Page 1 of Lockout

CHAPTER 1

Keely

The sound of something dropping in the dark alleyway made me jump. Scanning around, I searched for anyone who might be following me. There was no one around except the homeless man, who’d dropped a bag of cans on the ground next to the tent where he slept. I gave him a weak smile, tucked my coat around me to protect me from the harsh late November cold, and kept moving.

Things were getting out of control.

I hurried down the alley, it was the quickest way to get to cover, and stepped back out onto the street that would lead to my temporary home here in Washington D.C. I loved the work I’d been doing with the FBI task force when I first started, but we’d gotten in over our heads. Or rather the leader of the group had gottenmein over my head.

My gaze darted around as I rushed into my building and took the elevator up to my floor. My keys were loud in the quiethall as I selected one and used it to open my door. Breathing a heavy sigh, I closed the door behind me and leaned back on it. I dropped my head back and closed my eyes.

I wasn’t paranoid, like Mike, the FBI task force leader said. I was being followed. Something had gone wrong and now the target we’d been surveilling for months knew about us. Or me, anyway.

A twisting in my gut had told me that this was a bad idea six months ago, when Mike told me that I’d be going undercover to help with surveillance. I wasn’t an FBI Agent. I was a lawyer. It was my job to help the task force ensure that they followed every law to the letter and the chain of evidence was adhered to, so that when we finally brought this group to the courts, everything was admissible.

Yet, I’d found myself following suspects and interjecting myself into their lives in order to keep an eye on them, along with various different task force members. And now I was the one being hunted. I was sure of it.

Sighing, I rubbed my forehead as I pushed away from my apartment door. I only made it two steps before I froze in horror. Sitting on my coffee table was a bouquet of roses. Deep red.

With shaking hands, I picked up the flowers and looked at the card. Maybe my sister Dani had sent them. Or maybe the stubborn biker who invaded my dreams every night.

Please, please, please…

My heart sank as I read the message.

We know who you are. We’ll be seeing you soon. - Hangman

“Shit,” I hissed, eyes darting around, searching my mostly dark apartment. My heart beat hard inside my chest as I dropped the flowers. The glass vase broke on the floor, but I paid no attention to it. Reaching into my purse, I pulled out mylittle .38 special, then I walked through my home, turning on the lights.

No one was here, but I found the busted window where they’d come inside. I swallowed hard, putting my gun down on my dresser and throwing a suitcase on the bed. The FBI wasn’t going to help me. Mike thought I was being dramatic. He’d literally said that word to me today. Asshole.

He’d all but forced me into this role within the task force—because I’m not known by the players in the game, according to him—and now he refused to believe me when I started to notice that things were off.

I tossed clothes into my suitcase as quickly as I could. The things I’d need were packed up within twenty minutes and I caught a cab to a hotel across the city. That wasn’t going to help me. Hangman was the president of the D.C. chapter of the Legion of Shadow. His MC worked a little differently than most clubs. He was the leader of them all. Each chapter had their own officers, but he headed all of them up. There were nine different chapters here in the U.S. and they all belonged to him.

These people were dangerous. He was dangerous. I knew that going in, I just didn’t have any idea that I’d be so involved in bringing them down. That I’d end up on Hangman’s personal radar. I thought I’d help the FBI prosecute them once they were already behind bars, not that I’d be helping to put them there in the first place.

Ice skated down my spine as I stepped inside my hotel room. I wouldn’t be staying. Just long enough to call my higher ups and request leave and book a flight. I needed to get away from this for a while. I needed to feel safe again. Correction. I needed tobesafe again. I was going home.

Pushingopen the door of my home, I smiled. Dani had been taking care of my house here in Tucson for me while I’d been gone. The task force was supposed to have disbanded months ago, but they were finding it harder to pin down the target than they planned.

The main supervisor overseeing the task force had been surprised when I called and asked him for leave. I should’ve been going to Mike, but he’d already proven useless. If it were up to him, he’d keep me there in D.C. and keep me working. But I was scared enough that I wasn’t about to stay.

I wasn’t even sure coming home would keep me safe. But I had to try. Maybe distance between us would be enough. Maybe Hangman would let me go. Though the sinking feeling in my stomach told me he wouldn’t.

I could go to Lockout. The Viking’s Rampage would help me, but they’d had enough trouble the last couple years. I didn’t want to bring my problems to their doorstep. Especially not now that they had so many women and children to protect. My sister and niece included. No. I’d wait. See if I was followed, then figure it out from there.

Sighing, I took my time arranging the clothes I’d brought into my dresser. I was going to have to tell Dani I was home. But not yet. Because as soon as I started associating with my sister and the MC, they’d be dragged into this mess. I needed to make sure I was clear of all this before I could see my friends and family. Because that was what the MC was now. Family. At least that was how I felt about them.

I knew the women loved me. And most of the men liked me just fine. But then there was the grumpy, overly seriouspresident. I didn’t know how he felt about me. Which was why I’d never admitted to anyone that I was so attracted to him it took all my self-control to keep from flinging myself at him at any given opportunity.

Groaning, I laid back on my bed and stared up at the ceiling. I would have taken the opportunity to work on this task force anyway, but getting away from Lockout was the other reason I’d gone. But I’d missed everyone. And I was glad to be home, even though it was temporary. I’d eventually have to go back. I just hoped they’d have wrapped all this up by the time I was forced to return.

CHAPTER 2

Keely

“Hello?” I tucked my phone between my ear and shoulder. I’d gotten home about five days ago and knew he’d be checking in anytime.

---