“A man I knew as Garrison West, but the club knows him as Bastard, wanted to marry me. My foster parents were pushing me to accept so I left when no one would take no for an answer,” I said. “But until then, my life hadn’t been bad. Strict, and a bit suffocating at times, but no one had ever hurt me.”
“I heard Badger grumbling about Bastard,” Adalia said. “He’s bad news and I’m so glad you didn’t end up in his hands. I overheard part of his conversation on the phone. Something about the marriages not always being legal and he made the women whores or drug mules.”
I nodded, that’s what Outlaw had shared with me. I didn’t know if he was supposed to tell me or not, but I was glad that he had. It made me feel a little less silly for running when I did. I only wished I knew if my foster parents were in on it, if they’d known who he was and what he’d wanted with me, or if they were in danger. If he’d heard anything since we’d talked, he hadn’t brought it up.
I didn’t know how these women lived like this, with only being told certain things, even when it pertained to them. Didn’t it bother them? I knew that Outlaw thought he was keeping me safe, but wouldn’t it be better if I knew that danger was coming? Of course, he’d said he wasn’t an officer, so I assumed that meant he didn’t make the rules and just followed them.
“I know that look,” Adalia said. “That look spells trouble. What are you thinking?”
I chewed my lower lip. “Well, wouldn’t it be better if we knew when we were in danger? I mean, it’s great the guys want to protect us and all, but if trouble is coming I would think we’d be less likely to have something bad happen if we knew to watch for it. Right?”
Meiling sat forward a little. “Go on.”
“What if we demanded that they tell us when bad things are coming down on the club, or if one of us has garnered the attention of someone who wants to hurt one or all of us?” I asked. “That’s stupid, right? They’d never go for that.”
China smiled faintly. “You’d be surprised what men will be willing to do with the proper motivation.”
Shella folded her arms over her chest. “Great. I have nothing to withhold since none of the guys here will touch me.”
Adalia arched an eyebrow at her. “None here, but you’re hooking up with someone somewhere, aren’t you?”
Shella blushed and nodded. “A few guys at the college. Nothing serious. It’s just some fun.”
Something told me that none of the guys knew about it, especially the one who had followed her. I could see him using any of those poor college guys as target practice. No doubt she was going to be trouble for whatever guy who tried to wrangle her.
The back door slamming into a wall startled me and I shot up out of my chair. I whirled to face the rear of the house and Outlaw, along with the others, came charging through. He stopped in front of me, placing his hands at my waist, and I could tell by the look in his eyes that something was really wrong.
“We just got word from Grizzly,” he said.
Shella shot up out of her chair. “What? Is something wrong with Lilian?”
“He lost her trail, but Dragon was still searching for her,” Outlaw said. “That’s not the news. Attila contacted him once he reviewed the files that were sent over about the rat infestation, and the trouble Bastard is trying to cause. He thinks it’s Shepherd, who is conveniently missing.”
“And my foster family? Are they involved? Was anyone able to find out?” I asked.
Pain flashed in his eyes. “Angel, your foster mom is gone. Her body was found on the side of the road. They shot her and dumped her.”
My heart slammed against my ribs and I felt tears well in my eyes. “They?” My voice cracked, but I didn’t care. The woman hadn’t been the warmest, but she’d taken me in when I didn’t have anywhere else to go.
“We think the reverend is part of the scam,” Outlaw said.
“It’s worse,” Badger said. “Don’t hide this shit from her. You see any officers here? You think any of us are keeping this from our women?”
“What’s going on?” I asked.
“Your foster father, the good Reverend Tolbert, is the brother to Shepherd at the Savage Raptors. It’s not a coincidence that Bastard ended up as a deacon of that church. We think your foster dad went and got him the night he was left for dead, and they’ve probably been working together this entire time,” Outlaw said.
“And if your foster dad is related to a traitor, and helped Bastard all this time, it’s possible he’s partly responsible for the women who were put into brothels or used as drug mules. Don’t shed any tears for that asshole,” Badger said.
China was clinging to Blades and I had to wonder if this was all too much for her. Meiling looked a little pale too.
“Grizzly wants a handful of us to go help the Savage Raptors track down the three men. I’m volunteering,” Blades said. “I couldn’t keep you safe, but maybe I can prevent them sending any other women into a situation like yours. I’ll return soon, my China.”
I looked away as he leaned down to kiss her. My heart was breaking. Not just because a man I’d thought was good ended up being evil, and not just for the loss of Suzy Tolbert, but for these women with traumatic pasts who were having to face all this again. I felt like I’d brought this to their door. If I hadn’t shown up, if Outlaw hadn’t brought me to his house and asked me all those questions, would this ugliness have ever touched the Devil’s Fury?
“Angel, whatever dark thoughts just went through your head, forget them,” Outlaw said.
“If I hadn’t come here --” He pressed a finger to my lips, silencing me.
“Without you, we may not have ever known what was happening, which means that Attila may not have found out for several more years. If ever. Think of all the women you could be saving, all the ones they won’t be able to hurt once we catch them,” Outlaw said.
“He’s right.” Meiling pulled away from Dingo and came closer, placing her hand on my shoulder. “No one deserves to live that kind of hell. It’s a painful reminder of my past, and same for my mother, but we’d rather our guys go off and stop those monsters before others are hurt.”
“Thanks,” I said. “I needed to hear that.”
Outlaw cupped my cheek, drawing my focus back to him. The worry in his eyes made my stomach clench. He glanced at the others and seemed to do some sort of silent communication that cleared not only the room but the house. Everyone left, and we were alone once more.
“We’re leaving in a few hours,” he said.
“Guess that means you need to pack.”
He pulled me tighter against him. “No, it means I need to officially claim my woman. Then I need to pack.”
I gave him a faint smile and pushed up on my toes so I could kiss him. “Only you would think of sex at a time like this.”
“Baby, with you around, I’m always thinking about sex.”
Chapter Ten
Outlaw
I locked up the house to make sure we wouldn’t be interrupted, then I led Elena to the bedroom. If she’d thought I was kidding about claiming her, she was wrong. No fucking way I was going off without making sure she was mine in every way possible. In fact… Work your magic and make Elena my wife.