. After talking to Ashley, he'd put a call into Jett and had his older brother come to the house—where they talked privately in the garage.
Every move sorted and torn apart. Nothing could go wrong because he needed to make it back to Ashley.
"Everyone will follow Freddy. He's going to take us through without being caught on any neighboring security cameras." Olin looked at Cash. "You're in charge of setting the fire once we're in. The security is hooked to electrical. We'll let it burn."
"No problem." Cash patted the duffle containing the container of gasoline.
"Shore, there are books in the bottom drawer on the left side of the desk in the office. It's locked, so you'll have to get inside." Olin put his hand on his back pocket, making sure he had his phone in case Ashley called.
"I've been picking locks since third grade, man." Cash sat his bike and put his gloves on. "Easy enough."
The fire would take out everything if the timing were right. In the off-chance that someone spotted the flames before the place was fully engulfed, he wanted the books in his possession.
"All right, let's ride out." He stepped forward and planted his hand on Thorn's chest. "Stay here, brother."
"I'm riding." Thorn's gaze narrowed.
Jett joined them. "Olin wants to go alone."
"We've had enough family members losing years of their freedom because they took a sentence in the penitentiary for Brikken. I'll do this one myself." Olin dropped his hand from his youngest brother.
"Bullshit." Thorn stepped up to him, eye to eye. "I owe you."
"For what?" Olin studied him.
"Back when I pushed you off the roof of the house when you went after the frisbee I threw too high." Thorn tilted his head.
"You were ten years old," muttered Olin.
"I'm calling us even now." Thorn walked to his motorcycle.
&nbs
p; "Motherfucker." Olin looked at Jett, who shrugged. "Maybe if you were running this club, you could control your members."
As their relationship as brothers often did, the Brikken laws would be ignored for family bullshit.
Jett grinned. "Do Rollo proud."
"If Rollo were alive, he'd kick your ass, and you know it," muttered Olin, knowing Thorn was going with him and that was Jett's doing as president.
Jett stepped back and signaled for the prospects to open the gate. Olin stalked to his Harley, putting his asshole brother out of his mind. He would get the job done and bring the men back safely.
Twenty minutes later, Freddy slowed coming to the corner of the block. Almost three o'clock in the morning, Shechanics would be locked up tight and vacant.
Freddy signaled to turn around before stopping his motorcycle. Olin, second in line, glanced ahead to figure out the change in route when he caught sight of flashing lights through the haze of streetlights.
The muscles in his shoulders tensed and he made a U-turn in the street. Riding ahead of Freddy, he took everyone three blocks away into an alley and killed the engine of his bike.
As soon as the deafening roar of the bikes stopped, he controlled the level of his voice to keep the conversation private. "Are they at Shechanics?"
"On that block, for sure. Do you want me to ride out and take a closer look?" D-Con straddled his bike, balancing the machine.
"Yeah. Send a text as soon as you know for sure. I don't have time to wait for you to ride back." He rubbed his bicep. "Ride out, now."
He walked to the end of the alley and stood looking out at the street. Jesus Christ.
What were the chances that Shechanics had already been on the radar for dealing with stolen goods? That he was too late?
His chest squeezed. His next breath barely fed his body.
He pulled out his phone and called Jett, explaining the situation. Before he hung up, he was assured his brother would ride over to his house and check on Ashley.
A text from D-Con came next.
Four unmarked cars at Shechanics. Two lights.
"Fuck," he roared, calling Ashley's cell phone.
He jogged to the others in the alley as the call went to voicemail. His heart raced. Ashley's ability to sleep like the dead worried him. It would take more than a beep on her phone to wake her up and warn her.
He called Lindsay.
Three rings later, Lindsay answered. "Hello?"
Ignoring the sleep in her tone, he said, "Go over to the house, get Ashley, and drive. I'll call you soon."
"What?" Lindsay's voice shrieked over the phone. "What's wrong?"
"Can't explain now. Get your sister, take I-5, and drive north. I'll call you in an hour."
"Olin—"
"Now, God damnit," he shouted, arriving at his motorcycle. "If you love your sister, you'll do what I say."
Heavy breathing came over the phone. Uncoordinated and stiff in his panic to hurry, he sat on his bike with his phone to his ear and toed the kickstand.
"Wait. Olin." Urgency rose in Lindsay's voice. "There are lights outside."
"Lights?" He looked around at the others for answers, needing someone to tell him what the fuck was going on.
"Police lights and flashlights. The police are at your house."
His chest seized in a painful grip. His cell vibrated in his hand. Hoping it was Ashley texting him, he lowered his arm and read the text coming through.
D-Con: Overheard. They have agents going after the owners and the employees.
Not taking the time to reply back or disconnect the call from Lindsay, he shoved the phone in his pocket, started the Harley, and raced toward home without speaking to his crew of Brikken members.
Blind fear of something happening to Ashley numbed him to his surroundings. Tunnel vision plagued him, and he stared at the asphalt in front of him, running red lights, stop signs, and riding down the middle of the road.
He needed to get her out of the area and keep her safe.
He couldn't lose her. Ashley was innocent.
Chapter Nineteen
Flashing red and blue lights painted the walls of the living room. Ashley ran to the door scared they were after Olin before she remembered him telling her not to step outside the house. She pressed herself against the wall, out of sight of the windows.
What was she supposed to do?
Ten years ago or so, she'd been with Olin at the Brikken clubhouse when the county sheriff's department came with a warrant to search for one of the members. She'd stayed in one of the bedrooms upstairs until they were gone, scared Olin would pop off at one of them and get arrested.
Tonight, he was going to Shechanics to get rid of any evidence that Ashley worked there to protect her. She trembled, covering her mouth and stopping the sob from coming out. Was he in trouble because of her?
Olin had been right. If she'd gone to the police, they would've come after him for being a Brikken member. Now it was too late.
Banging on the door startled her. She ran for the bedroom, looking for her phone. She had to talk with Olin, stop him from losing his temper or coming to the house. Maybe the cops were looking for him. He needed to stay far away until it was safe.
She tapped the wrong contact on her phone, started over, and finally connected the call. "Come on, Olin. Answer."
The call went to a generic voicemail.
Her vision blurred and she blanked on who to contact next to help him. She had no idea who rode with him tonight. He told her nothing.
"Okay. Okay. Okay," she whispered, seeing Jett's name on the screen.
She went to press the connection, and her phone rang. Answering it blindly, she said, "Olin?"
"It's me," whispered Lindsay. "I'm behind the vacant house next door. You have to get out of here."
"I won't leave Olin. He might come back and—"
"Shit. Stay inside." Her sister's harsh breathing filled her ears. "There are men at your back door, too."
Lindsay's crying pierced her heart. Ashley swallowed hard. If she was to help Olin, she needed to stay calm, level-headed, and think.
Her sister was outside. She was inside. Olin was the one missing. She needed to find him before the cops did.
"Lindsay, listen to me," she whispered. "Go back to the house, get in the car, and go to the Brikken clubhouse. Find Jett or Chief or someone and have them find Olin. Tell them the cops are at the house looking for him. I'll try and...and talk to the cops and keep them from looking for him. Don't let him come here. Tell him, I'm fine."
Her phone vibrated. Caught in trying to protect Olin, she ignored the incoming call.
"Please, hurry," said Ashley.
Louder banging came from the front of the house, and loud voices broke through the walls.
"I need to go talk to them." She stepped over to her bedroom door. "And, Lindsay? Tell Olin I love him and I'm okay."
"I'm working my way back to the house," whispered Lindsay. "Shit, I don't want them to see me."
"Be careful." She walked silently down the hallway. "I'm going to open the door and—"
"Don't. Olin doesn't want you to."
"You talked to him?" She stopped. "Why didn't you say—"
"I did. That's why I called. He wanted me to get you away from the house and take you far away," whispered Lindsay.
"Oh, God." She pressed her hand to her forehead. "What am I supposed to do?"
"I'll call Olin and call you back."
"I tried calling him. He won't answer," she said, her eyes burning.
"I'll keep trying. I promise."
She nodded, even though her sister couldn't see her. "Hurry."
Disconnecting the phone, she slid her back against the wall and sat on the floor. The police couldn't come in unless they had a search warrant. She cradled her head in her hands. At least, she hoped they couldn’t break down the door.
It seemed like forever since Olin kissed her before he left the house to go into Tacoma.
Her body convulsed. She should've continued working at the attorney's office and never went to work for Willa and Elissa at Shechanics. If she had made better choices, Olin would be home, safe, and with her.
Banging followed by wood splintering broke through the nightmare of the night, and she screamed Olin's name at the sight of men entering the house. In the back of her mind, she understood that for the first time in her life, Olin wasn't here to protect her.
OLIN APPROACHED THE last corner before reaching the street in front of his house and almost collided with Jett and Chief blocking the road. He braked hard, almost laying his bike down.
Chief motioned his hand across his throat, signaling Olin to cut the engine. He shut down and jumped off his Harley.
"Where is she?" He walked forward.
Jett stepped in front of him, stopping him from getting closer. "There are Feds inside the house."
"What the fuck?" He pushed his brother out of the way. "Why are they going after her?"
He was the one they wanted. He could give them a hundred reasons why it'd be smarter to question him.
"They've raided Shechanics. If I had to guess, they've had their eye on how they do business for a while, and Ashley's caught in the middle." Jett grabbed his brother's arm. "You need to stay back. You're not going to help her if you're in custody for interfering."
"I'm going to the house." He jerked out of his brother's hold. "Ashley needs me."
"Not now." Jett grabbed him. "You'll only make things worse for her. You're wearing a Brikken vest, and it would take two seconds for them to profile you."
"I've got to see what's going on." He ripped his vest out of Jett's hands and jogged to the corner.
He stopped and twined his fingers together on the top of his head, squinting into the darkness. The lights lit up the whole damn area.
Chief approached and stood beside him. "What's going down at Shechanics?"
"You name it, they're doing it. Krondy was supplying them with stolen goods which lets us know what he's been up to since dropping back from giving Brikken our orders." He flung his arms down to his side. "Ashley's bosses cooked the books and brought new ones in when they hired Ashley. She's unknowingly been adding enough that she could get pinned for being a conspiracy in the crime."
