SOLD: Jagged Souls MC

by Naomi West

  “We need to talk about your future involvement,” Detective Simpson said. “We may need you both to testify in court. Is that going to be a problem?”

  Sara squeezed Saxton’s hand and looked to him for an answer. She surely didn’t want to testify. Carter might know anyway that it was her, and if Saxton testified, he would obviously put it together. But just how risky was this?

  “I’m sure you can see why that might be a concern,” Saxton said.

  “That’s why I’m bringing it up,” she said.

  “What are our options?” Sara asked.

  “You could not testify, but that might weaken the case,” she said. “You could provide a written statement and remain anonymous, or you could testify in court and let us protect you after.”

  “Like the witness protection program or something? Like you’d want to send us away?” Sara asked.

  “Possibly. If it came down to that.”

  “And what if we can’t leave?” She never had asked Saxton if that was an option or told him she’d been considering it. She could waitress anywhere. It would be hard to make Ian switch schools, but she could find a great school wherever they ended up, and being only six, this was a good time to do it. He wasn’t too involved in the school life yet and still made friends and adapted easily to change. But Saxton couldn’t just move his MC, and his business—whatever that was exactly—probably wasn’t as mobile either.

  “There are other ways we can protect you. Provide disguise or surveillance, a new identity if that would help,” Detective Simpson said.

  “Why don’t you see where your case is now,” Saxton said. “Do your investigating now that you have solid locations, and try to keep us out of it. Let us know if the case really needs us. Maybe you’ll make a grand discovery when you go there. We’ll happily let you take all the credit for solving the case. Happily.”

  “Then we will have to ask you to remain in the area and notify us of any change in your contact information until the case comes to trial,” Detective Simpson said. “We will list you as potential critical witnesses for now. So there will be warrants for your arrest if you vanish. But we’ll do our best to keep you out of it.”

  “Thank you,” Saxton said. “Are we done here, then?”

  They looked over their notes and shared one final look.

  Detective Smith said, “I believe so,” and stood and stuck out his hand to Saxton. “We appreciate you coming in and willingly working with us. If we had more cooperation from inside, we’d have the resources to fully investigate even the smallest gang and MC crimes. But you’re right. We just don’t most of the time.”

  Saxton shook his hand. “I appreciate your honesty.”

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Saxton put his arm around Sara shoulder’s and led her out to the car, then opened her door for her. She slid in and folded her hands in her lap after buckling her seatbelt. The second he got in, she started talking.

  “How do you think it went?”

  “Better than I expected,” he said.

  “How so?”

  “I expected not to walk out of there.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I thought they’d arrest me. I have a warrant or two. I think.”

  “You think?” She gave him an incredulous look. “How do you not know for sure?”

  “After so many, you lose track. Maybe they’ll send someone to bang on my door later. Who knows.”

  “Saxton! Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “Would it have changed your mind?”

  That stopped her short. Would it have? “Maybe. I guess it’s hard to say not knowing. I guess it would depend on what they’re for.”

  “Parking tickets mostly,” he said.

  “Seriously?”

  He gave her a look like, come on. “Nothing major. It’ll be fine.”

  “But you thought maybe you have warrants and you walked in there to do that for me anyway?”

  “And for Ian. It’s all about the kid for me.”

  She rolled her eyes at his sarcasm. Though it wasn’t actually overly sarcastic. Might be some truth there. But speaking of the truth, she needed to get to it.

  “Did you really mean it when you told the detectives that you felt like I’ve never turned on you?”

  “Well, at the time it felt like you turned on me. In maybe one of the worst ways possible, to threaten me like that. But first of all, I wasn’t going to tell them that, and you said you only did it to protect me. Was that a lie?”

  She gave an emphatic, “No.”

  “Okay then.You didn’t turn on me, you only attempted to manipulate me through lies for my own benefit. Not as bad in my book.”

  Sara chuckled. “Which part isn’t as bad, the lying or manipulation?”

  “The intention. The fact that you did those things to protect me. I’d lie to you to protect you if I felt like I had to or that it was the only way.”

  “I wouldn’t want you to.”

  “And I wouldn’t want to. But if I thought it was the only way to keep you or Ian safe, I would do whatever it takes. That’s my top priority. No sense in telling the truth and have you get hurt if a little lie will prevent that. I’d tell you the truth eventually. Probably.”

  “Really?” She turned to him and prepared herself for his next answer. “Then will you tell me the truth about something that was said in that room?”

  “What?”

  “The domestic violence you were arrested for. What was that about?”

  “Arrested for, but never prosecuted. It was dumb. Nolan and I got into a fight. It led to fists. My mom thought calling the cops would get us to somehow never fight again.”

  “Nolan?”

  “My brother who died? I’ve told you about him.” His tone sounded slightly aggravated. Like he was annoyed that she had forgotten about him. But she hadn’t.

  “No, I know all about Nolan, or what you’ve told me,” she assured him, “But I mean… I thought domestic violences were only…”

  “A man hitting woman? No. I’m sure that’s the most common, but it’s any sort of violence within the home, caused by someone who lives there against someone else who lives there. Two brothers fighting is domestic violence, too.”

  “Have you ever hit a woman?”

  He looked over and raised an eyebrow at her. “Those detectives got inside your head.”

  “I’m just being diligent, and when the domestic violence was mentioned, it did worry me a little, but I’m relieved to know that it wasn’t what I thought.” More than relieved, really.

  “I’ve never been violent against a woman. I mean, unless you want to count when I get a little rough in bed. But you seem to like that.” He gave her a half smile.

  She rolled her eyes and let out a sigh. “Yes, I do, and no that doesn’t count. I didn’t think you’d ever hurt me or Ian like that, but it’s nice to have reassurance, you know?”

  He reached over and squeezed her hand. “I will never hurt you. Or Ian. I promise.”

  “Okay. Thank you.”

  “Do you trust me?”

  “With my life and my son’s. And on multiple occasions already.”

  “Good. Just nice to have reassurance.” He winked and she leaned over to kiss his cheek.

  Later that night, they were curled up on the couch after dinner. Ian sat at one end of the couch, coloring, and Saxton flipped through the channels. When they landed on the news, Saxton and Sara both sat up suddenly, eyes glued to the TV, and he turned the volume up.

  “Police arrested gang leader Carter Taylor today,” the reporter was saying over video of police escorting Carter in handcuffs into a cruiser. “After new evidence revealed links to various sex trafficking chains and other crimes. Police say Taylor is also the prime suspect in the murder case of Liam Grant, who had been an informant prior to his death last year.”

  The camera cut to Detective Smith. “We have enough evidence now to prosecute, and we fully intend to pursue the
highest punishment available for these horrible crimes. All of them.”

  “More details as they come in on this high profile case,” the reporter said, and the camera cut back to the newsroom. They moved on to some other story and Sara and Saxton looked at each other.

  “They arrested him!” Sara said.

  Saxton nodded. “They did.” Then, under his breath, he said, “Informant?”

  “You didn’t know Liam was giving them stuff?”

  “Had no clue, but that makes sense. All the things Carter said about Liam weren’t adding up. But if he was informing and trying to bring the Cruel Crows down, he would need to get a little inside.” He chuckled. “Oh, Liam. Wonder what in the world he was trying to get out of to agree to do that. Must’ve been something big he got caught on.”

  “You think?”

  “That’s the only reason he would do something like that,” Saxton said. “You saw how it worked out for him. Too dangerous to inform on a huge gang like that. They get one whiff and you’re gone. Just like Liam was. That’s why Carter shot him like that.”

  “At least we know Carter can’t come after us now. We’ll just have to watch out for the rest of the Crows.”

  “Yeah.”

  When Sara went to sleep that night, curled in Saxton’s hot arms after a passionate romp in the sheets, she felt safer than she had in days. Carter was behind bars, and it looked like they would be able to keep him there for a while. Hopefully. They still had to watch their backs, but this was huge. Who knew how many Crows would be arrested as well for their involvement. Maybe a bunch of them.

  She thought again to the night at the warehouse when Saxton rescued her and Ian. Had some of the Crows been killed that night? Then she remembered the Jagged Soul who had gone down. She rubbed on Saxton’s chest.

  “Saxton? You still awake?” she whispered.

  He made a murmuring sound and didn’t open his eyes.

  “That night at the warehouse,” she continued anyway, “one of your Jagged Souls was hurt. I saw him go down. I think he was shot?”

  He made an agreeing, “Mmm.”

  “Did they get him out? Is he okay?”

  He squeezed his eyes and blinked at her. “What?”

  “Did that guy who was hurt get out of the warehouse okay?”

  “He’s fine. Why?”

  “Oh good.” She rested her head back on his shoulder. “I was just worried about him.”

  “About K9? Why? Do you know him?”

  “No.”

  “But you were worried about him?”

  “Yeah. He’s one of your guys. He was there to help rescue us. I didn’t want him to get hurt or killed or anything.”

  Saxton chuckled. “He wasn’t hurt bad. Just skipped his calf. He’s fine. K9 is a tough dude. But he’ll be touched you were asking about him.”

  “Do I get to meet them?”

  “You want to meet my MC?”

  “Well, yeah. I want to thank them at least.”

  Saxton wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer. “You can make them muffins or something if you want.”

  “I’m not allowed to meet them?”

  “No, you are. If you want to. I didn’t think you’d want to be involved in that part of my life.”

  “I want to be involved in all parts of your life. I don’t know. Maybe you can teach me to ride.”

  He laughed again. “Let’s start with taking you into the headquarters and see if you last ten minutes.”

  “I’ll totally bring muffins.”

  He kissed the top of her head. “You do that.”

  Chapter Thirty

  Sara stretched her arms above her head, lazily feeling each muscle as it stretched and moved. Beside her, Saxton groaned and rolled over to pull her close. She nuzzled into his chest and they lie wrapped in each other for several long minutes. She could have stayed there all day, tangled in him like that. But only minutes later, the door made a slow creaking sound.

  She grumbled into Saxton’s chest and whispered, “We’re being invaded.”

  A moment later, the bed shifted as Ian jumped on. “Wake up!” he exclaimed.

  Saxton made a loud, fake snoring sound and pretended to sleep. Sara followed his lead and did the same.

  Ian crawled in between them, put his face very close to Sara’s and said, “Mommy? Wake up!”

  His little voice held so much impatience that she couldn’t help but crack a smile and start to laugh.

  “You’re awake!” he said and sat on her stomach, then started bouncing.

  Sara groaned and Saxton reached over to pull Ian off her, then wrapped him in a tight ball of a hug and started tickling him. Ian squealed in laughter and Sara chuckled watching the two of them.

  “Come on, guys!” Ian said, trying to tug Saxton into a sitting position and failing. “We have to see if Santa came!”

  “Oh,” Saxton said seriously. “Uh oh. I think I forgot to put in the address change.”

  Ian’s face fell. “What do you mean?”

  Sara played along. “Oh no. After we moved. Did we tell Santa we live here now, with Saxton?”

  Ian’s lower lip started to quiver. “He doesn’t know we moved? What will happen to all our presents?”

  “Hopefully his reindeer figured it out,” Sara said. “You didn’t happen to mention the move in your letter to him?”

  Ian shook his head and looked worried.

  “Well, run down stairs real fast and see if he came, then run back up here to let us know,” Saxton said.

  Ian scrambled off the bed and was out of the room in seconds. Saxton promptly rolled on top of Sara and kissed her hard.

  “Any chance we can lock the door and pretend to be sleeping again for a few minutes?” he asked.

  She laughed and hugged his neck. “Not unless you want him to throw a fit or tear the gifts open alone. Maybe he’ll be distracted enough later, though.”

  “Let’s hope.” Saxton kissed her again, then slid off her.

  He reached over and put one arm under her legs and the other behind her head so that he could carry her out of bed. As he reached the door with her in his arms, Ian came bounding back up the stairs.

  “He came! He came!”

  “Oh, whew,” Saxton said. “I was worried for a second there.”

  “Me too,” Sara said.

  Saxton carried her down the stairs and set her on the sofa nearest the Christmas tree. She chuckled when he put her down. “Thanks for the lift,” she said.

  “But of course, my lady.” He made a formal bow and disappeared into the kitchen.

  Sara stared at the pile of gifts under the tree. Last year’s Christmas had been strange. It was shortly after the mess with Carter, shortly after her and Saxton had decided to live together and make a life. She hadn’t had any money, which had been her norm for years, but Saxton stepped in and made it a grand Christmas. They had spent days shopping and filling the cart with gifts for Ian. Maybe they went a bit overboard, but after all the kid had been through, they wanted to make it as nice as possible for him. Help him forget the awfulness of that time.

  It had been a wonderful Christmas, but Sara had been left trying to explain to Ian why Santa seemed to be so much more generous at Saxton’s house than theirs. It hadn’t been easy, but Ian quickly gave up and seemed to accept his new life. He enjoyed his new room, twice the size of his old one, and his new life, which also felt twice the size, thanks to Saxton’s income. Sara spent most of last Christmas night crying in gratitude to Saxton for making it all so special. She tried, over the last year, to not get too used to living a life that was far more luxurious than she had ever experienced. She never wanted to take him for granted.

  “Look at all these presents!” Ian exclaimed, his mouth stretched wide in a huge grin as he clasped his hands together.

  They’d tried to be somewhat more restrained this year in their gift giving. They’d even set a budget, which had been about the equivalent of an entire month of he
r pay from her previous life as a waitress working several jobs just to keep food on the table. But it was less than they’d spent last year. She didn’t want to spoil Ian, or have him grow up thinking he was entitled to things and being greedy. At least now when he went off to his private school, he looked the part. He no longer wore clothing that was a little too big or too short, or wearing out. He had new clothes, name brands, and a stylish hair cut to match. He’d gotten made fun of less, which was a relief as well.