Page 20 of Abra's Acquisition
“Don’t you think that will be the first place he looks? Look, I’m not saying you can’t protect her, but you can’t protect her if you’re not there. Like you said, you have crimes to investigate. That’s where your focus needs to stay. Rey will be safe with me. The clubhouse is full of men willing to die to protect her.”
Max scoffs. “They’d die to protect a stranger?”
“They’d die for her because I asked them. I get that you don’t trust me yet. I plan on proving to you that my men and I can betrusted. More importantly, all I want is for Rey to stay safe. I can and will protect her.”
Max stares long and hard at Abra before his eyes lower to his kutte and fixate on the small diamond under his road name. “How can I trust someone who proudly displays they’re a criminal?”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN: ABRA
“Max!” Rey explodes. “How can you say that after they’ve rescued me?”
I have to grin at Rey’s defense of me, especially since I know she’s well aware of how my club broke the law to rescue her.
“It’s okay, Rey,” I say, taking her hand and drawing her back to me. “He’s your brother. He’s only looking out for your best interests. That’s exactly how I would react if I had a sister. As for my club,” I say, turning my attention back to Max. “I’m proud of my club and my brothers. Are we Boy Scouts? Nope. Do we break the law? Well, I’m not going to be stupid enough to admit to anything to a cop. However, we like to think we’re the good guys. We don’t hurt innocent people. Our businesses are legal and clean. I’d never hurt Rey and more importantly, I’d never let anyone else hurt her, either.”
“But you don’t deny working outside the law?”
I rub my chin as I consider my response. I could lie to the man, but I doubt he’d believe me. So, I go with the truth, up to a point. “The Demon Dawgs have chapters in almost every state. They have a long history, but not necessarily a clean one. I know there are chapters out there that once dealt in trafficking women. It was years ago. When Dante took over as the President for all the Chapters, he cleaned house. His high school girlfriend was a victim. When he learned of this, he made it clear to everyChapter that he wouldn’t tolerate anyone wearing a Demon Dawg kutte to be involved in human trafficking. He’s working hard to clean up the clubs. The NOLA Chapter is new. Hex started it only a few years ago, and he started it clean. He has two sisters of his own, so he made it clear from the beginning that our club would not hurt innocents.”
Max studies me for several minutes before sighing in defeat. “I know the reputation of the club in NOLA. I know Hex’s mother, Delphine, and that she’s with one of your club brothers. It’s just, Rey is my sister.”
“And you’re protective of her. I get it.”
Max does something that raises him in my estimation. He turns to Rey and asks her what she wants. “Do you trust him?”
She doesn’t look in my direction when she nods. “I do. What’s more, I trust all of the Demon Dawgs. They’ve made me feel welcome, and they’ve gone out of their way to help me. Honestly, I’ll feel safer at a crowded clubhouse than alone in your condo.”
Max nods before holding out his hand to me until I grip and give it a shake. “Take care of my baby sister. If you need backup, just call me.”
“Will do. If you need any help from us, let me know. We can assist with surveillance, research, or any other needs you may have. Our tech guy is one of the best.”
“I’ll keep it in mind. Are you headed back to the clubhouse now?”
I shake my head. “Shopping first, then I want to take Rey out to dinner. We’ll be at the clubhouse in a few hours.”
When we’re downstairs, I lead her to my bike, but she pulls back. “I should follow you in my car.”
I glance over to where the police have cordoned off several parking spaces while they and the medical examiner work. Rey’s car sits in the center of the activity.
“I think your car is part of the crime scene,” I remind her. “We’ll take my bike and get your car later. How does that sound? Where would you like to go?”
“We can just go to Target. Let me go ask them how long it will be before I can reclaim my car,” Rey says, walking toward the officer watching over the scene.
I pull out my phone and call Hex. I fill him in on what happened at Rey’s apartment and ask him to have Pirate research Dontel. “Max may call for assistance, but I doubt it. However, if we could find Dontel…”
“We can make him vanish. The world would be a better place without a bastard who thinks it is okay to hit women,” Hex assures me. “Are you headed back here?”
“I want to take Rey shopping and out to dinner. Figure she could use some cheering up. What’s that boutique Cleo and Delphine rave about?”
Hex chuckles and gives me the name and the address. “I’ll send Levi with the SUV. If Rey is anything like my woman and my mother, she’s going to go nuts and find a million things to buy.”
“Good. I want her to. Thanks, man.”
I end the call to watch Rey striding back. She holds out her hand for the helmet, but I slip it over her head and fasten it under her chin. Once we’re on the road, Rey taps on my leg when we pass by Target. I grab her hand and return it to my stomach before patting her hand. She tenses when I pull up next to the club SUV outside the boutique. Grabbing Rey’s hand, I help her off the bike. She reluctantly dismounts before ripping the helmet off her head.
“What are we doing here? I can’t afford to shop here. I thought we were going to Target.”
“I wanted to treat you. This is where Cleo and Delphine shop. I thought you might enjoy having some fun. It beats the hell out of Target.”
