Page 92 of Deception
“Autumn was the weakest of us, and if she’d known whatever they thought I did, she would have talked. All the information you got from her is decades old. What she gave you will not allow you to take down the club.”
“You’re just saying—”
“You can keep up your witch hunt with whatever she gave you, but that’s why I gave her a chance to leave. Nothing she knows would ever get you a conviction. Look at it, Julian. You haven’t even been able to make an arrest.”
“I don’t believe you would ever let her go. You’re too dependent on the club.”
Dependent? What the fuck are you talking about?
Swallowing, Lex sniffles. “If she’d had information that could hurt my family, yeah, maybe I would have. But she had nothing, and regardless of where we stood, she was still my friend. The thought of hurting her is worse than the hurt of betrayal.”
Julian’s in her face faster than she expected, and his breath tells her he opted for the corn beef special at the diner for lunch today. “Or maybe the club killed her when they found out, and you’re covering for your pussy bitch of a husband!”
“That’s a lot of accusations with nothing to back them up. Now, get out of my face and get off my property.”
“Or what?”
“You called Colt a pussy bitch, but you’re the man who showed up knowing he wasn’t home so you could confront his wife. Hypocritical much?”
Smiling, he rubs his nose on hers, and she cringes. “Maybe I’ll just take a page out of the Drifters’ playbook and operate outside the law. Get my own form of payment for what your husband put me through.”
The implication makes her skin crawl, and it’s made even worse when he grips her biceps as though he plans to force her into a vulnerable position.
Pulling the gun from her jeans, she presses it against his chest and forces him backwards. “Don’t ever touch me again.”
He releases her and backs up a step, his hands in the air. “I get it. You’re a badass, Lex.”
“That’s not it. I see the desperation in your eyes, and I know better than most just what lengths a desperate man will go to. You’re looking at losing everything because you couldn’t make a good decision if it showed up in front of you like a flashing neon sign. All the bad ones are finally catching up to you.”
Julian’s finger points at her face, and he pushes it against her cheek despite the gun aimed at his chest. “The trash will be takenout in all forms. Not only will your little club lose all its members to prison, I’ll make sure the women pay for it, too.”
“You have nothing on us. The club or the women.”
“Then I’ll make it up!” he shouts and steps off the porch when she cocks the gun. “I’ll make sure that you only ever see your kids through a plexiglass window. You’ll never get out of there.”
“You’d make up evidence because of a vendetta? You’re really that pissed that Colt outed your pathetic attempt at being in charge to the media?”
He points his finger at her again as his face turns so red she worries it might explode. “That’s the truth! I’m the best damn thing to ever happen to this fucking town!”
“Then why did the Drifters have to catch a serial killer? You’re threatening me and my club by saying you’ll make up evidence against us because we did what you couldn’t do. Do you ever stop and hear yourself?”
She lowers the gun, and he shakes his head, his hand resting on the gun that stays in his holster on his hip. At least she has a head start should he decide to use it.
“I’ve worked too hard to get where I am. I won’t let your fucking club take me down.”
“You’ve never succeeded on your own! You relied on the club until they saw who you’d become, and then you decided to light that bridge on fire rather than try to repair it. They’re the only reason you got to where you are, and you could have been successful if you hadn’t gotten too damn big for your britches, Julian.”
“You and your club won’t take me down. I won’t allow it.Iam the one who brings down assholes.”
“You’re showing your ass right now, and I’ll make sure everyone sees it, too.”
Laughing, he spits at her feet. “And who will believe a biker whore? Hell, you’re the product of your father bedding a whore.You’re no better than your mother, but I guess you’ll just say you never had a chance, right? That’s what all the hookers I arrest say.”
“Get off my property. I’m filing a restraining order, and if you ever come near me again, it’ll be considered harassment. You’ll be breaking the same law you’re supposed to uphold.”
“I am the law!” he screams, jumping back up the steps. “I am the law, and you can do whatever you want. It won’t do a damn bit of good because it’ll go nowhere. I’ll make sure your claim never sees the light of day. Keep pushing me, and maybe you’ll never see the light of day again.”
Leaning back, she lifts her gun again. “You’re threatening to kill me?”
