Page 10 of Cruel Savior

"That's the Turner Ranch."

I jerked around and met her nonchalant gaze. "Are you fucking kidding me?" When she didn't answer me right away, I moved closer to the maps to see. It took me about two seconds to realize she'd gone way too far. JD was going to have a conniption. A low rumbling sound built in my chest before I turned and dragged her close. "Why in thefuckare you surveilling my club?"

Chapter Six

Amanda

I shudderedunder the hard grip Axel had on my arm. I'd known this was going to be a problem. Which was why I’d figured I'd get it over with, first. The Sins of Wrath was nothing if not big on their privacy. And these weren’t ordinary maps.

"Amanda." He growled, a clear threat in his tone now. "What the fuck is going on?"

"It's not what you think. I'm studying every possible route in and out of this area, and to be thorough, I have to look over every inch of land. That includes yours."

"But that's not a public fucking map. It's not even still images from a satellite. That's fucking drone footage of someone seriously invading our privacy. Is that what you're doing out here in the first place?"

The anger in his voice and the dark expression on his face gave me pause. I’d known he would be pissed about this, but I hadn’t bargained for this kind of reaction. How did I know this wasn't about to turn ugly? I didn't know him. Not really. Axel ten years ago was a far cry from the man standing here still holding onto me so hard I’d likely bruise by tomorrow.

"Let me go," I hissed, looking pointedly where he'd grabbed me. His gaze followed mine, and as if he hadn't realized how far he'd gone, he dropped his hand like I’d burned him.

I rubbed the skin and put some distance between us. I wasn't too worried about what he might do. I could defend myself, after all. But that didn't mean I liked dealing with him like this.

"You need to start talking before I lose my shit," he warned, his face still clouded with darkness.

"You need to chill or get the fuck out of my house. I let you in because I could see you weren't going to go away. However, if I don't give you permission to touch me, then you don't ever fucking touch me. Got it?" My voice had risen to a near hysterical level, but he was just going to have to deal. I didn'tneedhim to conduct this investigation.

We stared at each other for too long, both pretty much daring each other to make the next move. Of all the times I’d dreamt of a reunion with Axel, not one had ever gone quite like this. Although I had known it wouldn't be pretty. Leaving him behind the day after I’d told him about the baby was one of the worst things I’d had to endure, and considering my line of work, that was seriously saying something.

When his expression suddenly changed and he looked away, I couldn't help but think maybe we were both messed up from the past. It made me want to ask him questions, but I had no right to dig up the past now. What would be the point of putting us both through that again when nothing could ever change?

And whatever had gone on in his life since then was none of my business.

"I didn't mean to hurt you." The look of regret on his face matched the feeling that seized in my chest. My life had been built on the back of one regret after another, until the word had come to mean very little. But just as quickly as the expression had appeared, it disappeared. "But you do need to explain what is going on. Why are you spying on the club?"

"I'm not, I swear. I did, however, think it was prudent to be sure your property couldn't be used by whoever is responsible for what happened to Danvers."

"It can't be. Our place is secure."

I wanted to point out that while that might be the case, I’d had no problem getting that drone footage the Bureau obtained when they thought the club could be interfering in one of their investigations. My boss on the task force, Agent Reed, had shut down the operation as soon as he got wind of it.

He might be loyal to the Bureau, but not at the expense of his motorcycle club family.

That had been my first real connection to home in so long, it had scared me. Not because I thought Agent Reed would hold it against me, but because for the first time in too many years it had made me feel something other than hate and fear.

I nodded. "Yeah, I don't think whoever is responsible for this is using your property, but the club could be tied into it, whether they know it or not."

"I'm pretty sure I'd know if we were involved in something this insane."

I walked over to the desk and rifled through the files until I found the one I was looking for. Turning back, I handed it to him. Bringing this case to his attention might not bode well, but being thorough was more important than any sensitive feelings. "This is one of the few cases Danvers and I worked on together."

He opened the file. "Frank Mazzeo," he curled his lip when he said the name. "He's dead. What the hell does he have to do with this?” He studied a few of the pages before he continued. “If you think someone from his organization is out for revenge, that would be a stretch. No one cares that Frank is gone. Hell, whoever is in charge now is probably grateful we got him out of the way so they could take over. He was singlehandedly ruining a lucrative business..."

He paused, staring down at the page before he finally looked up again and caught my gaze. I wished I had braced myself for what came next.

"Besides, why would they want revenge against you? You were his little bitch, making sure he could slide in and out of the law without anyone touching him. Because of you Izzy almost died. Hell, I’m surprised you aren’t on your knees in front of his successor right now begging for whatever scrap he might give you. Or did he tell you to fuck off too?"

The air in my lungs froze at the pure venom laced into those words. I tried to take a breath and felt like I would choke if I did. My head spun as my mind rushed back to all the things I'd done because of Frank. Axel thought he knew, but nobody really did. Not the full extent of it. They couldn't.

Bile rose in my throat.

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