Page 43 of Angel

Steel turned to Cage. “It’s doubtful she used her real name but do you recall the name she gave you?”

Cage shook his head. “I remember she had blonde hair, but that was about it.”

Steel gave him a single nod before turning back to Evette. Cage knew that Steel wasn’t dismissing him or what might have happened to him that night. He wanted to get all of Evette’s story out so they could remove her from the room. Most likely the other officers and Keys would be called in too.

The Black Pythons had tried to kidnap him? Had they even known the Black Pythons were an issue in mid-July? Jumper had just gotten his shit together and started dating Jasmine at the end of June. They’d been together for two weeks before he broke up with her. If Cage remembered correctly, the date in question had been a Friday. The group had asked Pirate if he wanted to go to the bar with them, but Pirate had declined. He said he needed to check in on Jasmine. It was also the same day that Jumper had had an episode during the middle of an executive Church meeting.

Which would also mean that the following Sunday Jasmine had stumbled upon a barn with Venom’s body in it.

“Cheryl said that she thought it was over. That she never had to deal with Venom or you guys again.” Evette wiped her eyes even though no tears had fallen. “Then I guess you guys made a visit to the Black Pythons two weeks ago? She said King was really pissed off. Like, furious. He took it out on her a lot, still connecting her with us.” Then Evette quickly added, “I mean, you.”

Smart girl. She knew there was no way that Steel would allow her to stay after all of this.

“Cheryl made a deal with King for her life. She told him everything she knew. Even…” Her chin trembled and her nose flared. “Even about your businesses. She said that he wanted to know about the tattoo shop. Angel had given Cheryl a few of her tats, so Cheryl was familiar with the building.”

Cage hadn’t known Angel had also tattooed the Honeys, though he wasn’t surprised. Most likely she made them pay full price out of principle.

“I swear I didn’t know what they were going to do!” Evette cried out hastily. This time, tears did fall. “I swear.” She turned in her seat to face Angel. “Cheryl didn’t call me about any of this until afterward but I never would have helped her if she asked me to help the Pythons…” Evette couldn’t even say the word. Slowly, she turned back towards Steel. “I didn’t know,” she insisted again.

Steel nodded once but didn’t say anything.

“Last week, Cheryl called me. She told me everything. She said she was in trouble. King is demanding a Via Daemonia or he says he’ll cut Cheryl’s baby out of her. She told me that King would pay me twenty grand if I helped her.” Evette sniffled. “I think she wanted Cage because she blames him for her failing that night. She didn’t want anyone else, even though she kind of made it sound like King didn’t care which patched member he got.”

“What was your plan?” Steel asked. “How did you get your hands on Cage’s keys?”

“Lacy did that for me. I told her it was a prank and had her slip inside Cage’s apartment while he was showering a few days ago. She put the key on the keyring on for me.”

Again, Steel said nothing, just waited for her to continue.

Evette swallowed loudly. “I knew that Angel and Cage were…are dating. Neither of them had left the other’s side since Angel’s attack. I needed to separate them. So I asked Lacy to put me in his room like that. She had no idea,” Evette stressed. “None, I swear. She thought it was some sex game between Cage and I.”

Cage cringed. He hated that he had a reputation that made that statement believable.

“None of the brothers helped you?” Bulldog asked.

Evette shook her head. “No, it was just Lacy.”

“Then whose cum was between your legs?” the giant man asked bluntly. “You claim it was Cage’s.”

Evette’s cheeks blazed bright red. “I got it from my own collection.”

The room went dead quiet. No one spoke, Cage wasn’t even sure anyone breathed. Then Steel cleared his throat. “Come again?”

Cage was far too shocked to point out the pun.

“I collect…semen. I don’t know what the technical name of it is, but I collect and store the cum of my past partners. I use it in my baking or dry it out to make jewelry with.” Evette’s excitement for her own creativity was dulled as she seemed to remember where she was and why she was there. “Anyway, that’s where I got it from. I wanted to make it look like Cage had just fucked me so Angel would leave.”

Everyone was quiet for a long time. Cage could feel as Angel started to thaw out in his arms. She’d been so stiff throughout the entire story.

Finally, Steel turned and faced Lucky and Bulldog. The three of them all had grave faces on and Cage thought he knew what they were silently deliberating. Evette had had a hand in trying to kidnap a patched member. If she were a man, she’d already be in the cellar.

What did the VDMC do when it was a woman who broke their code? It went against all of their natures to endanger or harm a woman. It was the same dilemma they were having with Sam, who was barely a man and currently was in their cellar.

Before a decision could be made though, Angel suddenly burst from under Cage’s arms. She bolted out of the office. Cage ran after her and saw her duck into the common ladies’ room to the right of the staircase.

He chased after her, completely ignoring the gender rules.

Cage found Angel hunched over a sink as she dry-heaved. There was no mess in the basin. Angel herself looked pale and had tears streaked down her cheeks.

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