Page 4 of Unbreakable
Turning my glare towards him, "What's up my ass is walking in here, and I'm rewarded with a goddamn mess that stinks of garbage and piss. You all are a bunch of grown ass men. If you want to party and have a good time, then be my guest, but for Christ sakes, clean up after yourselves. You got me?" Lifting his brow and holding up his hands in defense, Sean knows better than to challenge my sour mood.
"Yeah, Prez, I got ya."
Satisfied with his response, I turn on my heel and make my way down the hall to my office. I pass Quinn on the way there who is sitting at the bar. The dipshit is smirking but smart enough to keep his hole shut. Hell, I know I'm overreacting this morning. This isn't the first time I've walked into the club being a pigsty after a party and it won't be the last. It's just my nerves are on edge, and it's best everyone around me tread lightly.
No sooner does my ass hit the chair behind my desk when Reid and Logan come striding in. "Prez," they both acknowledge with a nod before taking a seat in front of me. "You got anything for me this morning?" I ask looking at Reid.
With a grim expression, he shakes his head. "Sorry Prez, still can't find shit. Whoever Grace had help her disappear did a damn good job."
Taking my ball cap off my head, I toss it on my desk and run my palm down my tired face and through my beard.Fuck.
"I know we've already been through Grace's apartment, but maybe we should go back and take another look around. See if she left anything behind. Something we may have missed that would give us a clue." Logan chimes in.
"Yeah, maybe you're right. Can't hurt to take another look around. You two feel like ridin' over there with me? Quinn and Austin can cover the garage today."
"You got it, Prez," they both say standing from their seats, and the three of us walk back through the clubhouse and out to our bikes.
After parking our bikes in front of the bakery, I walk around to the side of the building and make my way up the stairs that lead to Grace's apartment with Logan and Reid trailing behind. After we discovered Grace had left, I had Reid change the locks on the door since I did not have a key and I wanted to be able to gain access any time I wanted. Fishing the key out of my pocket, I unlock the door and the three of us walk inside. We don't make it but a few steps in the apartment when a man rounds the corner of the bathroom with his gun drawn and pointed straight at me. It only takes my brothers and me three point two seconds to pull our own pieces.
The four of us engage in an intense stare off for several seconds before I see something flash over the motherfucker's face. Something almost like recognition and even though he keeps his weapon trained on me, I notice his shoulders lose some of its tension.
"You mind telling me who the fuck you are and why the hell you're in this apartment?" I square off. Not looking the least bit intimidated at three bikers pointing their guns at him, the man answers my question.
"I'm Detective Finn O'Rourke. And I could ask you the same thing Jake Delane, but I already know the answer to that question."
At the mention of my name coming out of his mouth, my nostrils flare, and I grit my teeth. Why the fuck would a detective be in Grace's apartment and why would he make it his business to know who I am…unless he's investigation something that has to do with Grace, and like every other pig, they assume the local MC is responsible.
"You can wipe that look off your face Mr. Delane. I'm not here for you or your club," he says lowering his weapon and placing it back in its holster. "I've put my weapon away, and I would appreciate if you, Mr. Kane and Mr. Carter would do the same. As I said, I'm not here for you."
Knowing my brothers won't take orders from anyone in this room except me, I look over my shoulder and give Logan and Reid the signal to put their piece away. Afterward, I turn my attention back to the detective. "If you're not here for my club or me, you mind telling me why you are here and in Grace's apartment?"
Walking over to the small kitchenette, O'Rourke casually leans against the counter and crosses his arms over his chest. I take a moment to size him up. The man is about 6ft tall and has reddish-brown hair. He also looks to be in decent shape. Every move he makes is skillful and with purpose. I'd say he's some sort of fighter or trainer. He looks almost relaxed but I can tell by his body language he's acutely aware of his surroundings and is ready for anything. After a moment O'Rourke finally speaks.
"Let me ask you Mr. Delane, who is Grace to you?" Standing taller and without hesitation, I answer his question, "Grace is mine."
I'd be lying if I said the smile that just came across the detective's face didn't confuse me. What the hell is he playing at?
"I thought as much," he says.
"Are we going to quit with all this cryptic bullshit and get down to some fuckin' answers," Logan pipes in from behind me.
"Fair enough" O'Rourke says blowing out a breath. "Grace is a friend of mine. She is someone I have been helping the past few years, and she also is someone I care about very much." At the growl that escapes me, O'Rourke is quick to stress his words. "Grace is strictly a friend. She's more like a sister, I assure you." Studying the sincerity of his words for a moment, I gesture for him to continue while I fight to reign in my temper. "Anyway, I will not give you the details of mine and Grace's relationship because I feel that is her story to tell. What I can tell you is Grace moving to Polson was my doing. I chose this town on purpose and one of those purposes being your club. Grace had some shit happen to her, and she needed a place to lay low and a place where I felt she would be protected. I know about your club Mr. Delane, and though you and the Kings are sometimes into some shady shit, I also know that you all go to great lengths to protect your community. Nothing goes on in Polson without you knowing about it, and there are not too many people who would go head to head with the Kings."
"So, let me get this straight," Reid steps forward and interjects. "Grace whom we already know is not likely her real name and I am going to assume is also your doing because she was in danger and needed a place to hide. You set her up in Polson and based on the club's reputation you felt like here was the safest place for her?"
"Yes," O'Rourke answers. "My gut told me without a doubt she would be safe in Polson. And my gut has never steered me wrong."
Fuck.I'm finding it hard not to like the son of a bitch. I stay silent for a minute as I let his words sink in. Then I ask my next question. "You know where Grace is, don't ya?"
Nodding his head, O'Rourke answers, "Yeah, I know where she is, and I'm sorry, but I can't tell you. Grace doesn't trust easily, and I won't do anything to break the trust she has in me. What I can tell you is she's safe, and I am doing everything I can to convince her to come back. I still believe Polson is the safest place for her. I am doing everything within my power to eliminate the threat against her, but that shit is not going well. I need more time. She has insisted she won't be returning to Polson. I came back here today to make sure she didn't leave anything. She said she was in a hurry to leave but did do a proper sweep of the place. She knows not to leave any evidence behind. I came anyway just to be sure. I'm assuming that's what you all were coming here for. I'm sorry to say you wouldn't have found anything. I have taught her well. She is very good at covering her tracks.
"Did whoever is after Grace find her? Is that why she left?" I ask.
"No. Grace got spooked, and that is why she left. I think you already know that though don't you, Mr. Delane?"
I don't answer because it was more of a statement than a question. Shoving off from his perch on the counter the detective makes his way to the door. "Grace is a very strong-willed woman and one thing I've come to learn about her over the years is she sometimes needs a little push." When he opens the door, he pauses and regards us one last time.
"You know, I just came from this little place called J's Diner in North Dakota. They make the best pancakes I've ever had. You should check it out sometime."
