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“You know there’s a storm coming tonight?” he asks as he eyes my tent dubiously.
“Fuck, I didn’t check the weather. This trip was not well-planned.”
“Look, you’re more than welcome to stay at my cabin for the night. The place is small, but it has two bedrooms. I have some stew cooking, and I’ve made fresh bread. There’s a shed where you can store your bike. And cell coverage.”
CHAPTER SIX: RAFE
Max’s meaning takes several seconds to sink in. “You really think I’m going to arrest Viper for protecting herself? Fuck, she was a minor.”
Max nods. “Okay, I just had to make sure. Viper has had a tough life, and I feel guilty for not finding her sooner. She’s the most important person in my life, and I failed her.”
“How do you figure that?” I ask him.
“When she took off with my mom, I wrote her off. Even after discovering why they left, I didn’t look for her. Wayne never said who beat him up. I never considered Ashley was the one who did it. However, a week or two after his return, he brought a woman back to our home, Angie. Announced she was his wife. When I asked him if he divorced my mom, he said it was no longer necessary. That my mother was dead.”
Puma pours Max a shot of tequila, which he downs.
“I knew he’d been to Vegas, so I searched for news about her death. Discovered a story about a woman matching her description killed during a home invasion. The story also mentioned the woman’s daughter listed as a missing person. I thought Wayne had found them both and gave Ashley to that asshole, Mitch. However, two months later, the asshole showedup. He threatened to rape Angie. That’s when Wayne told him what happened in Vegas. How Ashley beat the shit out of him and left him for dead. He told the asshole she was in Vegas, and he was welcome to her. That’s the day I left and came here. I searched everywhere for her. One afternoon, I saw her handing out fliers for a strip club. Unfortunately, I spotted Mitch there, too. I intercepted him, but then I lost Ashley. Didn’t find her again until I saw a photo of her as a showgirl. Found her. Lost her. Then I saw her again wearing the prospect kutte. That’s when I came here.”
“Why didn’t you tell her who you were? Why did you let her believe her father was dead?” Chill finally demands. Her silence up to now surprised me.
“Because I was afraid. I thought if she knew he was still alive, she’d go after him by herself. The plan was to tell her after she got patched in. That way, she’d have the club backing her up,” Max explains.
Chill opens her mouth but then closes it, nodding. “I get it. As a prospect, she’d never have asked for help. As a member, she automatically has all of us. Still think you should have told her, but I get why you didn’t.”
“Do you think you could describe Mitch to a police sketch artist?” I ask Max.
“Fuck, no,” Puma barks. “We aren’t getting the cops involved.”
I narrow my eyes at Puma. “You can’t go after him, let the police…”
“Do what?” Puma asks me. “Arrest him? On what charges? Do you have evidence against him other than Max’s word?”
I open my mouth to argue but end up scowling instead. He’s right. “I could still look into him,” I grumble.
Puma snorts, and even I have to admit how lame I sound. Needing a minute, I stand and gesture toward Puma’s privatebathroom. He nods. Stepping inside, I use the facilities before splashing cold water on my face. This fucking club sometimes frustrates the hell out of me. They live outside the law. The law I’m sworn to protect. This isn’t the first time I find myself at odds with them. Doubt it will be my last. Not if I want Viper in my life.
Someone knocks on Puma’s door, and I hear Spark speaking animatedly. Opening the bathroom door, I hear him say, “Viper sent us the names of three men who accosted her. She wanted me to check them out. These guys are bad news.”
“Who?” I ask.
Spark looks at me, his eyes wide, before giving Puma an apologetic glance. “I thought you left,” he says to me.
“What are you talking about?”
Spark looks at Puma, who nods for him to continue. “Viper called. Seems like three assholes thought she’d be easy prey.” His words stiffen my spine, and I have to take deep breaths to stop myself from exploding. “She took them down and sent them on their way. However, she got their names and addresses first. I checked them out, and they each have records. Mostly for harassing women.”
“Give me their information, and I’ll file charges against them,” I offer.
Spark and Puma share another look while the others stare at me as if I was speaking in tongues.
“Give us a minute,” Puma says. He keeps his eyes on me while everyone files out.
“Puma…” I start, but he holds up one of his massive paws.
“You’ll get your say but hear me out first. Did Viper ever tell you about how we met?”
I nod. “Yeah. Five guys attacked her outside the casino where she worked as a showgirl. You stepped in.”
