Page 4 of Rattler’s Revelation (Demon Dawgs MC: Las Vegas #6)

Rattler’s laughter at my suggestion that his clubhouse resembles what I’ve seen depicted on shows like Sons of Anarchy should have me scowling, but all I can do is gape.

The laughter not only transforms his handsome face to something otherworldly, but the sound warms my body and soul.

I want him to keep laughing and smiling at me.

Unfortunately, he must mistake my silence for anger, because he stops laughing and holds up his hands.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have laughed,” Rattler says.

“I like your laugh,” I admit. “You should laugh more often.”

Rattler grins at me as the elevator doors open. He takes my hand and leads me into the hall. I pause when I realize my door is ajar.

“My door’s open.”

“What?” Rattler asks, reaching behind his back before coming back with a gun. He brushes his hand down my arm. “Get out your phone and pull up Randy’s number. Don’t call unless I tell you to.”

Before I can protest, he shoves open my door and flips on the light.

Luckily, he’s gone for only a few minutes.

Not so long that the panic and fear can overwhelm me.

Seeing him as he exits my apartment immediately calms me.

He looks worried, but in control. The look he sends me is one I don’t understand.

“No one is inside. I checked. Can you come inside and see if anything has been disturbed? Most of your stuff is in boxes. Are you moving?”

His words confuse me. Boxes? What boxes?

“What do you mean my stuff is in boxes?” I ask as I move past him and into my apartment.

I stop and stare at the chaos around me.

Four boxes sit beside the door; they’re taped shut.

Two boxes sit half-filled on the coffee table.

Another partially filled box sits on the kitchen counter.

I numbly walk into my bedroom to find more boxes on my bed.

Somebody tossed clothes and other items haphazardly inside.

“I don’t understand,” I say, looking into the boxes and glancing around my bedroom. “I didn’t do this. Who did? Why was someone packing up my stuff?” I reach toward a box, but Rattler stops me.

“Wait, you weren’t moving?” Rattler asks.

I shake my head.

He takes out his phone and makes a call. I wander my apartment in confusion until Rattler pulls me in for a hug. The hug calms me. I feel safe in his arms. I press my face against his muscular chest. His muscular arms encircle me. For the first time in months, nothing bad can reach me.

I don’t know how long we stand there until a knock sounds at the door. Rattler turns us so we can both see who enters. It’s Rafe and Rattler’s sister, Viper. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that he’d call his sister for help. I was surprised by Rafe’s presence until he started questioning us.

“Your apartment didn’t look like this when you left for work?” Rafe asks me.

I shake my head. “No, I don’t know what’s going on.

I’m up-to-date on my rent. I don’t have a roommate.

Who would come inside my apartment and start packing?

Wouldn’t a thief take what they wanted and leave?

This seems pretty elaborate for a sneak thief.

They wouldn’t get much for my clothes. It isn’t like I own anything expensive. ”

Rafe and Rattler share a look that has me glancing at Viper. “Do you know what’s going on?”

She reaches over to squeeze my arm as another person knocks on the door. I turn to see the two officers from earlier. What’s happening? Before I can ask, Rafe barks out orders.

“Get the crime scene techs down here and have them gather evidence. I’m hoping they left fingerprints. We also need the security feed for the apartment and any neighboring businesses. Maybe we’ll get lucky and get an image.”

“An image of what?” I ask as one officer snags the radio and relays the request. The second officer, the one who gave me his phone number, comes to stand with us.

“Are you alright?” he asks me, leaning slightly to make eye contact with me.

I nod. “I’m just grateful I didn’t come home when they were here. This has been the worst night of my life. I mean, what are the odds of someone attempting to kidnap me while someone else breaks into my apartment on the same night?”

Randy and Rattler share a weighted gaze.

“What?” I ask, when I realize everyone in the room knows something I don’t.

“We believe the odds were pretty good because we think they were working in tandem,” Rattler explains.

I frown at him. “I don’t understand.”

“Remember what you told Brigit when you asked about the other girls who quit and no one ever saw them again?” Rattler asks.

I nod, a knot forming in my stomach. “I remember. Why?”

“Since you gave us their names, we’ve been following up on them,” Rafe explains.

“None of them has an employment record since they left the casino. They haven’t used their credit cards, and their bank accounts remain untouched.

I’m leading an investigation into their disappearances.

We’re checking their last known addresses.

We’ve checked on two so far. In both cases, the landlords confirmed that the girls moved out without leaving a forwarding address. ”

“Maybe they decided to leave Las Vegas and move somewhere else?” I suggest.

“When we checked for their current employment records, we didn’t focus only on Las Vegas. We did a national search and found no trace of them.”

“You think someone grabbed them? You think they were the same people who tried to kidnap me tonight? But, what does that have to do with whoever was here?” I consider my question and realize I already know the answer. “They were working together?”

Rafe nods. “That’s what we’re thinking. Granted, we have only checked on two of the names, but seeing this,” Rafe says, glancing around my apartment, “makes me wonder if this is part of the cover-up.”

“What do you mean?” I ask.

“Think about it. If your landlord came in here after not seeing you, they’d assume you left of your own accord.

They wouldn’t call anyone to report you missing; they’d simply clean the apartment and rent it out.

Plus, they’d be pretty happy with not having to give you back your security deposit.

Now, not all landlords are greedy; some might try to contact you, but really, how much effort would they put into finding you just to give you back a few hundred dollars?

Even if they called the cops, what would they say?

That you moved out without leaving a forwarding address?

That isn’t a crime. They wouldn’t have proof that there was foul play. ”

I open my mouth to respond, but quickly realize that I don’t have an answer. After all, hadn’t I thought the same when I couldn’t find the two women I tried to contact after they left the casino? “Emily Martin and Darcie Tomkin,” I murmur.

“Who?” Rafe asks.

“They were two women who worked at the casino. They both submitted their notices about a month ago. Neither showed up for their last day, and I recall their manager attempted to call them, but never heard back. He asked Billy and me if we’d heard from them.

Neither of us had. Billy offered to stop by their apartment and check on them since they lived together.

Billy said they had both packed up and left town.

At least that is what the landlord told him when he asked. I’d forgotten about that.”

“I’ll check the list and see if they’re on it,” Rafe says. “We’ll follow up on them. In the meantime, you two should clear out before the crime scene techs arrive. Do you have somewhere to stay?”

“She’ll be at the clubhouse,” Rattler says, glancing down at me. “Okay?”

I nod. “What about my clothes? Can I pack a bag?”

Rafe looks through the door to her bedroom and shakes his head. “It would be better if you didn’t touch anything. I’m sure they can find you something to wear until tomorrow. Then you can come back here and pack. Will that work?”

I frown, but shrug my agreement. It isn’t what I want, but I don’t think I have many options. Everything is out of my control, and I hate it.

“If you give me a list of things you need, I can bring them to the clubhouse after the crime scene team leaves,” Randy offers.

I feel Rattler tense at the offer, but I only feel relief.

“That would be great.” Randy takes out his phone and opens an app before handing it to me.

I type in a short list of items that I need for the night and the next morning.

Most are hair care products because my hair is a nightmare to tame without them.

“That’s all I need until I can come back here,” I say, giving him the list. There’s a suitcase in my closet that you can use.

I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it. ”

“I’m glad to be of help,” Randy says, squeezing my arm before he slaps Rattler on the back. When Randy’s back is to us, I hear Rattler let out a soft growl. I glance up to see him glaring at Randy. Shaking my head, I move away from Rattler. “I need to get out of here.”

My nerves increase the closer we get to the clubhouse. Images of rough bikers passing me around like a toy have me biting my thumbnail. I don’t realize my knee is bouncing until Rattler reaches over to still me.

“You're nervous. Why? What do you think is going to happen?”

I shake my head, unable to voice my fear. I consider lying, but before I can come up with a suitable one, we’re pulling into the parking lot of the clubhouse. With shaky hands, I reach for the door handle, stopping when Rattler squeezes my knee.

“I promise you that I won’t let anything bad happen to you.”

I take a deep breath to bolster my courage, then nod.

“Wait for me, I’ll come around and get you.

” He doesn’t wait for my response, but hops out and rushes around to open my door.

I take his offered hand and slide out of the SUV.

When my feet hit the ground, Rattler squeezes my hand and offers me a brilliant smile before pulling me toward the clubhouse. I reluctantly follow.

Rattler opens the door to the clubhouse, and the sound of raucous male laughter pours out, causing me to tremble. Before I can balk, Rattler pulls me inside. The room erupts as screams fill the air.