Page 86 of Injustice and Absolution

We pull into the gravel lot the warehouse sits on then drive around to the back to keep cover. The moment we turn the corner, I spot Draven and JD leaning up against his car. They’re laughing, engaged in conversation with some of the Destroyers.

Behind them, I see a larger group of men. Some are meandering around while others remain seated on their bikes. But as they notice our arrival, every man stands to their full height, as though immediately on alert.

The two speaking with JD and Draven join the others, and they form a line, eight men wide, staring us down as we come to a stop by JD’s car.

Our engines cut, and I and the rest of the men I brought with me line up across from them, with me in the middle and Draven to my right.

JD is the first to speak.

“I’ll make the introductions before I leave you all to handle your business.”

He points to the man in the middle of the Destroyer’s line. Even if he didn’t have a patch on his cut that says, “President” I would know it to be true. Just by the air of confidence that surrounds him.

“This here is Chainz, President of the Krymson Destroyers. Chainz, this is The Judge,” JD points his other hand my way. “President of the Gettysburg chapter of the Royal Bastards.”

As we lock eyes, a recognition of respect passes between us. Each of us nods our greeting, and JD takes that as his cue to leave.

He and Draven say their goodbyes before JD speeds off in his car. The moment he’s gone, I turn back to Chainz.

“Thanks for agreeing to meet with us tonight,” I begin. “This is my VP, Draven.”

Chainz nods. “Yes, we met a few minutes ago. This is Tank, my VP. Over here we’ve got Fuel, Cobra, and Crusher.” He waves his hand to his right before naming the men on his left. “Hound, Freedom, and Reaper.”

I nod to the men on each side of him before introducing the rest of my men.

“Atticus, Toga, Chubbs, Zephyr, Saxon, Ronin, Crew, Rocco.”

Chainz offers them the same curt nod before speaking.

“So I heard you’re looking for some information about a local business owner?”

“Drew Sullivan. He owns a strip club in Midtown called Spotlight. You familiar with it?”

“Yeah. I've never been myself, but the times I’ve driven by at night business always appears to be booming. What’s your beef with him?”

“That’s what I’m trying to figure out. He recently acquired a new employee, and... Well, it’s in her best interest that I make sure her new boss isn’t the scumbag I believe him to be.”

“Let me guess… She’s either your daughter or your ex?” Chainz laughs, and I wonder if he has someone special in his life that he’d kill for the way I will for Delilah.

The way I’ve already done, long before I ever knew what she would truly mean to me.

“Neither.” And I thank God for it. “But she’s very important to our club... To me.”

My earnest tone wipes the smile from Chainz’s face, and he nods in recognition. Turning to his brothers, he speaks to them.

“Anyone have any information they can share with the Bastards?”

“I don’t know if this is helpful or not, but it has to do with the murder of Spotlight’s previous owner,” the man Chainz referred to as Hound speaks, and I recognize him as one of the men Draven was speaking to when we pulled up.

My ears perk up at the mention of the case I found so intriguing. What’s even more interesting is the fact that he also believes it was a murder.

“Yes, that case drew my attention as well. But murder? I thought it was an accidental death?” I give Hound my full attention but don’t offer him my opinion. I want to hear what he has to say without suggesting any of my own theories.

“I found it suspicious that the camera along the rear of the building was reported broken during the time the death took place. When I pulled up the street footage…” he grins deviously, interrupting himself, “It’s a little hobby of mine—I noticed it had been tampered with.”

My stomach drops. There was no information regarding camera footage in the article Cyber sent me. “Tampered with how?”

“Someone went in and removed a person from the video, but their shadow was never touched.”

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