Chapter 16
MAJOR PROBLEM
Rebel Pierce
I looked through the peephole and saw the familiar face, then yanked the door open.
“Did you not get my message?”
Why the hell would he show up to my apartment if the Feds were watching him? I didn’t want them fucking questioning me again. I wanted them to be far away from me, not just because of this case, but also because it could jeopardize my other cases.
“I did.” His smile crossed his beautiful face. “Are you going to let us in?”
I’d been so focused on the man in front of me, I didn’t see the one standing slightly behind him. I looked over J.D.’s shoulder and the man with him didn’t smile, didn’t speak, just stared. He was gorgeous in a sexy killer kind of way. Blonde hair, beautiful blue eyes, thick beard, and covered in tattoos on every piece of skin I could see expect his face.
I looked back at J.D., rolled my eyes, then stepped aside so they could come in. When I closed the door behind them, J.D. and the mystery guest headed to my living room.
“Make yourselves at home,” I muttered sitting across from him and the stranger.
“Thanks for the warning,” J.D. said. “Feds?”
“Of course, unless you have some other government agency that would like to know details on why I have the president of one of Demons United chapters in my home.”
The other guy laughed, and I looked at him. “And you are?”
“Austin Tyler, but most people call me Demon.”
My eyes widened. Sitting in my living room was the founder of one of the country’s deadliest biker gangs, and I couldn’t believe my eyes.
Fuck! The FBI will be paying me another visit.
My brows furrowed and my attention focused back on J.D., and he shrugged like he knew I wasn’t happy about him being here without me even saying anything but wasn’t sorry for bringing him here.
“J.D., can I talk to you in private?” I stood. “We’ll be right back, Demon.”
Demon smiled, nodding. I was fucking furious. They were aware of the consequences of showing up at my place, yet neither of them seemed to care. They did whatever they wanted to, without any regard for consequences.
Without waiting for J.D., I walked down my hallway to my office. I didn’t turn to see if he followed because his boots echoed off the hardwood floor behind me. I turned around as soon as he stepped over the threshold of my office and shut the door behind him.
“Have you lost your damn mind bringing him to my home?” I placed my hands on my hips. “I already told you someone was watching you and you thought this was a good idea?”
“He wanted to meet you.”
Walking towards me, he shrugged nonchalantly. He was trying not to laugh at my anger, but I didn’t see what the hell was so funny.
“Don’t you fucking laugh at me. I’m the one who had to deal with the Feds. Not you. And I’m going to be the one who’ll probably have to deal with them again.”
When he stood in front of me, he sighed. “You’re right, Rebel. It’s just finding out what happened to Dani is important to both of us and it was hard not to bring him to meet you. You don’t know how big of a deal this is for us.”
“I get it J.D. but there are consequences to us meeting especially in my home.”
I had no doubt I would get a phone call from my godfather soon. I didn’t know how to explain any of this to him, and the excuse “it was for work” wouldn’t work this time.
Like he had done before, he grabbed the end of one of my braids and playfully twirled it around his finger, before releasing it. Fuck, I didn’t even realize how close he had gotten because I was so pissed. Now all the anger had disappeared, and desire replaced it.
His eyes darted between my eyes and mouth. I wished he would kiss me, but he’d have to make that move. I wouldn’t put myself out there to be rejected.
He gripped my chin as I looked at him. “Do you know how beautiful you are?”
I had always been complimented on my looks, but his words carried a different weight. It sent my heart racing, my palms becoming clammy with sweat. It made me want him more.
As his lips neared mine, my heart raced. It was like he was warring with himself, trying to decide if this was the right move. But I wouldn’t stop him, so he’d have to decide on his own.
As his lips brushed against mine, a sigh escaped me, as if I had been longing for this moment my entire life. The slow and thoughtful kiss ignited spirals of ecstasy, electrifying every inch of my body.
A moan escaped my lips, but he muffled the sound. He pushed me back, causing me to collide with my desk, before hoisting me up to sit on its surface. Automatically, my legs opened, and he pushed against me not breaking our kiss. His hand ran up my thighs and I wished I didn’t have leggings on. I wanted his hands on my skin. Our tongues warred with one another, and this was the most alive I’d felt in a long time. He bit my bottom lip, pulling another groan for me before he kissed away the sting. I wanted to get lost in this feeling. I wanted him to lay me back on my desk and fuck the hell out of me, but it wasn’t the time.
Despite my reluctance, I pulled away even though I didn’t want to. He laid his forehead against mine and I released a sigh.
“We can’t do this now.”
He didn’t say anything, but his silence said everything. He knew I was right. He had some things he needed to let go of before anything could happen between us.
J.D. wasn’t the kind of man I could fuck and just leave. I couldn’t explain how, but somehow, I just knew. He was someone I could lose my heart and soul to. He loved hard. I could tell by how much he was dedicated to finding out who killed Dani. He needed to close that chapter of his life before he could move forward.
“I want this, Rebel,” he whispered.
“I know you do, and I do too. But you have to finish this before we make that step. I won’t live in someone else’s shadow.”
He stepped away, and I felt the loss of his warmth, but it was the right thing for me to do. And it was the right thing for me to do for him.
I hopped down from my desk and walked towards the door. As soon as I walked by him, he grasped my arm, stopping me.
“Just so you know when this is done, I’m coming for you, Rebel Pierce. All of you.”
Excitement barreled through me. I couldn’t stop the smile from crossing my face. “I’d expect nothing less.”
He pecked my lips.
“Let’s go,” I said. “I’ve got company.”
He chuckled and followed me out of my office back to my living room. Demon was sitting in the same place we’d left him. J.D. sat beside Demon, and I sat beside them.
“Everything good?” he asked J.D., smirking.
“Everything’s good,” J.D. responded.
“Nice to meet you, Demon.”
“Call me Austin. And it’s nice to meet you too, Rebel. So, I’ve heard you’re looking into my sister’s death?”
“Definitely hitting some brick walls but the first connection is Earl Daniels.”
“I know Earl or should I say knew. We grew up together and his brother Cody became a member of Demons United.”
“Do you know what happened to Cody?” I asked even though I already knew the answer.
“No,” Demon said. “He told everyone he was heading to South Carolina, and that’s the last time anyone had seen him.”
He lied straight to my face. Neither one of them would tell me the truth which told me all I needed to know. Cody Daniels was dead, and the club had something to do with it.
“What evidence did they have against you to arrest you for his murder?”
“None. The FBI has been after me for years. Even though I’m no longer prez of the Georgia chapter, they’ll still come up with anything to put me in prison.”
I didn’t believe that the FBI didn’t have a reason to think he was involved with Spike’s disappearance. Whether or not they had physical evidence, they had something. The question was why would Demons United get rid of a member?
My brow furrowed as I continued to ask the questions inside my head. I looked at Demon and J.D., both where straight faced, showing no emotion at all for someone they considered a brother. Why would they go to extremes to get rid of one of their own?
Then it clicked.
“Informant,” I mumbled. “He was an informant!”
Demon nor J.D. responded, but they didn’t have to. I knew that was the reason he disappeared and the reason the reward for information was so much. But what does that have to do with Dani’s death if anything?
I had more questions and before I could ask, my phone rung. I picked it up from the coffee table and looked at the caller id.
“Damn it!”
“Problem?” J.D. asked.
“Major problem.”