Page 34 of Nines's Time

“We just need to know where all of you were last night.” Detective Hanson smirks, shoving his hands in his pockets.

“That’s none of your business,” Lucky snarks. “That is unless you’re asking if I was fuckin’ your momma, then the answer’s a big ass fuckin’ no. I wouldn’t want to stick my dick anywhere near the pussy that you came out of.”

Detective Hanson takes a step forward, eyes narrowed on my brother. “I suggest you watch your mouth.” His partner steps in front of him, keeping him from lashing out at Lucky.

“Don’t make us go get a warrant. We just need to know where everyone was,” Hanson’s partner says, his gaze locking on me. “Especially need to know where you were.”

“What the fuck for?” I stiffen, not liking where this conversation was going. Nothing good can come of it. Not with the way Hanson is looking at me.

“Where were you last night?” Hanson’s partner asks.

“With me at his house,” Meadow speaks up softly, drawing the attention of every man near to look down at her as she curls closer to me.

I tighten my arm around her and squeeze her waist.

“And you are?” Hanson looks over Meadow as if she were a treat he could snatch up.

“She’s my daughter,” Calyx answers before Meadow can, “and if I were you, I’d carry my pussy ass out of here. I know who you are, and you should know that I know what you’re up to and that you’re not here on official police business.”

Hanson curls his lip and narrows his gaze on Calyx. “Didn’t think you had a daughter, Calyx,” he says. “But for the record, we are, considering our victim has turned up dead. She was also raped again before her death.”Meadow gasps. Hanson brings his attention back to her and sneers. “You know the man you’re clinging to was charged with raping this victim?”

“Those charges were dropped yesterday afternoon and you know this, Hanson,” Markus states loudly.None of us had heard him approaching, but with this news, he must have been on the way to give it to me in person. “As for asking my client about his whereabouts, I believe you should have waited for me before questioning him.”

“Seems his little plaything is giving him an alibi, so it’s nothing,” Hanson snarks.

I take a step forward, but Lucky and Shiner block my approach, keeping me from doing something stupid while Meadow tightens her arm around my stomach.

“Don’t,” she whispers, tilting her head back to meet my gaze. “Don’t let them provoke you.”

Sighing, I nod and take a breath.

“I suggest you and your partner leave,” Blow growls, speaking to Hanson’s partner. “I’d also say it would be best not to mess with this club. You can go back to your puppeteer and tell him, he wants a war, come face us himself.”

I’m not surprised by the fact Blow called them out and gave them a message to send. This shit needs to end with the Crimson Blood Clan, and in order for that to happen, we can’t do it blindly, trying to figure out what will come at us next. It’s time we got the upper hand.

Moments later, Hanson and his partner leave, and I look down at Meadow. “You ready for that ride I promised you?”

Meadow gives me a small smile and nods. “I’m more than ready, but what about everything else?”

“It can wait.” I drop my hand from around her waist and lace our fingers together. “I think we’ve both had enough for one day.” Looking at my brothers, I jerk my chin toward them. “Need me, call or text. I’m out of here for now.”

“Right,” Blow grunts. “We’ll have church tomorrow morning to discuss everything.”

Nodding, I guide Meadow to my bike, ignoring Calyx’s glare as I do so.

I get the man just got the shock of his life, but so did Meadow, and right now, she’s the most important thing to me. And Meadow and I still have a lot to talk about. I haven’t forgotten about those calls she was getting. I’ll give her today and tomorrow, let all of this sink in. After that, I’ll find out, and I’ll make sure nothing is coming.

However, I have a gut feeling something is, and I’m sure I won’t like it one bit.

CHAPTERTWENTY

NERD

“What are you working on, son?”

I glance up from my laptop and meet my father’s eyes. The same eyes I have, and I wonder if the child Cara and I have will have ours or like his or her mother’s. After everything my woman’s been through, it scares the fuck out of me that she’s pregnant. She’s happy, and I won’t let her know just how much it affects me that she’s having our baby. I love my woman, and she’s the fucking air I breathe. If something happens to her, I don’t know what I’d do. Hell, you might as well put me in the ground with her because I won’t be able to live without her.

Cara chose me when she was scared shitless, and I’m doing the same with her.

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