9. Crow
CHAPTER 9
CROW
I knew her once, and I want to know her again.
“This is your room?”
I pick up the dirty clothes I tossed in the corner last night and throw them in the hamper. When I went to bed, satisfied that Addison was secure in the Nightmare Room, I didn’t do it with the thought that I’d be bringing her up here today. My life would be much easier if I left her down there, but what fun could that possibly be?
“Not what you expected?”
She glances around the space as she shakes her head. “Not at all.”
My king-sized bed sits against one wall, and bookshelves line another. There’s a built-in desk with a mini fridge under it, and an oversized chair facing a sixty-inch flatscreen TV. I spend a lot of time here when not dealing with club business and like to be comfortable.
“There’s a bathroom through that door,” I tell her, pointing to one of three doors. “The tub is extra-large so if you ever want to soak, feel free.”
An image of her naked beneath bubbles pops into my head, and my cock springs to life. I don’t bother hiding my arousal. There’s no point.
“I’ll pass, thanks,” she mutters.
“Suit yourself.” I move to one of the other doors and open it. “Closet’s in here. I’ll have one of the Bangin’ Betties go shopping for you. Just make a list of what you need,” I say, nodding to a pen and tablet on the desk.
“Bangin’ Betties?”
“C’mon, Ace, surely you can figure out what that means.”
She narrows her eyes for a moment and then frowns. “And I’m supposed to believe that you’re all the good guys.”
“The Betties are here because they want to be here,” I snap. “And they’re free to leave any time they want.”
“Whatever helps you sleep at night,” she sasses.
I growl and close the distance between us. “Listen, you don’t like me. Fine. But you will not disrespect those women. They’re good girls and don’t deserve your judgment.”
Addison’s eyes widen with shock, and she nods. “Fair enough.”
I heave a sigh. “I’ve got some work to do. I’ll have someone bring you something to eat. I’m sure you’ve got a killer headache from the Rohypnol so if you wanna take a nap, have at it. The sheets are clean.”
I don’t bother to stick around and listen to her argue. Instead, I march out of the room, leaving the door open so she knows I meant it when I said she could go anywhere within these walls.
When I reach the common room, Ghost is just walking back inside.
“He’s gone, Pres,” he says.
“Good. Think he’ll keep his mouth shut?”
“Don’t know. Kenny’s a smart kid, so probably.” My sergeant at arms grins. “But I put a tracker on his bike just in case. If he decides to be a douchebag, I’ll take care of it.”
“Thanks.”
“No problem.”
“Do me another favor?” I ask, meeting him in the middle of the room.
“Anything.”
“Go rouse the troops. Church is in ten.”
Ghost groans. “Man, you know how they all get when they’re forced to get outta bed, especially after a party.”
I grin. “Yeah, I know. Why do you think I’m not doing it myself?”
As I walk away, I chuckle. It pays to be the head honcho.
When I reach the meeting room, I pull my cell out of my pocket to send a quick text.
Me: Need you to go shopping for our guest
I’m surprised when my phone pings with a reply before I can set it on the table.
Sunny: I’ve got class in an hour. Can I go after that?
Me: That’s fine. Thanks
Sunny: No problem
My brothers begin to filter into the room, one by one, each of them grumbling about the early hour. I glance at the time and realize it’s only seven-thirty, but I ignore the guilt that threatens.
“We’ll be quick,” I promise them.
Once they’re all seated, Journey calls church to order.
“I was balls deep in a nameless Playboy model,” Jackyl, our club doc, complains. “What could possibly be more important than that?”
Python smacks him over the head. “You were dreaming, dickwad. It’s not like you had real pussy in your bed.”
“So?” Jackyl counters. “It felt very real, and that’s all th?—”
“Shut the hell up,” I bark. “I’ll make this as quick as I can, and then you can get back to your imaginary model.”
“It’s too late now, Pres,” Jackyl grumbles. “I’ve gotta be at the clinic by nine.”
At the mention of the free medical clinic the club owns and operates, an idea forms.
“That’s perfect.” I smile. “You can take Addison with you.”
“Uh, dude,” Journey begins. “You sure that’s a good idea? I thought the entire point of kidnapping her was to keep her here?”
“Kidnapping?” Fudge asks. “When the fuck did we kidnap someone?”
“The officers voted last night,” I explain. “Addison McGill came to the party with a friend of hers, both of whom were invited by Blain.”
“So what?” Tracer, a patched brother, comments. “The more pussy the better, right?”
“Yeah, well, this particular chick is a detective and the daughter of Chief McGill.”
“Aw, fuck,” Fudge mutters. “Why the hell would Blain invite a detective?”
“Obviously, he didn’t know,” Poker states.
“Are we sure about that?” Screamer asks.
“Yeah,” I say. “Blain isn’t from around here, and he hasn’t had any run-ins with the police, so he didn’t know.”
“Where’s the bitch now?” Poker asks, his eyes narrowing.
“Her name’s Addison,” I snap. “And she’s here so we can prove to her that we’re not the evil people she and her kind think we are. She’s here because I want to show her that we’re also not responsible for that triple murder.”
“Commit one crime to exonerate us from another.” Python shakes his head. “That’s risky.”
“And it’s already done.” I lean on my outstretched arms. “I called church to fill you all in.”
“Still didn’t answer my question, Pres?” Poker points out. “Where is she now?”
“In the Nightmare Room,” Journey says before I can reply.
“Actually, she’s in my room at the moment,” I admit.
Journey’s head spins, and he locks eyes with me. “What?”
“Addi will be staying in my room.”
“She can come to my room,” Python says, his tone lascivious. “I’m more than happy to show her how I got my road name.”
White-hot rage simmers just beneath my skin. “None of you will lay a finger on her,” I snarl. “Addison is not here for your pleasure.”
“Ahh, okay,” Python drawls. “I get it. You want her all to yourself.”
“That’s not what I said.”
“Didn’t have to say it,” Journey pipes in. “It’s written all over your face.”
I force my expression to remain neutral. “How about you quit worrying about me and my dick and focus on the fact that we have her here and need to make the most of it?”
“Back to the topic of her going to the clinic,” Jackyl says. “You sure that’s a good idea? What if she tries to run?”
“She won’t.”
“How can you be so sure?” Fudge asks.
I can’t.
“I just am,” I lie. “It’s a win for us if she sees some of the good we do for the community.”
“If you say so,” Jackyl says dryly.
A thought occurs to me. “And don’t take your bike. Take the truck.”
“Why?”
“Because the only bike our pres wants her on the back of is his,” Ghost says with a smirk.
Ignoring his comment, I continue. “I’ll pick her up around lunchtime and bring her back here. I’ve got Sunny going to the store to get Addi anything she might need to make her stay more comfortable. As for the rest of you, remember, she’s here for a reason.”
“And other than for your entertainment, what is that reason?” Poker demands.
“Watch your tone,” I snarl.
“Fine. What, pray tell, is the reason that we have the lady here in our home?” he asks, sarcasm dripping from the words.
“Like I said, to prove to her that we didn’t kill anyone. To show her that we’re not the monsters society thinks we are.” I take a deep breath. “And because maybe, just maybe, we’ll end up with another ally in the department.”
“Yeah, that’s not gonna happen,” Poker mumbles. “Remember the fight she put up when I wanted to take her gun?”
“I remember,” I say. “Now, this discussion is over.”
“We didn’t need church for you to tell us all this,” Journey states.
“You’re right, we didn’t. But I wanted her presence here to be official, and now it is. Also,” I continue. “Kenny is no longer prospecting. He was kicked out this morning.”
“What’d he do?”
“He had Rohypnol in his possession.”
“Isn’t that how you got Addison to stay?” Screamer asks.
“It is,” I admit. “But I have no idea who he would’ve used it on had we not taken it. So, he’s gone. Keep your eyes and ears open for any trouble resulting from his dismissal.”
“Anything else?” Fudge asks.
“No. Any questions?”
“Just to be clear,” Python begins. “I can’t entertain myself with Addison?”
I narrow my eyes at him. “You can, but I’ll cut your cock off with a butter knife if you do.”
His eyes widen. “Got it. She’s yours.”
Addison McGill is not mine.
“She’s my prisoner, that’s all.”
“Uh huh,” Python taunts.
“Does anyone have any questions that aren’t related to sex?” I ask, turning my attention to the group as a whole.
A chorus of ‘no’s’ fills the room.
“Good. Church dismissed.”
Just as they entered, my brothers file out of the room one by one. Journey is the only brave one to hang back.
“Did you need something?” I ask him.
“You claimed her.”
“I didn’t.”
“You did,” he insists. “You don’t want her on the back of Jackyl’s bike, and the idea of Python getting anywhere near Addison McGill practically sends you into a tailspin.”
“You have no fucking clue what you’re talking about.”
“And you’re being stupid,” he counters. When I glare at him, he holds up a hand to keep me silent. “You’re not a stupid man, Crow. Not by a long shot. So why take the huge risk of keeping that woman here?”
Because I knew her once, and I want to know her again.
“I told you, it’s the best way to get us out of the department’s crosshairs.”
Even I hear how wrong those words sound, but last night, it seemed like the best idea. And I’m not one to throw in the towel just because something is hard.
“Right.” Journey shakes his head. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”
Me too, brother. Me too.