Chapter 11
CHAPTER
ELEVEN
Haze
Of course, anything that involves the MC involves telling Cash. I don’t give a fuck what Cameron thinks, or says, and besides, he won’t know shit because what goes on inside the clubhouse, stays in the clubhouse.
“That’s fucked,” Cash says after looking at all the photos on my phone. “This person has an agenda, and they took the time to make this fucking collage.”
Yes, rape and murder being one of them. I’ve already arranged for two prospects to watch Willow at all times until I can get myself over to the station.
“Sinclair says they have no leads,” I tell him. “The man is clearly desperate if he’s askin’ me for help.”
“Or he knows you’ll do whatever it takes to keep Willow safe,” Ryder, the VP, puts in.
“That’s a given,” I mutter.
I ran everything over with Brew and Logan, keeping Sawyer out of it for now. This is a family matter, and while I like the guy and know he’s trustworthy, this has to stay within the MC.
If Sawyer knows too much, it’ll put more strain on us. I’ll feed him a story, and he’ll do his job.
Cash runs a hand over his face. “Tryin’ to find someone without a vendetta is like finding a needle in a haystack. There are a lot of assholes out there who hate good cops, and probably a few who aren’t too happy about Willow being made captain.”
No shit. That’s what has me worried. We don’t know if this is internal or some random crazy.
I didn’t sleep well, and it’s starting to show. The second I walked in, Manny — the club’s chef, took one look at me and said he was making the coffee. Then he brought in fresh cinnamon rolls, making sure I had a plate full ‘to keep my strength up’. The man is like a fairy fucking godmother.
“That’s what got me thinkin’,” I say. “Sinclair’s plan of just turnin’ up with a work order might get us in the door, but we all know how Willow operates. She can smell a rat a mile away.”
“I don’t dislike the idea,” Cash agrees. “It’ll put you inside the building, at least for a while. It’ll be business as usual if you keep your trap shut.”
“I’m not gonna say shit,” I say. “Once we’re inside, the boys, or Sawyer, will have access to the cameras.”
‘The boys’ are Rock and Jett, the twins who also double as the club's resident hackers.
“Yes, but we have to be careful,” Ryder says. “You know Sinclair will drop you in it if you get caught. He’ll probably claim he doesn’t even know you.”
“Oh, that I don’t doubt,” I agree. “But it’ll buy us a week or two in the station. I can be around her without needin’ an excuse, but after that, I’ll have to think of a better plan.”
“Willow has done a lot for this city,” Cash says, as if I don’t know. “She may not be one of us, but she’s yours by association.”
“Hey, the divorce papers aren’t filed yet.” I know I’m pathetic.
“You still sweet on her?” Ryder asks, piquing a brow. I forgive him for not being up to speed. His ol’ lady Crystal is home with their toddler, plus their seven-year-old, Ade, and we’ve all heard enough about teething dramas to last a lifetime.
“She just needs a little time to come to her senses,” I say by way of explanation. “We had a pact.”
“A marriage pact?” he scoffs. “How’s that workin’ out for you?”
I flip him the bird. “Just fine.”
“If you’re even remotely thinkin’ about gettin’ your shit together with Willow, it’d be good to give us the heads up,” Cash says.
“She’s a good cop, but she’s captain now.
She may have given us some liberties before because she’s one of the few that want actual justice, but that olive branch won’t be extended now she’s got her head up in the clouds. ”
“It’s a promotion,” I reply. “She’s still the same person.”
He cocks a brow. “You sure about that?”
“Positive.”
Cash shakes his head. “Just get your shit together and don’t implicate this club, pretty simple.”
“Yeah, I got that part,” I grumble.
“In the meantime, the prospects will follow her at a distance. They’ll be in plain clothes. Now, what about her apartment block?”
“I’ll ask Rock to hack into the mainframe so we can see her coming and going, as well as each entry and exit point, including the fire escape,” I say. “I trust Sawyer, but the less he knows about what’s goin’ on, the better.”
“Agreed. I’ll inform the rest of the committee, plus Jett and Rock since they’ll be needed for surveillance.”
I nod. “Sounds like a plan.”
The committee consists of all the members around the table who get a vote.
It doesn’t include everyone from the club, which is what’s best for the moment.
I trust everyone in this club, but this is a delicate matter.
I can’t be cavalier with a threat so bad it has Cameron fucking Sinclair pounding down my door.
Do I think he told me the whole truth and nothing but the truth?
No way. But I know enough. Plus, I’ll be closer to her than ever this coming week, and that makes me feel a little better.
Maybe all of this talk about her safety is the jolt I need when it comes to her. I can’t deny it anymore: I want her back. I have for a very long time.
I was also annoyed that she didn’t take my text about needing to talk seriously. Too bad for her I’m gonna swing by her office today to have that talk. If she thinks she can avoid me, she’s got another thing coming.
“In the meantime, it’s gonna be hard tryin’ to find anythin’ out unless somethin’ actually happens,” Cash says. “Assholes like this either move onto someone else, or they escalate. When was the first letter received?”
“About three weeks ago,” I say. “He’s bound to slip up soon, every letter gets examined by forensics. There’s also no way of knowing if he knows that Willow isn’t actually getting any of the letters.” If he does, he’s a dead man.
I will cut his fucking eyeballs out for looking at her, then move to his fingers for putting that letter together, and finally his balls so he never gets to use that part of his body again. In fact, I’ll take pleasure in it.
A big part of me hopes that this is just another threat that will amount to nothing, but I can’t risk it. Cameron may be a fucking asshole, but I have to give him some credit for coming to me. That couldn’t have been easy.
“So, stick with her until we get somethin’, anythin’,” Ryder says. “In the meantime, the boys can go through the footage from the ceremony, plus anywhere she’s been in a public gathering, which is probably a lot of places. We’re assuming he lives here, but who knows with these creepy bastards.”
“It’s a good idea,” Cash agrees. “If there’s some connection between her and a disgruntled criminal she’s arrested, or a family member who’s got a vendetta, it’ll only be a matter of time before he tries anything.
Since it’s been goin’ on for only three weeks, I’m thinkin’ we need to look at all the recent cases she’s been involved in. ”
“Cameron sent them to me,” I say. “I’ve been pourin’ through it for most of the night. I’ll email it to the boys. Could be a connection there. This whole fuckin’ thing is a goddamn nightmare.”
There is someone out there who wants to hurt my girl. I will find them, no doubt about it, and I will have my justice. MC style.
“Don’t go gettin’ away with yourself,” Cash warns. “I know you act before you think, but she is a cop, the stakes are much higher if we fuck up.”
“You mean if we find him and I get to feed him to the alligators?” I cock a brow.
The bayou is always a good place to hide dead bodies. In fact, it’s fucking genius.
“Trust me when I say, you get first dibs, what I meant was, don’t get caught. Just because you’re still legally married to her, doesn’t mean she’s gonna let you off if this turns sideways.”
“It won’t,” I say. “I know what I’m doin’.”
The trouble is, I don’t know if that statement is entirely true. I’m barely hanging on here because I’m going out of my mind.
For once, I should take a leaf out of Brew’s book and take a beat. He always thinks things over and never acts in haste. On this, I have to have my eye on the ball. Which is why I’m having Erica and Nova clear my schedule for the next few weeks so I can concentrate on this fake job.
I’ll have to tell Sawyer something, but not the whole story. I’ll need him at some point, or he’ll ask too many questions if I don’t fess up that I’m looking out for her. He doesn’t need to know why.
I leave and make my way downtown to the calaboose.
I fucking hate anything to do with the station, aside from Willow, of course.
They may have sifted out half of the bad cops from the takedown, but that doesn’t mean they got every one of them.
Every single person I pass as I make my way through the building is suspicious.
Of course, they’re probably thinking the same thing about me because I’m wearing my club colors, but I don’t give a fuck.
I see Carl, one of the guys who Willow vouches for, and he gives me a once over. “You lost, Haze?”
“Nope.” I pop the ‘p’. I wave the piece of paper at him. “Got a work order, as it happens. I’m here to see the captain.”
He lowers his voice. “She knows you’re comin’?”
I give him a look. “I knew when I got the okay she wouldn’t exactly be thrilled about it, but I’m here to do a job,” I tell him. “Don’t wanna upset the commissioner, do you? It’s got his signature right there at the bottom.”
Lucky for me, Carl isn’t an ass. If he wasn’t a cop and I wasn’t a biker, I think we’d even be friends. “Let me call her first.”
“No need.” I wave a hand as he lets me through. “She loves surprises.”
“Jesus, Haze,” he mutters as I finger wave.
I head straight down the hall, then I have to take the stairs up two flights. If it’s weird I know where her new office is situated, then nobody really knows me at all.
When I get to the door that says ‘Captain’ — after a few stares from a couple of the desks I pass — I rap my knuckles on the open door. “Honey, I’m home,” I call out, stepping inside.
Willow is on the phone. As she turns her head, her eyes go wide when she sees me, mouthing, ‘What the fuck?’
I smile, kicking the door shut behind me, walking over to the desk as I check out the new space.
It’s huge. There are still boxes all over the place, but her fancy desk is fairly neat and tidy. I glance out the window to the street below. Nice view. The long window lets in a lot of light, but I close it just a little, mainly to annoy her.
I check out the private bathroom and whistle low.
It’s not fancy, but it’s nice not having to share.
After I’m done poking around, I sit in the chair opposite her as she narrows her eyes at me but keeps talking.
I glance down at the flashing light and realize that’s probably good old Carl trying to get through.
I link my hands behind my head and wait.
‘Haze?’ She mouths again. ‘How did you get in here?’
I tap my nose, then make a circling motion for her to wrap up the phone call.
“That sounds fine with me, I’ll get that email off to you this afternoon,” she says. “Okay, yes, I will. No problem. Thank you.” She hangs up and I grin even wider. “Haze?”
I tap my chin as if I’m deep in thought. “I’m thinking you could go with a soft neutral, the palette in here is a little… cold.”
“How did you get back here?”
I shrug. “Friends in low places, wife.”
“Stop calling me that.”
“Well, you gave me no choice, you didn’t call.”
The phone rings again, and she holds up a finger. “Don’t move.”
I wiggle my eyebrows. “Ooh, I’m all yours, baby.”
This is going to be a better day than I first imagined. In fact, I might even enjoy it.