Page 40 of Warrant (The Berserker’s Rage MC: Wyoming Chapter #1)

Ainsley

I held Warrant’s hand as we walked into Sentry Securities. Looking around, I was surprised at how clean it was. With a bunch of rowdy bikers living here, I figured it would be a mess. From what Warrant had told me, this was also their club house.

Getting to walk in here was like going into the inner sanctum. I followed Warrant’s lead and paused when he stopped outside a door.

“Wait here a minute.”

Nodding, I stood, trying not to let my curiosity get the better of me. It was hard not to eavesdrop though.

“Go on in,” Warrant said, coming out of the office.

“You’re not coming?” I asked, confused.

“Nope. This is between you two. He’ll fill the rest of us in later.” He put his hand on my back and all but shoved me in the room.

Straightening my spine, I walked over, holding the folder with all my evidence in it, and sat across from Cypher. He was like a king in his castle. And why not? This was his business. His club. His men. He’d built all of this. “Thanks for seeing me.”

“Warrant said you had something on the Iron Circle Crew,” he said, folding his arms over his massive chest.

I leaned forward and put the folder in front of him.

“Got a call from a detective in Cheyenne. He was just giving me a head’s up that Mike Linstrom was going to be back in town for a few days—staying in our cells.

You remember him right?” His angry nod was enough confirmation.

“He’d found a family connection here in Sentinel that he wasn’t sure I knew about. I didn’t.”

“Fucking Christina,” Cypher muttered, flipping through the photos and my notes. He’d stopped on the information I’d printed out on her from our database. “Well, she’s unlikely to be a problem anymore. Though we’re going to have to deal with this brother.”

I waited, staying quiet, as he read through everything.

Eventually he looked up and met my gaze. “Why did you bring this to me?” He arched a brow.

“I resigned from my position earlier today.” Now both his eyebrows had shot up.

“While I was interrogating Linstrom, I knew I was going to hand all this information over to you. That I wanted you and the others to handle this in your way. My way—the courts—weren’t going to get the justice Brandon Rice, Jared, and Aella deserve.

We’ll never get the evidence to tie Mark to the kidnappings.

We won’t be able to keep Jared and Aella safe if Mark decides to take revenge.

I don’t want anything to happen to them. ”

“And that was enough to quit your job?” he asked.

He knew that wasn’t it. I could see it there in his eyes. “I also did it so that Warrant and I could be together.”

“Good for you.” He leaned back in his chair, watching me closely. I was used to intense men. You ran across a lot of them in my line of work. Well, former work. He didn’t intimidate me. “So…now that you’re no longer the sheriff, what would you say about working for me.”

I only just managed to keep my jaw off the floor. “For you?” He nodded. “Doing what?”

“Investigating, mostly. And I’d likely make you the face of Sentry Securities. Executive Vice President. Let you rub elbows with the townspeople versus my guys. They’re good men but some of the citizens here are uneasy around them.”

“They’re a bit rough around the edges,” I said in agreement.

“What do you say?”

“Why? Why do you want me to work for you?” I countered.

He shrugged his shoulders. Harlow was right. He was a gorgeous man. Not that he had anything on Warrant. At least not in my opinion. “I tend to collect people with certain skills.”

“Skills?”

“The kind that can help me. Our future is going to be focused more stateside and less overseas. We’ll need your skillset, your ability to talk to civilians, network.

You understand this side of the world, they don’t.

If I’m being totally honest, I barely do.

The rules on this side are different. And we’re used to being able to do whatever the fuck we want.

What do you say?” He grinned at me as he held out his hand.

I eyed his wide palm and long fingers. Feeling like I was making a deal with the devil, I reached out and shook his hand. “I’m going to need to see the offer before I agree completely,” I warned him.

He chuckled. “I’ll get it typed up today. Glad to have you on board, Sheriff.”

“I’m not the sheriff anymore,” I reminded him.

He arched that brow with a smug grin. “Doesn’t matter. That’s the nickname Warrant’s given you.”

“Nickname?”

“It’s customary to give our old ladies nicknames.”

I stood up. “How did you know I’d agreed to be his old lady?”

“Because he claimed you a while ago. Just needed the time to talk you into it.”

Shaking my head, I left his office and found Warrant sitting outside in the main area of the club house, near a pool table. “Did you know he was going to offer me a job?” I asked, sitting down next to him.

“Figured he would. He knows quality when he sees it.” Warrant handed me a cold beer bottle.

Taking a drink from it, I thought about how much my life had changed in such a short time.

Something told me this wasn’t the end either.

Life was never going to be dull with Warrant and his brothers around.

But now I wasn’t worried about having to corral them.

I didn’t have to be in charge of keeping them under control and that was freeing.

Now I could just enjoy being around them. I lifted my leg and draped it over his lap. I couldn’t wait to get started getting to know him on a level that I’d been dreaming of for a while. There wasn’t anything standing in our way anymore.

They all started showing up, a couple at a time, and sat around laughing and joking with each other. Torque and Cynic were telling us about riding back to Texas with the others. Jury was behind the bar, pouring drinks for everyone.

Cypher and Scythe came out of their offices to join us. As soon as everyone had drinks Warrant stood up.

“Just wanted to let you all know,” he said, voice raised over the rambunctious laughter. Everyone quieted down. “Ainsley is now my old lady.”

There were whoops and hollers as they all raised their glasses. I couldn’t help but laugh at their exuberance. Then came the insults. It was pretty much the same as the men I worked with before. They showed their love by insulting each other.

“About fucking time,” Demo told him, slapping Warrant on the back so hard I thought he might go through the nearby wall.

“Sheriff,” Rotor called out, “if you want a real man, I’d be willing to take over for him.” He winked my way.

“Get your own fucking woman,” Warrant said, pulling me out of my seat and tucking me under his arm. “This one’s mine.”

The insults and alcohol continued on and on and I knew I was going to enjoy working around these men.

“I also have an announcement,” Cypher said. He stayed sitting in his chair, but everyone shut up almost immediately. “Ainsley will be coming to work for us at Sentry Securities.”

“Oh thank fuck,” Glitch said. “Someone else to do some of the investigative work.”

“Exactly,” Cypher told him.

Warrant had already explained that Cypher would make it worth my while to agree to work with him, so I wasn’t too worried about not having the contract from him yet.

Working for him meant I’d get to spend more time with Warrant and I would still get to use the skills I’d learned from law enforcement.

I hadn’t been sure what was going to be next for me, but this was perfect. I still got to help others, but I was no longer bogged down with rules and policies. I didn’t need warrants or to worry about the chain of custody for evidence.

There wouldn’t be court dates, or irritation when one small mistake on my team’s part meant that a criminal would get off on a technicality.

I was sure I’d learn more about the blood thirsty way of the men surrounding me, but that was bothering me less and less.

It was almost like my whole life was leading up to this point.

I didn’t really believe in fate, but maybe that was a mistake. Because getting the sheriff position here in Sentinel, meeting Warrant, and this fundamental change in me that’s allowed me to feel so free, seemed to be written just for me.

Mom was right. It would have been a mistake to walk away from this.

From Warrant. I wrapped my arm around his waist, enjoying his heavy arm over my shoulders.

He made me feel safe. Which was weird, because I knew I could handle myself in almost any situation, but it was still really nice to know he had my back. That if I needed him, he’d be there.

I never really thought I’d ever find someone I could trust like that.

That I would let my guard down so easily.

But there was a sense of security and trust in Warrant like no other that meant I could lower my walls.

I had a feeling that was only going to get worse—or better depending on how you looked at it—over time.

Smiling, I listened as everyone went back to insulting Warrant and drinking.

This kind of camaraderie was only built after years of working together and building trust. Eventually, I’d prove to them that they could trust in me as well.

Already they were giving me the respect due as Warrant’s old lady, but I wanted more.

I wanted their friendship as well. With Cypher’s offer of a job, that would come and I was looking forward to being a part of a new team.

Being a part of their group was going to help me get over the decision to leave my career behind. I somehow knew this was where I belonged.