She truly believed every word.She believed we would regret loving her.
“Mercer chose violence, harassment, and fear.You never caused any of those choices.”
“I gave him a reason!”Her voice rose.“If I leave town, he’ll chase me instead of destroying you.”
I stepped behind the bar and planted my hands on the counter to keep from grabbing her.
“He catches you alone next time.No brothers.No backup.No safe house.His goal becomes complete control.Leaving gives him everything he wants.”
“At least only I get hurt.”She resumed pacing, agitation in every movement.“Mr.Henderson lost his home for helping me.Lori from the diner lost her job and her kids for giving me extra shifts.I can’t watch you go through the same thing.”
“Running keeps him in your life permanently.Every new town becomes another battlefield.”
She froze.Anger and grief warred across her face.“Then offer a better solution.He’s a decorated detective carrying connections across three states.You own a bar and stand beside a motorcycle club already monitored by cops.A war against someone like him doesn’t end in your favor.”
I forced myself to circle around the bar and face her directly.“We win by telling the truth.By gathering evidence.By --”
“Evidence takes months.Investigations take longer.His uncle protects him.His badge protects him.And by the time a single allegation sticks, he will have destroyed everything.”
She moved closer.Fire and fear burned together behind her eyes.“You don’t understand what he’ll do.He manufactures evidence.He plants drugs.He sets people up for arrests.He twists records until someone looks guilty.He will throw you in jail and take me the moment you can’t stop him.”
Her panic washed away the last of my doubt.She feared prison for me more than anything Mercer could do to her physically.
Before I could answer, my phone rang.Spade’s name lit the screen.
“Hold that thought.”I answered.“Yeah?”
“Get to the clubhouse right now,” Spade said.“Information on Mercer.You need to hear this immediately.”
I hung up and met Marci’s gaze.“We’re going.”
Nothing between us had been resolved.Her plan to run remained, as did my refusal to let her leave.Mercer pushed closer every hour.
“This conversation isn’t finished,” I said.
“I know.”She adjusted the jacket and headed for the door.“Maybe Spade found something that changes everything.”
I prayed she spoke the truth.Keeping her from running felt like holding back the ocean using bare hands.Losing her terrified me more than anything Mercer could threaten.
* * *
The back room of the clubhouse carried its usual scent of leather softened by age, gasoline embedded in concrete, and cigarette smoke that never completely faded.Fluorescent lights washed the room in harsh white, giving every hard expression a sharper edge.
The heavy wooden table commanded the center, scarred from decades of decision-making and arguments nobody walked away from clean.Atilla sat at the head, braid over one shoulder and eyes sharp.General leaned against the far wall, arms crossed.Spade sat opposite Atilla, manila folders and printed photographs spread across the battered surface.
History surrounded us in framed photos and flags.Brotherhood lived in every inch of this room.
I guided Marci to a chair and took the seat next to her, shoulders touching.The auxiliary jacket stayed on her, a physical reminder of belonging.
“Thanks for coming fast.”Spade’s attention shifted between us.“We have information you need to see.”
He slid a folder closer and flipped it open to reveal what looked like personnel files from the Oakridge Police Department.Photographs, dates, internal notes.I didn’t ask how he obtained them.
“Detective James Mercer.Multiple commendations.Strong arrest record.Textbook reputation on paper.”He moved to the next document.“Internal complaints tell a different story.Three formal grievances filed by women he dated or pursued before Marci, and from what I’ve gathered, I think he had some altercations with women during the time he’s been tracking Marci.The charges were always dropped, though.”
Marci went still.
“What kind of complaints?”she asked softly.
