Page 38 of Out to Find Freedom

Butch stood. “How about I give you a hand with the camera set-up?”

I narrowed my eyes. “You know I don’t need it.”

He shrugged. “I know, but I hate sitting around doing nothing.”

“Let him help,” Violet suggested. Damn it all, she was probably worried where my head was. I didn’t even know myself. What I did know was that no one deserved to be stuck in a motherfucking basement. Rage ignited in my chest. My hands near crushed the box with the equipment in it. I said nothing more and stalked out of the room and up the stairs to grab the rest of the shit I needed.

It was when we were coming back down the stairs that there was a knock on my front door. “Fuck,” I muttered. If it was either of them from next door, I’d be likely to drag them in and kick the fucking shit out of them.

“I’ll get it,” Violet said, walking into the room. At the bottom of the stairs, I stopped—with Butch behind me—out of view of the door. Violet opened it, stepped back, and let in her brother, Talon Marcus, president of the Hawks Motorcycle Club. Following him were his most trusted brothers. Griz, Blue, Killer, and Stoke, who was Mally’s man. Shit, they all had good women to call their own.

Talon gave me a chin lift. Then he gestured to Griz and pointed over to my entertainment unit. When the door was shut, I made my way over. “What the fuck is this? If they see the brothers come in here—”

Violet yelled, “Let’s get this party started,” just before music blared to life. Closing my eyes, I rocked my head side to side, but the tension upped a level with the pounding music.

Opening my eyes, I glared at Violet and pointed towards the kitchen. Before I moved, I caught Talon do some hand movements. Blue and Stoke stayed in the living room, sitting on the couch. Stoke pulled a pack of cards free. He caught me looking and lifted his hand to his mouth, pretending to drink. I wasn’t their damn maid.

A hand slapped my shoulder. “I’ll grab them a beer,” Butch offered. I grunted and went to the kitchen table, setting my things down.

The door between the kitchen and living room closed; the music quieted a bit. Turning, I demanded, “You wanna tell me what the hell is goin’ on?”

Violet stepped closer. “I rang them in case we need backup.”

“I thought you were down with waiting until we had more information. She hasn’t even messaged back.”

“That was until I spoke to Talon,” she said, then shifted back enough for her brother to step up. Butch got closer to hear what was being said.

“William Haulder, the manager you’re interested in, has been on a lot of radars in the last couple of days. Only we didn’t have his full name until now. About a month ago, a girl at Maya’s school spread a story about a guy she’d heard of who was selling drugs to underage kids at a club. A week later, that same girl went to this club. She was drugged, raped, and dumped.”

“We haven’t heard about it from the cops. I’m on a—”

Talon’s hand shot up. I ground my teeth together and took a deep breath. “The cops know nothin’ about this case; she didn’t report it.” His upper lip rose in a snarl. “Her mother told her not to. No one would believe her. Maya didn’t believe the rumour the girl had spread until a week ago when she caught the girl in the school bathroom trying to kill herself. The girl then confided in Maya about everything. So Maya came and told me. Since then, I’ve been lookin’ into it. Violet’s told me everything you know, and when Haulder’s name came up, I knew it’d be connected. Especially since you’re on the case for that girl in the same situation.” He stopped. Was he waiting for me to say something? Was this the dramatic pause people talked about?

Fuck that. “Doesn’t explain why you’re here.”

“Got a tip that the main man for the group is making a drop-off tonight. The address happens to be right next door to you.”

Fucking hell.

“You’re goin’ in tonight?”

He nodded once. “As soon as the guy arrives.”

“I’m in.”

“You all are. But you’re gonna be the one walkin’ up to the front door.”

I smiled. I was goddamn down for that.

Chapter Thirteen

Emerson

Loud pumping music filled the air. It seemed Ryan had decided to have a party. Confusion rolled through my mind. Why would he? I didn’t think he would be the type of man to go on with his life as if the strange situation next door to him hadn’t happened. Yet, there he was.

Glancing to the stairs, I wondered for the millionth time in the last couple of hours if I could risk getting my phone and seeing if Ryan had sent more. But fear had me sitting in the one spot, waiting and listening to what I could from upstairs. I knew someone had arrived, heard muffled voices, but couldn’t make anything out. I didn’t want to move in case somehow me retrieving my phone could lead to Ryan getting hurt.

I was also scared for myself. Deep down, I knew there was a small fire lit inside me. It burned for more. Burned for love and freedom. For a simple and yet happy life. The fear was ever present though; I worried if I made the wrong move, I would lose it all and my fire would be snuffed out.

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