Chapter 11

11

DEVIANT

I hated how long this shit had taken away from my time with Alice. But it would be worth it once the problem wasn't hanging over our heads. It took nearly twenty-four hours of deep-diving, but early the following morning—before Alice was even awake—I found a connection between a very frequent customer and an aide at the preschool.

Apparently, they'd been on a few dates. It was a weak thread, but it was all I had.

I sent the man's information to the other enforcers and asked someone to pick up the asshole and bring him to the guesthouse. That was our name for the building set far back on the compound that we used to convince people to talk. And to deal with assholes who had been stupid enough to cross us.

Fox was dealing with some other business, but despite the early hour, Maverick was in his office when I dropped in. To my surprise, Molly was on one of the sofas in the small sitting area, changing Luna's diaper. "When are you gonna start letting Mommy sleep in?" she cooed to the baby.

Both Maverick's and Molly's heads popped up when I knocked.

Molly took one look at my face and asked, "You guys need some privacy?"

Molly was a badass chick. But she also understood the roles of an MC more than most women, having grown up as the daughter of the president of another club with a fierce reputation. Like the Iron Rogues, they were known for being ruthless. But it was also common knowledge that the men worshipped their women and would stop at nothing to protect them.

I shook my head, then filled Mav in on what I'd found.

"You already sent some enforcers to pick him up?" he asked, though his tone implied that he knew the answer.

"Yeah."

Mav raised his chin in acknowledgment. "Take whoever you need to question him."

"Hey, Deviant?" Molly piped up.

I glanced at her, and she cocked her head thoughtfully. "It might be worth noting that Alice and Dahlia had a conversation about rumors Alice heard about you. From coworkers. Shit about lines of women on your bike and stuff, but Dahlia set her straight."

Thank fuck for that. It would have put a huge fucking wrench in my plans if I'd had to do damage control like that. "Tell Dahlia I appreciate it."

"I will, but that's not why I brought it up. Have you considered that this might be more about you than her?"

My brow furrowed as I considered her words. "What do you mean?"

"Well, what if the person trying to convince Alice that you're really a callous manwhore is actually carrying a torch for you? And she's pissed that you chose Alice? Especially if she sees Alice as beneath her."

Well, shit. Molly's theory had more substance than anything I'd come up with so far as to the reason someone would target my woman.

"You think it could be the bitch from the preschool?" I mused.

"Girls can be catty and vicious. If it was the guy, I think his message would have been more possessive. A claim on her rather than something derogatory. At least, until she's wearing your property patch."

"Mav, your old lady is fucking brilliant," I muttered.

Maverick grinned as he leaned back in his chair, his hands behind his head. "Damn straight."

Ice, Viper, and Racer had responded when I asked for my brothers to go after the guy from the bar, so I called Ice and shared Molly's theory. Ice and Viper stuck to their assignment, but Racer changed course and headed to Britney's apartment to grab her before work. Then I called Nora and gave her a heads-up.

Alice came down shortly after that, and I kissed her goodbye and sent her off to work with the relief of knowing Britney would no longer be there to bother her.

Stone and Whiskey were talking in the lounge when I walked in. "You boys want to help me out at the guesthouse?" I inquired. "I'll fill you in on the way."

"Am I gonna get to beat the shit outta someone?" Stone asked with a smile that seemed just a little too jovial. On the surface, he was a laid-back guy. Always quick with a smile and a joke. But the truth was, he carried around a fuck ton of rage over something in his past and interrogating or punishing our enemies was basically his therapy.

"Unlikely," I told him, thinking of the Britney chick we would be talking to. However, if Molly's theory was wrong, we'd have a much more intense conversation with her friend. "But a possibility."

Stone shrugged. "Good enough for me."

Whiskey checked his watch and nodded. "Don't have any clients until later tonight, so I'm in."

Whiskey was the manager of our club's tattoo shop, Iron Inkworks. He was also a highly sought-after artist.

When Racer texted to say that he'd grabbed Britney, we hopped onto our bikes and rode out to the guesthouse.

When we arrived, I saw that Ice had sent a message as well. He and Viper would be arriving a few minutes behind Racer. Apparently, "Eddie" had been drunk—his usual state from what I'd found online.

When I had explained the situation to Nora, she'd given me a little bit of information on Britney. We didn't torture women—with very, very rare exceptions—and I doubted we would even need to make use of the armory as a scare tactic. But I couldn't say the same for the drunk. Especially if we needed to sober him up before getting answers.

However, not using any weapons didn't mean we didn't have other ways to convince the bitch to talk and do exactly what we told her.

When Racer walked inside, he pushed the girl in ahead of him. She was probably a year or two younger than Alice. Her eyes were wide, filled with fear and pain—probably from the cuffs clasped tightly around her wrists.

I pointed at the first room, the one we didn't bother to scrub away the bloodstains or any other evidence of what went on there.

The other room was used for a different type of psychological bullshit. It was sterile and blindingly white—which would exacerbate Eddie's hangover. The room left the victim with only their imagination of the things that happened in there.

I gestured for Whiskey and Stone to handle Eddie, then waved Viper and Ice into Britney's cell and followed them in. Racer had uncuffed her, but then he tied her to a chair in the middle of the room.

It wasn't really necessary for the three men to be there when I interrogated her. The truth was, they were there to make sure I didn't snap and kill her.

With a menacing expression, I planted myself in front of her, feet wide apart and arms crossed over my chest, making my muscles bulge.

"You know who I am?" I asked even though I knew the answer.

"Um…Gr-Grady?—"

She cut off and let out a little squeak when I bent over and put my face in hers. "You have not been given permission to call me by my given name," I spat. "Don't insult me, Britney. I'm very fucking low on patience today."

"Deviant," she whispered, clearly terrified.

"Good. Now, let's talk about my woman."

She cleared her throat and tried to adopt an innocently confused persona. "Who? I didn't know you?—"

Her words got caught in her throat when my hand wrapped around it. "Do not lie to me. I don't hurt women, but when someone comes after what belongs to me, I could very easily lose my control. Can't guarantee what would happen after that."

"O-ok-kay," she wheezed when I let up the pressure just enough for her to answer.

"Let's try this again." I released her and returned to my previous stance. "Seems you tried to make Alice doubt my intentions by telling her shit you knew wasn't true. Correct?"

Britney nodded, tears streaming down her cheeks. I narrowed my eyes and clenched my fists.

"Yes," she whispered, clearly picking up on my demand for verbal responses.

"And when that didn't work…?"

"I—um—my friend spray painted her car!" she sobbed.

After seeing both her and Eddie's build, it had been obvious who'd done the actual deed.

I sighed and shook my head in disappointment. "What did I say about lying, Britney?"

"Fine!" she wailed in an annoying voice that grated on all of our ears. "I did it, okay? It was Eddie's idea! He liked Alice, and he wanted me to break you guys up. But…I've always wanted you to notice me! We could be so awesome together. And then you went and chose that mousey little?—"

"I'd be very, very careful what you say next," I warned in a low, deadly voice.

She sniffed and blinked her watery eyes, no doubt attempting to make herself look younger. She probably thought we would be more likely to be lenient if we thought she'd simply been young and stupid. "I just…I just wanted you to really notice me."

I scoffed. "I'm former Army intelligence, Britney. I take note of everyone and everything around me. You simply weren't worth remembering."

Her expression crumpled as if I'd taken away her favorite puppy, but I didn't miss the anger that sparked in her eyes.

"When you arrived, I was undecided as to what to do with you. But you've lied and tried to manipulate me. All that did was confirm my assumption that you are simply a selfish, entitled bitch." I ignored her outraged gasp and continued, "So, here's what's going to happen."

I gestured to Racer who stomped over and untied her, then grasped her arm and yanked her to her feet.

"Racer here is going to drive you to your car. After that, he's going to follow you out of town until you're far, far away from here. If you ever come back, I won't be as fucking nice as I'm being today, is that clear?"

Britney nodded, her shoulder slumping in defeat.

"And Britney…"

She raised her eyes up to meet mine, and what she saw there made her shrink back in terror.

"If I ever find out you've been less than five miles from my woman, you will regret it. And you should know, I have eyes everywhere."

Britney nodded and didn't fight Racer when he led her from the room.

I took a few calming breaths, then walked out and crossed to the other space.

Eddie was in the same position that Britney had been, but he was already crying like a pussy, practically wailing for his mommy.

"What did you guys do to him?" I asked Stone curiously.

"Not a damn thing," he responded, clearly disgusted. "Mighta told him a few things we like to do in here, but it wasn't fun anymore when he started crying and shit."

Amused at Stone's attitude, I shook my head as I moved to stand in front of Eddie. "You got a thing for Alice?"

Eddie nodded and sobbed. "I thought she was pretty and so nice when most women are mean to me! I was sure I could make her want me if she got away from you. I could make her happy in bed and then?—"

I slapped him hard across the face, furious that he was even thinking about my woman in that way.

"You thought egging Britney on was the way to Alice's heart?"

Eddie shrugged, looking bewildered. The guy was every bit as stupid as he looked.

Sighing, I turned to Stone. "Make him see the error of his ways and convince him to stay the fuck away from Alice. One wrong step, and he better run as fast and as far away as he can, or I'll put him in the fucking ground."

Stone glanced at Eddie skeptically. "He's not gonna last long."

I shrugged. "I'm sure you'll find a way to make it fun."

He grinned. "True. I'm nothing if not fun."

I chucked on my way out of the room, then headed home to shower and pick up Alice. On the way, I made one quick stop to pick up the present Fox had been holding for me.

It was time to make Alice officially mine.