Page 73 of Rebel

“Yeah, how did you know?”

“She complained about it to Zoe. I had Hacker run a background check on him just to be sure. He’s just a garden variety asshole that no one likes. He recently filed for divorce. That’s all he got, no arrests or anything.”

I left a voice message, “I got your message. Look, ladybug, I’m worried about you. Call me back when you get this message. I need to hear your beautiful voice.”

When I shoved my phone back into my pocket, both of my club brothers were staring at me. Finally, Storm said, “That was a little over the top, don’t you think?”

Celt added, “Flowery even.”

“What in the fuck are you two talking about?”

Celt responded with a grin, “Calm the feck down. We’re just messin’ with ye, brother.”

“Well, I don’t have time for jokes. That asshole is within striking distance of my old lady and now she’s not answering her phone. I need to get back to the office as soon as fucking possible.”

Storm sighed, sat down on his bike sideways, and pulled out his phone. He scrolled for a minute and then said, “We’ve got a brother four minutes from her office. I’m gonna get him to do a little wellness check. I’ll put it on speaker because I know how you are.”

My anxiety clicked down a notch and I didn’t even debate him on me being extra possessive. The courthouse was a good hour from her office but with our club president’s help I’d soon know if she was okay. I started pacing and worrying because that woman was the love of my fucking life, and the thought of anything happening to her pissed me off.

I waited while Storm made the call.

When a familiar voice answered, our club president said, “Hey Renegade, It’s Storm. We have an old lady in trouble and you’re the closest brother. It’s an emergency because her last visitor was a real asshole.”

Renegade’s voice turned dead serious. “I’m all in. Who and where?”

“Get to Livingstone Electrical as soon as possible. You’ll be looking for Rebel’s old lady.”

I could hear footsteps hitting the pavement. “The pretty brunette he just put in a property cut?”

“That would be the one.”

“Fuck, I’m halfway there and I’m packing. Is this guy dangerous?”

“He’s a wildcard that we practically know nothing about. Her life is worth moving heaven and earth to protect. His, not so much.” I realized I was overreacting, all because she hadn’t answered her phone. Sure her old boss might be an asshole, but here I was acting like a drama queen all because she’d probably decided to go for lunch with him.

“You know I’ll do whatever it takes, even if it lands me behind bars again,” Renegade said.

“It ain’t gonna come to that, brother. We have security cameras all over the place. If anything goes down, it’ll be on tape.”

As long as he acted in self-defense it was all good. God knows I didn’t want that man to end up serving time after already serving close to a decade behind bars for a crime he didn’t commit.

I heard him breathing heavy from being on a flat-out run. “I’m near the office now, is the door open?”

“There’s an entry keypad on the doorknob. Visitors usually use the doorbell, and she buzzes them into the office.”

Renegade muttered, “That’s a weird way to do business.”

I spoke up again, “Not really, she’s the only one in the office most days and we’re on the outskirts of town, you never know who might be hanging around.”

The footsteps stopped and I heard buzzing, then Renegade huffed out, “No one’s answering. I need an access code.

I stepped closer and said, “It’s one, nine, two, eight, five.”

Renegade mumbled, “I see what you did there. The code is an X with the center button pushed last.”

There was silence and footsteps. Then I heard Renegade curse, “Damn it to hell!”

“What’s happening brother?” I asked, hearing the tension in my voice.

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