Page 62 of Coty

“Like I was saying, I have a few things to discuss with you.” Sheriff Bowers looks at Coty and me. “Coty and Kayla, we’re not sure if the suspect this morning was targeting Kayla or not. We’d like to ask you some more questions at the station later this afternoon. We’re asking neighbors to check their home security cameras. Anything, no matter how small, could help us catch this guy.”

In other words, they have nothing. It doesn’t matter how sure you are that something happened, or who was involved. The cops won't believe you without hard proof. I can’t prove this was Trent or Cory. A feeling deep in my gut says it is. Oh, and feelings? Forget about those. Cops couldn’t care less about your feelings.

“Next, I’m going to need the whereabouts and alibis for all your club members.” Sheriff Bowers' eyes lock with Mack’s, especially your immediate family members.”

“Why?” Mack demands.

“This morning, Matthew Rhodes was found badly beaten at Willow Park. We need to know where everyone was between two and four am.” Sheriff Bowers’ eyes move over our group.

“We were sleeping. Woke up at four to a bunch of dogs barking and a man at the back door.” Coty’s half right. The Roadhouse closed at two. We’d barely fallen asleep by four.

“Will Matthew be okay?” Nanny asks.

The Sheriff’s eyes soften when he speaks to her. “I can’t give you his medical information, but he should recover. He managed to crawl to his car and dialed 911 before losing consciousness.”

I softly gasp. So do the other ladies. We glance at each other. The men remain still and calm. I don’t like Matthew, but I would never wish anything bad to happen to him.

“Sheriff, we’ll all tell you where we were, but why don’t you cut to the chase and drop the final foot?”

“Mack…”

“No, Nathan,” Mack interrupts. “There’s more. You and I both know it. So, spit out. If you’re here to arrest one of us, do it. But I tell you this.” Mack stands up straighter. I swear, every time he does this, he adds another two inches to his already six-foot-three height. “My wife, mother, daughter, granddaughter, and their friends were here on club property, in our homes, all night. You’re not taking one of them.”

“No one’s getting arrested.” The Sheriff reaches the pocket inside his coat and pulls out a long, folded piece of paper. He offers it to Mack. Our Prez doesn’t take it. “This is an order of protection. The McLeod family, every member, and the Viking Warriors MC, every member, are restrained from going within fifty feet of the Rhodes family, every member.”

“Fine by us.” Mack still doesn’t take the paper. He motions to the tables. “You and your deputies can have a seat and get everyone’s whereabouts between two and four am this morning. As for the McLeods, every member, we were home, on club property, and home asleep.” He turns and kisses Nanny’s cheek. “Go finish breakfast, love.”

“You already know where Kayla and I were. WE left the Roadhouse at two and were startled awake at four. You were there by four-thirty. Ember was here with Maci.” Coty nudges Ember, Maci, and me toward the kitchen. “Go help Nanny and Nana.”

Lily lifts up on her toes and kisses Jack. She grabs my hand and pulls me with her to the kitchen. This is insane. When will this madness end?

Chapter 30

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Coty

We have walked on eggshells for the past week. Keeping the McLeod and Rhodes families apart hasn’t been easy. It’s hard when both families live in a town as small as ours. The newest member of our legal team, Ciara Hollis, petitioned the court and got the order limited to the six immediate family members in Pastor Rhodes’ family. Due to the rough reputation of motorcycle clubs, the judge kept the order to the entire club.

“How’s Lala?” Jack asks.

Most of the club members have started shortening her name. She thinks it’s weird. I love it. I still haven’t told her I claimed her.

“Still mad that we moved Kira, but on everything else, we’re good.” Even with all the legal matters and uncertainty going on, this has been one of the best weeks of my life.

My brothers and I met up at Angie’s for lunch today. Angie put us at a large table in the back dining room to keep us away from the Pastor’s friends. Oh, yeah. There are a few in the front dining area. They can keep glaring holes in us. We don’t feel a thing.

“Nick find any leads on who beat up Matthew?” Hendrix asks.

“Nothing concrete, but we think Sanford and Lang did it,” Jack replies.

That’s what we all believe. Willis Sanford and Adam Lang were mighty interested in Matthew at Angie’s a few weeks ago.

“I don’t doubt it.” Jay finishes off his sweet tea. “The last camera Nick could catch them on was from Mel’s Quick Stop.”

You have to pass Mel’s to get to Willow Park from town. Willis and Lang left the Roadhouse that night around two. It’s enough for us, but not for the cops.

Bankz pushes his empty plate away. “You know, with Valentine’s Day this weekend, why don’t you see if Lala wants to bartend at the Den instead of the Roadhouse?”

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