Page 37 of Rattler’s Revelation (Demon Dawgs MC: Las Vegas #6)
“I guess I should be grateful the fight didn’t turn into a bloodbath, but instead I feel disappointed,” Shield says as he sits. “I wanted to see some action. It feels like forever since we had a good gun fight.”
Shield tips his beer bottle at me. “Exactly.”
We’d just spent the last two hours gearing up for a fight against a cartel looking to kill our President’s mother, Angela Westbrook.
Angela is a wealthy and powerful woman. She owns several businesses in the United States, but most of those are just a front for her true power.
She is also the head of the largest cartel in Mexico.
It isn’t just one cartel, but more a conglomerate of cartels with her at the very top.
She’s brilliant and has a strategic mind, which is why, when her past reared up to take her head, she devised a way to crush her opponent without getting her hands dirty.
She also sent a powerful message to anyone else looking to take her on.
“You have to admit getting Border Patrol agents to take down Carlos’s army was a smart move,” I say. “Her enemies know she has an army of men at her beck and call. Now they know she also has the U.S. Government ready to do her bidding,” I say.
Shield chuckles as Smoke joins us.
“What are you guys talking about?” he asks as he hands us each fresh beers.
“The boring battle,” Shield says.
“At least now we can get back to normal,” I add.
“Maybe. We don’t know for certain that Border Patrol caught Carlos. We have to wait until BP releases the names. In the meantime, I’m still monitoring the hotel.”
“What about my work sites?” I ask him. “Were you able to add more cameras to each site?”
“I had to order more cameras. I’ve installed cameras on all the compromised sites.”
“What’s going on?” Shield asks.
“We’ve had trouble at several of our sites.
Someone has been stealing equipment and resources.
” My primary job is running the club’s construction business.
Not only am I responsible for overseeing club projects, but I also bring in income by completing projects for external clients.
We have projects all over the city, and I’m responsible for them all.
Over the last few weeks, I’ve had site managers reporting missing equipment and materials.
“Someone is stealing from us? How is that possible? Do they have a death wish?” Shield asks.
As a police detective with the SDPD, he knows construction sites are often targets for petty thieves and vandals.
However, most thieves are smart enough to avoid hitting our sites.
No one wants us to track them down and make them pay for messing with us.
“I don’t know. There are at least three of them. We caught them on security footage, but they’re wearing hoodies, and they’re quick. In and out.”
“Need help?” Shield asks. “I can send patrols around the sites.”
“Not yet. I want to catch them. So far, they’ve taken items that are easy to replace. They haven’t yet impacted our timelines. I considered buying sheds and locking everything up inside, but I’d rather catch the bastards and teach them a lesson about messing with us.”
“Let me know if you need any help,” Shield says, slapping me on the back.
We drink in silence until a news story flashes on the television.
“Laser, turn it up,” Shield shouts.
On screen is a reporter standing outside with the banner San Diego State University displayed under their name.
“The body of Cory Mitchell was found tonight on campus. Cory Mitchell made national news one year ago when he was tried for the alleged rape of Krista Altwood. Though he was acquitted, the case drew widespread criticism when Ms. Altwood committed suicide within hours of the verdict. Numerous activist groups have protested what they call a failure of the judicial system. Mr. Mitchell was in his final year at San Diego State. The cause of death has not yet been released.”
“I bet she got another one,” Shield comments.
“She?” Smoke asks.
Shield shrugs. “Poison is usually a woman’s weapon.”
“Wait, you think this guy was poisoned?” I ask.
“I don’t know for certain, but he fits the profile of her victims.”
“Wait, so you’re saying there have been more murders?”
“This will be the third, if I’m right about the cause of death.
They aren’t my cases, but I’ve spoken with the detectives who caught the cases.
In the other two cases, the attacker tasered the men before feeding them poison.
In both cases the victims were complete assholes, so I’m not unhappy that they aren’t mine. ”
“How long has this been going on?” Smoke asks. “I haven’t heard anything about it.”
“It’s only been a few days. Whoever is targeting these guys hits fast. This guy will be the third in three days.
The first person, Robert Harden, was found two nights ago outside his workplace.
Harden had several complaints filed against him by female coworkers for harassment.
He had another woman file rape charges against him the day he died.
The second guy, Pete Barton, was found last night in his home.
His wife filed abuse charges against him after she left with the kids. ”
“Could the women have taken their revenge?” I ask.
Shield shrugs. “I don’t think so. The detectives working the cases found both women had solid alibis.
Harden’s victim was home with her sister, and the security on the apartment showed she didn’t leave.
Barton’s wife is staying at Crossroads. Caitlin turned over the footage proving she was in the compound during the attack. ”
“ Now this guy who raped a student and got away with it,” I say. “You’re thinking you have a vigilante out there?”
“Yep. The poison is a cholinergic toxin. They think whoever is killing these assholes is using some sort of pesticide. I kind of hope they don’t figure out who’s doing it.”
“You’re rooting for the killer?” I ask.
“I am. I wouldn’t mind getting my hands on the list she’s using and helping her out. These fuckers should all be in jail, but dead is good, too. My only concern is that the victims have ties to us.”
“How?” I ask, alarmed. “You mean Crossroads?”
“Yeah, that and Harden’s victim, Georgie Wells, is Athena’s patient and friends with Tanya and some of the other Old Ladies. The connection isn’t strong, but it’s there.”
“Fuck. That’s not good. Do you think the cops will blame us? Or the women?”
Shield shrugs. “I haven’t heard anything that concerns me too much.
Barton’s wife and kids were safe at Crossroads.
Not only do they have alibis, but Caitlin does as well.
Not that the detective on the case has said he’s looking at her.
As for Georgie, Athena’s connection with us was weak until she hooked up with Ranch.
I don’t think the detective on Harden’s case suspects Georgie.
In both cases, our connection is peripheral, so I’m not too worried.
I just don’t like it. We need to be aware, that’s all. I’ll bring it up at our next Church.”
A commotion draws our attention to the clubhouse doors. Ranch enters with a traumatized Athena pulled tightly to his side. Within seconds, the Old Ladies surround Athena and pull her into their protective fold. Shield, Smoke, and I head toward Ranch and hear the tail-end of his story.
“Wait, Carlos tried to kill you? I thought Border Patrol arrested him at Angela’s?” I ask.
“He escaped somehow. He came to kill Athena and me. At least that’s what Athena overheard him tell Max.”
“Wait, Max, your ranch manager was working with him?”
“He was. I first suspected he might be when Carlos managed to hide in the SUV and attack Athena. I planned on watching him to see what he did, but that was before Carlos showed up. Athena overheard Carlos and Max talking. Ghost and Reaper caught him trying to leave.”
“Babe and Chaos are taking him to El Bodego; we’ll deal with him tomorrow,” Dante says.
“What happened to Carlos?”
“Athena killed him. She was in the kitchen and overheard his plan to kill both of us while we slept. She grabbed a knife and attacked him when he entered. She’s pretty upset, but damn if she wasn’t impressive.”
“Hold on, baby, wait, tell me that again,” Babe says as he enters the clubhouse and joins us at the bar. He’s on the phone and appears agitated. He places a hand on Ranch’s arm. “Who is it? You’re certain? Okay, we’ll meet you at the hospital.” Babe ends the call, his attention on Athena.
“What’s wrong?” Ranch asks.
“Min was leaving the dojo, and she found a body,” Babe says, his focus on Athena.
“Who?” Athena croaks out.
“Raven.”