That part was easier than he expected. To his surprise, his mate was coming out of the shower when Liam entered the master suite. With a quiet word, he told Macen to meet him downstairs and not to wake Raine. While the man dressed, Liam tossed on a T-shirt and left him to make coffee.
Hammer didn’t keep him waiting long, and Liam returned the favor by not dragging it out. It took less than two minutes to worry his best friend sick. Liam hated that he had to.
Macen collapsed on to the nearest barstool and stared out the kitchen window, into the darkness beyond. “I wish I knew who wanted to destroy me,” he murmured. “Do you think it has something to do with those damn missing backup drives?”
“I’ve wondered that, but really, what do they prove? That Raine likes kinky sex. She admitted as much to the police. She was an adult then, and nothing that happened was a crime.”
“She’ll never say I raped her, so I’m not sure how they can prosecute me with that video. The only other evidence they have is the money orders, which prove nothing without the contract I gave Beck for safekeeping. The photos of Raine that Dean was insistent I destroy… Winslow and Cameron may find them in the system, and they might even know I had them. But nothing about the pictures proves that I took them or that she was a minor at the time. Nothing. If she’s asked, Raine would never tell them that, either.”
“No. She’d tell them she brought those photos with her or something similar.”
“Yeah. I hate to have her lie, but I know she’d do it without even being asked. I just don’t understand how this shit is coming back to me.”
Liam ran his hand back through his hair, then poured them each a cup of coffee. “Maybe it’s that bloody witness they warned you about.”
“Yeah. I’d like to know who that lying fucker is.”
“Me, too. If we haven’t heard anything in an hour or two, I’ll get a burner phone and call Dean, see if he can find out.”
“Good idea. The sooner we tackle this, the better.” He paused, obviously gathering his words. “Just promise me that no matter what happens, you’ll look after Raine and our baby.”
Liam ached for his friend’s pain. “Macen, nothing’s final, and we have so many reasons to fight.”
“Just set my mind at ease and fucking promise me.”
“Of course. You know I will.”
Liam came around the bar and roughly pulled Macen to his feet and into a hug. “Don’t give up, brother. We’ll figure this out. You’ll see.”
Inside, he wasn’t so sure.
“It’s out of my hands now.” Hammer pulled back. “Bring your coffee into the study. I have some paperwork I need you to see. The first of it protects Shadows. The rest… Well, if the worst happens, Sterling will advise you.”
With a heavy heart, Liam spent the next hour reviewing Hammer’s files, discussing possibilities and options.
As they wrapped up, Hammer’s phone rang. Sterling Barnes.
Macen answered immediately, turning on his speaker. “The police are coming, aren’t they? What’s the charge?”
“Forget the police. This has escalated. Now you’re up against the FBI. Someone found those pictures of Raine battered as a minor. There’s a bit of nudity, and coupled with the money orders…” The lawyer paused. “They’re assuming the worst. Someone really wants you nailed to a wall. Get ready, Macen. The feds are on their way as we speak.”
Macen looked stricken, struggled to process his lawyer’s warning, but could only gape for a reply.
Liam forced his own shock down and jumped in. “Barnes, this is O’Neill. What can Raine and I do to help?”
“Let me take care of Hammer this morning. You focus on the agents with search warrants. They’re coming to both your home and the club, and everyone will have to leave both premises. Anything deemed to have evidentiary value to their case will be seized. I mean anything—paper, photographs, and especially electronics. If they ask, you and Raine should be ready to give them your phones, tablets, computers, access to any safe…everything.”
In other words, their entire life would be invaded, turned upside down, seized, scrutinized. Another wave of furious disbelief seized Liam, but he swallowed it back for Hammer who still stood in wordless shock.
“I’ll take care of it,” he promised.
“Call me when they arrive,” Sterling instructed. “I’ll have more instructions then. Macen, I know this is a lot. Right now, I don’t know how we’ll get out of this clusterfuck, but I promise I’ll do my damndest.”
“Thank you.” Liam quaked as he took the phone from Hammer’s numb fingers and ended the call.
“The motherfucking FBI?” Hammer staggered back into the living room and sank into a waiting chair.
Seconds later, the doorbell rang. He and Macen exchanged a glance. This could be the end; they both knew it.