A Perfect Chance (17 page)

She threw me a shit-eating grin. "This bloody biker family of yours is a bad influence." She paused, both of us thanking the waitress when our food was placed in front of us. "And yes, I'll come by Saturday night. I need to make an effort to see if I can find the balance I need." She plucked a fry off her plate and bit into it. "I love the idiot after all."

"Ain't that the truth," I agreed, picking up my wrap and proceeding to shovel it into my mouth.

Once we'd finished up, I passed Jase a sandwich and a drink on the way out of the diner, telling Janie I'd catch up with her on Saturday. Jase said thanks just as he took a big bite. I sat in the passenger seat of Jase's car.

He quirked his brows at me, swallowing his mouthful of food. "Going somewhere?" he asked before taking a sip of his juice.

I shrugged. "You were going with me anyway, right?"

He nodded and started the car.

"You could have come in for food, you know."

His eyes remained on the road, always vigilant, occasionally scanning the passing streets and flicking to the rear-view mirror. "It's all good. I have better vision out on the street."

"When we get back in the office, you can come in though. I know you're here now, so lurking is no longer necessary."

He threw me an unimpressed glance. "I wasn't lurking."

"Ha! What would you call it then?" I sassed.

"Doing my job."

I sighed. Jase was a good guy. I didn't know that much about him other than he was ex-military. He was built and had a panty-melting smile. But I'd only seen it a couple of times. He was on the serious side, but Mace trusted him, and despite his sometimes grave aura, I actually felt really comfortable around him. "I know you were. Thank you." I threw him the olive branch and was surprised when I received a quick wink and a slight smile.

When we pulled up outside the building, Jase's growly voice startled me. "Stay in the car." I clamped my hand on to the door handle, wondering at the mood change. I didn't have time to question him before he jumped out, locked the doors behind him, and headed to the front door.

I released my seat belt and leaned closer to the window to peer out. When I saw him open the door without using a key, I grabbed my phone and called Mace.

"Hey, ba—"

"I think someone broke into the office."

"Where are you right now?"

"In Jase's car. He locked the doors and just went in. The door was unlocked. I swear to God, I locked it and set the alarm before I left."

I heard movement and the roar of his engine. "Just stay put, yeah, and call Diesel. He's closer than I am. Fuck. Just call him, okay. And do not get out of the car. You hear me, Lena?"

"Got it. Just be safe and don't break your damn neck speeding."

He snorted. "Love you." He hung up.

My adrenaline surged. I'd been anxious enough to call Mace, but his reaction, the steel and concern in his voice, caused my heart to pound heavily. I glanced at the door, still not seeing Jase, or anything for that matter. I had no idea how he'd even known something was wrong.
Ten, nine, eight
. I could do this. Mace was on his way. It was probably only a stupid break-in. I would not lose it.
Seven, six, five.
I hit Call on Diesel's name.

After three long rings that I was sure were in reality very short, he answered. I didn't give him time to speak. "I need you at the office." I attempted to keep my voice calm and neutral, but knew I'd rushed the words out. He hollered out to someone in the background, the sound of feet hitting the ground reaching my ears.

"I'll be there," he finally said, the sound of his engine starting the last thing I heard before the call ended.

As concerned as I was for Jase, there was no damn way I was getting out of the car. Was I chickenshit? Hell yes, plus Mace would have my arse. If something was going down, then there weren't any secret ninja moves that I knew. One thing I was not was a foolhardy woman who went flying into danger trying to save the day. Hell to the no!

I looked at my phone, debating whether to call the police, but Mace had said to call Diesel instead. Since Mace used to be one of the boys in blue, I trusted his judgement in this. I just needed to see Jase and wished he'd get his arse back out of the damn office so I could shout at him for taking so long and scaring the crap out of me.

I clung to my phone like a lifeline, my nose now pressed against the window. I gasped in relief when the door opened and Jase stepped out. His face, however, was grim. He opened the door and leaned in. "You call Mace yet?" I nodded. "Good."

"Diesel's on his way here too," I added. "What's going on?"

He looked at me, his eyes unwavering while he seemed to contemplate what to say. Finally, he spoke. "There's just a message for Mace."

"What sort of message?" I made to step out of the car, but his voice halted me.

"No, stay. I don't want you in there."

I glanced up at him, my brows drawn in confusion.

"Just stay here and wait for your brother, okay?"

Frustrated, I reluctantly agreed. There was clearly much more going on, or else I wouldn't be held hostage in his car. "What else is there?" I had no idea what he meant by a message.

He made to speak but paused when the thrum of bikes reached our ears. We looked to the road to spot Diesel, Cole, and Collins heading towards us. "Just stay put a minute." My mouth opened to speak, desperately wanting to challenge the order, but his "Please, Lena," had me grumbling and kept my arse planted in the seat.

Jase then closed the door and headed to Diesel, who signalled to Collins to stay put and Cole to go with him to the office. I risked opening the window, relieved it still worked despite the engine not being on. "Hey."

Collins moved to the car and leaned against it. He offered me a tight smile. "You okay?"

I nodded. "Did Jase say what was in there, what had happened?"

"No, just needed Diesel to see something." He pulled out a cigarette and lit it, inhaling deeply. He released the smoke as he spoke. "Where's Mace?"

"He was at a meeting about twenty minutes or so away."

"So he'll be here in five then, yeah?" He laughed.

I pushed out air from my lungs with a small laugh. "Probably."

"You sure you’re okay, Lena? You're pale."

I really was okay, all things considered. I was able to breathe and think. I didn't feel the need to cower and hide. I was totally freaked out and beginning to imagine the worst, but I was handling it. "I'm fine, really. My imagination is just beginning to work overtime is all." I glanced at the office door, but it remained closed, and then I looked back at Collins. "If someone has shit in my filing cabinet or anything, there'll be hell to pay," I half joked, trying to relieve the tension.

"If there is, there's no fucking way I'm cleaning that up."

I grinned. "I had lunch with Janie today." Focusing on something else would stop me thinking about dead cats being strung up.
Shit, my head is so damn screwed.
I shook the thought away.

"Yeah?" He feigned indifference, but by the slight shift in his position, I knew he listened intently.

"Yeah. I talked her into coming to the club Saturday night for drinks."

That got his attention. He turned fully to look at me. "How'd the fuck you manage that?"

"I have my ways." One of them was I was full of shit, but he didn't need to know that.

He looked impressed and possibly a bit perplexed too. "She say anything about why she's coming?"

I offered a kind smile and placed my hand on his. "She wants to get to know the club better. I think it helps that we've become friends. So thanks for making that happen." I meant it. There were plenty of women around the club, most of them friendly, but they tended to keep their distance, especially after they quickly realised that they couldn't get close to Diesel through me. So having a friend was nice. I'd missed having a girlfriend to chat to.

Collins leaned down and planted a kiss on the top of my head. "Thanks, Lena." Just then, I heard the familiar rumble of Mace's bike. My body reacted immediately, a flush creeping against my skin and my face lighting with a smile. I thought I was doing well before, but with Mace so close, my world became lighter.

"Can I get out?" I didn't want to cause Collins unnecessary hassle with my brother.

He nodded, opening the door. "Just promise no going inside, yeah?"

I agreed and jumped out the car, watching Mace get closer. He was before me in an instant. His engine cut out, and he swung his leg off his bike, tearing off his helmet. I stepped into his arms, a smile on my face, and inhaled. He leaned back to look at me. His eyes were dark and frown lines creased his forehead. Rather than saying anything, he pressed his lips against mine. It was hard, possessive, and all too short, leaving me gasping for breath and ready to pounce on him for more.

He flicked his gaze behind me to Collins, reminding me why we were there and that my lusty thoughts would have to wait. "They inside?"

"Yeah, said she needed to stay outside."

Mace nodded and then returned his gaze to me. "Can you get back in the car, please, baby? I'll let you know what's going on as soon as I know."

I blinked slowly and bobbed my head, stepping back to the car and getting inside. I hated it, but I understood it, so like the good woman I was, I fixed a smile in place and kept my silence. For the moment.

Chapter Fifteen

MACE

Hearing her voice as she'd cut me off, I was sure my heart had stopped. When it started again, pain sliced through my chest, leaving a raw and stinging ache behind. It was the fear evident in her voice, despite the calm she attempted, that played on repeat as I'd sped through traffic to get to her.

I knew she was safe. That one thought kept me from losing my shit completely. She was in a locked car and Jase was taking care of her. I trusted he would protect her should it come to that. When I'd pulled up next to his car and Lena stepped out, plastering herself against my body, I felt able to breathe again.

It was now time to find out what the fuck was going on. When Collins told me about Jase demanding she stay outside, I knew it was more than a break-in, more than kids seeing an opportunity to steal shit. There was no way they could have gotten past my alarm, for a start.

Looking back once I heard the car door close, checking Lena was secure inside, I pulled the door to the building open. I expected a trashed room so I paused in the doorway when everything seemed normal. No broken glass, no empty drawers, no shredded paperwork. Glancing around, my eyes landed on Diesel, Cole, and Jase. They stood in my open doorway, all looking at me. Fury radiated from Diesel, his face red and mean, his eyes and fists tight.

When I stepped forward, all three backed up from the door, allowing me through. I stood in the open doorway, my eyes raking the room, quickly falling upon the cause of Diesel's anger. Photographs littered my desk, a knife jammed through one in the centre of the wooden top. I edged forward, already catching a glimpse of some of the images. Lena's form, some midecstasy, some of her naked body, most midfucking covered the space. I spotted my bed in a few, even saw hers, but what worried me the most was one in this very room, taken just over an hour ago. She was bent over my desk naked while I was behind her midthrust. Any other time I was sure my cock would have been hard as my gaze raked over the images, but there was no chance of that, not with this.

My eyes travelled to the knife and the image it speared. It was a picture of Abigail, one of her laughing, one that had been packed away in a box in my garage. "What the fuck!" I roared. "I want to know who the fuck did this and I want them gone." I didn't need to turn to know all three were near the door. "How the fuck did they get past the security system?" The system was programmed to send a warning straight to my phone and e-mail if tampered with.

Diesel's voice filtered through the tense room. "Is this Nox?"

I turned to look at him and nodded. "I have no fucking doubt that shitfucker is behind this." The question was why, though? He'd given me intel, whether false or not. True, I was all over the Riots members when I had the chance, but no longer being a cop, it wasn't like I had any real power to do anything. Yes, I tried to screw with them and made sure deals went bad whenever I got the chance, but this threat made no sense. "Anything new from your recruits?"

"Nothing," Diesel answered. "They give me daily reports and will contact me straight away if there's anything new or off."

Frustration made my breathing ragged. I needed something, just one trail to lead me to figure out the connection and Nox's game plan. I'd then make sure whatever shitshow Nox was playing would stop for good.

Cole cleared his throat, drawing all eyes to him. "What are you going to tell Lena? You know this may push her over, right?"

I clenched my jaw, not needing to be told the impact this could have on my woman. "I'm not hiding this from her."

"Mace, I don't—" Diesel interjected.

"No, Diesel. Trust me to take care of her. She's mine, my responsibility." My eyes stayed fixed on his as I watched his internal battle play out in the tightness of his eyes and the crease of his brow.

Reluctantly, he nodded. "I'm here, though, yeah? I've been the one looking after her all these years. I can't back off completely, not yet."

I bobbed my head, indicating I’d heard him.

"Cole, get this cleaned up and burn it," Diesel ordered, throwing me a cursory glance to check I was in agreement.

I nodded once before focusing on Jase. "Get in touch with Jenson and see if he can figure out how someone bypassed the system, not only here but in my garage too."

Jase frowned. "They were at your house?"

"That picture of Abigail was in a box in my garage. There's additional security between the internal garage door and the house, so I don't think they got in, but I want Jenson to send someone by to check. I'll head back there now with Lena."