Page 6 of Pike’s Redemption

Pulling into Dimitri’s house driveway, I noticed Hollis in the shade of the porch, potting some sunflowers. She looked up and waved, a warm smile on her face. I parked the car and stepped out, the summer sun casting a comforting warmth over me.

“Hey, Natasha,” Hollis called out, wiping her hands on the back of her jeans as she approached. “How’s it going? Have a good meeting?”

“Hey, Hollis,” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. You could say it was good. “We were able to get some things figured out.”

“I’m glad. Thanks for coming to help Pike. We all appreciate it.”

Hollis was a sweet counterpoint to my cousin. I hoped I’d have the chance to get to know them both while I was here. While I’d grown closer to Max in the last few years, Dimitri had kept his distance from the family. Hollis and Dimitri’s relationship was new. Supposedly, they’d met in Colombia only a few months ago. I didn’t have the whole story yet, but they seemed like they’d been together for years. The way Dimitri looked at Hollis made my heart stop in my chest. I hoped that someday someone would love me like that. He looked like he’d walk over burning coals to get to her.

“I was glad to come,” I said. It wasn’t a lie. Both Veronica and I were glad to be here. It was nice to be around a normal-ish family. Even Hollis’ little girl Olive was an interesting foil to the group. Watching them last night made me realize what an unusual upbringing we’d had.

“Tonight, we’ll have Maddox and Helena over for dinner. They’re eager to meet you. Helena is super nice, so I think you and Veronica will get along with her.” She looked shyly at me as I reached for the door handle. “I hope we can be friends while you’re here.”

“Of course, we’ll be friends. I’d like that.” My main friend was Ronnie, but I could make room for another one, especially family.

Leaving her to her flowers, I went into the house. The yeasty scent of freshly baked bread wafted through the air, a stark contrast to the tension that had filled my morning. As I entered the living room, I found Dimitri and Veronica deep in conversation.

“Natasha,” Dimitri greeted. “How did it go with Pike? You figure anything solid out?” Dimitri and his MC club president were anxious about Pike being implicated in Porter’s murder. I didn’t think he’d bother calling me if it was just business. I’d done my research there, too. The Iron Brotherhood MC that Dimitri was a part of was more than profitable, especially with a potential Bratva connection on the horizon. Pike was a friend, and I didn’t think my cousin had that many of them. I could count the number of times my cousin had asked me for anything on one hand. If he asked, I obliged.

I sighed, sinking into a chair, and kicked off my heels. I loved how they looked but couldn’t wait to change my clothes. “We did nail some things down.” I ran through the time of death I’d gotten from the coroner, the broken door, and the timeline that Pike had given me.

Veronica busied herself with her phone and social media accounts, but I knew she was listening. I’d promised her I wouldn’t shuttle her from room to room and let her help. She’d hated that when growing up, they moved her out of the room as if she were a piece of furniture. When my father wanted to have a business conversation, he’d make a signal, and we’d have to leave. It was part of the reason she’d gotten into hacking — that and the utter boredom of the hospital bed.

“Today, I’ll speak to the alarm company and get a copy of that work order, speak to the diner, and get that receipt.” I sent a pointed look to Veronica. “Maybe someone can get me footage of the cameras around the diner around that time to establish that he was there?”

“Someone could,” Ronnie didn’t look up as she spoke. I smiled. My little sister may have spent years in a hospital bed for her chemo treatments and then subsequent medical issues, but she’d learned how to be an exceptional little hacker, which was handy.

“Excellent.” Dimitri squinted at her, examining her with a new respect. He surprised me. When Maxim had found out, he’d pitched an unholy fit about it. Dimitri acquiesced with barely a whimper. My feelings on the matter had always been that I respected Ronnie’s finding a way to fight back with her own brand of weapons. I’d never take away any power she clawed out for herself.

“I can get the receipt for you. The club owns the Duck,” he offered. I shook my head.

“Thanks, but I’ll get it myself. I want to talk to the waitress there. I need to check in with her. Pike claims that she can vouch for him being there. Maybe I can get the receipt and chat with her.”

“He’s talking about Daisy.” He pulled his phone out and flipped a few screens. My phone pinged. “I sent you the schedule for the diner and her contact.”

“Great. I appreciate that.” Genuinely, I did.

“Sounds like he’s got his alibi buttoned up,” he said thoughtfully. “Not that I thought he did it,” he added quickly. “I wouldn’t have brought you here if I did.”

My cousin was nothing like the alphaholes I’d encountered in the Bratva. Pompus and full of themselves, constantly trying to undermine me or question what I was doing. My experience with him had been limited. I’d done him a few favors of the law and order kind — just over teleconference, but I’d hoped for more. Collaboration. Connection. Family.

“Don’t think I could work with a murderer?” I laughed lightly, but the thought warmed me inside that he’d try to protect me. “I would have handled it.”

“Not that. I’m sure you do all the time.” We nodded at each other. This was true. “There is murder, and then there is murder.” He shrugged. Veronica scoffed over her phone, but I knew what he meant.

Dimitri ignored her and said, “Does he have any thoughts about anyone wanting to get back at him? Revenge maybe? Porter wasn’t a coincidence. That sort of connection to him.”

“He gave me a couple of names that I’ll check out. We’ll see if they pan out. He wasn’t overly convinced about the theory of someone doing this on purpose.” I left out Pike’s theory about Eli being alive. Pike had been concerned about confidentiality for one thing, and I wanted to honor that. I wasn’t here to gossip about him, and the whole brother thing didn’t seem like a topic of conversation. “The alibi is solid so they won’t pull him in anymore on bogus charges. We’ll look into the other leads to see if we can find anything.” I bit the fleshy part of my thumb as I considered. There were questions I wanted to ask him about Pike. Personal ones, but I didn’t want him to think I was overly interested, and the way he looked at me made me worried that he was already onto me.

“Thanks, Natasha. Just let us know if we can help.”

“I’ll keep you posted. Thanks for the info about the diner. I’m just going to change.” Excusing myself from the table, I headed upstairs and rifled through my suitcase for a pair of shorts and a tank top. As I expected, Veronica came in a few minutes after I pulled the top over my head. She leaned against the wood door, her delicate frame outlined in the light. Veronica was my opposite in coloring. Blonde to my dark and skin so pale that it shone. She hated it and said that chemo leeched all her coloring out. I thought she looked beautiful, like a fairy.

“How’d it really go, Nat?”

“Interesting. I’m glad that we could clear him.”

“I’ll find the footage for you. What else?”

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