CHAPTER THREE

– DWIGHT –

“You can take your eyes off the woman for the next hour or so,” my VP grumbles. “As a forensic sketch artist, who worked for law enforcement for years, my old lady knows how to handle a gun. Sitting across from Rowan is a homicide detective, and Rox is right next to her. You know she can handle anything that comes through the door because she was born into Blennies Hitch, and has been handling shit with us for decades.”

I finally tear my gaze away from Rowan and snap, “She was just released from the hospital, asshole. Yesterday I had her in my arms and had to restart her body and give her my breath to make her fucking lungs work again.”

Brixton smacks my back. “Which proves she’s still alive. Now, come on. Let the old ladies engulf her in chick stuff. You damn well know she needs the distraction, and we will have a chance to regroup and think of a plan to get the bitch who needs to die so all our ladies are safe.”

I nod and follow them into church.

Cecil doesn’t even wait until everyone has taken a seat before he starts to talk. “I don’t think Sylvan knew Caddy had money. The chunk of cash she took from Marlene’s bank account was to throw everyone off. Clearly, she wanted law enforcement to believe that she took one of the transportation options she put in place by train, plane, or rental car. None of those options were used.”

“We found Sylvan’s body,” Asher states. “His head was a bit chewed on. Seems like the shark only helped you and spit the fucker out right after everyone left the water.”

“How were you able to find his body?” I wonder.

Asher glances my way. “We had boats on the water, lights, sonar equipment. The shark was long gone when we finally had all the equipment we needed.”

“We all know Caddy is still very much alive and dead set on vengeance by the way she showed up at the fucking hospital,” Brixton growls. “We need to kill the bitch, and do it soon. I don’t want my pregnant old lady stressing about her not-sister coming to kill her, and everyone else.”

“Not-sister,” Perrin growls. “The bitch doesn’t even deserve that fucking label.”

Dutton clears his throat. “She’s the one who blew up Marlene’s apartment, killed the stewardess mainly due to jealousy, killed her own father, which can also be linked to jealousy over the way he treated Marlene when she knew Marlene wasn’t her sister, and last night the shit with Rowan.”

It’s a mouthful and I wonder how the man was able to throw out that run-on sentence without taking a breath in between.

“She won’t go away,” Brixton states.

Knowing the man is right I add, “She’d rather die trying to kill everyone who wronged her.”

“I’m not going to wait around until she comes for my old lady,” Brixton states. “Though, I do know for sure she’ll come to us if we don’t do shit.”

“We’re not waiting,” I grit.

“No, we’re not,” Perrin affirms.

“With Alwyn’s suggestion yesterday about Sylvan using an anagram, I let some software run to link anagrams with crimes and see what pops. I’ve managed to find two other names Sylvan used, and both of them were used as fighter profiles. Not to mention, he stopped using those names when someone turned up dead. Beaten to a bloody pulp.”

“Underground fight fuck-up,” Vesper states, something that instantly crossed my mind as well.

Cecil nods. “Yes, that was mentioned in the reports. Both names were used in different states and I’ve contacted local authorities to share information so those cases can be closed.”

“The reason he brought it up,” Perrin rumbles. “Is because Cecil was also smart enough to run Caddy’s name to search for any anagram use of fake identities.”

“And?” Brixton questions, itching to fight for justice and safety when it concerns his old lady.

“Darcy Debsdig. She’s been using this name since a few weeks after her father hired Liam and Sylvan Pruitt. It’s safe to say Sylvan gave her the idea. Now that I found this name and the way it popped out of nowhere, I was able to link a bank account and track a financial trail. She booked a hotel room last night.”

Surprise hits me. “That’s just plain stupid. Using a fake name or not, the bitch has cash in her hand from what she took from Marlene’s bank account.”

Tage shrugs. “Who the fuck knows. Either Caddy or Sylvan might have overheard something on the cruise ship. It makes sense to assume they know law enforcement is on to them with their illegal activities and what happened when Dutton went overboard. They would be aware of the fact the ship turned to head back to port. It’s why they escaped from the ship early instead of waiting for it to dock. Till now we’ve followed Sylvan and Caddy isn’t stupid. We showed up at the gym so we’re tracking the underground fighting lead. She must deem herself safe enough to use her fake name. Fact is, we’re going to check it out. I’m thinking we should keep our distance first, see if she’s really in there and if she’s not…maybe she’ll return. Either way, it’s worth checking out and keeping an eye on.”

“We also need to keep brothers at the clubhouse, not just prospects.” Perrin glances around the table. “The old ladies can hold their own, but we’re not taking chances when it comes to this bitch.”

“She slipped through our fingers twice,” Brixton snarls.

“Exactly,” Prez agrees.

“I’ll stay,” Brixton offers.

“Me too,” Tage rumbles.

Perrin nods and glances at Asher. “Are you coming with me?”

Asher nods and shoots prez a grin. “Your sister would kick me in the balls if I stayed here. She’d probably think I did it to keep an eye on her.”

Perrin chuckles and I bob my head, knowing Rox definitely would. With the old ladies, and at least two brothers staying at the clubhouse, I know they’ll be safe here on lockdown.

It’s why I offer, “I’ll go with you guys.”

“Good, then it’s settled. We leave in five.” Perrin gets to his feet and stalks out of church.

The old ladies stop talking as soon as we step foot into the main room of the clubhouse. Rowan’s eyes hit mine and my fucking chest tightens at the relief in her eyes. It’s as if she feels safer knowing I’m near. Shit. Now I have to tell her I’m leaving. I hold out my hand and she instantly gets to her feet to stroll toward me.

“What’s going on?” she asks warily.

She deserves to know the truth, even if it’s an ongoing investigation and she’s technically not a part of Blennies Hitch. She did ask for a fake relationship while she also agreed to a date though, so basically she’s applying to become my old lady.

I snort at my mental justification. The woman evokes feelings inside me, and I have yet to determine exactly what it all entails. Yet, the sound of Rowan becoming mine feels damn perfect. On the other hand, she just came out of a relationship with a fucker who was two-timing her, fucking using her because of the gym she bought and he must have targeted her before they met.

Lowering my voice, I keep it between us when I tell her, “As my fake girlfriend, you deserve to know that we’re going to check out a lead.”

“What kind of lead?” She frowns. “Can I come with you?”

I shake my head. “You’re staying here with the rest of the old ladies. Brixton and Tage, along with a few others, are staying with you guys.”

Her shoulders sag and she grumbles, “Fine.”

The corner of my mouth twitches. “Gluing yourself to the fake rebound guy isn’t a good foundation for what I have in mind for us.”

She rolls her eyes. “I’m not clingy, and you’re not a rebound guy. I just like having you around because I trust you. Trusting men was blown to smithereens by that asshole who didn’t even use his real name to date me, but with you, I know it’s different. Hell, if anything, he was the fake one while you’ve only been real with me.”

Warmth spreads inside my veins by her admittance and I act on instinct when I tenderly cup the side of her face.

I’m about to say something when Rox’s voice comes from right beside us, “Go on, kiss the woman, claim her, she’s awesome. You really should. She can hold her breath longer than me. For realz, we did a contest just now and she passed three minutes easily. Fucking SEALs with proper training can extend it longer, and maybe we should test to see exactly how long she can hold it underwater cause…damn.”

I glare at Rox. “Could you go ramble somewhere else?”

Rox shrugs. “I can go across the room to watch how you kiss her.”

I groan and stare at the ceiling, frustrated at how Rox always seems to fucking interfere. Until I hear a soft giggle that draws my gaze back to the woman in front of me.

“Do you think that shit’s funny?” I grunt.

A challenge is easily seen in her eyes and the way she raises herself slightly on her toes as she grabs the front of my leather cut and murmurs, “You can kiss the smile off my face if it bothers you that much.”

Humor is fleeting and lust instantly takes over when I accept the challenge she just threw out there. When my lips connect with hers, so sensual, so soft, and so fucking perfect? It gives me the drive to end this case as soon as possible to give this woman the fresh start she needs so I can hopefully one day claim her as mine.