Page 22 of Devil’s Snare

As in the counterfeit kind.

“Graham,” Detective Castor greeted our president as he entered the bar. When he didn’t get an answer, he cleared his throat. “G.D.”

The thing about Mike Castor was that he grew up in the same neighborhood and schools as G.D. They were only a year apart. That meant they had history. The kind where they’d fought over a girl more than once. Played on the same football team. They were even friends at one point.

Now the law placed them on opposite sides.

“What is it, Mike?”

“Thought I’d introduce you to NCIS Special Agent Nate Barnes. He’s here for the murdered Marine. We’re handling the case together.”

Murdered Marine. Fuccckkkkkk. Becka Carmichael. Gwen’s sister.

“Hey,” the agent greeted the room before he turned to the president. “Been a long fucking day. I could use a drink. Mind if I sit?”

G.D. gestured to the table across from him. “Have at it.”

Nate Barnes loosened his tie and sat, pulling out his wallet. He slapped a twenty on the table like he was in a regular fucking bar. “I’ll take as many shots of whiskey as that’ll pay for.”

Mike Castor gaped at him. “It’s only one o’clock.”

Nate wasn’t fazed. “I’ve got my own time clock.”

Ghost mumbled something from behind G.D.’s back, keeping close watch on the NCIS agent. He didn’t like him in the clubhouse. Our VP took security seriously, and this was a breach. Even if G.D. let the men inside. Ghost’s lip curled as he stared at Nate Barnes.

The agent either ignored him, or it didn’t faze him.

G.D. gestured to the bar where one of the sweet butts brought over a bottle of whiskey and a few shot glasses. She set them down and walked back to the bar, swishing her ass with every step. The only one who glanced at her was the NCIS agent.

The cops never got tempted.

Nate Barnes must think we’re idiots. We saw his tattoos. His casual words and attempt to relate to us. The way he instantly tried to make us feel at ease with his presence. He knew how to play the game. But so did we, especially the president of a motorcycle club with multiple chapters across the U.S.

Nate Barnes could drink the whiskey he paid for and sit across from G.D., but that didn’t mean he would ever be accepted among us. He didn’t make a sound as he took the first shot. When the agent received the second, he held it up to the room. “To wind in your hair, knees in the breeze, and the freedom to do as you please.”

The room stayed mostly silent except for the occasional thwack of a billiard ball and the light rumble as it rolled across the surface of the pool table. Smoke circled the air in a cloudy fog that hung near the ceiling, floating around the exposed wooden beams. The music had been turned down. Tension in the room remained steady, along with the scowls on my brothers’ faces.

G.D. crossed his arms over his chest. “I heard about the Marine. Sad. Never like to hear about losing someone who served. Many of us are veterans.”

That piqued the NCIS agent’s interest. “Didn’t ever meet her though, huh?”

G.D. met his direct stare. “No. She’s half the age of most members. We like pussy, but we don’t chase it. She never had reason to come to the Devil’s Wood.”

Nate Barnes didn’t look convinced. “What about her companion? You know Matthew Marshall?”

We did. His father, Matt “Gorilla” Marshall Sr., used to be a member. He died when Matthew was only ten. The kid never wanted anything to do with our club. He didn’t come around here even to learn about his father.

G.D. had looked in on him from time to time, checking with his mother. We watched out for the kid in his teen years because of his father. Now that he was grown, we stopped.

“Only his father when he was a member. Been over fifteen years since we lost him.”

Nate sat back, pushing the bottle of whiskey to the side. “Interesting. Matthew ever come here and visit? Want to learn about his dad?”

“No.” G.D.’s growl could make lesser men shit themselves.

Not this NCIS agent.

Mike Castor already knew this information. He probably told Nate Barnes. So why the fuck was he asking the same damn questions? Trying to fuck with us? Catch G.D. in a lie?