Page 24 of Trigger's Temptation

I take a deep breath, bracing myself. “Back when I was in Detroit after Rauel was killed under my watch, I walked away. That much you know. What you don’t know is that I kept digginginto the pipeline Rauel told me about. And every place I went? It was tied to the Royal Bastards.”

I grip the armrest tight, the memories coming fast and hard. “The pipeline led me from Detroit to Cleveland, where I met Spider, the old Prez of their Chapter. He pointed me to the Montreal Chapter, where I ran into another President named Teller. After squeezing him for answers, I ended up in Northern Ontario, staring down an Enforcer named Skoden.” I shudder involuntarily, the image of the leather-clad giant burned into my brain.

“Then St. Louis changed everything. That’s where I met Demi.” I pause, swallowing back the bitterness of what I had to do to get her to talk. “She knew things, but the price she asked for that knowledge wasn’t easy. But I paid it.”

I don’t elaborate. Zach doesn’t push.

“From there, I hit Helena, Montana. Their Sergeant-at-Arms, Moose, made me prove I wasn’t a rat before sending me to Utah. By then, my name had spread, and I didn’t have to jump through hoops anymore. I met their VP, Outlaw, who directed me to Santa Clarita’s Chapter. Flame, their VP, finally pointed me here to L.A. To you. The FBI recruited me because of how far I had come in my investigation into the Black Market Railroad. I started working undercover with the FBI as a way to find Allison.”

I exhale, shaking off the ghosts of my cross-country hunt. “The only thing that surprises me now is that the Los Angeles Chapter hasn’t already exposed who I am to Trigger.”

The weight of that statement lingers in the air between us. If they haven’t outed me yet, it’s only a matter of time.

Before Zach can respond, his phone rings. “Yeah,” he answers, his tone sharp.

I can’t make out the words on the other end, but the deep timber of a man’s voice sends a chill down my spine.

“Shit. Are you sure?” Zach pauses. “Ok, I’ll be there as soon as I can. Please, don’t do anything stupid.” Zach disconnects the call and slams his foot on the gas, sending us hurtling forward.

“What’s going on, Zach?” I grip the oh-shit bar above my head when our speed reaches one hundred miles an hour. He presses the gas harder, lurching us forward, weaving in and out of traffic, even riding the shoulder of the road before getting back on the freeway. “Zach, what’s going on?”

Silence.

Zach’s knuckles whiten on the steering wheel, his jaw tight, eyes burning with a mix of murder and concern. I’ve never seen that expression on him before.

“Zach!” I demand, my heart hammering.

After a few moments of silence, Zach speaks. “You’re about to find out what the Royal Bastards know about you.”

My stomach drops to my toes. Shit. Did something happen to one of them? Is Trigger hurt?

My mind races with worst-case scenarios as we make our way to their compound in record time.

Zach slows his SUV down and turns down a dirt road. We head toward a gate surrounding the Royal Bastards Clubhouse. Once we reach the gate, someone manning it slides it open and lets us through. Zach pulls into the closest spot to their Clubhouse, and my breath catches from the sight before me. This Clubhouse is massive. It looks like it used to be a huge warehouse used for storage.

White garage doors are in front of us, rolled up with ten burly bikers standing outside. All are watching us like we’re their next problem to solve.

The one I know as Capone is front and center, pacing back and forth. I don’t see Trigger, and ice freezes my veins. Was that call about him? Is he hurt?

Once Zach turns off the SUV, he doesn’t get out right away. “Listen,” he says, finally turning to me, “There is something you need to know. These guys might be protectors, but if they know you’re a cop, they won’t work with you until you have proven they can trust you. They know I am the Sheriff, and that’s cause my daughter is married to one of their own. They’re cool with me. But they won’t be with you, yet. So, play it cool and don’t act like a cop.”

“I nod. “What’s our story?”

“I’ll figure it out.” Not exactly reassuring, but I don’t have time to argue. “Just play it cool, and things will be fine,” Zach responds.

His answer doesn’t sit well with me, but we don’t have time to create a back story. I think the truth will be better, but Zach doesn’t. He’s been around these guys long enough to know what will and won’t work, so I have to trust him.

“Ok.” I nod my head in agreement.

We step out of the SUV, and I slip my sunglasses on, masking my eyes. Zach approaches Capone, and they do some weird bro hug, slap on the back thing guys do.

“Thanks for coming, Sheriff,” Capone says, his dark gaze shifting to me with a smirk. “What’s she doing here?”

Does he know who I am? Is my cover blown? Why the hell do I care? I have decided to work with them, not against them. So, if they know I’m a cop, then they know.

Zach gestures between us. “Capone, this is Aerianna. Aerianna, meet Capone, President of the Royal Bastards.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” I say smoothly.

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