Page 28 of Rattler
I stood up and picked up the paper I’d brought with me, the one that said Lily was a missing person.A shocked murmur went through the brothers.
“What the fuck is that?”Beast growled out the question.
“Looks like the asshole isn’t willing to let her go.”Ghost spoke up from his place in the corner of the room.He liked to stay in the shadows.The fact he’d spoken up said a lot.
“The asshole of an ex is offering a reward?”Deuce shook his head.
Cyclone narrowed his eyes.“Looks like he thinks she knows too much, and he’s scared she’ll talk.Are you sure he’s not connected in some way?”
Shadow shook his head.“If he is, he hid it pretty fucking good.I’m no slouch and I found zilch to connect him to anything even borderline illegal.”
I spoke up.“Lily said he has connections to law enforcement and politicians.Could be he can’t stand people knowing a woman walked away from him.Guys like that have ego issues.Maybe that’s all it is.”
“We need to check him out in person.”Beast’s grin was downright evil.“Maybe convince him to let her go.”
“Fuck yeah!”Joker spoke up.“No point in letting him think she’s ever coming back.”
“He needs to learn to keep his hands to himself.”Preacher looked grim.
“Sounds like we’re all on the same page.”I looked over at Ace, who motioned for me to continue.“I figure three of us should be enough to run up there and check him out without being noticed.We can surveil his house and office.If he’s just a blowhard idiot, thinking he can get her back and scare her into letting him play punching bag some more, we can have a talk with him.Make sure he sees the error of his ways.”
“When you planning on leaving?”Beast asked.
“Sooner the better.This afternoon if possible.”
He nodded.“I’m in.”
Joker spoke up.“Me too.”
Ace shook his head.“I want you here, Beast.In case this is bigger than we think and trouble shows up on our doorstep.And you don’t want to leave the twins unprotected.”
Beast snorted.“Those two are more than capable of protecting themselves, but I get what you mean.Wasn’t thinking.”He gave me an apologetic look.“Sorry, brother.I’m out.”
“I would be happy to accompany you.”Preacher stood up.“It’s been a while since I’ve been on a road trip.Might be a nice change.”
“So, Joker and Preacher?”I looked around.“Everyone okay with us doing whatever we need to on this trip?”That was a fancy way of saying if things went south, we’d do whatever we had to including making problems disappear, without actually spelling it out.You never knew when you might need to be able to deny it.
The thought of Lily’s fear of everything and her bruised face when I first met her almost made me hope we’d need to make her ex disappear.Heads nodded all around.No need to take that one to a vote.
Ace stood up and took over.“Next item up is the kitchen disaster.We have an electrician coming in this morning to check out the wiring.All guns and anything else that might cause questions need to be out of sight.Ideally, the old ladies and the twins should be elsewhere too, as well as any of the prospects and brothers that don’t need to be here.The guy comes highly recommended by our FBI contact but no point in taking chances.The less he knows about the layout of the clubhouse or who lives here, the less he can tell if asked.”
Beast spoke up.“We could send the old ladies out for a shopping trip.They’d be all over that, especially with the wedding coming up.”
I pointed out the obvious.“Lily can’t go, though.You know they’ll attract attention, and someone is likely to recognize her from that missing person’s poster.”
“We could take her with us,” suggested Joker.
I shook my head.“Too risky.How long will the electrician be here?”
Ace shrugged.“Depends on whether or not he finds any issues.”
“I could postpone the trip for a day or so if I need to.”I wanted to find out what the hell was going on with Lily’s ex, but keeping her safe was more important.
Ace nodded curtly.“Sounds good.The electrician will be here in about an hour and a half.Round up as many of the old ladies and others as you can and send them shopping.Me, Rattler, Preacher, and Joker will stay behind.Leave a couple of prospects at the gate too.Doesn’t hurt to make it look like we’re prepared for trouble.”
Beast stood.“We done now?”
Ace nodded.“Yeah.You know how to reach me if you need me.”He glanced over at Shadow.“You get a phone for Lily yet?”
