Vipers Rule

by Stephanie Tyler

  The No’Ones wouldn’t follow her to London. For chrissakes, they could barely find their way across state lines half the time. The ball was in her court.

  She’d never realized it always had been.

  Chapter 18

  “Missed me?” Rocco asked. Lola Flores straightened her shoulders and stared him down from the back door of Vipers clubhouse. “Maybe we should let you use the front entrance—that is the one most guests use.”

  “Trust me, I’m no guest.”

  “Would you like to come in? Harass some of our members? Search the place?” Rocco offered.

  “At this moment, I’m simply a messenger.”

  Oh, this was gonna be good. “Then by all means, deliver.”

  “Hugh Montgomery is missing.”

  He leaned against the doorjamb, giving his best bored impression. “How’s that Maddie’s problem?”

  Flores smiled, almost too sweetly. “Witnesses place her as the last one to see him.”

  That was, of course, impossible, which made it a complete lie. “I’d like to take a crack at some of your witnesses.”

  “I’m sure you would. Is Maddie here?”

  Rocco kept his expression neutral. He’d had enough practice.

  “She is. And she hasn’t left the clubhouse since she came in here two nights ago. And we have plenty of witnesses to that. She’s neither seen nor spoken to Hugh Montgomery, so I think we’re done here.”

  Lola took a step closer. “Don’t you think someone should mention to Maddie that you acting as her lawyer is a conflict of interest?”

  She was wearing perfume. Did she always when she was on duty and he’d never noticed? Or had she put it on just for him?

  On purpose? Was she trying to screw with his head, or was something else going on with her, unconsciously? “You’re one to talk about conflicts of interest, Detective.”

  “I’m a professional.”

  “So am I.”

  She gave him a small smirk. “Really? Where’s your practice?”

  “I keep current enough.” He sat back. “Detective, you don’t have to worry about me using what we did against you. That’s not the way I operate.”

  She snorted, and he leaned in toward her. “You have a certain idea of the kind of man I am. Or at least you did when my head was between your legs and you were begging for more.”

  The flush on her cheeks told him she had fond memories, while the narrowing of her eyes said he’d hit the mark with his crudeness. It was what she wanted to believe of him, and it galled him to prove her right, but he understood why she needed to believe it. She was more determined than ever to expose the Vipers, to prove she could never like them. She was also punishing Rocco because she’d slept with him. Female logic.

  “I’ll be back, Rocco,” she warned.

  “I never doubt that.”

  * * *

  Tals barely got any warning from Rocco before she was back, less than an hour later.

  “She planned this,” Rocco muttered as Tals stared out the window at the cop cars she’d brought with her, like there was going to be some kind of MC-police war on the premises.

  “Maybe she and Hugh are in this together.” Fuck, he wished Maddie didn’t have to see this. But hey, they’d made it past forty-eight hours.

  Barely. But still, it counted.

  “You ready for me to open the door?” Rocco asked.

  “Let’s get it over with.”

  “I already set up bail plans,” Rocco assured him, because they both knew she wouldn’t be back with this many officers if she wasn’t planning an arrest.

  At the last minute, Tals grabbed Rocco’s arm. “No way we’re not getting dragged in with some fucked-up evidence, but you don’t think she’ll arrest Maddie, do you?”

  “Collusion is circumstantial at best. If Flores does it for a scare tactic, we get the grandmother involved. Maddie’s family has enough weight to step on some necks,” Rocco assured him. “But honestly? She’s gunning for us. Maybe you more than me—I’ll just be collateral damage.”

  There was an edge to Rocco’s voice in a situation he was usually cool as a cucumber in. And he was staring out the window at Flores.

  Ah, hell no. What the fuck was wrong with all of them? Maybe it was in the water. He made a mental note to have it tested as Rocco opened the door and stood back to allow Flores to enter.

  To arrest them, she’d have to ask them to step outside, and they always made her ask and follow procedure down to the letter, as per Rocco’s teachings.

  “Back so soon, Detective Flores?” Rocco called to her.

  “Why don’t you step outside so we can talk?” she asked.

  “No, please, come on in. We insist.” Rocco held the door open for her. She pushed past him, walked in and stopped in front of Tals.

  “I’m here to place you under arrest,” she told Tals, point-blank. “And Rocco and Rally too.”

  At the mention of his name, Rally walked into the room, standing there silently, staring Flores down.

  “What are the charges?” Rocco asked while Tals stood there, hoping Maddie didn’t come down in the middle of this.

  “Extortion. Threats. Kidnapping and battery. Such a nice checklist. Because someone tried to kill Hugh Montgomery tonight,” she told them.

  “That’s funny—because an hour ago, you told me Hugh was missing and that Maddie was the last one to see him. Remember, you had all those witnesses,” Rocco reminded her.

  Flores tapped a finger against her chin, like she was trying to remember. “Oh, right—that. Faulty information. We all know how unreliable witnesses can be.”

  “So what witness do you have now?” Tals couldn’t help but ask.

  “Well, your woman never mentioned that you called Hugh and had a nice clarifying chat with him. A threat and then a kidnapping.”

  Rocco rolled his eyes. “Hoping you’ll do better than that.”

  “Of course, Counselor—we definitely have something better. Evidence.” She held up a Baggie that had been stuffed in her blazer pocket and flashed it quickly. “Hugh called the police after his attackers left him behind. Someone came by and stopped them from going further, or I have no doubt he’d be dead. Police found this Vipers patch on the scene.”

  “That’s your evidence?” Rocco asked in amazement. “Bullshit.”

  “Do you really think we’re fucking stupid enough to leave a calling card like that?” Tals asked.

  “Yes, I definitely think anyone in a gang is fucking stupid,” Flores told him pleasantly. She was enjoying this way too much.

  “Shut the fuck up, Tals,” Rocco murmured.

  Tals did what was recommended. This would never stick—and he could practically guarantee the patch was fake. But none of that was the point—who the hell was behind all of this, and were they trying to hurt Tals, Maddie or both?

  “I’ve got more than just the patch,” Flores assured them. “Including the fact that Hugh Montgomery heard you calling each other by name. Coupled with the fact that you, Tals and Rally were caught on videotape walking into Hugh’s hotel and getting out of the elevator on his floor . . .” She trailed off and shrugged. “I think that’s more than sufficient for now. Gentlemen, you know what to do next.”

  Unfortunately, Tals did. He pushed outside, hands in the air and knelt on the ground. Immediately, an officer came up behind him, yanking his arms down and behind his back before cuffing them. The officer kept a hand pressed to his shoulder.

  He glanced to the left and saw Rally, kneeling and cuffed. From behind him, Tals heard Flores say, “You too, Rocco.”

  “What are the charges?” Rocco asked.

  “Vipers patch. You’ve been defending Maddie, so I have to assume you’re in collusion.”

  Rocco shook his head, and Tals swore he could hear the guy mentally counting to ten before turning around to offer his wrists for the cuffs.

  “We’ll be out by morning,” Rocco told Tals, even though it was more for Flores
’s benefit than anything.

  “I wouldn’t count on it,” Flores countered.

  * * *

  It was happening again—Tals getting arrested because of her. And this time Maddie wasn’t allowed to say a word. If she hadn’t gotten out of the shower in time to hear the ruckus happening below, she’d have missed it. And Preacher would’ve probably told her Tals was out on club business.

  Instead she got to watch Tals being put in the back of a police car along with Rocco.

  And Preacher was literally holding her back, his hands on her shoulders.

  “You can’t do this to me,” she told Preacher, refusing to tear her eyes from Tals. Tals, who wouldn’t even turn his head, no matter how hard she stared. “You can’t put me in this position again.”

  “The way I see it, you owe all of us. The way you pay us back is by doing what we say,” Preacher told her. “Besides, you put yourself in this position, Maddie. You dragged this to our clubhouse steps. It’s out of your hands and on our backs now.”

  Even though he spoke the truth, she still hated him at this moment. “You have to take me to the station. Let me talk to Hugh. I’ll get him to drop the charges.”

  Preacher shook his head. “Won’t matter. Even if he does, the state will try the case.”

  God, this was horrible. And to top it all off, she was still in danger, along with the Vipers. Because whoever had framed the MC still wanted her dead.

  Chapter 19

  Holly was still here. As far as Preacher could tell, she hadn’t made any airline reservations, but then again, with everything going on, Holly would never abandon the MC now. She was nothing if not loyal to the lifestyle.

  Or maybe she’s just staying for you.

  But he refused to believe that, to acknowledge it. They were both way too fucked-up—about love and everything in between—to make this work.

  Tonight, though, she marched in and didn’t wait to be acknowledged—or seem to give a shit that he was on the phone—before saying, “There are men staying in the next town you need to look at.”

  Preacher wanted to tell her to sit down, to stop interrupting, but dammit all, he couldn’t. “Talk.”

  “I’ve seen them. More important, I’ve seen their tattoos. I know what they mean.” She had an iPad with her, and she passed it to Preacher. He studied the picture as she outlined the three men and the tattoos she’d been able to see, growing more concerned by the minute.

  They were definitely Albanian, most likely mafia. He’d heard rumblings that they were breaking into the stolen-luxury-car market, trying to horn in on East Coast territory. He figured it was more about running drugs inside the cars, a kill-two-birds-with-one-stone type of crime. But if they were really after Hugh, and Maddie by default, Vipers would be caught in the middle.

  “Did they recognize you?’ Preacher demanded of Holly.

  “No.”

  “Holly, you don’t exactly blend,” Preacher told her.

  “They didn’t see me. I was sitting down, anyway. I had a hat on. My hair was up. I was in sweats. Trust me—they didn’t glance in my direction once. And they weren’t exactly in hiding or trying to cover up.”

  “You’re lying,” Preacher said bluntly. “And I’m going to find out the truth one way or another.”

  Her bravado faltered for a brief second, and then the mask slipped back into place. “I’ve given you necessary information, and now you’re trying to punish me?”

  “If I make you so fucking miserable, why are you still here?” he challenged. “I’m telling you right now, if you’re staying, things are going to goddamn change around here.”

  She crossed her arms. “Really?”

  “Don’t push, Holly. You’re putting yourself in danger, and by extension, Vipers. Maybe that’s what you do, though—”

  “Fuck you, Preacher.”

  “I’d stop there.”

  “Going to put me in line?”

  He paused a long moment before he told her, “It’s time someone did.”

  She looked like she wanted to say something, thought better of it and simply walked away. That was more frustrating than anything (and of course she knew it) because now he was all pissed off, revved up, with no outlet.

  “Preach?”

  He looked up to see Tenn standing in the doorway. Preach said, “Bail’s being posted for Tals and Rocco now.”

  “I know. I was going to ask when the last time you got laid was.”

  The only other person who’d dare ask him that so bluntly was Tals. And Tenn was not only completely unapologetic, but he was also completely serious.

  “Tenn, I don’t have time for your shit.”

  Tenn pulled out a chair, turned it around and sat so his chest leaned against the back. “I mean, look. I’m not one to take my own advice on a regular basis, but hell, man, you’re driving everyone fucking nuts.”

  “And they called you to tell me where to put my dick?”

  “No one has to tell me. I can see it. And what the fuck is up with you and Holly?”

  “There’s no me and Holly, Tenn.”

  Tenn leaned back a little, holding on to the chair’s back like he was stretching. “Why’re you pushing her out the door?”

  “She wants to go.”

  “Then why hasn’t she?”

  “That’s what I’m trying to figure out.”

  Tenn nodded, then suggested, “Check her bank account. Usually when someone can’t leave, either they really don’t want to, or they’re too broke.”

  “It’s good you remind me of why I keep you around.”

  Chapter 20

  Maddie was practically climbing the walls. She couldn’t go anywhere, since there was obviously active danger, which meant she was stuck inside the clubhouse, waiting for Tals, Rocco and Rally to be arraigned and praying that bail would be set.

  The clubhouse was a big place, but she couldn’t settle in at all. Plus, the tension was incredible, because all the guys were intent on figuring out who was trying to frame Vipers. Preacher had sent out groups of Vipers to try to get to the bottom of the mess, but then he’d called that off.

  He wasn’t going to tell her why, and she knew better than to ask. But ten hours after Tals was taken away, she was exhausted from stress, unable to sleep and she had no one to talk to.

  Was it like this for all the women with Vipers men, or just her? Her circumstances were definitely different from most who dated Vipers . . . or at least, that’s how it seemed.

  She was lingering in the kitchen, staring at the fridge like it might produce something to quell her anxiety, when she heard loud voices coming from the other room. A definite argument—and she recognized Tenn’s voice immediately.

  She closed the fridge and steeled herself. She hadn’t seen him since the other night, when they’d been arguing. She’d known he hadn’t gone back home yet, though. Tals told her he’d been staying with Calla and Cage at their apartment a few blocks away.

  “Tenn, she didn’t do this,” Preacher was repeating.

  “Tals is in jail because he’s accused of assaulting her husband—how is she not involved?” Tenn yelled over his shoulder as he walked into the kitchen.

  Preacher was right behind him. “This is Flores, trying to take us down any way she can.”

  “If there’s smoke, there’s fire.” Tenn was staring right at her. “Am I right, Maddie?”

  “My ex called the police after someone tried to kidnap him,” she started.

  “And there’s video of Tals, Rocco and Rally headed to your ex’s hotel room. Plus a phone call. And at the scene of the kidnapping, there just happened to be a Vipers patch,” he finished.

  “Nothing concrete,” Preacher added.

  Tenn glanced at him impatiently, saying, “You forget how much pull I’ve got—I know exactly how concrete the evidence is,” before turning his full attention back to Maddie. “Your ex knew where you were staying, who you were staying with, since he accused Tals of kidnapping you.
Did you even try to talk to your ex, to tell him to leave Tals out of your goddamned drama? Now you’ve got Rocco and Rally involved too.”

  “Tals didn’t want me to—”

  “Of course not. My brother’s great at protecting everyone but himself. But you knew that, didn’t you? Is that why you’re walking all over him, leading him by the goddamned nose?”

  “Tenn—”

  “This is the third goddamned time he’s been arrested for something to do with you.”

  “I didn’t ask him to,” she whispered.

  “Right. And he was supposed to just let Earl hurt you?” Tenn pressed his lips together, then said, “You should do Tals a favor and leave him alone. Leave Vipers, go back to your rich family and let them protect you. If you really do give a shit about him, like you claim to, you wouldn’t break up his family.”

  She wanted to tell him that she wasn’t trying to break up his family, but that’s exactly what was happening—she was pitting brother against brother. And so she remained silent, because she was never going to win this.

  Tenn wasn’t exactly angry, but rather, honest. And he wasn’t done. “Maddie, look, I get that this all might seem really great—Tals rescues you. He takes care of you. He’s dangerous. But I think what’s happening between you is different for you than it is for him.”

  “You think I’m here for a fling.”

  He nodded. “And Tals is a lot like our mom. She was a romantic. She was convinced that there’s ‘the one’—a soul mate. The right one.”

  Maybe their mothers had been friends. “Who was the right one for your mom?”

  Tenn smiled tensely. “Unfortunately, it was my dad.”

  Maddie just nodded, because what could she say to that? All she added was, “So Tals is still looking, then.”

  Her voice sounded neutral, but she felt all hollowed out inside. She wanted to end this conversation, go back inside, crawl under the covers with ice cream and stay there in hiding.