Page 43 of The Biker’s Guilty Pleasur

He looked closer at the gold pen with the intricately engraved initials.

“It’s your pen.”

She took it from him and brought it closer to her eyes to make out the thin engraving. “I don’t know. It’s actually Heidi’s pen. She let me use it to fill out her paperwork.”

Reaper concluded FC had to stand for Franklin Cartwright. What other asshole got his initials put on his pens? He wanted to toss it out the window because it had belonged to the judge, but started fiddling with it, wondering if it could have been a tracker. In his world, he didn’t trust easily. He wouldn’t put it past Cartright, seeing how controlling and abusive he’d been of his wife.

When he unscrewed the top, there was definitely something in there that didn’t belong, but it wasn’t a tracker. It was a small flash drive attached to the top.

“What is it?” Grace leaned over his shoulder to see.

“I don’t know, but Copper will.”

He kissed her forehead and asked her to wait while he dropped it off downstairs. As he walked along the hallways, he heard some commotion in the yard outside.

“Who’s there?” he asked.

The boys were gathering at the main gate, not allowing someone entry. He was paranoid. He wasn’t going to let the judge keep fucking with their lives anymore. Lord wouldn’t tolerate it. And it would be war.

“Some chick looking for someone,” Righteous said.

His nerves instantly calmed a degree. It was better than the cops and another search warrant. Once he got close enough, he saw it was that girl from Cartwright’s office. He didn’t like this at all. That asshole was trying to send in a mole, or worse.

As soon as she saw him, she pointed. “That’s him!”

“What do you want?” he asked flatly.

“I need your help.”

“I’m listening.”

“I can’t work there anymore. Franklin’s a pig and he’s getting worse. He said if I leave or quit, I’d end up dead in the river because I know too much.”

“Why did you come here?” Reaper asked. Yes, he was fucking skeptical. The security of the club was his responsibility.

“He was afraid of you. When you left, he started throwing stuff and screaming. I’ve never seen anyone get under his skin like that.”

“And what do you expect me to do for you?”

“I know stuff I shouldn’t. If I tell you, can you protect me?”

He took a breath.

“You’ll tell me everything you know. One of the sheep will search you top to bottom. And get this straight right now, you’re not my responsibility. The club will protect you until Cartwright is dealt with. Then we’ll cut you loose.”

Reaper had an old lady now, and he wasn’t putting her at risk for nothing. The young blonde would be under the protection of the club but he didn’t want any personal ties to her. For all he knew, Cartwright was trying to frame him just like he’d done with him.

He grabbed Righteous by the jacket and pulled him aside.

“I want her thoroughly checked and put in the tank for now. This isn’t a free pass. I’ll deal with this shit tomorrow.”

Righteous nodded.

He heard the gate whining open as he walked back to the clubhouse. Reaper wanted to drop off this flash drive to Copper before heading up to bed. He needed sleep. Too much had been going on lately and it was starting to get to him.

Brick bumped into him coming around a corner as he neared Copper’s room.

“Hey, any update on the judge?” asked Brick.