Page 6 of Ryder

The men I’d been involved with before, were easy going, under six feet, of smaller build, and they definitely didn’t have muscles like Ryder. Or tats. Actually, none of the guys I’ve been on a date with had any tattoos that were visible or I knew about. It wasn’t that I didn’t like tats, I’d just never been with a man who’d had them. Err, not that I’d been with many men at all. Ryder’s tats were had to miss. He’d have to wear a long sleeve turtle neck and long pants to cover his up.

Staring at Ryder, I tried to take in everything he’d told me. As my mind was processing, my gaze devoured the gorgeous man sitting across from me. It was a pity I didn’t like my men all ‘He-man alpha,’ because, Ryder was a very yummy specimen. His head was almost shaved, expect for the dark stubble like growth. He looked as if he hadn’t shaved his face in a day or two with the dark five o’clock shadow. His eyes were the most intense dark green I’d ever seen. His cheeks were high and his jaw square. He was huge, all muscle, but in proportion to his six foot something height. He was the picture-perfect example of masculine beauty.

I shook my head trying to expel those thoughts. I knew that Ryder was going to be trouble. He was going to be a weakness.

“Okay, so I’m your ‘soul mate’ because of some gift gypsies gave your family. Riiiggghtttt. You’ve explained. Can you now take me home so I can change for work?”

“For fuck’s sake. You think I’m crazy? I know that tone.” He ran his hand over his head.

Oh, I totally thought he was looney, but I didn’t have time to debate or talk to him more about his crazy explanation. I needed to get to work. I was already a couple of hours late. Work had been amazing about the trouble with my brother, but I didn’t want to push my luck. Ignoring his question, I asked my own. “Are you going to keep your word? You said you’d take me home once you explained.”

Ryder stood and paced back and forth in front of me. For some strange reason, I wasn’t scared of him, but I wasn’t an idiot so I knew to wait and watch him. To stay cautious. I knew about the Silverman family, but I didn’t know them. A growl sounded from him and he threw up his hands. “Fine. I’ll take you home to change your shoes.” His gaze narrowed. “I’m picking you up from work.”

“Ah, no. I’m driving to work and getting my own arse home tonight.” I was done with all this. I was done with Silvermans. Walking towards the front door, I hoped he’d get the hint that I was done. I’d listened to him and I hadn’t attacked him. I needed time to think and Ryder just added more confusion and questions when I was around him.

I didn’t get far before his strong arms circled my waist and flung me over his shoulder. His hand came down on my arse and I growled when he squeezed. Oh yeah, I was so done with Ryder. I could never be with an alpha man like Ryder. He would drive me insane.

Divinity was trouble. I didn’t want to make the mistakes my cousins and uncle made by kidnapping their mates. I wanted Divinity to know I would support what she wanted and not just jump in and take control of her or her choices. I wanted to become a part of her soul, become an extension to what and who she was. I wanted her to move in with me but I still wanted her to work if she chose to and still see her family and friends. Don’t get me wrong, I wanted to become her whole world, but I also understood that she needed to still be the person she was. She was different though, not something I have ever had to deal with when it came to women. I wasn’t sure how I was going to, not only handle explaining this to her, but handle her in general.

I didn’t get my way, which was unusual for me. I wasn’t picking Divinity up from work. She was shifty. I should have known with how the Silverman name meant nothing to the Army. I wasn’t allowed onto the base. I’d taken Divinity there assuming I’d go with her to her house when she changed her shoes, but I wasn’t given access in. They’d known me at the gate entry and they weren’t impressed with my last name. Divinity enjoyed how they treated me and as she got in a golf cart she yelled in a singsong voice, “Sucker. Good luck, next time Silverman. I hope I don’t have the pleasure to see you again.”

I hated to admit it, but I did have a begrudging respect for my soulmate. She was cheeky. I was eager to see my woman again, but I intended to give her a night or two before I came at her again.

Work wasn’t happy with me. I had been slacking since I found Divinity. I was supposed to be working on the new drugs that were killing people. I had to go into work and pick up my occasional partner Holden. I usually worked alone because I didn’t work well with a partner, or so my boss told me. But some projects I needed a partner and Holden was one of the men I got on with. If they made me take a partner permanently, I could take Holden without issue. I knew on this case I was going need help, especially when my morning calls had been about more people overdosing. It was time to go speak to the biker gang, The Devil’s Queens. They were well known for their dealings with drugs, and they were definitely not a fan of my family. I needed back up if I had to talk to them and with so many people dying I knew I couldn’t put it off.

Holden waited for me outside of the precinct. I left my car at work and got in with him. We drove towards The Devil’s Queens club house, stopped a couple of blocks away and put on our bullet proof vests and all our safety equipment. The Devil’s Queens despised my family and had shot at me and my family members, so I wasn’t taking chances of not covering myself. Jade, my cousin’s wife, had put away some of their members and another cousin had put away even more. The Devil’s Queens were the reason why my cousins still had so much security.

“I do love that there are people out there that don’t fall at the Silvermans’ feet.” Holden chuckled.

I shot a glare at the middle-aged man, who was supposed to be a friend. He knew I wanted to go into the club house about as much as I wanted to walk on fire. The club house was in the warehouse district and surrounded by a huge fence. Security cameras were visible and I knew that the bikers already knew Holden and I were coming. I wasn’t an idiot. The bikers had insiders in the force feeding them police information.

The acting president, Jericho, came out and greeted us at the gate. Jade’s and Bailey’s testimony had put the previous president and a bunch of other club members in jail.

“Silverman. You’re not very smart coming here. You have a death wish?”

I couldn’t show fear. They would eat me alive if I did. I was heading into a lion’s den, walking towards people who had tried to kill members of my family. I had my vest on, but a shot to the head would end me. I could feel eyes on me and had no doubt that someone had a weapon trained on me. Firearms were illegal in Australia for civilians, but there was a black market. I had a gun that was registered for my job. I also had a police issued weapon, but I handed that one in with each end of my shift.

Holden nudged my side and I knew he felt the weapons on us too. It was also his way of telling me we weren’t going any further.

Raising my brow, I smirked at Jericho. I’d dealt with him many times before. He was a piece of work who cared for no one but himself. I ignored Jericho’s question. “You know why we’re here Jericho. Wanna cut all the bullshit and just answer my questions?”

The smile that spread over Jericho’s face had me biting back a curse. The arsehole was up to something. “Sure, Detective Silverman.” His mocking tone grated and I resisted the urge to clench my fist. I couldn’t show how they got to me. “What questions would those be?”

“Where is your new supply from?” I narrowed my gaze. Jericho knew what I was talking about without going into more detail.

Jericho shrugged. “Don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Six people have overdosed. I’m told it’s your shit that’s doing it.”

I saw a slight reaction of anger flash in Jericho’s gaze before he put the cold smile back in place. “Your info is wrong Silverman. If I was you, I’d watch who you accuse, because there are already targets on you and your family. The Silvermans are becoming a problem and if business keeps declining…” He trailed off and I didn’t need to hear the rest. I got the picture. “I’ll give you something, but I expect you to stay away from The Devil’s Queens.” He raised his brow waiting for my answer.

Debating for a moment, I wondered how badly I wanted info. The Devil’s Queens would be idiots if they attacked my family again. We had already put their president and three others in jail. A lot of the members were on probation. My family all had security and didn’t take unnecessary risks. An image of my gorgeous soul mate Divinity flashed before me. I would get her bodyguards, too.

I had nothing. My only lead on this case was The Devil’s Queens. On a sigh, I nodded. “I’ll stay away if your info is correct. For a while.”

He studied me, assessing if that would be the best deal he could get. He must have seen it was. “Look in your department. You have a rat and he’s not ours. I’m told that we have a common enemy.” I waited while he paused, drawing out his words. “They have our territory, but I’ve been told these people you’re looking for aren’t fans of Silvermans either, especially you.”

Fucking hell. Jericho wasn’t bull shitting me. I could hear the ring of truth in his words. “I know we’re not friends or ever going to be. The shooter you have aimed on me is proof enough. I didn’t know though, that my family had any enemies willing to kill us besides your club. So now you’re telling me that you’ve lost your territory and the people who’ve taken it hate my family, specifically me, more than your club?”

---