“Fine,” the detective huffs. “But if you remember anything, please call the station.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I agree.
Once she walks out of the motel room with the last deputy, Bear asks, “Are you ready to go?”
“Yes, please.”
When we stand up, my father comes over to us. “You taking her to your place?”
“Yes, it’s closer,” Bear answers. “Avery’s going to give us a ride in her car.”
“Thane will go back with you tonight. Are you coming home tomorrow?” my dad then asks me.
“I…I don’t know yet.”
“I thought you might want to move back home, now that this is all over.”
“She doesn’t need to decide today,” Bear tells him.
“I know she doesn’t. But the door is always open,” my father tells me.
“I know.”
“I’m sorry you had to go through this, but I’m relieved it’s over so you can finally live your life.”
“Yeah, me too.”
“We’ll talk to you tomorrow,” Bear tells him.
My dad nods, and then we’re heading outside to the waiting car.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Barrett
It’s been a week since the night I killed Calvin Dockery in front of Lyla. She hasn’t mentioned it, even though I know it’s still on her mind, in her nightmares. Instead, she’s thrown herself into getting the nonprofit off the ground.
I’m sort of relieved she hasn’t talked about what happened so I don’t have to lie to her. Hopefully, we can put him behind us and move forward without Lyla ever knowing the truth.
“I just thought of the perfect location for Bruised Not Broken,” she says one night when we’re getting ready for bed. It’s one of my favorite parts of the day. Not because we’ll probably have sex, but because Lyla will fall asleep in my arms, safe from her psycho father.
“Oh yeah? Where?” I ask as I throw the covers back and slip underneath them.
“Do you know where that old outdoor shooting range used to be?” she asks as she slides in, curling up against my side.
“The one near RJ’s garage?”
“That’s the one! It also has a small building that could be the headquarters. And who knows, the shooting range could be fun for the vets, or you could host tournament fundraisers.”
“There’s a big clearing next to it too, where we could teach people how to ride Harleys.”
“You’re right! I didn’t even think of that.”
Placing a kiss on the top of her head, I tell her, “It sounds perfect, Lyla. Now we just have to figure out who owns the lot and find out if we can afford it.”
She reaches over to the nightstand and hands me a folder. “The owner’s info is all there. It’s been empty for years, so I think they’ll give you a good deal on it. Maybe even let you lease it at first to see how things go.”
“We could definitely afford a lease,” I say as I flip through the deed and plot map. “You’re a genius, baby. If we can get this place, then we’ll be set.”
“I like when you say that,” Lyla tells me a moment later as she takes the folder back and rolls to put it back onto the nightstand. When she turns back to me, she lifts the covers and drapes herself over the top of me, pulling the blankets up over her shoulders. She leans down to kiss me, shifting her hips until I feel her bare wet slit sliding along my rapidly hardening shaft. “I like it when you tell me how…helpful I’m being,” she teases as she rolls her hips on top of me.
“I need your help with something else important right now,” I growl as my hands slide down her waist to cup her ass. With the barest effort, I lift her slightly, line her up, and impale her slowly as she shivers against my chest. When her lips find mine, she begins the gentlest dance above me, rocking and moaning with me until she collapses on top of me, snuggling down and dropping off to sleep.
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Lyla
I’m sorting through the paperwork scattered around the computer desk at Bear’s, trying to organize it and pick out anything related to the organization to pack up for move-in day tomorrow. This afternoon, I’m going with Bear to sign a six-month lease.
I urged him to ask for at least a year, but Bear’s still not convinced that this idea of his is going to be a huge success. I am, and I can’t wait to prove it to him.
When I come across a plain manilla folder with no writing on the outside or the tab, I open it to see if it’s related to the nonprofit or not.
Inside are the mug shots of the kidnapper, whose name was apparently Calvin Dockery. His criminal record is several pages long and lists all sorts of horrible crimes.
The date stamp printed at the bottom of a page catches my eye.
My father’s ancient computer at the clubhouse still prints the date on the footer because he can’t figure out how to get rid of it and won’t let me show him.
It’s not surprising that my father gave Bear the information on the Dockery guy so he would know who to look out for.
What’s unusual is that the date on it is two months ago, right after my sister’s wedding, after the first time I thought I saw him.
How long has Bear had this information? Just because it was printed back then doesn’t mean he received it that day.
I flip to the last page and find a handwritten note at the top of the Department of Corrections information page. It’s sloppy like my father’s, and it takes me a while to figure out that it says, “Keep her safe or it’s open season on the Savage Kings.”
“You ready to go sign the papers?” Bear asks, fresh out of the shower.
“Ah, yeah, I was just getting all the BNB docs together. What is this exactly?” I close the Dockery folder and hand it to him.
He opens it, frowns, then tosses it down on the desk. “Why were you snooping around in my things?”
“I wasn’t snooping. I was looking for any Bruised Not Broken paperwork and found that one with no labels.”
“So you just decided to read it?”
I don’t think I’ve ever seen Barrett’s face look so indignant. Especially over something so minor. He’s been happy to have me in every inch of his business the past month.
“Will you please answer my question? It doesn’t matter how or where I found it. You’re being evasive. I want you to tell me what it is.”
Barrett runs his fingers through the front of his hair and lets out a sigh. “Your father gave it to me.”
“I know he did. I recognized his handwritten note. When did he give you information about that man? Why didn’t you tell me his name or about his awful criminal record?”
“I don’t know, Ly. Isaac gave it to me sometime after Thane got shot so I would know what the fucker looks like and how dangerous he is.”
“You mean the guy from a rival MC?”
“Yes.”
“There’s no mention of any club affiliations on his Department of Corrections record.”
“They must have missed it.”