Page 23 of Zen's Crash

“Oh shit. I’m glad she didn’t come out.”

“She tried to, but her old man locked her in the safe room.”

All the color drains from Evan’s face. “Are you saying that she watched the intruder kill her father?”

I nod grimly. “Yeah, she saw the whole thing. It’s really messed her up.”

“I know. Kayla says she hardly leaves her house and has all her shit delivered.”

“I’m reversing my ban decision. Since I never notified our club officers it never really went into effect anyway.”

Evan frowns, “I don’t understand. What are you trying to tell me?”

“Look, I know you’re only eighteen, but I think you should know that Siege and your dad are arranging round-the-clock protection for Lexi. She’d probably throw a fit, but she reported a couple of weird things going on with delivery drivers and such. We just want to make sure she’s safe until we find the killer.”

“What does that have to do with Kayla?”

“Does she live with her parents?”

“No, her older sister, their parents live in Arizona.”

“I’m suggesting that bringing your girl to the clubhouse might be advisable. I don’t think she’s in actual danger, but I’d hate to think that if the killer circles back around for Lexi and she’s too heavily guarded for him to get to, he might try to get his hands on an easier target—or even grab your girl or her sister and try to get Lexi to trade herself for one of them.”

“Oh hell no, that is not going to happen, not on my watch.”

It’s cute how Evan talks like a brother—his dad to be exact. “I don’t want to panic you. Like I said, there’s probably no direct danger to them. But maybe you can sweet-talk them into visiting the clubhouse for a week or two just to be on the safe side?”

Evan’s expression turns shifty, “You mean, don’t tell them they’re in danger.”

“Well, we don’t know that they are, right? Why panic them unnecessarily? Tell them that since things are getting moreserious between you, that you want her to experience club culture so she knows what she’s getting herself into.”

“I don’t like keeping stuff from her. My dad always says hiding stuff from your woman only leads to trouble. But then again, you’re right about not panicking them without cause. Damn, this is a tough one.”

“Prospecting is full of hard choices. Maybe, call your dad and see what he says? All the brothers go to Rigs for advice.”

“Yeah, I think I’ll do that.”

I watch Evan leave, wishing he wasn’t involved in this situation. Then again if he hadn’t been dating Kayla, I never would have met Lexi and known she might be in danger. Maybe this was all meant to be?

Chapter 9

Lexi

Kayla has a million questions during the drive to her house. I tell her as little as possible because I know that I’ll have to repeat it all for Cindy. It doesn’t take long before we’re sitting in her living room with mugs of coffee and I’m recounting the tale of the biker who thought it would be a good idea to pretend to have similar interests as me.

Cindy is floored, but Kayla doesn’t look very convinced. “I think you’re wrong about Zen. Evan’s told me several times that he’s the Savage Legion’s resident IT specialist. So, that part is true at least.”

I’m skeptical about that being true, especially since Kayla can get her information turned around at times. I suspect he’s like those phone IT helplines where they just tell you to switch it on and off again or look in the manual for an answer, I mean, what IT problems could a group of bikers really have? “Whatever, I don’t expect to ever see him again,” I tell them.

Before they can respond there is a knock at the door.

“It’s late. I don’t know who would be visiting at this hour,” Cindy says with a worried expression on her face. She sets her coffee aside, goes to answer the door and comes back with a grim-looking Evan in tow.

Kayla’s face lights up and she runs to him giving him a big hug. “What made you decide to stop by so late, babe?”

“I’m here on official club business,” Evan replies.

Kayla draws him forward and down onto the sofa beside her.

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