Chapter 9
Hunter walked throughthe clubhouse, ignoring the curious looks and the tension in the room.He had his own problems and no time to deal with his brothers' restlessness, which could smell fresh meat a block away.
They wanted to know about the girls in his room.But they were off limits.
He found Kodiak in the office, hunched over the table with a stack of invoices, a half-empty bottle of whiskey, and a full ashtray of cigarettes.
Hunter stepped inside and waited.Kodiak looked up, his mouth moving slowly.
He walked to the desk to see him better.Prez had texted him a few minutes ago, asking to meet.Probably regarding his request to find a refuge house for Annie and Leigh.If he could get them somewhere where they could heal and gather their resources, they might have a chance of moving past the domestic abuse.
Kodiak gazed at him."Do you think keeping them in Vancouver is the best decision for them?"
"Leigh needs to heal.I don't think they have a way to support themselves," he said.
Kodiak tugged on his beard, showing more of his mouth."Are you going to support them?"
He nodded.He had no family to support.It wouldn't financially hurt him to help.
"I did some digging."Kodiak leaned back in his chair, rubbing his jaw."The owner of the house where the women lived is Jason Stevens."
Hunter shrugged.He already knew that's where Leigh lived with her husband.All he wanted to do was find her a safe place.Later, she could divorce the fucker.
"Stevens works...fucking...patrol," said Kodiak.
He shook his head and pointed at his mouth."Again."
"Stevens.Works.For.Washington.State.Patrol."Kodiak held his gaze."He's a cop."
Sonofabitch.Hunter walked away from the desk, rubbing the back of his neck.He'd helped a cop's ol' lady escape?
He went into the situation believing the asshole wouldn't come after him because he would be afraid of the cops charging him with domestic violence.
But a cop?He wouldn't be afraid.The force would protect one of their own.
It was only a matter of time before a neighbor gave Stevens enough evidence to pin Hunter at the scene of breaking into his house.He wore his vest the whole time.There were probably cameras that would catch his motorcycle.He had Royalla printed across his shoulders in white patches, visible to all.
He fisted his hand.Not only had he put Royalla at risk of a raid, but if the cops caught him, he'd stand no chance at keeping his freedom.They'd put him in prison on some bogus charges.Law enforcement was their own club, their own brotherhood.They would turn their back on domestic violence but go after someone messing with a cop's wife.
Kodiak waved, gaining Hunter's attention.He returned to the desk.
"Ring moved in with his ol' lady last month.The rental house he was in is vacant," Kodiak said.
Hunter gave a short nod.That would work.Royalla owned several homes that they rented out to members.
Roma walked into view, startling him.With his back to the door, he lost sense of his surroundings.She carried two mugs of coffee with Alanis trotting at her heels.She smiled when she saw Hunter.
"Hey, stranger," she said, lips slow and easy to read.
