10. Chapter Ten

Chapter Ten

I’ve been on the road driving like a bat of hell, breaking every speed limit and traffic law to get to her. I don’t know what the fuck happened, but the fear in her voice when she cried my name was all I needed to know. I’ll burn the world down to get to her. Whatever it takes, nothing or no one will stand in my way. The second her apartment complex comes into view, I’m parking behind her car and making a mad dash for her door.

By the time I’m there, she’s peering out looking for me, having heard my bike.

“Are you okay?” I move inside the doorway, checking her over as I spot the glass shattered on the living room floor. “What happened?”

“There’s a dead body in…in my bathroom,” she finishes hoarsely.

“Do you know who it is?”

She shakes her head.

“You call the cops or anyone else?”

Another shake .

I pull her into my arms, and she bursts into tears, nuzzling her face deep into my neck as though she can’t get close enough. “Hey. I’ve got you. Always.” I kiss the top of her head. “Any idea what this guy wanted?”

“I should have told someone. The other night after I left the clubhouse, I came home and when I climbed into my bed, there was a bullet under my pillow with an X etched on the side. Then tonight Cade showed up outside of the diner when my shift ended.”

“Wait. You’re telling me that someone left a bullet under your pillow, and you didn’t think that was important enough to call the police to report it?”

“Don’t be mad.” She sniffles.

“I’m not mad at you. Fuck.”

“You sound mad.”

“Show me the body and tell me what happened.”

“He’s in here.” I follow her to the bathroom in the hall as she continues to explain. “Cade showed up when I was getting off work. He’s the guy I told you ghosted me out of the blue. Anyway, he was saying he needed to talk to me, but he was being so weird I just thought he was screwing with me or something. I don’t exactly trust a guy who dipped out without a word for weeks. I thought maybe he broke in and left the bullet as a weird joke or something. Before I could get the truth out of him, Chris came out asking if he was bothering me and Cade got spooked and took off. I went by his apartment, but he’s moved. Then I got a text that said sorry. I assumed it was him, since it came from an unknown number. I told him to fuck off and then I came in and started making my dinner and got in the tub for a soak. That’s when I heard the glass shatter, and I hid in the towel closet.”

“How did he end up dead on the bathroom floor?”

“He slipped on my bathwater. I guess.”

“And you have no idea what your ex is mixed up in or why this fucker broke in?”

“Nope.”

“Well, we can assume two things. Whoever this guy works for will be waiting to hear from him, and two, when they don’t, they’ll come looking. Go to your room and pack a bag.”

“Shouldn’t we call the police?”

“The time to call them has passed since you called me first and it’s been hours. Do you trust me?”

“Of course.”

“Then let me do this my way.” Lottie goes to her room, and I dial Tyrant. “I’ve got a situation. Clean up. Texting you an address.” I tuck my phone back into my pocket and bend down to see who this unlucky bastard is. No wallet. Not even car keys. He’s got a tattoo on the inside of his left wrist. A red scorpion. Fucking hell. Some years back, there was a gang that called themselves Hell’s Scorpions. When there was a divide in the leadership, they fractured off into The Red Scorpions while the rest remained part of the original group.

Lottie is lucky to be breathing. I didn’t think they were even in Alabama and need to tell Havoc about this shit, but first we need to get rid of the body.

Tyrant shows up as fast as he could with two prospects in tow.

“Hey girl,” he greets Lottie.

“Hey.” She gives him a small wave from where she sits perched on a barstool at the kitchen counter.

“Don’t worry. We’ll have your place good as new in no time.”

She nods but doesn’t stop chewing on her thumbnail.

“Keep an eye on her,” I tell Henley and Rooster. “Let’s step outside a minute.” I motion to Tyrant, and he follows me to the end of the breezeway. “Lottie’s in danger. I’m taking her to the clubhouse until I can figure out why in the hell she’s got a dead Red Scorpion in her bathroom. It’s got something to do with her ex. While you and the guys are cleaning up, see if you can find anything that may be hidden in a vent on the wall or something. They’ve got to think Lottie has something they want.”

“I’ve got you.” He bumps his fist against mine.

Lottie doesn’t want to leave her car, and I get it. She’s independent and needs a safety net. Thinks if she needs to run, she will at least have her wheels. I’ll let her make this play, but I’ll be taking her keys. I’m pissed that she didn’t come to me with this shit in the first place. There’s nothing I can do to change it, so we’ve got to pivot and move forward from where we are now.

I’m following behind her since she’s already been to the clubhouse and knows the way. Lying low is what is best given tonight’s sequence of events. Seems that’s what her ex has been doing. Got himself into some trouble and maybe thought he was protecting Lottie by keeping his distance. Fuck if I know. I’ll find out once I track the weasel down. Only a coward would leave his woman unprotected and in the dark.

I get her to my room and she stands with her back pressed to my dresser. The room isn’t much, but it’s not dirty.

I kick off my boots and hang my cut in the closet before sitting on the edge of the bed. “C’mere, Lottie.”

“Is it safe?”

“The fuck does that mean?”

“I don’t know who you’ve fucked in that bed.”

“One, you’ve got no reason to be pulling that jealousy shit right now. Two, my sheets are clean. One of the girls cleaned while I was on the road. Three, I’m not asking.”

She scrunches up her nose and starts pacing the length of the room.

“Get your ass over here.” I undo my jeans and her eyes go big. “I’m tired, and I’m betting you could use some rest yourself. We can’t get answers out of a dead man and if you’re right and this has something to do with Cade, chances are he’s in hiding. Let’s get some rest and I’ll have one of my guys trace the number he was texting from. Best-case scenario, we get a location and extract him for questioning. The worst case is Cade goes further underground. Either way, I’ll find out who the dead guy was working for and set up a meet to make a deal. But the bottom line is you’re safe with me.”

She doesn’t respond, but I know she’s absorbed what I said because she kicks her shoes off and comes to bed. She lays stiffly on the opposite side of the bed, and I roll off the edge to get undressed and flick off the light.

“What are you doing?”

“Told you we’re getting some shuteye, beautiful.”

“Can’t you put on some sweatpants or shorts or something?”

“Nope.” I yank my covers back and she curls into herself. “Babe, I’m not going to bite.”

“I’m not your babe.”

“You sure sounded like you thought you were when you were calling me for help. This kinda favor. You owe me big time and I’ll be expecting payment.”

“I can hardly wait to hear what you’ll be wanting.”

“Right now, I want you to relax and not act like you’re scared of your own shadow. Promise you. No one will ever lay a hand on you when you’re with me or in this clubhouse. You’re mine, Lottie, and I think you get what that means.”

“I’m not a piece of property.”

“In my world you are.”

“I live in the real world, Creed. I have rights.”

“Never said you didn’t, but if you think you’ll stand a better chance going this shit alone, I invite you to try to walk out that door and see how far you get before you’re calling me again.”

“You don’t have to be an asshole about it,” she snaps.

“If I was being an asshole, I’d have you bent over my knee, spanking your ass for the mess you’ve gotten yourself entangled in.”

“You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”

“Damn straight I would because after I was done tanning your hide, I’d fuck that attitude right out of you. You said you needed me, and I drove all damn morning to get to you. Would walk through fire for you.”

“Seth,” her voice softens.

“Get some sleep, hellcat.”

She rolls toward me, placing a hand on my chest. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” I grumble.

I close my eyes, thankful that my blackout curtains are doing their job to keep my room dark.

“I didn’t mean to seem ungrateful.”

“Go to sleep. ”

“I can’t. Do you think Cade is dead?”

“No. I think that fuckstick got into some shady shit and hung you out to dry.”

“What do you mean?”

“We’ll talk about it later.”

“Tell me now.”

“Listen, beautiful. I’ve had a long fucking night that bled into my morning. It’s midday. I’ve had about two hours of sleep in the past forty-eight hours. If you want to use that mouth, I’ve got some ideas. Otherwise, I’m about five seconds from passing out and don’t even think of trying to leave. I’ve got your keys, and everyone here knows you’re not to go anywhere without my approval.”

“Sounds like I’m a prisoner.”

“It’s how I keep you alive and babe. As much as I like your attitude on a good day, now isn’t the time for it.”

“Okay.”

“Okay,” I mutter back, curling an arm around her waist and pulling her back to my front.

“Seth?”

“Shut it.”