"On your knees."
"This is ridiculous. I'm not some criminal—"
"You're breaking into my house. Get on your knees. Now."
He drops, and I can see the rage building beneath his smooth exterior. This is a man who doesn't like being told what to do. A man who's used to control, to having power, to getting his way.
Too fucking bad.
I holster my weapon and pull out my cuffs, keeping my knee in his back as I secure his wrists. He struggles slightly, but I've done this a thousand times. The cuffs click into place, tight enough to hold but not tight enough to cut off circulation.
"Claire!" I call out, not taking my attention off Derek. "It's Tom! You're safe! Stay in the bedroom until I tell you otherwise!"
No response, but I didn't expect one. She's probably terrified, holding Jackson, trying to keep him calm while her abuser kneels fifteen feet away.
Derek laughs. It's an ugly sound. "Claire. That's what she's calling herself now? You know that's not her real name, right?"
"Shut up."
"And Sheriff Tom. How noble." He's on his knees, hands cuffed behind him, but there's nothing submissive in his voice. He radiates menace. "Tell me, Sheriff, how long have you been fucking my girlfriend? Few days? Since she showed up in your little nowhere town?"
I tighten my grip on his shoulder, hard enough to make him wince. "One more word and you'll regret it."
"I'm just curious how a small-town sheriff ended up involved in my personal business." His voice drops, becomes softer, more dangerous. "Because this is personal business. A family matter. And you've inserted yourself where you don't belong."
The rumble of motorcycles cuts through the evening air. Three bikes, riding in formation, pulling up to my house. The engines cut simultaneously, and only two men dismount—Beast and Rage, tall and muscular, covered in tattoos, wearing the Savage Riders colors.
Beast takes in the scene with a single glance. "Sheriff."
"Appreciate you coming. This is Derek Voss. He was attempting to break into my home to get to a woman and child under my protection."
Rage's expression darkens. He's the quieter of the two, but there's something in his eyes that makes grown men nervous. "That right?"
"It's a misunderstanding," Derek tries, his voice losing some of its confidence now that he's looking at two MC members who probably outweigh him by a hundred pounds each. "My girlfriend overreacted to an argument—"
"Your ex-girlfriend," I correct. "The one with bruises on her arms. The one who ran across state lines to get away from you."
Beast cracks his knuckles. It's not a conscious gesture, just something he does when he's thinking. But Derek flinches at the sound.
"You boys want to take Mr. Voss for a ride?" I ask, pulling him to his feet. "I think he needs to understand a few things aboutBlackwater Falls. About what happens to men who beat women. About what happens to people who threaten our community."
"Would be our pleasure, Sheriff." Beast's smile doesn't reach his eyes. "We know a nice quiet place where we can have a conversation. Real educational."
"Now wait a minute—" Derek's starting to panic now, his smooth facade cracking. "You can't just hand me over to—to criminals! I have rights! I'll have your badge for this!"
"Criminals?" Rage speaks for the first time, his voice low and rough. "We're upstanding members of the community. The sheriff here can vouch for us. Right, Sheriff?"
"The Savage Riders MC have been instrumental in keeping the peace in Blackwater Falls," I say formally, even as I'm handing Derek over to Beast's grip. "They often assist with community outreach and education programs."
"Exactly," Beast says, taking Derek's arm in a hold that looks gentle but must hurt based on Derek's wince. "Education. That's what this is. Time for you to learn some lessons, Voss."
"You can't do this! I'm connected! I have lawyers! I have—"
"You have nothing here," I say, leaning in close enough that only he can hear. "You're in my town now. My jurisdiction. And you just threatened a woman and child, attempted to break into an officer's home, and made the mistake of thinking your money and connections mean a damn thing in Blackwater Falls."
Beast and Rage start walking Derek toward the bikes. He's struggling now, but it's useless. These men have handled far worse than a violent drug dealer with a God complex.
"Time you learned why no one messes with Blackwater Falls," Beast says. "And what we do to men who put their hands onwomen. It's educational, like I said. Might be a little painful, but the best lessons usually are."
