“That’s because you know her by Raven James. She’s the best liar there is. She’ll pull you in and play you for everything you have.” He clasps his hands together and leans forward, “I bet you think it was your idea to take her in, to protect her, but you’d be wrong. I’ve seen this woman in action. I know firsthand how manipulative she is.”
The vein on my forehead pulses. He tries to play me for a fool, but it won’t work. I’m smarter than he gives me credit for.
“Trusting Tessa was Jase’s mistake, too.” The weight of his stare gauges my reaction.
My anger threatens to rise to the surface, but I squash it down, refusing to react to his taunts. “Fuel.”
“Excuse me?” He’s baiting me, but I don’t flinch.
I steal my eyes on him. “His name is Fuel, and I’m betting you’re involved with his disappearance.”
Anger flickers in his eyes. “Is that right? I suppose you can prove that?” Gritting his teeth, he bites out his words, “I didn’t think so. Let me tell you what I can prove. We searched the hard drives of your computers and found enough to bring Simon in on a parole violation. I’m sorry, Hound. That’s what you call him, right? Computer hacking is a federal offense.”
If this were hand to hand combat, it might be a fair fight, but its psychological warfare. He’s trying to use my club against me. He might think he’s got me by the balls, but he doesn’t have a clue what it means to a part of the brotherhood. If he did, he would know this technique won’t work on me. “Yet it’s not his ass you hauled in here. Why’s that?”
“I’ll tell you why. Because you’re the guy who calls the shots. The President.” His beady eyes press closed for a second and when they reopen, his demeanor changes. “Let me throw you a lifeline. Take my deal and this goes away.”
Running the tip of my fingers through my goatee, I lean forward, propping my elbows on the table. “What deal would that be?”
“Give me the girl. Hand her over and I’ll wipe the slate clean. Hell, I’ll even fix the mess you’re in with the Demon Sons. Yeah, I know about that too. It’s the deal of a lifetime and trust me, she’s not worth throwing it all away for.”
I slam my fist down hard against the table between us to shut him up. The rickety metal legs of the table buckle under the pressure. Fuck Agent Adam Ward and fuck this deal. “Unless I’m under arrest, I’m leaving.”
The chair crashes against the floor as I push to my feet. Agent Ward gathers the photos and closes the folder. “You can go but remember, I can make your life a living hell if you don’t cooperate.”
Storming out of the station, I snatch the plastic bag holding my belongings on the way outside. The air is as heavy as the anger crushing my chest. I rip open the bag and slip my wallet and phone into the pockets of my pants. Then flip open my switchblade and shove the long serrated blade deep into the front tire tread of Agent Ward’s unmarked car. The air hisses out when I twist the thick blade sideways, slicing the rubber the same way Agent Ward shredded me open. The club has to come first. I owe it to my brothers to make this mess disappear, but betraying Raven doesn’t feel right. Still fuming, I yank the blade out of the tire and step onto the sidewalk.
Falling for Raven wasn’t part of the plan, but somehow this girl has already wedged herself into the most hollow space in my heart. The one I swore would stay empty. The same heart that wants to explode, my chest rising and falling with my rapid breaths as I storm through the streets back to the compound. A walk will do me some good while I cool this rage and decide my next move. Am I just a pawn in her game? Was Fuel?
Chapter 13
Raven
The chaos dies downand the familiar clinging of metal fills my ears. I hold my breath, praying for a friendly face. When the door slides open, a burst of cool air rushes in. The light blinds me. I blink my eyes to adjust to the light, letting out the breath I’m holding.
I reach for Tank’s arm. He helps me to my feet, but his eyes are narrowed, rigid and hard. He rushes forward. With every heavy step he takes toward me, I slink back one until there’s nowhere left to go. My back hits the wall as he towers over me. The rage in his eyes flashes like lightning in a dark sky. His words thunder in the storm. “What the fuck did you do?”
