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TWENTY

AUDREY

“This guy better be legit or I’m going to kill him.” Becca sits next to me in the back seat, arms crossed over her chest, scowling like she’s capable of the murder she’s threatening.

I get it now that I have someone I’d kill for.

Have killed for.

“You’ll have to get in line.” Maddox is tense, his whole body strung tight as we drive through downtown Memphis. “But if it makes you feel better, I’ll let you kick him when I’m done.”

Becca’s lips press into a considering line. “I’ll think about it.”

“Pierce believes him.” I’m still clinging to hope.

Leaning into optimism. “And Intel didn’t find anything sketchy when they looked into his background.

” Even if I didn’t believe Pierce, I’d believe Heidi, Harlow, and Mona.

They seemed genuinely upset by what’s going on.

If they saw anything during their investigation that caused concern, we wouldn’t be driving to meet Officer Romero at a hole in the wall Chinese restaurant on the other side of town.

We’d be hunting him down so Intel could ruin his life.

Becca gives me the side-eye from behind her glasses before turning to stare out the window. “I guess we’ll find out if they’re as good at what they do as they say they are.”

I understand her skepticism. I’d probably feel the same way if I didn’t have so much faith in Maddox.

Or if it was someone I cared about’s life on the line instead of mine.

“If he’s full of shit, I’ll take care of it.” Owen turns in his seat, eyes fixing on the woman beside me. “Nothing bad’s going to happen today.”

Becca looks unimpressed by Owen’s attempt to reassure her. “You mean nothing bad’s going to happen to me.” She stares him down. “Because I’m pretty sure my sister’s day is still going to be total shit.”

“Not for long.” Luca pipes up. “We will get her and we’ll get her soon.” His eyes find Becca in the mirror. “I promise.”

Becca’s eyes come my way. “Why are they being so fucking weird?”

I’m surprised by her question. It’s pretty obvious what Luca and Owen are up to—ill timed as it is—but Becca must be so wrapped up in her sister’s abduction that she’s oblivious to their attempts to catch her attention.

Romantically.

Instead of explaining—it might push her over the edge and result in blood on the upholstery—I change the subject. “It’s probably a good thing you haven’t heard of Officer Romero. It means he probably wasn’t involved in the screw up with your sister’s case.”

“I guess.” Becca leans to peer between the seats. “Are we almost there? I need to pee.”

“Five minutes.” Luca gives her our ETA, his eyes once again lingering in the mirror.

At first I thought he was just watching for a tail, but now I think he’s watching for a tail and observing Becca.

It’s bad freaking timing, and I might yell at him and Owen both when we get back to the hotel.

I get that they’re lonely, but this woman’s going through a lot.

She doesn’t need two mercenaries trying to make her fall in love.

When we pull into the lot, Becca’s out of the car before anyone else, and it leaves Luca and Owen scrambling to make sure she’s protected as she hustles to the door of the restaurant.

“I guess she really did have to pee.” I shimmy across the seat after Maddox gets out, letting him take my hand and help me out. “Or maybe she’s going to throw up. This meeting probably has her stomach twisted in knots.”

“What about you?” Maddox’s eyes skim over me before he goes back to scanning our surroundings. “How are you feeling?”

“I don’t know.” I purse my lips as I mull it over. “Cautiously optimistic, I guess. I hope this guy is what we’ve been looking for and soon this will all be over.”

Maddox’s lips curve downward. “I’m not sure this will be over as soon as we were hoping.” He pulls me close before opening the glass door positioned under a bright red awning. “But no matter what, it will all be dealt with.”

“I guess that’s all I can ask for.”

I want Trevor to be publicly taken down. I want the world to know what he is. But the reality is, that might not happen, and I’m trying to make peace with it. As long as we get Becca’s sister back and stop what Trevor’s doing, I’ll be happy.

I take a deep breath as we step inside the restaurant, which is way bigger than it appears from the outside.

The scent of garlic, soy, and ginger makes my stomach growl and I press a hand against it to smother the sound.

I thought it was strange that Officer Romero picked this spot, but I’m starting to understand the appeal.

It’s clean and well decorated, with gleaming black booths, and glowing lanterns hanging over every table.

There’s two giant aquariums flanking the entrance, with large, almost iridescent fish languidly swimming inside.

It’s dim and surprisingly quiet, making the place feel cozy and private.

And that’s before we’re led to our table.

The two main corners of the dining room are partially walled off around large, circular tables with spinning centers.

As we reach the reserved spot, a man stands to greet us.

He’s tall and broad, with dark—almost black—hair and eyes.

A cropped beard is tucked tight to the square lines of his jaw and tattoos cover most of one arm.

There’s no denying he’s extremely good-looking.

There’s also no denying I’ve met him before.

“I know you.” I blink, like it might change what I’m seeing. “I met you at Christian and Lydia’s.” My brain fishes around for his name, but there were so many people there I’m struggling to sort through them all.

His dark eyes narrow on me for a second. “How do you know Christian and Lydia?”

“Butch.” I blurt out the name. “You’re Butch.” Tipping my head, I look him over. “Aren’t you?”

I’m starting to doubt myself, because from what I know about Christian and the men he calls his brothers, they may have done some sketchy shit in their lives. I can’t imagine a cop would be hanging out with them.

Unless he’s just as crooked as everyone else at the Memphis PD.

I start to back up. “I think this is a bad idea.”

“How do you know Christian and Lydia?” Maddox steps in front of me, blocking my view of the man I was sure I recognized. One hand snakes back to curve against my hip, keeping me in place, as he throws the same question back at Officer Romero.

The man I think I know sighs, raking a hand through the waves of his dark hair.

“Christian was part of my first undercover case. At the time I was the only guy on the force who looked young enough to infiltrate the group he was part of. I spent a solid five years trying to take down an old man running a criminal enterprise built on the backs of foster kids and cast outs.” His jaw tightens.

“But nothing ever seemed to stick to him. I managed to get him sent to prison once, but the bastard got out on a technicality. He was killed before I could come up with enough to send him back.”

I step out from behind Maddox. He allows it, but keeps a hand on me. “Does Christian know you’re a cop?”

Butch shakes his head. “No. Once the old man—King, they called him—died, I was reassigned.” Regret pinches his features.

“Then about a year ago, they tried sending me back in. But this time they wanted me to collect information on the men King used. Men who’d helped me try to take him down.

Men who now had wives and families and were doing good fucking things for this world. ”

My stomach drops, all traces of my earlier hunger vanishing in an instant. “You mean Christian.”

Butch tips his head. “Among others.”

I think back to the group that welcomed me into their fold after I left Trevor. They were so kind and giving. A big family, not by birth or genetics, but by choice. It gave me hope that one day I might find something like it.

And the Memphis PD wanted to tear it all apart.

I frown. “But why?”

“That’s a good fucking ques—” Butch stops short.

“What the fuck?” Becca’s voice is loud behind me.

I turn to find her staring at Butch, her mouth dropped open. “What in the hell are you doing here?” Her eyes snap around, bouncing from me to Maddox to Butch. “Holy shit.” Her eyes widen. “ You’re who we’re meeting?”

Butch seems just as shocked to see Becca as she is to see him. “I…” His brain seems to short out for a second. “How are you involved in this?”

“My sister was abducted by her ex-husband, Trevor Hawthorne.” She moves closer to where Butch stands, her dark eyes moving over him. She points to the full sleeve of tattoos covering his arm. “That’s new.”

Butch glances down. “I had to cover up the tattoo I got when I joined The Knights.” His focus comes back to Becca. “You look good.”

Becca’s brows pinch together. “You look… Different.”

“It’s been a few years.” One hand moves to smooth along the hair at the side of his head. “I’ve probably got a few more gray hairs.”

Becca shakes her head. “No. That’s not it.” She peers up at him, like she’s examining something under a microscope. “You look tired.”

It’s not the most polite thing to say, but she’s not wrong.

Butch does look a little rough now that I’m really paying attention.

The creases at the corners of his eyes seem a little deeper.

The beard on his face was neatly cropped the last time I saw him, but now it’s a little unruly, just like his hair.

A slow smile spreads across Butch’s face.

“Your powers of observation continue to be unparalleled.” His smile slips, and he pulls out a chair, motioning for Becca to sit.

She slips into the seat and he takes the chair directly beside her, still entirely focused on Becca.

“How are you doing?” he asks, deep voice gentle.

“Not great.” Becca crosses her arms over her chest. “You’d know that if you hadn’t disappeared on me.”