Page 72 of Rebel's Fairytale

Standing with Detective Wilson near the opening of the alley behind the library, Rebel was already over the man’s bullshit. He wasn’t trying to find out who did it. He was trying to find a way to blame it on the Howlers.

Letting out an annoyed sigh, Rebel met the detective’s stare and in a firm tone reiterated, “The Howlers have nothing to do with this.”

The detective stared back. “You say that, but how could you know what the other members have done?”

Irritated as fuck, Rebel reminded himself that it wouldn’t be right or beneficial to punch the detective in the face, no matter how satisfying it would be. With narrowed eyes, Rebel asked, “Have you ever been part of a brotherhood, Detective?” He crossed his arms over his chest and clenched his jaw for a moment. “Iknowmy brothers. If they would do something like this to alibrary, theywouldn’tbe a Howler. We wouldn’t stand for that.”

The detective tried to bully him into changing his answer by attempting to stare him down, but all it did was make Rebel want to laugh in his face. The man wasn’t as intimidating as he thought he was.

“Have you had any…confrontationswith anyone? Or have you heard of any of yourbrothershaving a confrontation with anyone?”

“Since the town hall, I had some comments thrown at me at the grocery store. But other than that, not that I’m aware of.”

The detective narrowed his eyes and shot back, “Would you tell me if you did?”

“Are you insinuating that a member of the Howlers MC would obstruct an investigation?” Siren strolled up and stopped next to Rebel, staring hard at the detective, with his hands in the front pockets of his jeans. He was giving off the appearance of being cool, calm, and collected, but Rebel knew Siren was seething inside about the whole damn situation.

“Troy,” the detective said on a sigh, “I simply asked a question.”

Ignoring the use of his real name, Siren continued, “Well, I hope you know I would take great offense to that… if that’s what you were insinuating. As a former member of the WPPD, as well as a former member of the WPFD, I take it as an insult if you were to imply that I would be a part of somethingillegal. We are upstanding members of this community, and will be treated as such, or you can speak to our attorneys. Is that understood?”

The detective’s face turned a darker shade of red, and he slammed shut his little notebook. As he slid the notebook back into his suit pocket, he said, “I’m thinking I should probably speak directly to your president.”

“You do that,” Rebel said and gave the detective the fakest smile he could muster.

When the detective stormed off, Siren asked, “Do we have any idea what this is about?”

Rebel turned to look at the fucked-up bullshit painted on the back of the building again. “Well… I’m assuming it has to do with the woman who tried to get Ruby fired.”

“I got a call from a friend of mine on the council.” Siren let out a sigh. “They tried to deny our request for permits and licenses for the carnival. I think we have a group of people in this town who want us out. We need to know who else is involved, besides Sharon White.”

Rebel nodded. “Yup. Time for recon. Anyone find out who the woman at the Hen House is?”

“Yeah. Keys said she’s some former member of military and law enforcement. Known for breaking rules. Unemployed as far as we know. And she recently opted out of her lease on her apartment in Chicago. Name’s Stella Messer.” Siren took out his phone and snapped a few pictures of the vandalism and the area.

“We need an inside man,” Rebel mumbled, trying to figure out who could do it.

“We could talk to Bobby. He could pretend to befed up with our shit,“ Siren mused. “Or one of the prospects.”

“We’ll bring it up to Axle,” Rebel decided.

Together, they headed around the building the long way, ignoring the police officers when they yelled at them about staying away from the crime scene. As far as Rebel was concerned, the fuckers could kiss his ass.

Chapter twenty-two

Ruby

Rubywaspissedoffon multiple levels. She was mad at the idiot who dared to vandalize the library, pulled the Howlers into it, and used her as a pawn. She was mad at the town for not seeing the Howlers for who they are and not as monsters. But at the forefront of her mind, she was mad at Rebel for not respecting the boundary she set.

After he spoke to the detective, he came to the parking lot and tried to talk to her, but she wasn’t about to argue with him in front of her boss, the police, and the town who had lined up on the edge of the property to gawk.

He must have sensed that, because he kissed her cheek and told her he’d see her at her place.

Without saying a word, she got in her car and drove home. Now, she was sitting in her garage, trying to find some calm before she went inside and let him in the house.

After ten minutes, she climbed out of her car and made her way inside and to the front door. She unlocked and opened it, not at all surprised to see him standing there, waiting for her.

She just turned on her heel and went to her kitchen, knowing he would shut and lock the door behind him.

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