Page 21 of The Edge of Intensity

I can only stare at the fucker in horror.

Marvin shakes his head in disgust. “Believe me, you don’t want to look at the evidence, and I seriously dislike the thought of that woman.” He jabs his thumb over his shoulder in the direction of the door. “Or any other woman for that matter, near those fuckers. I suggest we hunt Erwin and his gang down and take them out.”

“That simple?” I scoff. “I hate to say it, but I did not see any dogs at their ranch when I picked up the stallion.”

“I’m sure they have them stashed somewhere out of sight but still on their property.” Marvin sighs. “I might have been lying a tidbit when I mentioned I was building a case before Kathleen called. I built it after my father told me about it. Last night they had one of their underground dogfights and I was about an hour late at the scene when I finally discovered where it was. The evidence I gathered contained photographs along with the details I witnessed, and it was all we needed. This morning, I emailed the reports to my government contacts, and to my father, resulting in the all clear to take them down with your help.”

I have to blink a few times at the flow of information. “You’re saying the paperwork for taking those fuckers out is handled and you have the legal authority to kill them?”

He puts his hand up to keep it flat and steady before he rocks it mid-air. “Somewhat.” He drops his hand. “Technically, and preferably, we want them in custody to bring them to justice. If they resist or put us or others in danger? Then yes, we have the authority to take them down. The lovely lady outside requested help and was forwarded my father’s number. This allowed me to take lead and have the choice of how to handle it. Your MC has a history of handling criminals and bringing them to justice. From the details I’ve read, a woman assaulted, one of your former members killed, and shit? I’d say you guys have plenty of motivation to bring them down.”

This sounds too good to be true. “Every single member of my brotherhood is legally covered to take them down? No repercussions whatsoever?”

“Yes. I can have it in black and white on your desk later today if needed, but my word is law.” He points at the door. “With the one condition that the women stay on lockdown.”

Fuck. Kathleen is not going to like it, which is why I tell him, “We can’t leave out the sheriff.”

“We can and we will,” Marvin states with resolution. “If you need me to inform her then I’d be happy to have a little chat with that woman.”

I shake my head. “You’ll do no such thing. I’ll handle it and you make sure I have those papers on my desk. Now, when and where do you want to take those fuckers down?”

“Preferably as soon as possible. We do need to stake them out and have some information about how many men are on the property. Erwin Desmond has to be confirmed at the scene before we raid the place. He’s the main player and the rest of the gang will fall apart once we take him down.”

“I have a prospect on stakeout. The last update I received this morning was that Erwin hasn’t returned yet.” I grab my phone and shoot a message to the prospect in question. “I’ve put around-the-clock surveillance on that fucker after the attack on my old lady’s ranch where her sister was injured. It was a club decision to bring Kathleen in on the incident and she asked for two days to see if she could obtain backup and take them down the legal way. See the issue I have with you taking her out of the loop?”

Marvin pulls a stack of papers from the inside pocket of his leather cut and places them on the table in front of me. “Erwin has been married once, to the woman who owned the ranch he’s now residing. The woman died two days after they were married and her death was ruled an accident. Trampled by a horse. She was unrecognizable. I have no illusions, this was Erwin’s doing. He has a mile-long rap sheet filled with assault and battery. Call me a sexist, an asshole, a mean motherfucker preventing a woman from doing her job: I don’t fucking care. What I do care about is keeping women safe and protected. Now, gather your men and make two teams so we can hit the back and the front of the property at the same time. I’m going to do some scoping around at Erwin’s ranch and I’ll be back in a few hours.”

I shove the chair back. “I’ll have my brothers ready when you return.”

Marvin strides out of church and doesn’t give anyone a second glance as he leaves the clubhouse.

“What did he want?” Kathleen questions.

Releasing a deep sigh, I give it to her straight. “He’s taking over and will give the club the right to take Erwin Desmond and his men down. All legal and shit. The only condition is that we keep the women out of it. Which includes you too.”

“What the fuck?” Kathleen snarls. “He can’t do that. It’s my case, my fucking town. I’m the one who brought them in. That egocentric motherfucker.”

“You done?” I snap.

A gentle hand slides over my forearm and my gaze collides with Eastlynne. She gently shakes her head at me and turns to Kathleen.

“They must have a solid reason,” Eastlynne states. “And like you said, you’re the one who brought them in, and you wouldn’t have done that if you didn’t think they’d be a good choice to handle it.”

Kathleen is still visibly fuming but nods at my woman’s statement.

Taking a deep breath she pins me with a hard look. “Well? Any truth to your old lady’s words? Do they have a solid reason to take me out of the loop?”

The pride in my voice is evident. “There is. Erwin and his men are considered a gang and are active in dogfighting. The horses are considered food if they’ve served their purpose. They also like to target women ’cause Erwin has a rap sheet filled with assault and battery. Marvin also thinks he married and killed his wife, who happened to own the ranch that’s now in his name.”

“Fuck,” Kathleen murmurs, and her shoulders sag. “How the hell did he get all that info in such a short time? He must have been working the case longer than I have, just like he said.”

“Nah, he was lying about that part,” I find myself saying.

Kathleen places a hand on her dog’s head. “He wasn’t building a case, before I called them, like he said he was?”

“Yeah. Marvin managed to get all the details after you contacted them and he found out where Erwin and his gang were having the dogfight. He gathered all the visual evidence and details they needed and has already filed the report and has the legal side arranged to take them down.”

I take in the way Wrench, her dog, is leaning against her leg and I suddenly understand Marvin’s actions.

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