Sinfully Scarred (Reckless Bastards MC 2)

He was pissed off now. “Yeah, they do.”

Dark eyes narrowed to slits like that shit was supposed to intimidate me. It didn’t. Yet I did bite down on my cheek to keep from cracking his fucking skull, but oh how I wanted to.

“I guess we’ll see when my lawyer shows up.” I sat quietly while Dodds was clunky in his attempt to get me to say something to incriminate myself. Dumb shit.

“Look Ellison, if it wasn’t you, then we need find out who it was.” Haynes was the good cop here and he tried hard to combat the damage his partner was doing. But I knew how to play the game.

“I’m aware of that, detective. But the last time I was honest and tried to help, you locked me up for it. My lawyer should be here soon.” At least I hoped. This wasn’t exactly Bobby’s wheelhouse, but she’d gotten me out, so I hoped she could do something because I did not fucking relish the thought of sitting in a cell tonight.

“It’ll be better for you,” Dodds began but the door opened and a well-dressed man walked in like he owned the place.

“My client has said, at least a half dozen times, that he wished to remain silent until his lawyer arrived.” He looked right at the rookie detective. “I’d hate to file more charges on civil rights violations. But I will.”

Haynes stood, adjusting his oversized pants over his oversized belly. “We’re just trying to clear a few things up, Mr. …”

“Mr. Gladstone. My client has an alibi for the evening in question, video surveillance starting at seven pm until after midnight, plus a sworn affidavit of his whereabouts thereafter. You have thirty minutes to verify it before I decide to make an example out of this department.” The man took a seat beside me, calm as you please, and smiled. “We’re waiting, gentlemen.”

Chairs scraped against the linoleum as the cops stood and practically ran from the room. When we were alone, I turned to look him over. “Do I know you?”

“Gavin Gladstone. I work with Bobby and this is more my thing than hers, so I came. She’s out there with your lady friend.”

I blinked. “Teddy is here?”

He nodded. “She’s a spitfire. Told me to ‘get my ass down here and make those fuckers pay.’” I had to laugh at his cultured voice saying her words. “She gave me all the information I needed to get you out of here tonight. Don’t worry.”

I nodded at his words. “I wondered how you got everything so quickly. I figured the sun would be up before you got here.”

“Divide and conquer. I was with Bobby when Teddy called. Bobby went to the casino and cashed in a favor to get the parking lot surveillance while my assistant and I came here to take Ms. Quinton’s statement. And here we are.”

“You really think I’m getting out tonight?”

“I’m certain of it. If not, you will add more money from the state of Nevada to your bank account. I would rather get you home, though.”

“Damn straight,” I added because there was nothing else to add. This man was one of those sharks you wanted when you got into trouble. He was the kind of lawyer cops feared, especially crooked ones. “Hey, you need more billable hours?”

“Always.”

“Good, because I think we could use a guy like you.” His only response was to slip me his card.

Thirty minutes later, Haynes opened the door with a sheepish grin. “You’re free to go, Mr. Ellison.”

I stood and shook his hand. “Thank you, detective.” At Gladstone’s surprised look, I shrugged. “He’s been decent to me, which is more than I can say for any other pig in this fucking place.”

“There are always a couple,” he muttered and guided me out of the interrogation room and into the spacious pit where Teddy waited with Jana, Max and Bobby.

Teddy marched right up to me with a glare. “Well?”

I grinned and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, ignoring the confused looks of my brother and soon to be sister, as I told her about the assault. “It was Sheena. I don’t know who, but someone fucked her up. Bad.”

“That skank from your club?”

I nodded and she stepped away from my touch.

“You’re free to go, though?” She looked to Gavin who nodded before she turned on her heels and marched to the parking lot.

Shit, she was pissed and I didn’t want to deal with an emotional woman over some shit I didn’t do. “Teddy, wait.”

Max’s hand landed on my shoulder and I stopped, but my gaze never left Teddy as she slid into her car and started the engine. I smiled when she waited instead of peeling out of the parking lot as pissed off women have been known to do.