Havoc (Tattoos and Ties 1)

The sheriff seemed distracted, still staring directly at his father, not thwarted from continuing his conversation uninterrupted. “As of about an hour ago, they picked up two Disciples of Havoc gang members who were hightailing it out of town. Picked ’em up in Ellis County.”

Alec’s thoughts shifted, perking up at hearing the biker club’s name. They had been the main focus of the brand-new district attorney in Dallas, Donice Twiford, all throughout her campaign. Since the election, she’d pulled several junior assistant DAs to create a task force. Their sole purpose was scouring old records, working with the local police force, doing anything possible to find a way to rid the city of the Disciples of Havoc motorcycle club.

Much like he was doing right now, Alec could only scratch his head at such a waste of taxpayer dollars. History had proven that those biker clubs were impossible to take down, even with an informant on the inside. To the best of Alec’s knowledge, that club was impenetrable. They were also loaded with cash, sneaky as shit, and didn’t make mistakes. As far as Alec was concerned, DA Twiford had bitten off more than she could chew, wasting hundreds of thousands of taxpayers’ dollars on an impossible task.

“Were your guys responsible for catchin’ ’em? Did they work with Dallas County?” a random woman asked as she approached their small group. Much of the room appeared interested in the current conversational theme.

“The feds conducted a raid this evening at every active member’s business location. Snarled up traffic real good. Must’ve found something big to cause those heathens to scatter like they did.”

“It was a federal raid, not local?” Alec asked. That would be a remarkable plot twist in the DA’s never-ending biker saga. Alec patted the front of his suit coat, looking for his cell phone. He had to have some emails explaining what had gone down in his absence. When his search came up empty, he reached for his slacks. Nothing there either. Dammit, he must have left his phone in the car. Racking his brain, he couldn’t come up with anything that would have intimated the feds were working with his office to plan the raid. Alec had to press his lips together to keep from laughing at the tirade Twiford would have over getting beat to the punch.

“That’s the way I understand it. It was the Midlothian police department that made the arrest. Pulled ’em over. Said they were just out for a ride.” The sheriff gave a halfhearted mmm hmm, making it clear he didn’t believe that excuse for one second.

“You know, Alec here’s taken a job in the DA’s office,” his father stated proudly, putting a hand on his shoulder, giving him a giant grin and proud squeeze. That right there, the proud gleam in his father’s eyes, was the reason Alec had moved across country to this hellish part of the world then continued with these ridiculous political parties. He’d never truly been accepted by that man, but things had changed. The little boy inside him clung to every positive word his father spoke.

“Well then, you know how bad Twiford’s gunnin’ for that gang. They’re a nuisance. I hope she gets it taken care of.” With a deep incline of his head, the sheriff added, “They come down here, and we’ll show her how to handle things.” The sheriff’s chest swelled after his grandiose declaration.

Oh Lord. Alec rolled his eyes. He couldn’t help the bubble of laughter that threatened his composure, knowing far better men than Sheriff Black had taken a swing at those club members and left with nothing more than their tails tucked between their legs. That would actually be a sight he’d pay to see—Black slinking off after the Disciples crew got a hold of him.

“Sheriff, it was nice to meet you. I’ve got someone waiting outside.”

His father’s smile vanished, turning disapproving. He just honestly couldn’t hear another word. He wasn’t sold on the evidence of the club’s derelict ways. Whoever fed the police information seemed to lack any real proof, but Alec was a minority of a few, especially in this room. Alec, or at least the part of his personality he hid from his family, would rather offer his services to fight the corrupt system trying to bring the club to its knees.

Now that the feds were involved, he’d bet Twiford was fit to be tied, spinning out of control trying to catch up and gather information. The only silver lining was the whispered rumors sure to be running through the office gossip-mill. Alec chuckled as he stepped outside. Watching the currently elected DA stew in a pot of her own making would add interest to his workweek. He’d cut back around to the front of the house and grab his cell phone to see what everyone was saying in messages.