“Pike and I put Shadows back together yesterday afternoon,” Seth volunteered. “Donald and Vivian came to play early, so they helped, too. Dean stopped by. I could tell he felt like shit. I told him not to worry.”
“It’s not his fault,” Liam agreed.
“Anyway, he pitched in, too. I don’t think the feds found anything. Raine, you might want to put Hammer’s room back together. You know how he likes things.”
She nodded. Macen could be very particular. “I’ll do that this afternoon.”
“I’ll help you, love.” Liam pressed a kiss to her shoulder. “But the reason we asked you all here is to help us think of who might have volunteered to be the prosecution’s witness. Obviously, this is someone who’s got an ax to grind with Hammer. We’re looking for a longtime member of Shadows, someone there almost from the beginning who could have witnessed Raine’s supposed rape as a minor. Beck, this is where I think we’ll lean on you most, since you were with Hammer before he opened the doors. Raine, you know many of the long-timers, too.”
She nodded. “I only missed the first thirteen months or so. I know who was around when I went to live there.”
River scowled, and he was obviously wondering whether she knew them in the Biblical sense. She blew it off. He’d either accept who and what she was or he’d go away. She wanted him in her life, but she wasn’t changing to please him.
Beck took a bite of his casserole and moaned enthusiastically at Bryn, who smiled. Nearly everyone else dove in and ate with gusto, complimenting the woman. Raine took a bite and had to admit it tasted wonderful.
Bryn rubbed a maternal hand on her shoulder. “So glad to see you eating, lass. There’s more in the pan if anyone wants seconds.” She headed to Liam and kissed his cheek. “Da and I are going to grab some lollies for the grandkids. Back in two shakes.”
“My car keys are on the hook just outside the garage,” Liam called to their retreating figures.
When Raine turned back, she discovered that Beck had already devoured every bite. Wiping his mouth with his napkin, he sat back. “Longtime members… Nick is a great bartender. Been there since we opened the doors.”
“He likes everyone,” Liam protested. “I don’t think he’s got revenge on his mind.”
“I agree,” Raine added. “What about Master Carl?”
Beck shook his head. “Hell no. He’s got short-man’s disease. He’s all bluster and no balls. Besides, he’s only cranky now when someone delays his play with his new sub…whatever her name is.”
Raine slapped a hand to her heart and gaped. “You don’t know the name of a sub? Are you feeling well, doctor?”
“Ha! I’ve just been busy.”
“You don’t mean preoccupied, do you?” she probed. “Maybe you’ve got someone more…Heavenly in mind?”
Seth scowled. “Hey. Scrub her from your dirty mind.”
“Fuck you. Like your mind is any cleaner.” Beck rolled his eyes. “Pike would never turn on Hammer.”
“Ever,” Raine agreed. “Hammer helped him pay his mother’s hospital bills. He has no reason… Knotty Master, too. He’s, like, the happy sadist.”
“Yep.” Beck leaned in. “You know, princess, maybe we should go further back. What about Zak?”
She stared down the doctor, wishing she could slap the man. “Really? You had to bring him up?”
“He might be on to something,” Liam mused.
“Who is he?” River asked.
Raine sure as hell didn’t want to answer that question. No one else did, either. Silence hung around the table for an uncomfortable minute. She got up and grabbed a water bottle from the fridge because she couldn’t sit here and wait to be humiliated.
“Raine’s first,” Beck finally said.
“First what?” River looked lost.
“Ugh.” She rolled her eyes as she plopped down in an empty chair. “The guy who took my virginity, okay? It was a conquest for him. I didn’t matter. He has no reason to care now.”
“Except Hammer beat the shit out of him and banned him for life,” Beck piped in. “I doubt Zak liked having his pretty face fucked with.”
“It’s not him.” She shook her head. “I’m sure of it.”
“What about Gabriel?” Beck drawled. “He liked you, princess. After you two spent the night together, he was willing to go to the mat with Hammer for you. He was too smart to get in a fistfight, but he was awfully willing to work around any obstacle to be with you.”
Raine felt every eye in the room on her. She didn’t know whose stare was more intense, River’s or Liam’s.
“Who’s this, then?” her Irishman drawled, his dark eyes so focused on her that Raine squirmed.
Yeah, he hadn’t expected her to still have secrets.
“You remember when we first got together, and you asked me how long it had been? I told you it had been two years… I meant Gabriel. Why do we have a sudden fascination with my sex life? It wasn’t a big deal.”