Page 45 of Dancin' with Demons

We both stop dead when Catacomb moves to the side and we realize Savior isn’t just sittin’ there colorin’, but Reaper’s next to her, colorin’ right along with her while they quietly talk back and forth.

“Not as much as gettin’ the two biggest brutes in my club wrapped around her finger will,” Catacomb chuckles.

Reaper glances up and notices us, then whispers to Savior and her head pops up. The smile that lights up that little girl’s face is everythin’. Grabbin’ the paper in front of her, she jumps out of her seat, barrelin’ across the room toward me. Scoopin’ down, I snatch her up in my arms as she holds the picture up for me to see.

“I colored you a picture, Ren-Ren,” she exclaims happily. “It’s Maui and Moana from the colorin’ book Mr. Saint got me.”

I peek around her head, my eyes fallin’ in Archangel. My vice president shrugs before turnin’ his attention to Rainie next to him.

After Catacomb asks about Raylynn’s hours, remindin’ her that for her safety, someone needs to drop her off and pick her up for now, he turns to me while she kisses my cheek and then sits with the others at the table, he turns to me. “We need to talk, brother.” I nod, and he turns to face the club. “Reaper, Hardwire, Circuit. My office. Now.”

The other three brothers get up, and Reaper whispers to Savior for a second before joinin’ me as we head back to Catacomb’s office. Steppin’ into the room, I stand to the side with Reaper while Hardwire and Circuit set their laptops up on the edge of Catacomb’s desk.

“What’s this about, Prez?” I ask, crossin’ my arms over my chest as I lean my shoulder against the wall.

Catacomb sits in his chair but angles it toward us. “What I’m about to say doesn’t leave this room. No one but the five of us until I say otherwise. Understood?”

Now he has my attention, and a worry settles into my stomach. “Okay.”

“I think we got a problem with Hammer.” Catacomb nods at the Geek Squad. “They been watchin’ him for me for a while. They got some shit that points at Hammer bein’ a traitor.”

“Seriously,” Reaper asks. “Don’t get me wrong, I don’t care for him, but you really think he’d betray the club?”

Catacomb sighs. “Hardwire, play the recordin’.”

Hardwire taps a button on his computer and the speakers kick to life a moment before Hammer’s voice comes through, too.

“Yeah, man. I swear, I got hard when she showed everyone her back. That shit looks better than you said it did.” He laughs, and the there’s silence for a moment. “Nah, Renegade’s gotta let the little bitch out of his sight sometime. Can’t keep her locked here forever.” Another brief pause before he lets out a sinister chuckle. “I’m game as long as I get to fuck her once before you take her.”

My blood boils. “Tell me that mother fucker isn’t talkin’ about Raylynn?” My eyes bounce between the three of ‘em.

“That call was recorded the day Raylynn got her brand, so yeah, we’re sure he’s talkin’ about her. Unless you got another woman you’re hidin’ somewhere.”

“I’m gonna kill him,” I snap, but Catacomb is Shakin’ his head before I even finish my sentence.

“I need you to stow the anger for a bit, brother,” he says, and when I open my mouth to argue, he holds his hand up. “Renegade, listen to me for a second. He isn’t actin’ alone. This is one of several calls, some of ‘em datin’ back to when we first found Raylynn and he prospected. The Geek Squad has texts and shit, too. All gonna several burners. If you kill him, we lose out only chance at figurin’ out who’s on the other end of that phone call. That’s who wants you’re woman, and this may be our only shot at findin’ ‘em.”

Reaper puts his hand on my shoulder. “Easy, brother.” He turns his attention to our president. “How long have you suspected Somethin’ was off?”

“Since the night he let some of the Havoc Ryders get away.”

“What?” I yell, pushin’ off the wall. “Three fuckin’ years? And you haven’t said shit to anyone?”

Catacomb shrugs but points at the Geek Squad. “I said Somethin’ to ‘em.”

Rollin’ my eyes, I throw my hands in the air. “Fuckin’ smart.”

“Watch your fuckin’ tone, Renegade,” Catacomb snaps, and I force myself to chill immediately. “I needed proof. None of what we had was concrete until we brought Raylynn back around. Now, these calls are happenin’ several times day at least.”

Takin’ a deep breath, I sit in the seat closest to Catacomb’s desk. “So what’s the plan then? Because you know if he goes after my woman, I’ll snap his neck first and askin’ questions second.”

“They’re gonna put some hidden cameras around the clubhouse and property, probably your house, too. Even I won’t know where they are, just the two of ‘em will. We keep watchin’ until he makes a move we can’t ignore or he gives up who’s the fucker behind this.”

“Maybe it’s time to move Raylynn and Savior to Renegade’s,” Reaper says from behind me. “See what happens when you take away Hammer’s access to her.”

Catacomb tilts his head to either side. “Not a bad idea. You go with ‘em, though. You’re less protected out there with less numbers. But, that will give us a chance to gage any change in his behavior. “

“Just go about shit like normal,” I say, “and see who takes the bait?”

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