Page 39 of Claimed

When Tek leaves, I find the number in my contacts and hit dial.

“Well, if it isn’t the Grim Reaper,” the voice comes from the other end. “Not a good sign when you come calling.”

“You got that right, motherfucker.”

“Choose your words carefully, Hunter.”

“You want words? I’ll give you two. Dutch. Wife.”

He goes silent for a beat then asks, “What about it?”

“You tell me, Ace. Tell me how days after a confrontation with your boys, my girl gets raped. Tell me how you’re one of the few people who have access to the drug that was used in that rape.”

“Fuck.”

“That’s all you got?”

“Look, we were given a sample. When I saw what it did, I told The Pharmacist I was out. I didn’t want to be a part of that. I flushed the rest of what we had and that was that.”

“Where are your boys?”

“I swear, Hunter. This wasn’t us. Those two guys, I sent them to Cali the day after the show. They’ve been there ever since, handling some business for me.”

“Do you really expect me to believe that?” I shout, jumping out of my chair. “This is not a coincidence, Ace. I want those men.”

“I get it, okay? If it was my old lady, I’d be on the warpath, too. But I’m not gonna hand over two of my guys to you. Even if they were guilty, it would bemyproblem.”

“You think they’re innocent? You willing to bet your old lady’s life on that?”

“Leave Dana out of this,” he growls.

“Theydruggedher, tied her up, andrapedher. If it was Dana, what would you do?”

“I’d kill the motherfucker. But it wasn’t my guys and I can prove it.”

“How?”

“Why don’t I come down there?” he says. “Show you I have nothing to hide. I’ll even help you out with the search. I heard about Briggs’ lab. I’m pretty sure that was you.”

“I don’t need your help. I want those men. Don’t make me find them on my own or it won’t be pretty.”

“I’m not looking for a war, Hunter, but if you want to start one, I’ll be ready. Let’s try to work this out. I’ll come down with just a few of my guys. We’ll meet and see where we go from there.”

“One chance.” I take a deep breath. “One meeting. I’m not satisfied, you hand them over.”

“It won’t come to that. You’ll see this wasn’t us.”

“For your sake, I hope you’re right.”

I hang up and pitch the phone to the other side of the room. It crashes into the wall and pieces of it go flying in different directions. “Fuck!” I need to hit something. Or someone. It had to be them. Ithadto be. They had motive, means, and opportunity. People have gone to prison on less information. But what if Ace is right? What if it wasn’t them and I go on a rampage? A lot of people could get hurt. Raven, my family, my brothers...I need to be smart. I’ll hear what he has to say. In the meantime, I start planning.

I head back to the bar, but Raven isn’t there. I’m not in a socializing mood, so I make my way to my room. I have a date with my punching bag. I find her there, in bed with her sketch pad.

“Are you okay?” she asks, looking up from her drawing.

“I’m fine. Why?”

“I heard a crashing sound coming from your office.”