Page 5 of Grimm
CHAPTER TWO
REGINA
What the hell was I thinking coming here? I questioned myself again while waiting to see if he would see me. And why would he? Why would Tavish MacDaniel see me when I put his father behind bars for life with no possibility of parole? The notorious Angus MacDaniel would die in prison, barring some type of miracle. I’d handed his father a death sentence.
Over the years, Tavish MacDaniel’s name was whispered throughout law enforcement circles. He’d been described as crazy and more ruthless than his father. Yet here I was, stepping into dangerous waters like a lunatic, but I couldn’t let rumors stop me. I needed his help.
I drummed my fingers against the steering wheel of my Mercedes as I waited for someone to either let me through to see Tavish or tell me to fuck off. More than likely, he’d tell me to go fuck myself, but I prayed for a miracle. The President of Sin City MC was my only hope.
My eyes zeroed in on the man who told me to wait while he ran inside Sin City’s clubhouse—shaved head and a black leather vest withProspectin white capital letters stitched on the back. He looked young. Way too young to be here. I sat in my car only a few yards away from the entrance. This place was more secure than Fort Knox, despite what it looked like from the outside.
The FBI’s extensive records on Sin City included photographs, the club’s financial records, and all the Las Vegas chapter members. Angus MacDaniel, also known as Chief, had been on law enforcement’s radar for a long time before a case was brought against him.
I can’t say it shocked me when he got arrested and then convicted. The club was entrenched in Las Vegas’ criminal underworld, only rivaled by the Bianchi Syndicate, and even they didn’t have the territory or pull Angus MacDaniel and Sin City had in Vegas.
The U.S. Attorney’s office worked tirelessly for years, building a case against Angus and Sin City. Then I took over. New blood and fresh eyes, the U.S. Attorney had ordered. But after a while, I understood they’d wanted to use me as a scapegoat if the case bombed. However, we lucked up with the amount of evidence Agent Richards gathered on them while undercover.
Then things changed with Agent Jonas Richards’ murder and Judge Richards’ eyewitness testimony naming Angus as the murderer. It was the smoking gun. The nail in his coffin. Angus couldn’t evade the law any longer, especially with an esteemed federal judge pointing the finger at him.
Every lawyer had one case that could make or break their career. Angus MacDaniel’s trial and conviction was mine. It opened doors that otherwise would have been closed, like the Matteo Valenti case I’d been working on for months. Now, I was widely known as the woman who put Angus “Chief” MacDaniel behind bars. I didn’t know if that was the best title to have today, but what the hell could I do about it? I had a job to do, and I did it well.
“Don’t be nervous, Gina.” I tightened my grip on the steering wheel. “It’s not like he’ll kill you or something.”
At least, I hope not.
Rapid taps on the driver’s side window made me jump. I’d been so caught up in my thoughts about whether I’d live or die out here in the desert today, I didn’t see the man approach my car. My father would be so disappointed in me for not paying attention to my surroundings.
I took in a deep breath and released it, then cracked my window just enough so we could talk. The crack wouldn’t stop him but it gave me some sense of protection, even if it was all in my head.
This wasn’t the same guy who stopped me at the entrance. This guy was older and handsome in a more rugged way. His dirty blond hair hung loosely to his broad shoulders, and his beautiful arctic-blue eyes were slightly red and closed like he’d smoked a blunt. His expressionless face caused me to squirm in my seat. Red flags blared. This wasn’t the place I should have been. I should run and get the hell out of here.
“Pull over there,” he barked, pointing toward the building.
“Okay,” I mumbled, raising my tinted window and releasing another breath. “I made it this far, and I’m still alive. A good sign, right?”
I parked beside a line of motorcycles, the chrome glinting under the sun’s rays. The building’s exterior looked more like a barn that had seen its last days.
“Are you coming or what?” The man tapped on the glass again. “We got shit to do around here. That doesn’t include sitting here waiting on your pretty ass to get out of the fucking car.”
Charming.
“You’ve got this, Gina,” I whispered to myself. “Just ask the man for help. He can say go fuck yourself, or he’ll agree. What do you have to lose?”
I nodded at the scowling man, opened the car door, and slowly stepped out, my heels crunching on the graveled lot.
“Leave your purse and phone in the car,” he instructed.
The handsome stranger towered over me by at least five inches, even with my heeled booties, and he was very intimidating with his leather vest and tattoos covering most of his skin. But I wouldn’t let him know it. I’d gone against hardened criminals before, and he wasn’t any different. Fear wasn’t something I showed, even if it was what I felt.“People play off your fear,”my father always said.
I removed my brother’s picture from inside my purse, slid it into the back pocket of my jeans, and tossed my purse in the car. Then I slammed the door shut and locked it I didn’t like being told what to do and wanted to show my displeasure, but I also needed Tavish’s help.
“My phone is inside the purse, which is now locked inside my car, as you can see.” I glared at him with as much attitude as I could muster. “Now, can you take me to Mr. MacDaniel?”
“Yeah,” he said. I walked forward, and he threw his hand in the air, stopping me in my tracks. “Just as soon as I pat you down.”
You’ve got to be freaking kidding me.
His eyes moved down my body, and he licked his lips. His gaze wasn’t welcomed but not as disgusting as some pervs I’d dealt with. But he or no one else was putting their hands on me.
