“She did sound worried on the recording,” BB adds.
“Do we think she knows him, or was just the fact that someone found a man bleeding to death and called 9-1-1?” Spider asks.
“Not sure. We’ve got the dispatch information. It was a burner phone, found by Apex and wiped clean of all prints,” I explain.
“Fucking hell, with every question we answer fifty more pop up,” King growls.
“Maybe we’re not asking the right questions,” Torch interjects. “We’re asking what happened and who was there, and I get it. We want to trace it all back to someone. It’s clear, though, that steps were made to erase that path. Maybe instead of asking who, we need to concentrate on the why.”
“As in, why would someone want to hurt Ace?” I ask.
“Exactly and then trace whatever trail we find.”
“I’ll get Crank and a couple other prospects to start reviewing who Apex has been around the last month. Spider, I’m going to need you to oversee them. I’m going to be busy in Manchester until I get my family moved up here and make sure her ex doesn’t try to fuck with her more than he already has.”
“Sounds good. I’ll send another prospect that way tomorrow, just in case you need help in guarding the place,” King says. “We still need to be vigilant until we figure out if the club is the target or if it was Apex personally.”
“Appreciate it, man. I’m going to head home to my family now. It’s been a long day,” I answer as I stand up.
“Hold up, Pez. I’ll ride with you,” Sabre speaks up.
“I’m not coming in tomorrow unless something happens, Sabre. You might want to drive down,” I tell him, hoping he’ll back out. I have plans tonight that involve sinking into my woman and finally memorizing every inch of her body.
“That’s fine. I’ll just spend the night down there. I could use the break, and I miss my girls now that I’m fucking sober enough to function,” he jokes.
“Damn glad to see you that way, too, Sabre. I was where you were at. It’s dark and lonely,” Skull answers.
“It is but I’ve found the sunshine. Looks like you have too,” Sabre replies, with a clap of his hand on Skull’s shoulder as we both stand.
“I’m getting there,” Skull murmurs, and I can still see the pain on his face. Losing his son broke something inside of him. If I think about that happening to Cammie, I nearly lose it. I don’t know any parent could survive what Skull went through. I’m terrified at the mere thought.
They exchange a few more words back and forth. We say our goodbyes and then, we head out to my truck. I miss riding my bike everywhere, but I want my truck with me to take Cammie and Daphne places. I’ve looked at her little car. I don’t think I could fit in it. I need to buy her a new vehicle. She needs an SUV they’re safer than that little tin can she drives. I’ll do that the minute we get her divorce over. Fuck, I need to tell my woman about my past and my worries over her Ex—along with the evidence the club has. Hopefully I can do it after I make love toher. I’m aching to be inside of her again. As Sabre climbs in my truck and slams the door, I try my best to hide the fact that I wish he’d stayed here. If he cock blocks me tonight, I may have to kill him and I’m sure Daphne would frown on that.
Damn it.
Chapter 31
Daphne
I’m just finishingup making a batch of gingerbread for Crank to take with him to the clubhouse. Cammie is in her room playing on her Leapfrog tablet, so I was feeling a little lonely. Baking always helps me get out of my head. Honestly, Cammie may be asleep. She helped me and Crank water all my flowers outside, then played on her swing set. Crank even put her in her wagon and pulled her all around the yard. She’s had a great day. The only thing that would have made it better is if Eli was here with us.
The doorbell rings as I take the pan out of the oven. Crank comes in. I frown. “I can get it,” I tell him, taking off the oven mitts I have on.
“Until we know what’s going on with the club, it’d be better if I do.”
I stare at Crank and barely stop myself from rolling my eyes, but just shrug and turn back to my gingerbread pieces. They’re going to be perfect. Gingerbread can be tricky because you don’t want the outside nor the inside to be dry. It’s a delicate balance.
“Who in the hell are you?” I hear Dane’s voice snap. If you had asked me a little over a year ago, I would have told you that despite everything he’s done to me, I couldn’t hate him. This lastyear however has been an eyeopener. I don’t know how I ever cared for him at all.
“Who the fuck are you?” Crank growls and I can tell he intimidates Dane because he takes a step back. Dane goes to the gym, so he’s in good shape—something he held against me because I could never lose all of the baby weight from Cammie. I can’t count the number of times he referred to me as fat and letting myself go. I pull myself back into the here and now when I hear Dane’s reply.
“I’m Daphne’s husband. Now, what are you doing inmyhome?”
I look at Dane, thinking the man must have lost his ever-loving mind. “You aren’t?—”
“That’s funny, because I’m here because Skittles’ old man wanted someone watching over her because he had to go out of town. Now I’ve seen them two together and I don’t see Daphne wanting someone like you at all. You’re not man enough.”
I have to fight to hold my laughter. The look on Dane’s face is one I haven’t really seen before. I hate that I can’t fully enjoy it. “Dane is my soon-to-be ex-husband. He’s the one that knocked up my ex-best friend, then informed me I was boring, lazy, fat, didn’t care about my appearance, and not the type of woman a man like him should be seen with because he needs a woman of refinement and taste,” I explain, listing every complaint he had about me the day he told me he wanted a divorce. I do it counting them off on my fingers, while smiling with great glee at Crank. Once his words nearly destroyed me, but if Eli looks at me and sees value, if he loves me, then I don’t give a shit what Dane thinks about me. He never deserved me anyhow.
