by KB Winters
I smiled down at the sleeping little girl and gave her back a gentle rub. “I love her too and looking after her is no hardship. I used to babysit when I was a kid.” It was crap money, but it was my money, which meant I could always eat or buy a pair of jeans when I needed them.
“You should probably get going, right? I’ll take a long lunch so you don’t have to rush back.”
“Really? Thanks, Cal. You’re the best.” I dropped a soft kiss on Ava Rose and made a quick stop to get my purse and keys, and jumped in my car, putting Ashby Manor in my rearview mirror, at least for now.
It probably wasn’t smart, what I was about to do, but I had a feeling that Kat had been lying to me about Molly’s whereabouts. She never came right out and said whether or not she and Terry had found my sister and each time I asked for an update on her alleged search, her answers grew more and more vague. There was one person I knew had the answers I was search for, the question was, would she give me those answers?
She might have changed her name from Savannah Rhymer to Savannah O’Connor, sold off her fancy family estate, and bought a shiny new office building, but that didn’t change who or what she was.
She was still a fucking monster. And for some damn reason, I was headed right into the belly of the beast.
Inside the lobby of the five-story building, I faced a giant black desk manned by a woman with straight blonde hair, pale skin and a bitchy smile on her face. “How may I help you?”
“You can’t,” I told her and strolled right past the desk toward the bank of elevators on the left.
“You can’t just walk in without warning,” she barked at me, her heels clicking at a fast clip behind me. “You need an appointment and an escort.”
“I’m here to see your boss, Savannah. She’s available, right?”
Ms. Heels sighed and nodded toward the sleek black desk. “Why don’t you follow me, and I’ll see if I can get you in to see her?”
“Or you could just escort me up?”
A moment later, a burly security guard came down on the second elevator and eyeballed me warily. “You Madison?”
“Yep.”
“Come on,” he grunted and stepped back inside the elevator. The ride up wasn’t that long but the guard managed a few good warnings. “Next time, just call.”
“I couldn’t risk she’d say no. Or worse.”
The guy shrugged his wide shoulders as the doors opened. “She’s not all that pleased at the moment, so good luck.”
“Yeah, thanks. Sorry for the hassle.”
“Don’t worry about it. Just worry about pissing off the boss.” He tapped on the door and pushed it open. “Good luck.”
I walked into an enormous corner office with Savannah sitting behind an impressive desk.
“Madison.” She flashed a pearly white grin that almost seemed genuine and I probably would have believed her, if I didn’t know firsthand just how full of shit she was. “How are you?”
“I’m worried, Savannah. Mostly about my sister, Molly. Remember her?” I knew it was silly, some might say crazy, to taunt Savannah, but I needed answers, dammit.
She gave a short nod and motioned for me to take a seat, which I considered refusing, just so I could stand over her. Then I relented. It seemed a stupid move and slid into a chair opposite her. I could be badass at eye level.
“I know you came to Nevada to search for Molly, but I don’t know your sister, Madison.”
“But you know where Mueller buried her body?” My voice sounded as desperate as I felt. “Right?”
“No, Madison, I don’t know that, and I wouldn’t even be able to guess where she, or her body, might be.”
Savannah let out a frustrated sigh and set her blue gaze on mine, sympathy evident for all to see even though we were completely alone.
“Why would I know her whereabouts?”
I sat back in the seat and folded my arms, glaring at her stupid, pretty face. “Don’t act stupid with me. Mueller and your old man were thick as thieves, or traffickers. I know he was directly involved in my sister’s disappearance, so don’t even bother denying it. Just tell me where she is.”
I knew I should be afraid or at the very least, cautious, but this was my chance to get answers. Real answers about Molly.
“Contrary to what you or the Ashby’s think, I wasn’t that involved in the details of the family business. I had ideas, but mostly I handled the books.”
“Sure,” I snorted, ignoring the glare she sent my way. “You told Sadie Ashby you knew where the bodies were buried. Back when they held you captive. I just want to know where my sister is. Is she alive? Dead? How fucking hard is that?”
The bitch let out a long sigh. “I don’t remember saying that, but if I did, I was lying. Probably negotiating for my life at the time. The Ashby’s aren’t known for their hospitality.”
“So you don’t know where she is?”
“I don’t. I know you probably don’t believe me, but I’m trying to be helpful.”
She was right, but none of that mattered, not when I thought of Molly sad and scared somewhere, alone. Or worse, dead. “Try harder, then. Please.”
“Mueller was getting weak,” she began and shook her head. “My father complained more than once about how he was lax enough to let some girls….. escape. Maybe Molly was one of the escapees.”
If that was true, Molly hadn’t tried to find me. If she even knew how. I pulled the last photo I had of Molly, taken a few years back, and set it on her desk. “That’s the most recent photo of her I have. She doesn’t look familiar to you?”
“No. The only girls who work for me now are the ones who want to. The rest have been freed, for lack of a better word. This woman was not among those women.”
“Shit.” Immediately, I believed her and that just made me sad and angry. I knew what Savannah been through at the hands of the Black Jacks, and the truth was, I admired her strength to bounce back and change her ways. But I really didn’t want to like this woman.
“So, she could be dead or in Mexico or Europe, anywhere really?”
Savannah nodded, now with even more sympathy in her eyes. “Yes. I can put a couple of men on her trail. I haven’t gone through all of Ronan’s things yet, but if I find anything related to your sister, I’ll let you know.”
“Oh. I would love your help, Savannah.” My words sarcastic. “But everyone around here is lying through their damn teeth. Are you going to lie to me too?”
“I have no reason to lie to you, Madison.” Savannah looked at her tablet, swiping and tapping away. “Okay, I’ve put two of my men on it. I’ll let you know if I hear anything.”
If I delayed moving out of Ashby Manor, I could afford to hire a private investigator to search for Molly. Paying someone who answered directly to me seemed like the smartest course of action. But if this bitch wanted to help, who was I to say no?
“I would appreciate it.”
She nodded and stood when I did. “Just out of curiosity, what are people lying to you about?”
I thought about the conversation I’d overheard between Sadie and Thomas about Bonnie and Mueller’s murder. It wasn’t much, but she seemed to know more about the murders than the cops and the news anchors, but she hadn’t seen fit to share with everyone.
“What aren’t they lying about? I think Kat has been lying to me about my sister.”
“Why would she do that?”
I wasn’t a fool. I knew there was still some bad blood between the families, and even though I was questioning my own loyalty to the Ashby’s, I’d never sell them out.
I shrugged off Savannah’s question. “The same reasons people lie. To get what they want. I just need to find my sister, and Mueller, apparently, had all the details.”
A fact that still managed to turn my stomach when I thought about it, which I did. Constantly.
“I wish you luck, Madison. And let me offer you a piece of advice, accept it or don’t.”
When it was clear
she had my attention, she spoke, slowly and deliberately. “No matter how good to you the Ashby’s have been, you’re not family. Don’t fool yourself into believe their kindness, their open arms, means you’re family. You’re like family, but that’s not the same thing.”
That had already become crystal clear to me, so I nodded. “Thanks, Savannah Rhymer.”
“It’s O’Connor now, or can’t you read?”
“The jury is still out on that one.”
The sound of her laughter followed me out of the office and into the elevator. Alone inside the metal box, I allowed myself a moment of weakness as I thought of what I had to do.
Find Molly on my own.
Chapter Six
Jameson
The first thing I did when I woke up was check my phone, hoping to see a missed call or a check-in text from Madison. She hadn’t responded to any of my attempts reach out to her over the weekend. Now, I was worried. I mean, what the fuck happened to Bonnie and Mueller? Why the hell were they even in the same hotel room together? Was Madison all right? This all had to be a big shock to her, even though she and Bonnie weren’t all that close.
Jameson: Where are you?
I sent one final text before stepping into my gray sweats for my pre-shift run. I knew time wouldn’t always allow me this luxury, so I wanted to take advantage of it as much as I could before the job got crazy. Most of my run was occupied with thoughts of Madison, but I couldn’t help but think of the double murder. I wondered why the FBI was already involved. Based on the available information, it seemed to be a local matter that should be handled by the Glitz PD. Something fucky was definitely going on, and as the low man on the totem pole, I was in no position to find out what or investigate it.
In time, I reminded myself.
After finishing my five miles, I made my way home and to the shower to get ready for my third week as a patrol officer trainee. The first two weeks had gone well, and I learned a lot from Jenkins, mostly that I wanted to be the kind of officer he was, the kind who gave a damn and tried to make people’s lives better, not worse.
As soon as I clocked in, Sarge called me into his office. Anxiety kicked in as I wondered what I’d done to draw his attention so soon. Or worse, had something happened over the weekend with the Reckless Bastards that he’d hold me to account for? I knocked, standing at his door like a scared kid getting called to the principal’s office. And I didn’t like it. At all.
He looked up with an expression that was a mix between smile and a scowl. “Ellison, come in. Have a seat.”
I sat on the edge of the seat, spine erect, and waited impatiently for the hammer to fall. Jenkins had given me a good writeup last week, so I had no clue why I was here. All I could do was wait. I fucking hated waiting.
Finally, Sarge looked up and grinned as he leaned back in his seat. I took his relaxed posture as a good sign, but I didn’t move from the edge of my seat.
“Ellison, why do you want to be a cop?”
“Sir?” This again? It wasn’t the first time I’d been asked the question, and I doubted it would be the last.
“Why do you want to be a cop? Your whole family, your friends are part of a motorcycle gang. Why aren’t you a part of that gang?”
It was just as Jenkins had warned me it would be—the constant doubt. The mention of my family and by default, the Reckless Bastards.
I stammered a bit, hoping it wasn’t a trap. “I love my family, and I’m a Harley enthusiast, but we all get to choose what we do in this life, don’t we, sir?”
“Well, yes.”
“Did you follow in your old man’s footsteps?” I asked, respectfully.
He laughed. “Hell no. He was a plumber until the day he died, right under the sink inside an old, beat up trailer house in the desert. Worked his ass off all his life for nothing.”
“I love the law and justice, too, and that’s where I want to put my energy. I have enough confidence in the law to know that if the Reckless Bastards were doing something illegal, someone would be in jail.”
I knew exactly what businesses the MC dabbled in, just about everything from gun to drugs to girls, but it was up to the law to deal with it when and if they could prove it.
Sarge nodded, seemingly satisfied by my words as he pushed away from the desk and stood. “You heard about the double murder with that priest?”
“Yes, sir.” I nodded because how could I not? “It was on every news station.”
“Right. The Feds requested you as the local PD liaison for this case.”
I caught myself before I did a double-take. I’d been on the job all of two weeks. “Thank you, sir. But why me?” This was the kind of lucky break that could change the trajectory of someone’s career, but I was skeptical. I barely got here, so it didn’t make any sense.
“You want it or not?”
“Yes, sir, I do. But I’d like to know why me? I’m still a rookie cop.”
Sarge rolled his eyes and folded his arms. “Feds believe that your connections to people on both sides of the law make you perfect for what they need.” He sighed and leaned forward to look at me directly. “This is a good thing, Ellison. You do a good job and you’ll likely be fast-tracked for a promotion.”
“Thank you.” I stood and smoothed down the crisp creases on my pants. I still couldn’t believe I wore the uniform. “Just for the record, I don’t live my life on both sides of the law. I’m a law enforcement officer, and my family is my family.”
“Noted. Change into your civvies and go find the redhead with too much fucking attitude. The Feds have commandeered one of our meeting rooms for their headquarters, at least for now. Dismissed.”
I was excited for the opportunity of working with the FBI on the Mueller case, and as much as I hated it, I did have valuable insight that might help them figure out what in the hell happened in that hotel room. But that didn’t mean I lived my life on both sides of the fucking law. I did what needed to be done when it came to protecting my family because that was what families did. Me being a cop had nothing to do with that. I was all for justice.
But after what happened to Luke, witnessing the crime itself and the aftermath, the way it tore his family apart, waiting for answers and justice that still hadn’t come, had made it clear how I wanted to spend my life. I wasn’t immune to the collateral damage the MC left in its wake all in the name of business. It left a mark, as did the funerals and the late-night wounds needing to be patched up.
When I was a kid, those impromptu days, sometimes weeks spent at the clubhouse seemed like a grand adventure, a cool reason to skip school. But as time went on and my understanding became clearer, they were more terrifying than fun. I didn’t know any better back then. I thought it was all normal, how every family lived their lives.
Until I met Luke and his picture-perfect family who did things like game night and family vacations and backyard barbecues. He was the last kid on the planet who deserved to take a stray bullet, but he had. And chances were good the reason his family hadn’t gotten any justice was because the shooter or his boss, had a cop or three on their payroll.
That was why I was here, to make sure that while the bad guys did their thing, the good guys did the same. Protect the innocent.
That meant I needed to do what Jenkins had advised and own both parts of myself. Even though I wasn’t a criminal, I did have insight into the way criminals thought and the steps they took to evade the law. I knew many of the players most cops didn’t even know to look for, and I would use that, use every tool at my disposal to become the best cop I could be.
It didn’t fucking matter what anyone thought about me, not even the Feds.
Results. Justice. Saving innocent lives.
Those were the things that mattered.
Chapter Seven
Madison
“You can’t expect to get over your grief so quickly, Calvin.” I sat cross-legged on the oversized chair in Cal’s suite of rooms with Ava Rose cooing in my arms, lis
tening to Cal rant, his words swinging from angry to tearful.
“I don’t expect that I’ll ever get over the murder of my wife, Madison, but I do feel guilty. I feel responsible.” He stood and started pacing the length of the room, raking one hand and then the other to his already disheveled hair. “I should have listened when Ma told me to get her under control.”
I understood what he meant in the context of the Ashby family, but the fact was Bonnie had been a new member of the family, and she didn’t think that way.
The grief-ravaged face of my friend almost broke my heart, but it was time for some hard truths. “Uhm, sorry to tell you Cal, but that’s not how relationships work. You couldn’t have ordered her to do anything, especially if she was determined.”
I was quite sure the horror and sadness in Cal’s face spoke to the battle raging between his heart and his brain. “No, I could have, Maddie. She loved me, and she would have listened if I’d spoken up. But I didn’t. Instead of being a man and protecting her, keeping her safe, I chose to keep the peace.”
“Considering all the tension between your wife and your family, I understand why.” Maddie knew some serious hate-vibes existed between Bonnie and the Ashby women, and none of them had tried to hide it.
Cal stopped pacing and looked at me, eyes red and face splotchy from crying. “That’s my point. If I had put my foot down, there could have been peace for everyone, not just me.”
“Good point. But given everything she’d been through; don’t you think your mom and sister could have cut her a little slack?” I had a feeling that whatever Bonnie had been doing, she’d been trying to find a way to break free of the Ashby grip on her family.
“Yeah, and I’m so fucking pissed I can barely stand to look at them, Madison. But how does that help anything right now?”
“It means that you guys talk about family a lot, how important it is and all that jazz, but Bonnie was family, too. So what if she wasn’t blood? She was your family, the mother of your child, and she was hurting and no one came to her aid. If you failed her, so did everyone else.”