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“Anything else? Can you think of anyone who would do this? Who would be interested in you like this? Maybe an ex-boyfriend or a client who wanted more, and you turned them down?”

I shake my head even before he finishes talking.

“No, no one comes to mind. Without sounding pathetic, I’m actually a really boring person.

I haven’t dated a guy in years, and the last guy I slept with was when I was out of town about eight months ago when I was at a metal convention.

I work downstairs, work out upstairs, and sleep.

Most of my clients are from online orders; I only do face-to-face at trade shows or with the neighbors who come in.

But they’re all regulars since I started three years ago.

Nothing in the pictures looks older than a year ago.

If it’s someone I know, I think they would have had older pictures. ”

“What makes you say less than a year?” Ryan asks as he steps up to the table and looks at the pictures without touching them.

“I had a walking boot almost all of last year because I brook my toes twice with dropping the metal on my foot, and none of these show that.”

He nods but doesn’t look away from the pictures, as if he’s searching for clues that might pop out at him that I missed somehow.

Or that Domino did. And I already figured out that he and his club looked into all of this.

I bet they analyzed every picture while I was in the bathroom.

If they didn’t find anything, then neither will Ryan, but I keep that to myself.

Because there could be a chance that Domino and his boys found something, but they’re holding it back.

And I’ll let them, at least till the cop leaves and I demand answers.

“I’m not the fussy type either. I don’t get people asking to date me or flirt with me.

I keep things simple. I like it that way.

I have a family, and while we aren’t close, we aren’t estranged.

I’ve got less than a handful of friends, and I pay my way for everything.

I don’t go outside my bubble, not because I’m afraid, but because I don’t need to.

I’m basic. Beyond the occasional night activity Mack sets up, I’m a solitary type of person. ”

“Anything from that side that could be linked to this?” Ryan finally looks at his brother, who shakes his head.

“Don’t know. But I’ll find out.”

Ryan snorts. “Yeah, and try to take care of it yourself, right?” Mack opens his mouth, but Ryan is already pulling on gloves and getting a few evidence bags out.

“Save it. I don’t want to know.” He turns to Domino before he talks again.

“If you want to file an official report about these, then we need to call in a team to do a proper evidence retrieval.” Domino is already shaking his head before he finishes speaking, and Ryan nods.

“Based on what Pauly said when he called me over here, you aren’t looking for the official stuff on everything.

I’ve got no issue with running these in the system, but all I ask is that if it escalates, you loop in the PD.

I don’t know what happened in Kansas, but not all of us are douchebags.

Can’t say the same for everyone in this room. ”

He cuts his eyes to his brother, and I see the rage just below Mack’s surface. To everyone else, it might just seem like disinterest, but the tic at the side of his jaw and the small vein pulsing right below his hairline are his tells. When one is showing, it’s bad. Both? Catastrophic.

“Take the pictures and leave.” The venom in Mack’s voice would make a grown man pee his pants.

But this group isn’t normal. Not a single one of them flinches, unlike me and Summer.

We know when a bigger animal is in the room.

Then again, we’re surrounded by alpha predators.

Summer and I aren’t little bunnies, but if we had to fight one of these men, I’m not sure what the outcome would be.

Usually I know who’ll win. I’ve fought enough people to know my chances of winning and losing based on a few looks.

And most of the time, I come out the victor.

Others, it’s a toss-up depending on who brings what to the fight.

I can usually outmatch anyone if I’ve got my A game.

And I think I might give a few of these guys a run for their money, but not all.

And Mack and Domino are the true unknowns.

Mack trains us. I’ve never seen him fight, but if he can build me and Summer into what we are, you know he can handle himself enough to be a challenge.

And I’ve got a feeling he hasn’t even taught us his best stuff yet.

Domino also has this calm personality about him, but I saw him react.

He’s quick. I bet he gets overlooked because of the clean-shaven look on a president, but he has to know how to hold his ownif he got the top patch. They don’t give those to just anyone.

Ryan, to his credit, takes his time. His sweet time actually, and with every sigh he pulls from Mack because of how long it takes him to collect a few pictures, my smile grows. Kid’s got balls.

By the end, Summer and I are giggling like little girls.

It’s the tension break that’s needed, and I even catch Domino and some of his Hounds smirking.

The only one not having fun is Mack, but that’s his own fault.

He’s choosing to be pissy when he could see the fun in this.

But then again, ever since Winter died, he stopped smiling.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen him even hint at anything resembling glee for the past eight years.

Once Ryan is done, he puts his stuff away and turns to Domino, holding out a hand once more to shake. “I’ll let you know when we get a hit off this, but if I know anything about the club—and that’s not much, so don’t think Pauly’s snitching—I’m pretty sure you’ll know before we will.”

Domino nods. “’Preciate it man. And if you’re looking for a career change, come see me.”

Ryan lets out a surprised laugh. “Seriously?” Domino nods, and Ryan smiles wide but shakes his head. “I’m good, but thanks.”

“Either way, kid, stop by the clubhouse on a night off.” Rooster gives him a chin lift as he opens the door for him.

Guess the entire club’s good with him and don’t mind that he’s a cop. But what do I know? Maybe this is some code speak for getting a cop on the payroll. But if Ryan is anything like his brother, he’s headstrong and isn’t one to falter to another’s beliefs easily, or at all.

As soon as Ryan leaves, Mack visibly relaxes. I give him an eyebrow raise, and he just shakes his head. Now ain’t the time to dive into his issues.

Man, who knew we all had so many tonight?

Talk about a lack of talking among friends.

We’re close, Summer, Mack, and me, but we’re also independent enough not to need to lean on any of the others.

We’re close because we choose to be, not because we have a trauma holding us together.

I mean, we have that, too, but there are other things that bind us.

Like our desire to protect the others, even if they don’t ask or want it.

“You have your cameras on?” Mack goes into overprotective-brother mode, and I roll my eyes.

“Yes, Dad. But I already checked them before I called Summer. No one is on the cameras.”

Lucky perches on the back of my couch before asking, “They knew enough to go around your system?”

I shake my head. “No, they turned it off.”

“Off?” Domino raises both eyebrows. He’s not the only one thrown by my words.

“Yeah. Must have hacked me.” Is it frustrating? Yes. Does it make this situation a bit trickier? Again, yes. Should it be cause for a total freak-out? In my opinion, no. But I’m a party of one at that.

Everyone flips out and starts talking to everyone else at once.

I just watch. If that’s what they need to do, then they should do it.

I’m all for everyone getting to do what they want, but only up to the point when someone tries to tell me what to do.

They can make a suggestion, and I can choose to accept that or not.

But the minute someone tries to take over my mind and actions, that’s when I’ll flip out, and no one wants that.

Especially not Lucky.