Page 15 of Broken Deeds MC: Second Generation #12

– PAX –

I want to drive back to my hotel room instead of getting out of the damn car. Questioning suspects can give new leads. If you’re very lucky, a confession. Though, shit can hit the fan if you’re questioning the killer without knowing, putting a mark on yourself instead.

Normally, I wouldn’t think twice about consequences. It’s only been me and my brothers for countless years. It’s our job, our life. Things have changed drastically since Lyla entered my life. Not to mention, the different dynamics and additions now we’re back together.

Which means it fucking sucks to have a huge damn need to protect my woman.

All perfectly reasonable and all, but I can’t leave her in the hotel room or send her home to make sure she’s out of harm’s way.

Not only can something happen no matter where the hell you are, it’s the underlying knowledge my woman has the mind and skills to protect herself.

“Everything okay?” Lyla questions. “We’ve been sitting in the car, staring at the hotel for the past few minutes. Are we going inside or what?”

See? I’ve always been all about business and now my mind is running overtime thinking up ways to keep my old lady safe.

“Or what,” I mutter and get out of the car.

I hear her car door slam as I round the car. Her eyes are narrowed and she has her hands perched on her hips.

“Are you going to keep me from joining you in questioning the suspects?” Her voice sounds angry and a bit too loud for my liking.

Glancing at the hotel, I notice Della behind the front desk. Her attention is fixed on the computer in front of her.

Releasing a deep sigh, I admit, “The thought of putting you in danger feels like a hot knife at my damn throat, Lyla. I know you can handle yourself, but it still doesn’t soothe my damn mind.

Leaving you alone in the other hotel room or driving to the clubhouse to leave you in the protection of my brothers won’t help either.

It’s a constant itch I can’t fucking scratch.

What the hell am I going to do when you give birth?

Then there’s two people I hold dear, and sometimes you two won’t even be in the same spot.

Fuck. I’m already going out of my damn mind. ”

Laughter rips from my old lady and I shoot her an evil glare. Lyla steps closer and cups my face with both her hands to lock our gaze.

Her voice is gentle and clear when she says, “There will always be cases to solve, killers to catch, and bringing justice for all involved. Though, a threat or pending danger can happen to every individual walking this planet. It’s one of the many issues when it comes to living your life.

The whole balance of life and death. A start and end thing where we shouldn’t focus on one and leave out the other, but we can stick to simply living one day to the next.

Life never will never get any easier unless you put your happiness, and those you hold dear, at the center of it. ”

The words she just gave me crack my chest wide open. It’s a basic reminder of why the havoc of emotions are making protection the cornerstone while happiness should give me peace of mind.

“You’re right,” I murmur.

“I always am,” she states with resolution. “Now, let’s go question a murder suspect and catch this serial killer so we can go home. I have a wedding to plan ’cause I don’t want to worm myself into a dress if this belly keeps growing.”

Placing my lips beside her ear I tell her, “No if about it, your belly will keep growing.”

She shoves my chest to create the space she needs to glare at me. “I know. It’s why we need to wrap this up and get married ASAP.”

“Sure thing, babe,” I rumble and lace my fingers with hers. “Come on, we have work to do.”

Della is on the phone and hangs up when we step inside the hotel. Her smile is warm, but there’s something about the look in her eye that makes me pause.

Lyla draws Della’s attention when she states, “Good morning, we’d like to talk privately with you for a moment.”

Her hand moves to the computer mouse and my gaze locks on the screen just when she clicks to hide what she was doing. I grit my teeth and take a deep breath to calm down.

Quickly I add to Lyla’s statement, “We’re here to talk about Samuel Koba, one of your employees.”

“Sure.” Della keeps her smile in place. “We can talk in my office.”

She rounds the desk, and we follow her into a room in the back.

“Please, take a seat.” Della points to a large couch and sits down in one of the chairs across from it.

I keep my eyes on her and notice the slight slip of tension in her shoulders. Yeah, she might be good at keeping up appearances, but I’m fucking on to her.

“Is he working today?” Lyla asks from beside me once we sit down on the couch.

Della folds her hands in her lap and dutifully replies, “I’m sorry. I cannot give any information about my employees to guests of the hotel, or anyone else for that matter.”

I reach for my shield and pull the chain to place it on top of my shirt and leather cut.

“I’m special agent Pax Nolan, ma’am. I can give you my badge number along with the phone number of my supervisor.

We’re here to bring in Samuel Koba for questioning involving a case we’re working on.

So, I will ask you again, is he working today? ”

She quickly shakes her head. “No. I tried to reach him three times this morning and all I got was his answering machine.” Getting to her feet she walks to a desk. “Would you like his phone number?”

We already have all the information, nonetheless I rumble, “Thanks for your cooperation, ma’am.”

Della digs into a drawer and writes something down on a piece of paper.

She walks toward me and hands it over. “If there’s anything else I can help with, please let me know.”

“Will do.” I get to my feet. “Thanks for your time.”

I hold out my hand for Lyla to take when Della asks, “Will you two still be staying here or were you observing Samuel?”

Lyla and I stay silent, and Della places her hand on her chest and rushes out the words, “Oh goodness, I’m sorry.

It’s none of my business to ask, and you are welcome to stay as long as needed.

Hopefully Samuel didn’t do anything horrible.

My father hired him fourteen years ago and he’s been here ever since.

He’s a good man and has been struggling a bit after his wife went missing three years ago. Samuel started drinking.”

A sigh rips from her, and she shakes her head. “Of course he doesn’t drink on the job, and even if he has a hangover, he does finish his tasks in the kitchen. I shouldn’t be sharing these details. He’s always been good to me, and the hotel. He’s like family.”

“Very understandable,” Lyla states with a load of sympathy. “Thanks for answering our questions. We will be in touch.”

I nod and guide Lyla out of the office.

We walk to the car and I know Lyla wants to say something and before one word tumbles from her lips I tell her, “We’ll have to dig through Samuel’s details. Let’s head back to the station.”

Lyla doesn’t say anything and gets in the car.

Once we’re on the road she asks, “Do you think she was listening in on us when we were standing in the parking lot earlier? It’s why you only focused on Samuel, right?”

“I’m pretty damn sure she’s our serial killer. There’s no evidence linking her to the murders, and yet I have no damn doubt.”

Lyla glances out the side window. “I guess we’ll have to find some way to make the link so we can arrest her.”

Hitting the steering wheel I grumble, “I should have mentioned the last body we found. How the killer fucked up.”

Her head turns in my direction. “It wouldn’t have done any good. Della had a straight face during our conversation, and if she is the killer? She’s been doing this for a long damn time. You were right to get us out of there. We have to put someone on her and then start digging through everything.”

I take out my phone and hand it to Lyla. “Send Archer a message. Tell him our main suspect is Della, and we need eyes on her at all times.”

“Okie dokie.” Lyla taps the screen while I keep driving.

We should return to the other hotel room, but I don’t take the exit and keep going.

I can feel Lyla’s eyes on me when she asks, “Should I let Archer know we’re heading his way?”

Thankfully, she doesn’t jump to the conclusion that I’m driving home to make sure she’s safe. Ultimately, it’s the first damn thing on my mind. On the other hand, this is a fucking serial killer. One who’s been killing for who knows how many years.

The way she sat across from us, completely self-assured? No. I can’t handle it myself with only my old lady as backup. We need to be smart and handle this correctly, with the whole brotherhood.

“Yes.” A curse tumbles over my lips. “Maybe we should have watched her from a distance. Wait until the brothers Archer sent got here.”

Lyla places her hand on my thigh, and I can feel her warmth seeping through the fabric of my jeans. “What if she saw us? You know very well we didn’t have a choice. We needed to leave, and you instantly reached out to Archer. She will be brought to justice, and soon.”

I cover her hand with mine and she turns hers to lace our fingers. “We have to find out where Samuel is.”

“And we will,” Lyla states with determination. “In fact, I’m going to call him right now and see if it goes straight to voicemail. Della could be speaking the truth.”

“Or she might have killed him, and if he’s not dead yet? He might be soon,” I grumble.

Lyla balances my phone on her lap. She’s pulled up the email with information about Samuel and taps in the phone number using her phone.

After a few long minutes she releases a huff of frustration. “You might be right.”