Page 33 of Haze's Jewel

Siege tells us, “The police and fire marshal are processing the scene even as we speak. Maybe they’ll pick up on a lead.”

Rigs looks at Corey. “Do you want me to enroll your brother in our alcohol recovery program?”

Corey finally got up from the sofa, looking all kinds of hopeful. “The Savage Legion really has an alcohol recover program? Or is it more like a twelve-step program?”

“It’s more like a throwing him in a room in the basement, forcing him to go cold turkey while one of our medics keeps an eye on him. Once he’s been sober for a couple of weeks, I start talking to him about what’s driving the death by alcohol thing he’s got going.”

Scott tries to get up, but his brother pushes him down again roughly with one hand. “He’s probably just going to run off. That’s what he always does. Hell, I don’t even know where he gets the fucking money to buy alcohol.”

“I’m not about wasting my time. Therefore, we’ll keep him under lock and key. He won’t run because he won’t have the opportunity.”

Corey’s expression brightens, then deflates a little. “Is that even legal?”

“It’s not entirely illegal,” Rigs says with a sly smile. “But if your brother doesn’t consent, we can get a court order appointing you as his temporary legal guardian.”

After giving his brother a long hard stare, Corey sticks his hand out to Rigs. “My brother is the only relative I’ve got left. I’d do just about anything to save his life. Count me in.”

“Bring him to the clubhouse tomorrow morning and we’ll get him dried out.”

I wonder why Scott is no longer objecting, but when his brother moves from in front of him, I realize he’s fallen asleep again.

Rider jerks his chin towards the door, indicating it’s time to leave.

We head out the door with Rider mumbling under his breath about Rigs being a fucking do-gooder who can never pass up an opportunity to save a life, no matter how worthless that life is.

I knew Rigs’ secret because he told me it once. Rigs used to take care of the hits in our club, because he didn’t want any of his club brothers to bear that burden. Now, he’s intent on making up for it by saving every human life he can. Scott is the luckiest man alive that Rigs took an interest in saving him. Of course he doesn’t see that right now, and probably won’t until he’s well into his sobriety. I, for one, am proud of Rigs. He’s a man of God who talks the talk and walks the walk in his own way.

On the long ride back to the clubhouse, all I can think of is, who in the world would do something like this? Anna had said something initially about it being her ex, but I really couldn’t see an asshole like him doing something like this. Those types never get their hands dirty, they’re all talk and no action, which for my sweet Anna’s sake is good. Maybe Corey is right about it being a case of mistaking one boat for another at the crowded dock. Nothing else really makes sense.

Chapter 14

Annalese

Trix and Vapor take me to the clubhouse to wait for Haze to return. She brings me a sweater and a pair of jeans. I clean up and change in one of the restrooms, the jeans are a little snug, but they’ll do. My beautiful gown smells like smoke and that breaks my heart. I decide to send it out to be dry cleaned. Hopefully, it will come back clean and smoke free.

When I come out with my dress tucked under my arm, I realize the cavernous main room of the clubhouse is practically a ghost town as far as club brothers go. Except for a dozen or so club girls scattered about, sipping on drinks, there are only a handful of prospects wandering around with their guard up.

“Where is everyone?” I ask Trix after Vapor wanders off to make sure everything is as it should be.

Trix shrugs, “Out hunting down clues as to what happened to Haze’s boat, I imagine. Right now, the only people here are club girls hoping the brothers make it back in time to party tonight, and prospects who have been tasked with guarding the clubhouse when the brothers are on a mission.”

Glancing around, I respond awkwardly, “I guess that makes sense.”

“Let’s get something to drink,” she tells me as she flashes a hand sign at Mel who is behind the bar.

“I hope Haze is okay,” I state worriedly. “To be honest, I hope all the club brothers helping him out come back safely.”

Trix bursts out laughing. “Vapor says they’re going out to question some drunk who harassed you this morning. Trust me, they’re going to be okay.”

I stop anxiously biting my lip long enough to ask, “How can you be so sure of that?”

Trix gives me a grin, “Because they’re vicious as hell when they want to be, more than a match for a mouthy alcoholic. They’ve fought child traffickers, drug dealers, and my grandfather’s whole club. The Legion always comes out on top because they’re mostly former military men and men with street smarts. The club brothers know how to handle themselves.”

We sit down at a table in the corner. “What do you mean by your grandfather’s club? I hope you don’t mind if I ask.”

“Hell no, I don’t mind at all.” Making a sweeping gesture with one hand, she states loudly, “Everybody in this clubhouse knows that my grandfather’s club was bitter enemies with the Savage Legion for over twenty years. They fought tooth and nail.”

“You said the Legion won. Is that how you ended up here? Like part of the spoils of war or something?”

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