Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
“Eva Gray,” Ian Black said. “There’s no record of her existence before four years ago.”
Jake frowned. He was standing at the edge of the compound, on his phone, smoking a cigarette even though he’d given them up years ago, and watching the action around the fire.
The party was winding down, with most everyone drunk or high or sleeping.
Jake was still wide awake. While he’d had a few drinks, he hadn’t had nearly as much as Brandon thought—and he hadn’t taken any women to his room.
As soon as he’d been able, he’d walked away from the gathering and returned Ian’s call. Jake had sent a text earlier asking about Eva, which he’d promptly erased. Ian knew to call him back rather than text him because it was safer that way.
Brandon could demand to see his phone at any time, so texts were a no. If he wanted to know who Ian was, he was an old army buddy who stayed in touch. That was what they’d worked out before Jake headed for Georgia and the Brothers.
“Eva looks familiar to me. I’m not sure why.”
He heard the rustling of papers. “Does the name Evelyn Collier mean anything to you?”
Jake frowned. “Collier? Jesus.”
“I take that as a yes.”
He shoved a hand through his hair and kept an eye on the group of bikers. He couldn’t afford to be overheard, and yet he reeled as if he’d been clubbed over the head with a mallet.
Evelyn Collier? She’d been a shy, chubby teenager who could barely look him in the eye. No way was she the same person as Eva Gray.
Eva was sleek, beautiful, with blue eyes and brown hair. Evelyn had blond hair and hazel eyes, and she wouldn’t say boo to a ghost.
As if that meant anything. Hair dye, contacts, tattoos, and a whole new attitude could turn a shy teenager into a ball buster of a woman if she were determined enough.
Holy shit, what a con she’d pulled. He admired the fuck out of her for it.
And he thought he knew why.
“How long have you known?” he grated. Because it would have been nice to know the truth before he’d waltzed back into the club.
Evelyn Collier. Heather Collier’s little sister.
“Just got the info tonight. It took time to dig up. She was very thorough at covering her tracks. Her sister was murdered seven years ago, allegedly after leaving the Brothers of Sin. Her body was found in a shallow grave. She was beat up pretty badly.”
Anger rolled through him. He remembered Heather. She hadn’t belonged here any more than a rose belonged in a swamp. “She was Brandon’s old lady.”
“Says he was arrested, but the charges were dropped. They couldn’t pin it on him. He said she left him after a fight over another woman. Said she walked out of the compound alone, which witnesses corroborated.”
“They would.” Because the Brothers lied for each other.
“The defense attorney suggested she’d been picked up by a motorist and killed after she’d left the Brothers of Sin.”
Fucking hell, Evelyn. What are you up to?
“I wasn’t here when any of it happened. I was in jail, waiting for my attorney and Judge Mason to work something out. Once I took the deal, I never returned to the compound. I didn’t see Brandon again, and I pretty much forgot about it until you said the name Evelyn Collier.”
“Understood. Do you think he did it?”
Jake clenched his jaw as he thought about Heather Collier. He fucking hated that he’d forgotten about her, but once he’d left this life, he’d put everything behind him. It was the past.
But it wasn’t for Evelyn. He remembered the way Brandon had been with Heather. She’d been unlike most old ladies. She’d seemed delicate and out of place, but he’d also gotten the impression she liked bad boys. Some women did. They came for the thrills and left when it got too much.
Heather and Brandon had fought like cats and dogs. Jake had seen Brandon hit her at least once. Maybe twice. It’s what happened in the club, and what he’d accepted.
Made him sick now. What a fucking asshole he’d been not to intervene. Not to kick Brandon’s ass from one end of Georgia to the other. Despite the fact it would have most likely gotten him killed, he should have done it anyway.
“Probably.”
“And Evelyn Collier is inside that compound, calling herself Eva Gray.”
“Jesus fuck.”
“Yeah. You have to get her out of there as soon as possible.”
“Working on it.”
She’d told him she couldn’t leave just yet, that she was waiting for something.
He didn’t know what, but he was beginning to think it wasn’t a good thing.
She’d called the FBI on the Brothers. But what else did she want?
Did she think she was going to be here if they raided the compound?
That she was going to laugh in Brandon’s face?
A sick feeling swirled in his belly.
“What about Snake? Did you find anyone calling himself that?”
“Not yet, but we will. My IT people know everyone who’s anyone in the tech world. We’ll find the guy.”
“You need to call HOT. The general has connections.”
Jake thought the man might have snorted. As if his connections were every bit as good. Or better.
Hell, maybe they were. Jake had never met Black before this mission, but he’d heard the name mentioned. There’d been rumors of collaboration with other HOT teams. No way to verify it. Still, if Viper and Ghost trusted him, that was enough.
“Already taken care of.” There was a moment of silence before Ian spoke again.
“Extract her as soon as possible. She can’t stay much longer.
If Judge Mason takes a turn for the worse…
Well, all hell’s gonna break loose because the FBI will come calling.
Once they do, once Cox knows someone left a tip, it won’t take him long to figure out who it was. ”
“No, I don’t think it will either.” Jake dropped the cigarette and stubbed it out with his toe. “I’ll get her out of here in two days’ time. I’m going to need a place to go when I do.”
“I’ll send you the coordinates to a safe house. Memorize and delete.”
“Copy that. Over and out.”