Filed to story: Reclaimed Book by Roxie Ray
“What the hell? But we nearly turned this place upside down yesterday, including the office,” one of the guys said, shocked.
“Turns out we ran the search a little too early,” I said. “Should be fine to start work again. Don’t worry about being a little behind on orders.”
“We’ll catch up,” Rome promised. “Thanks for sorting this out, Ace.”
I flushed the drugs down the toilet. My clan ran clean businesses now, and I wasn’t going to let anyone fuck that up for me-for all of us.
I left the garage and pointed my motorcycle west.
Blakely lived in a small apartment on the far edge of Lakeview. The quiet brick complex was just off the main highway, with a big parking lot and a shitty pool that looked like it hadn’t been serviced in years. I cut my bike off and approached the door to her ground-floor apartment. She’d lived in this crappy place for as long as I’d known her. Her own apartment probably hadn’t mattered as much to her when she was spending most nights in the clubhouse.
“Blakely!” I pounded on the door. “Open up!”
The front door swung open, and Blakely answered, looking like she’d just rolled out of bed in a T-shirt and oversized shorts. Her red pixie cut stuck up in every direction. “Ace,” she said, her mouth slack with surprise. “What are you doing here?”
“We need to talk.”
Her surprised expression morphed into something a little more sultry. “Oh, do we? Why don’t you come inside?”
Jesus. This girl couldn’t let anything go, could she? “Don’t be cute,” I snarled. “Who paid you?”
“Paid me? Paid me to what?”
“To break into Cole’s,” I snapped. “To plant the drugs there and tell Forrest we had them.”
“What? What the hell are you talking about?” She crossed her arms over her chest and frowned. “I haven’t even been to that part of Lakeview in ages. Ever since someone banned me.”
“You sure about that?” I glared at her, and let my dragon surge closer to the surface to flash in my eyes. “Because we have security camera footage of someone breaking into the garage and planting them. Whoever it was built a hell of a lot like you.”
“Glad to know you remember my build,” Blakely said. She was still angry, but couldn’t keep the coy edge out of her voice. “But that wasn’t me. All I did last night was watch a bad horror movie and pass out.”
She wasn’t lying. My dragon could sense the truth in her words.
“Fuck,” I muttered. I stepped away from her front door and pinched the bridge of my nose. If Blakely hadn’t planted the drugs, then who did? I didn’t know any other women who were so keen on ruining my life. Who the hell would do something like that?
If it wasn’t Blakely, it had to be Sean. Had he hired someone? As much as I hated the thought, it was feasible. Maybe he hired some desperate girl from one of those shit bars he frequented, offered her drugs or booze or whatever, and told her to plant the rest in my garage. Then, he’d called in the anonymous tip. If the photos he had weren’t good enough to get me locked up again, drugs on the premises might be.
“Is that it?” Blakely stepped out of her apartment and into the parking lot, wincing at the asphalt under her bare feet. “You just came here to accuse me of breaking into your shop?”
“Well, you did threaten me after I banned you from the clan premises. Sue me for making a logical leap.”
“You’re such an asshole.” Her eyes shone bright with unshed tears. “For a second I thought you might actually be here to apologize.”
“Apologize?” I raised my eyebrows. “You tried to permanently ruin my relationship with my mate more than once.”
“Ace-“
“I can admit when I’m wrong. I know you’re not lying about planting the drugs, at least.”
“Of course I’m not.” She pouted. “Why don’t you come inside and have a cup of coffee? Sounds like you’ve had a stressful morning.”
“Jesus Christ, Blakely, give it up.” I turned back toward my motorcycle, eager to get home to see my mate and my son, when my dragon suddenly snapped into alertness.
Something was heading our way. The distant roar of an engine suddenly became louder.
A black truck tore down the highway and sped into the parking lot, taking the turn so hard the tires squealed, and the truck rocked to the side. The tinted window on the passenger side rolled down, and I saw the unmistakable dark gleam of a pistol. Whoever was holding it was masked, wearing a beanie like the girl in the security footage.
The gun fired. I leaped backward and grabbed Blakely instinctively, hauling her down behind a nearby car. Bullets went flying in short succession. Blakely screamed and covered her ears, huddling close to me. The sedan rocked as the bullets hit it, and more slammed into the brick behind us, showering us in dust.
Voices shouted from the truck, but they were indistinguishable. My sharp dragon ears caught the click of an empty magazine, and I stood up from behind the truck, fangs and claws extended.
“Oh, shit!” someone shouted from the truck. “Go, go!”
The truck peeled out from the parking lot as fast as it had arrived. I had half a mind to shift and chase them down, but between Blakely and the 911 calls I was sure were being made, I knew that’d cause more problems than it would solve. This day was just getting better and better.
“They’re gone,” I said to Blakely, who was still cowering behind the sedan. “Get up.”
“You saved me,” Blakely said softly. Her face was tear-stained, and she was shaking from fear. “Ace, you saved me.”
Great. Just what I needed. “Yeah, I would’ve pulled a stray dog out of the way, too, because it’s the right thing to do. This doesn’t change a damn thing about your status in Lakeview, so don’t go getting delusional again.”
Fresh tears rolled down her cheeks. “You’re such an asshole, Ace,” she snapped as she stormed back into her apartment.
The ploy for sympathy only irritated me more. I paced back toward my motorcycle and leaned against it while I waited for the inevitable arrival of the cops.
More people in the apartment complex had stepped out onto their balconies to see what was going on. When the sirens announced the cops’ approach, Blakely stepped back outside, cradling a mug of coffee.
That damned black SUV pulled in. I really couldn’t catch a break today, huh?
“Why am I not surprised to see you here?” Forrest asked as he slammed his door. “You want to tell me what mess you and your thugs have gotten into now?”
“I think you’d get a lot more done if you tried to track down that truck that shot at us. Or you can go ahead and help whoever owns this sedan file an insurance claim for the damage.”
“You think you’re a real hoot, don’t you?”
“She’ll tell you what happened.” I nodded toward Blakely. “Start there.”
I leaned against my bike and waited while Forrest talked to Blakely. I was surprised to see him doing some actual police work, taking notes on his little pad and everything. After speaking to her and a few other people, he strode back over to me. “So, you have any idea who was shooting at you?”
“Not a damn clue,” I said.
“Well, with this kind of information, there’s not a whole lot for us to go off of. I’d recommend you watch your back.”
My eyebrows shot up. “Is that a threat?”
“No, it’s a recommendation.” Forrest smirked. “I’d offer you a police detail, but I’m sure you’d turn that down.”
He was right about that, at least.
“Someone has it out for you,” Forrest continued. “So, you and your thugs better keep an eye out. The police department will look into it, but I can’t make any promises.”
My dragon knew he was bullshitting. Forrest was going to put this case in a drawer and never look at it again. If anything, he’d be praying I did get caught in a drive-by. “I wouldn’t expect anything else,” I said.
Forrest and his lackeys left the scene, leaving nothing but a bullet-riddled car and a bunch of traumatized residents. Blakely looked toward me, clearly wanting to keep up our conversation, but then one of her neighbors grabbed her by the elbow and led her back into her apartment.
