by Mara McBain
“If Eva had her way I’d never get her to myself,” Mox said with a sad shake of his head.
“Maybe that’s a hint, brother,” Crux said with a grin. “You’re just not enough for her.”
“That’s not true! I just like to entertain,” Eva protested, her blush deepening as she looked imploringly up at Mox. He looked skeptical.
“I believe in brotherly love but that’s taking it a little far. I’m not sharing you with them.”
Eva smacked his knee and giggled.
“Sorry, baby. There goes your dream of making Moxie your boy toy,” Crux said with a regretful shake of his head.
Mox choked on his beer, his pale eyes widening in disbelief. His blush rivaled Eva’s.
Kat burst into laughter, smacking her husband’s arm. “Now Eva will never invite us back!”
“She sure as hell won’t leave you alone with her man.”
“I knew you were a hussy,” Eva said pointing an accusing finger.
“Damn! Why didn’t Gin ever let Aunt Kat babysit?” Mox lamented, a huge grin spreading over his boyish face.
“Probably because she knew better,” Crux said with a wolfish grin. “She knew Kat would corrupt her baby boy.”
“You’re enjoying this way too much,” Kat said, laughing at his teasing.
“Not nearly as much as I would’ve enjoyed it,” Mox said with a sexy growl that earned him nasty looks from Crux and Eva alike.
“Oh, no! You started this. You don’t get to be a jealous ass now,” Kat said shaking her head adamantly at her husband.
“What was that you were saying the other day about one for all and all for one?” Eva asked, hugging Mox’s bicep and leaning forward to give Crux a candid once over. A moment later she was face down over her man’s knees.
Mox’s huge hand came down with enough force to make Kat cringe.
“I was kidding,” Eva yelped.
“We all were. Come on Moxie,” Kat pleaded.
He winked at Kat as he righted Eva in his lap. “You’re damn lucky I have a sense of humor, little girl.”
Eva squirmed, obviously trying to defuse the sting her man’s huge paw had left behind. She pressed her nose against Mox’s chest, hiding her face and muffling her words. “I can’t believe you did that in front of company.”
“They’re not company, baby. Crux and Kat are family. It’s no different than getting your ass smacked in front of Rhys.”
“I doubt any of the old ladies can say they haven’t been face down over their man’s knee at one point or another,” Kat said, trying to ease some of Eva’s embarrassment. “I’ve spent some quality time there myself.”
“Brute,” Eva muttered, but her shoulders shook in silent laughter as Mox tightened his arms in a crushing hug. “I’m glad it’s not just mine,” she finally said when Mox let her turn in his lap.
“Nope. They’re all Neanderthals.”
“Or we’re all just cursed with lippy old ladies that need to be reminded who’s boss,” Crux said with a roll of his shoulders.
“Some of them even like it,” Mox said, kissing the top of Eva’s head.
Kat grinned. “Both valid points. Who wants a namby-pamby metrosexual ninny? I love my bad-ass.”
“Amen,” Eva agreed getting both men to just roll their eyes.
“Listen to them suck up.”
“She might as well warm up now because she’s going to be sucking tonight,” Crux said with a wicked grin. “Another fine way to keep lippy old ladies in line.”
“It’s hard to flap their lips when their mouth’s full,” Mox agreed with a nod.
“And here I thought Mox was such a sweetheart,” Kat said with an eye roll of her own.
“He can be a real sweetheart, but he’s still all man,” Eva said in a long suffering tone that got them all to laugh.
“The little man’s still sound asleep. You guys want to play some cards?” Mox asked, setting Eva aside on the couch so he could stand and gather the empty beer bottles.
Crux glanced at her and Kat nodded with a smile. It felt good to just hang out. She stood up and grabbed the dessert plates before Eva could. Her reach coming up empty, Eva settled for taking the bottles from Mox.
“You men break out the cards and decide what we’re playing and we’ll grab fresh drinks and some snacks,” she said and followed Kat into the kitchen.
Rinsing the plates, Kat added them to the dinner dishes in the dishwasher while Eva filled bowls with pretzels and Chex Mix.
“Do you want this started?”
“Nah. I’ll get it later. I usually start it before we go to bed.”
“We’re not keeping you from anything are we? We didn’t mean to burst in on you and stay.” Kat said, feeling a little guilty.
Eva laughed and gave her a dismissive wave. “It’s Monday night. We usually just watch whatever’s on TV; or Mox and Rhys play video games and I read. Sometimes Rain comes over. It’s good to have someone to talk to.”
“I know the feeling. I’ve been feeling a little isolated. Other than the party the other night, I’ve been out of the loop. This feels good.”
“I think everyone was just giving you a chance to settle in with Cam. I know I wanted to rush over right after you brought him home and Mox said, ‘Give them a chance to breathe!’”
“After a week with Crux at home and a new baby, I was ready for company,” Kat said with a laugh.
“I can see you both from here so I know you didn’t get lost,” Mox said, raising his arms in question.
“We’re coming.” Eva called, grabbing beer and Pepsi out of the refrigerator with an exasperated roll of her eyes. “The only disadvantage to an open floor plan,” she whispered, bumping the door shut.
“Nowhere to hide!” the girls said in unison, laughing as they carried their bounty to the card table.
The ratchet of the garage door sounded loud in the sleeping neighborhood. Kat yawned and leaned against her man’s side as he led them toward their back door. She made a mental note to replace the outside light. Something crunched under her boots. Crux’s hand left hers and splayed across her stomach to stop her. She instinctually ducked behind him as his Glock appeared in his right hand.
Adrenalin surged through her, chasing the fog of weariness away. She pulled Cam’s carrier higher so it was tucked between their bodies. Peeking under Crux’s arm, she could make out the splintered casing around their backdoor.
“Call the cops,” Crux ordered, his voice barely a rasp over the pounding of her heart.
Kat fumbled for her phone. Crux flipped his open with one hand and hit a speed dial number. Her blood ran cold at his words,
“I need you now. My place. Come ready.”
Her hand shook around the phone and the dispatcher had to ask for her emergency twice before Kat could force words past her lips. “I need to report a break-in. I don’t know if they’re still in the house.”
Crux put a hand on her arm and directed her back to the driveway where he could watch both the front and back of the house. She huddled behind him and continued to answer the operator’s questions on autopilot. A siren sounded somewhere in the distance. She was still on the phone when the bark of tires and an engine grabbing gears made her gaze dart to the street. Headlights blinded her as the vehicle whipped into their drive. She pressed her face to Crux’s shoulder blade. The driver killed the lights with the engine and stepped out. Even in the pale moonlight she recognized Reaper’s lean form immediately.
“The back door is kicked in. I can’t leave Kat and Cam alone,” Crux said in terse greeting.
“I got it. Watch the front,” Reaper said, and jogged toward the backdoor in a practiced crouch.
Why did she always forget Reaper was former military? It really made her wonder about the Army’s psych evaluations. On the other hand, if he had been as loyal to the Army as he was the Lords, he’d probably been a hell of a soldier. Kat chewed her lip. Time crept by, the silence heavy. The dispatcher had to ask her i
f she was still there a couple of times.
“Where the hell are the cops? I’m standing here in the cold with a baby,” Kat snapped, helplessness getting the best of her despite the approaching sirens.
She ignored the woman’s reassurances. Crux’s fingers found hers and she clung to the tiny connection. Kat let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding when Reaper materialized out of the gloom just as the cruiser arrived. A slight shake of his head told them what they needed to know. He tucked his weapon away before the officers climbed from their car. A second vehicle pulled up with its lights flashing and they were all escorted to the perceived safety of a squad car while the other officers moved to sweep the house.
Kat hummed at the welcome warmth and fussed with Cam while her husband and Reaper squabbled over who was sitting in the front. Crux finally slid into the backseat beside her and closed the door when she shot him an evil look for letting the heat out. He leaned forward, his voice low as he asked his brother about the house.
She half-assed listened to Reaper’s account. Freeing Cam from his seat, she cradled him close. Stripping off his hat, she brushed her lips over his dark hair. She grimaced as the word ‘robbery’ floated to her. Nothing in her doubted this had to do with her father. It was just another jab. At least she’d mailed the insurance payment a couple of weeks ago. What was the deductible? One more shot at a checkbook that was already reeling.
She closed her eyes. John Merrick was a pro at finding people’s weak spots; obviously, he thought finances were theirs. She would’ve never believed that, but Crux’s recent words showed her father was partially right. She’d thought she knew Crux’s insecurities. This was a new one. She pressed her nose into Cam’s downy hair and took a deep breath. How far would her father go? She swallowed against the sudden bile burning the back of her throat. It was a stupid question with a simple answer; as far as it took.
“Whoever did this didn’t just ransack the house, they were purposely destructive. They smashed dishes. The contents of the pantry and freezer were strewn all over. The spindles on the stairway and the baby’s crib were broken,” Zeke said, ticking the items off on his thick fingers for the local officer. “Robbery wasn’t the motive here. It was personal.”
“Are you looking to take my job, Zeke?”
“They can’t afford me.”
“Then thank God your condescension and sarcasm are free,” Marchand said with a roll of his eyes. “Care to share your thoughts on who might have had motive? Maybe we can wrap this up tonight.”
Zeke smirked at the jibe, but shrugged his shoulder in answer and looked at Crux.
“I’d blame you guys, but this fucker did an even better job of tossing my place than you did,” Crux sneered. “The only good thing is I can claim it on my insurance this time.”
Marchand had the good grace to look embarrassed. “We were asked to help serve the search warrant, Croston, but we had nothing to do with it. For what it’s worth I’m sorry. We found nothing to validate the warrant.”
“Your apology isn’t worth shit. Do your damn job and figure out who did this and we’ll talk.”
“Maybe it would help if you called the authorities before your club brothers,” Marchand said a little sharply.
“My wife called 911 before any other calls were made. It’s not my problem my brothers respond faster.”
“What was your point in calling in the cavalry?”
“I wanted to make sure my wife and son were protected.”
“Is something going on that we don’t know about?” Marchand demanded, looking back and forth from Crux to Zeke. “I don’t want to see one of you gunned down in the street again. Trinity Falls has never had a problem with the Lords. You’re part of the community and we’d like to keep it that way. Believe what you will, Croston, but we didn’t get off on having to toss your house. It was uncomfortable as hell for us local guys.”
“Last week someone drained all the oil out of my truck and the engine seized,” Crux said, the muscles in his jaw tense. “And now I come home to this.”
“Why didn’t you report the vandalism to your truck?”
“I didn’t have insurance coverage for it and I figured it was a pissed off co-worker.”
“Who is this co-worker and what’s his beef with you?”
“The dumb-fuck tried to feel up my old ladies tits out at Hillside a few weeks back. We talked about it in the parking lot. He apologized to Kat and I haven’t seen the numb-nuts since.”
“Do you happen to have an actual name for dumb-fuck numb-nuts?” Marchand asked, fighting a grin as he scribbled down notes.
Zeke snorted in amusement.
“Ricky something, I think. Check with Bowie.”
“Where were you tonight?”
Crux’s eyes narrowed at the change of questioning.
“I’m trying to establish how long the house was unoccupied.”
Crux blew out a breath and glanced toward the stairs. Kat had gone up to pack a bag for them and the baby.
“Kat picked me up after work. We had an appointment uptown and then we went over to Moxie’s for dinner and cards.”
“So Kat probably left here around four-thirty, five o’clock?”
“Around a quarter after four I guess. I left work early.”
“And she made the 911 call at exactly 10:46 PM. Who knew your plans for the evening?”
“A few people knew about the appointment because I needed to leave the shop early. No one knew we were having dinner at Mox’s. We stopped to pick up Cam and they invited us to eat with them.”
“With the shattered security light at the back, the break-in likely happened after dark. They didn’t try to be quiet and the kind of damage we’re looking at took some time,” Marchand said looking around with a frown. “Where was your appointment? Was this something that you expected to run late?”
“No. We were out of there by six,” Crux said and ground his teeth when Marchand continued to look at him expectantly. It was none of the fucker’s business. He sighed. “We were at Durham’s office.”
The officer’s head cocked to the side, more questions in his dark eyes at the mention of the lawyer’s name. His lips pursed for a moment but he wisely decided not to pursue it further.
“Had this co-worker ever been to the house?”
Crux shook his head.
“Did you confront him about your truck?”
“He was just filling in while Reaper was out. I don’t even know where the kid lives. When all this shit went down with my truck, Bowie went to the address that he had on file to talk to him because he didn’t trust me not to kick the kid’s ass. The landlord said the kid had stayed there, but had recently moved out. Also, he wasn’t the one that had signed the rental agreement so they didn’t have a forwarding address for him.”
“He’s unemployed now?”
“Hell if I know. He doesn’t work at the shop anymore.”
“From what you do know of him do you think he’d do something like this?”
Crux let out a sigh and shook his head again. “The truck, maybe, but I don’t think the college boy has the balls to come at me like this.”
“We’ll look into him just to make sure,” Marchand said rolling his gaze up from his notes to pin Crux with a pointed look. “Anyone else? Rival clubs, pissed off ex’s, mobsters, or members of law enforcement with a vendetta? At Crux’s shrug, he glanced between him and Zeke and added, “How about anyone bothering the ladies at The Lantern?”
“Not that I’m aware of,” Zeke said.
“I heard that a couple of the Lords made a hasty trip down to The Lantern last Thursday in the middle of the work day. Any problems there?”
“They forgot our ketchup,” Crux said with a shrug.
Rolling his eyes, Marchand closed his notebook and tucked it in his pocket. “I can’t help you if you aren’t honest with me, Croston. As much as it pains me to say, Zeke is right. This looks personal. If something is going on in Trin
ity Falls you need to let me help.”
“I don’t know who trashed my house. If I did, I’d tell you.”
“Fine. If you think of anything else, call me.”
Crux stared at the offered business card for a long moment, sighed and tucked it in his pocket. He didn’t say anything as the cops cleared out. Feeling Zeke’s questioning gaze on him he finally turned to look at the big man.
“If I have to kill the rich fuck, I don’t want my doorstep to be the law’s first stop,” he growled.
The prez gave the slightest nod of understanding and puffed on his cigar. His eyes flickered to Kat coming down the stairs and he changed the subject. “We should secure the back door until you can get someone out here to replace it.”
“Yeah, I think I’ve got some plywood in the garage.”
“I’ll get it,” Zeke said heading for the back door. “The Durango is running if you want to wait where it’s warm, Kat,” he tossed over his shoulder.
Kats smile was weak but appreciative. She looked exhausted. Crux swiped a frustrated hand down his face. He glanced at Reaper who was on Kat’s heels and his brother nodded.
“Come on, Kat. I’ll help you get little Alex settled,” Reaper offered, slinging the bags higher on his shoulder and reaching for the baby carrier Kat was lugging.
“I’ve got him,” Kat said sharply, swinging the carrier out of reach. She grimaced as Reaper held his hands up in acceptance. “Sorry. I’m tired. I didn’t mean to be a bitch.”
Crux relaxed and raised an eyebrow as his normally volatile brother wrapped an arm around Kat’s shoulders and pulled her close, planting a kiss against the side of her head.
“No problem, little mama. Come on.”
The way Kat leaned against him as they walked out to the car was a testament to how wiped out she was. The stress was taking a toll.
Fifteen
Fear stole Kat’s breath as her eyes flew open. It took a moment to recognize her surroundings. She was safe at Gin and Zeke’s. Flopping back on the pillow, she tried to slow her pounding heart. Ghosts of the nightmare that had haunted her sleep stayed with her into consciousness. She shuddered and pulled the comforter closer around her. Her hand slid over to touch the empty spot beside her, missing her man’s warmth and strength.