Dark and spicy, with an undertone of pine that lingered in the back of my throat.
“It’s not necessary.”
I was losing him.
If I’d even had a chance to begin with, which was unlikely.
I spun on my heels.
We stood at the top of the stairs, and the move put me on the edge, forcing me to lean my weight forward or topple down the stairs backward.
Rafe hooked an arm around my waist, a flash of concern zipping across his face as he guided me to a safer spot near the balcony railing.
From here, the entire bar scene spread out below us.
I risked a look down before focusing on Rafe. “Listen, I’ve heard all about the Steel Vipers. People talk shit about you because you’re an easy target. Well, maybeeasyis the wrong word. You’re a biker gang and people love to talk smack. They see you as a menace. I can help with that.”
“Why would I want that?” He stared down at me, his face expressionless as stone. “Why would I want a reporter snooping around?”
It was the question I’d had the most trouble finding an answer to as I rehearsed my cover story.
Why would a biker gang want to be seen as anything else? “Because.” I paused and gulped. “Because you’re having trouble with local law enforcement. Just last week, one of your guys was arrested for breaking and entering, even though he had an alibi that put him on the other side of town.”
He’d been jumped while incarcerated and almost beaten to death before the charges were dropped and the right man was arrested.
I pressed my lips together before I gave away too much information.
It was a fine line between information a reporter versus a law enforcement officer might know.
“You think you can help take the heat off my guys with some news reports?”
Was I crazy or did he sound curious?
I’d spent the entire day learning as much about motorcycle gangs, and the Steel Vipers in particular, to have an idea of what might tempt him to let me into their club.
But nothing had prepared me for the sheer intimidation factor that radiated off Rafe.
I took my time answering, knowing he’d listen and weigh every word. “I wish I could make promises. My goal is to find the truth.” That part was easy enough to make genuine.
Men in Rafe’s position often excelled at the bad boy image.
Most biker gangs thrived on being a menace to society, but my deep dive into Rafe’s gang showed they had unique links to the community.
Their annual toy drive, for example.
And the fact that two years ago, they’d all shown up at the local elementary school to help one of the kids there confront their bully and abuser.
Those things were not the actions of bad men.
Did that make them good men?
Only time would tell.
“We have some beef with another gang. You’ll need to watch out for them. If they think you’re giving us preferential treatment, they’ll have a lot of shit to say about you.” He really was considering it.
His eyes remained flat and empty, but the flatness of his lips eased.
He gripped the balcony railing with one hand, then beckoned me toward the stairs. “I need to join the party.”
