Chapter 18
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
MAVERICK
Hours pass and I’m growing more than a little frustrated.
Whoever it was that broke in made certain they couldn’t be identified.
At least not by the company’s cameras. As for the ones Pirate and I installed ourselves, I got a face.
Have to admit the guy was ballsy for not wearing something to shield his face completely.
But the bullshit part is we have to run his image against Pirate’s software to see if we get a hit.
While waiting, I work alongside Sean in securing all the information that could have potentially been threatened.
He’s sufficient and could have easily done it alone, but I put in a protocol years ago that requires me to be there to fix it when it’s this serious.
My eyes keep going over to Nevaeh, where she’s also helping us.
I explained what we needed, and she dove right in, eyes scanning the computer screen we put in front of her.
Sean was leery at first, but I put that to rest quickly.
He also knows not to question me and my motives or reasonings for something I do.
“I think we’ve got a hit,” Pirate announces, getting my attention.
“Who?” Viking demands, shoving his phone back into his pocket.
Pirate glances between the two of us, looks to Sean, then Nevaeh before asking, “We good to talk about this in front of Sean?”
“I can step out if needed, but if it has to do with the company, I’d prefer to know what I’m dealing with. It might not be mine, but I treat it as such, and no one fucks with this business,” Sean states firmly.
I give a chin lift, giving the go-ahead.
“Right, then just to say this is a bigger problem than we expected.”
“What do you mean?” Sean asks tersely.
“You wanna explain that further, Pirate?” Grimm grunts.
“I’d already told Maverick, Sabotage, and Wrath I needed to look deeper into the broker who I believe had a hand in what happened to Nevaeh.
The guy I’m looking for, I have my computer set up to ping anything suspicious in a few dark corners online.
Well, I got a hit,” he explains and looks up.
“That broker has posted a hard drive up for sale that has classified information for Wolfe Oil.”
“Fuck,” I snarl.
“It gets worse,” Pirate mutters, scanning the room.
“How the fuck does it get worse?” I demand.
“Nevaeh’s picture is up for auction.”
“What?” she whispers. Her head whipping up from what she was doing on the laptop. Her face is pale, and I watch as she visibly swallows.
“You’ve got to be fuckin’ kidding me.” Sabotage grunts.
“She’s not the only one up there. Ryann and Gianna are both listed as well.” Pirate drops the bomb that changes the very air in the room, shifting from tense to murderous.
“Wrath, call War, get eyes on Gianna,” Viking orders and looks to Sabotage.
“You call and find out about Ryann.” Gianna is War’s little sister who is always traveling.
She’s not one for sticking to one place for long.
But she’d been attacked during one of the times she was here.
Peyton’s wicked bitch of a sister had instigated that, and of course, Gianna didn’t let that shit keep her down.
We got her back and she refused to let it affect her.
Still, what happened to her affected the club. Gave us insight into what we’re dealing with.
As for Ryann, she’s Nevaeh’s roommate and mine. She’s also been through her own hell right alongside both, my woman and Peyton. I don’t know her story, but I’m sure from the stone look on Sabotage’s face he knows something.
“Already on it,” Sabotage growls, lip curling.
From the way he curls his lip, I’m correct in thinking he knows something. That or there’s definitely something going on between him and Ryann.
“They’re at it again,” Nevaeh utters on a shaky breath. “They know where Ryann and I are. They know we’re not with ‘Master’ anymore. They’ve found us.”
Getting up from my seat, I round the table, pull her out of her seat, and draw her in my arms. “You’re safe, Sweets. No one is going to get you. I promise you that.”
“But what about Ryann and Gianna?” she asks, her bottom lip trembling slightly as her voice wavers. “Why would Gianna be targeted?”
“I’m willing to bet she’s targeted because Veronica had taken her. This picture they’re using looks familiar. The background of it does, at least,” Pirate remarks.
“Talked to War,” Wrath speaks up. “He called Gianna while still on the phone with me. She’s out in Texas still following some story. He told her to stay cautious and if need be, contact Reaper from the Satan’s Keepers MC.”
“Good.” Viking grunts, nodding. “Grimm, why don’t you give Reaper a call, give him a head’s up. He can at least be on the lookout or send one of his men to check on her.”
“On it, Prez,” Grimm mutters, leaving the room to do just that.
“I think I’m lost about all of this,” Sean speaks up.
“That’s because this shit is a hell of a lot more to do with a bigger issue than just the business,” I inform him, gritting my teeth.
“You have everything you need from me for now. Anything else, call me and send emails.” Turning to my brothers, I jerk my chin up. “I’m heading back to the clubhouse.”
“I thought we were staying here tonight,” Nevaeh murmurs, brows drawn.
“That was before. Now we’re heading back home and to the clubhouse. I want you there where I know you’re safe at all times,” I state, pulling her flush against me.
“Gotta agree, she’s safer at the clubhouse than anywhere else at this point,” Viking remarks as Sabotage steps forward, eyes dark and looking like he’s ready to commit murder. My gut tightens, and I guess that whatever he’s about to say isn’t good. I’m sure it’s got to do with Ryann.
“Sabotage?” I call out silently, asking what’s going on, just by using his name.
“Ryann’s car was found in the ditch off the highway.
Airbags deployed, blood smears, and her missing.
Sutherland and his partner are at the scene now.
They know who Ryann is and what she means to the club.
” The vibration in his voice is deadly. “The fucker is making quick work for whatever he’s planning. ”
Nevaeh tenses in my arms, and I don’t have to look down to know she’s got her head tilted back, looking up at me.
“They’re screwing with the club,” Nevaeh remarks with a breath.
“What?” I ask, dropping my eyes to her, cocking a brow, not understanding what she’s saying.
“The people, you know, the ones that have been messing with the club . . .”
“What about them?” Viking demands.
“Well, think about it. Me, Ryann, and Gianna are associated with the club.”
“That doesn’t explain going after Wolfe Oil,” Sean quips.
“No, but it’s owned by Maverick, and the club has a share in it, right?” Nevaeh states, fuck if it doesn’t all add up.
“Someone’s trying to hurt the club,” I growl and glance at all of my brothers. “We need to get back to the clubhouse. Now.”
Viking nods. “I’ll call Ice and get him to put the club on lockdown,” he says, heading toward the door.
“Right behind you, Prez,” I grumble and look at Sean. “Get security to tighten down and have the site foremen on the lookout. We both know they shouldn’t be able to access anything on that hard drive. Nothing overly important is stored there.”
“You’re right,” Sean remarks, nodding. “The only one that has all of that information is mine and yours. The rest gets stored in a cloud where we have it pulled and secured to an external hard drive you have locked up at your lawyer’s office.”
This is very true and the reason why I handle everything the way I do.
Nodding to him, I move toward the door. “Keep me informed on everything.”
“You got it, bossman.” Sean gives me a two-finger salute. “Let me know if you need my help with anything.”
“Will do,” I call out, pulling my woman with me. I need to get her to where I know she’ll be safe.
“Maverick,” Nevaeh murmurs as we get to the truck, her cat held close to her chest while I hold her hand.
“Yeah, baby?” I twist her in my arms, wrapping mine around her.
“I’m scared,” she admits, and I don’t blame her. With everything she’s been through, she has every right to feel this way.
“I’ve got you, Nevaeh,” I declare. “No one will get you. They’ll have to kill me first, and that’s not about to happen.” Sliding my hands up her spine until I can curl my fingers around the nape of her neck. “I promise you, Sweets, and I don’t go back on my promises.”
Nevaeh nods and drops her head to rest her forehead against my chest.
I press a kiss to the top of her head and drop my hands in order to open her door. “Come on, baby, let’s get going.”
“Okay,” she says, hands Gizmo to me, and climbs in the passenger seat.
I hand her back the cat and close the door.
I scan the area as I round the hood of the truck, watching for any threats that could be lurking.
It’ll be about four hours before we get back to the clubhouse, and until then, I won’t relax.