"I'll handle it." I close the file I'm working on and stand, rolling tension out of my shoulders. "Tell her I'll be right there."
Axel disappears, and I take a moment to lock down the anger that's been building since last night. Mira made her position clear at the fire scene—she thinks Mike torched his own restaurant. Which means she thinks I'm either complicit or incompetent, and I don't appreciate either implication.
But throwing her out won't help Mike. Won't help any of the people whose businesses have burned. So I'll play nice. For now.
I head out to the main shop floor. Ironside Customs takes up a converted warehouse near the waterfront, with high ceilings, exposed beams, and enough space for multiple bike builds at once. Chrome and custom paint gleam under the overhead lights. Tools hang in precise arrangements on the walls. The smell of metal and motor oil saturates everything.
Mira stands near the front entrance, cataloging details. Her gaze moves from the bikes to the brothers working on them to the Iron Brotherhood banners on the walls. Looking for evidence of whatever crime she's already decided we've committed.
Tate leans against a workbench nearby, arms crossed, radiating hostility. Cole stands at the front counter, his VP patch visible on his kutte. Neither of them looks friendly, and I don't blame them. Word spread fast after last night—insurance investigator thinks we're running fraud.
I cross the shop floor, and Mira's attention shifts to me. Professional mask firmly in place, but I catch the slight tension in her shoulders. Good. She should be nervous.
"Ms. Vaughn." I don't offer a handshake. "Wasn't expecting you this early."
"Mr. Riley." She doesn't back down, I'll give her that. "I'm here to review the scene at The Anchor and discuss your investigation. I understand you're the lead investigator, which creates a significant conflict of interest given your position with the Brotherhood."
Behind me, Tate shifts his weight. The temperature in the shop drops several degrees.
"There's no conflict." I keep my voice level, but let her hear the steel underneath. "Mike Barrows is my brother. That means I'm going to find out who did this to him. Question is whether you're going to help or get in my way."
"I'm going to do my job, which is determining whether this fire was arson for profit or a legitimate crime."
"It was arson. Someone torched Mike's restaurant. That's not in question."
"Who set it is very much in question." She holds my gaze. "Four fires over the past several months, all Brotherhood-connected, all resulting in substantial insurance payouts. That's not coincidence."
"You're right. It's not. Someone's targeting us."
"Or you're running a very profitable fraud scheme."
The accusation hangs in the air. I could throw her out. Could make her investigation difficult. Could let the brothers handle this in ways that would send her running back to whatever corporate office she crawled out of.
But that would only confirm what she already believes.
"Scene's still being processed," I say instead. "Fire Marshal Davis is coordinating with the state investigator. You'll need clearance before you access it."
"Can you arrange that?"
"I can make calls."
"Thank you."
I lead her through the shop, aware of every brother tracking her movement. We pass bike builds in various stages, welding stations, paint booths. Everything we've built together—legitimate business, skilled craftsmanship, proof we're not the criminals she thinks we are.
Mira takes it all in with that investigator's attention, looking for cracks in the facade.
The waiting area is small—couch, chairs, coffee maker that produces something barely drinkable. I gesture toward it. "Coffee's terrible. Drink it anyway or don't."
"I'll manage." She takes a seat, already pulling out her phone.
I head to the office and close the door harder than necessary before calling Davis. He answers on the second ring.
"Riley."
"Got the insurance investigator here. Mira Vaughn from Pacific Northwest Casualty. She wants access to The Anchor."
Davis sighs. "Yeah, company's been calling all morning. Let me check with the state investigator. Might take a few hours."
