Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 24615 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 123(@200wpm)___ 98(@250wpm)___ 82(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24615 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 123(@200wpm)___ 98(@250wpm)___ 82(@300wpm)
Once I took Alice’s keys and opened the door, I ushered her inside. Then I gave instructions to the prospects. “Keep your eyes and ears open in case they decide to come back.”
Both nodded before getting to work. I helped Alice pack a bag and tossed some extra stuff into the Jeep before we left and drove to the compound.
When we walked into the clubhouse, Whiskey’s old lady, Ellery, was on the floor, encouraging their nearly eighteen-month-old daughter, Corrine, to walk. Elise, Blade’s woman, was seated on one of the couches with Dahlia, each of them cradling one of her and Fox’s twins.
If I hadn’t been so focused on the situation with Alice, I might have given my prez a little shit when I saw him leaning against the door to the kitchen, staring at his wife and kids with a soft expression. Instead, I gently encouraged Alice to join the old ladies while I spoke with the club officers.
Fox’s attention shifted to me as I stalked over. When he clocked my expression, he pushed away from the door and headed to his office.
“Lemme guess, whatever has you looking like you’re ready to kill someone has to do with your woman?” he muttered as he walked around his desk and sat in the chair.
I nodded as I paced, too wound up to take a seat. “What is it with people thinkin’ they can mess with an Iron Rogue’s old lady?” I raged. “You’d think after Molly and Dahlia, they’d get the message. Seems like it’s becoming a fucking tradition for patches to have dangerous situations finding their women.”
“The fuckers aren’t right in the head, Deviant,” Fox muttered as he typed something on his phone before tossing the device onto the desktop. “And while I don’t disagree that it’s weird and too fucking common, we’ll handle your shit like we did with all the others.”
I paused my pacing when Ice, Hawk, and Racer—-a few of our enforcers—walked into the office. Followed shortly by Whiskey—our sergeant at arms—and our captain, Stone.
Obviously, Fox had put out the word. When everyone found a place to stand or sit, I filled them in on the situation at hand.
“I get that this isn’t much to get worked up about when it could’ve been a fuck of a lot worse,” I conceded, even though no one had voiced the thought. “But I want this shit handled before it escalates. With what just happened with Viper’s woman, we need to make a clearer statement that going after an Iron Rogue’s woman is a fucking death sentence.”
No one brother disagreed.
“Do what you do best, Deviant,” Fox ordered. “Get a name, and we’ll back whatever play you decide to go with.”
I lifted my chin appreciatively before marching toward the door.
“Deviant,” Fox called out, stopping me at the door. “When this shit is done, the vest is ready.”
“Thanks,” I grunted before heading to the lounge to check on Alice. She was holding one of the twins and cooing with a sweet smile on her beautiful face. Seeing her with the baby just made me even more determined to protect her, then make sure she was mine in every way so that no one would think otherwise.
Eventually, I walked over to the couch where she was sitting and bent down to press a quick kiss on her mouth. “Got a little work to do. You gonna be okay here?”
Alice smiled. “I won’t turn down the chance to spend time with these little munchkins.”
“Hopefully, it won’t be long before you’re growing our own little peanut,” I said in a low voice so only she could hear me. Her cheeks bloomed with heat, and I winked at her before striding away.
Unfortunately, Alice didn’t have a security system, much less any cameras on her property, so it took a little longer than I’d hoped. And some fancier footwork—and by that, I meant illegal shit.
Ultimately, I managed to find a video of the culprit. The picture was from far away and at an obscured angle. Plus, the quality was low, so it was pretty gritty. I could just make out a hooded figure in baggy clothes spray-painting Alice’s car.
There was no way for me to determine anything about them, even their gender. But I watched the video over and over, memorizing every detail as I looked for one little clue that would give me a direction to go in. I only took a break to eat dinner with Alice, then got her settled in my room before returning to my work.
It was nearly two in the morning when I finally spotted a clue. There was the slightest reflection in the car window when the vandal stood up after finishing their task.
With some finagling and manipulating of the video frame, I managed to get a logo from the front of the sweatshirt. It was for a local bar, one of the few businesses we didn’t own. The dive didn’t compete with our own watering hole, so we didn’t bother them.