Page 48 of Biker's Enemy
“Unless,” Rebecca says. “She secretly got out early and she’s on the run with the guy she dated before Ruger, who happens to be an Enforcer on the Midnight SS.”
Even if you want to disagree with Rebecca’s theory, it’s the most concrete connection that any of us have heard.
“What’s the Midnight SS?” I ask. I don’t think I’m the only one who needs more information about that. Rebecca explains vaguely that they’re a gang of dangerous bikers potentially after Tanner – and the entire family – but nobody in the room seems to know why.
“How is that even possible?” Anna says. “Wouldn’t the Barbarians have heard of this club with such a close connection?”
“Do they seem like they’re paying close attention to anything?” Rebecca says. “It sounds like there has been one problem after another the past year or so.”
Anna shrugs. “I guess so.”
“Are there any other theories?” I ask.
“Sure,” Rebecca says. “Magnum Sinclair might have rented an apartment in Santa Monica to a Midnight SS member.”
Anna shrugs. “He’s a landlord. He doesn’t know his tenants.”
“It’s still a connection,” Tamiya says.
“Right,” Anna says. “But maybe you had a point about being careful what we insinuate.”
“I’ll talk to Gideon,” Tamiya says. “I can reason with him.”
Anna raises her eyebrow. “Is Gideon the most rational option here?
“I know,” Tamiya says with a smirk that is definitely more proud than remorseful. “But I can still reason with him.”
“Nobody on that list is a Shaw,” Deb says. “My son can handle this information objectively. Instead of involving your beloved hotheads… take it to him.”
It’s the comment only a drunken mother-in-law can get away with and everyone in the room must think she’s lowkey right, because after about a minute of silence, Tamiya says. “Well. I can’t argue with that.”
We discuss our theories until late into the night. I’m the first one who can’t seem to keep my eyes open, so Anna suggests I head to bed. The only comfortable sleep outfit that matches my vibe I can find to change into is some giant t-shirt that appeared in my laundry after Deb helped me out the other day. I throw that on over some underwear and climb into bed, ready to pass out.
All the club stuff they talk about should scare me more, but it just doesn’t.
After the hell I went through…
I’m just happy to be free. I don’t think I’ll ever feel that unsafe.
Not with Tanner around.
It’s weird but… I miss him. And the t-shirt I found in my laundry kind of smells familiar. The scent makes it easy to feel comfortable, which in turn makes it easy to fall asleep. Tomorrow.
I’ll see Tanner tomorrow.
Twenty-Four
REAPER
The next day…
Iwouldn’t call what I’m bringing home to Tamiya good news. The only good news I have for her is my solidified ideas for our matching tattoos to commemorate our first child once she’s born. We finally know – it’s a girl.
Rebecca dropped Tamiya off a few hours before I got home and she has the place cleaned up and dinner ready even if I’ve already told her a hundred times she doesn’t have to do that.
“You think I shouldn’t do anything,” she says with annoyance every time I mention it. She’s just mad that I think she doesn’t have to be a fake cop with Rebecca Knight for money. Which she doesn’t. But I let her do almost everything she wants as long as it keeps her from committing felony kidnapping again.
I don’t even have my hand on the front door handle before Tamiya swings it open and jumps into my arms with a loud, excited screech. Even with a baby growing inside her, she’s so damn tiny that I cup her ass cheeks and easily grip her and swing her around while she screams excitedly.