Live Free (Lords of Mayhem 3)

Juliette paused. “Most people don’t know what it’s like to have their freedom stripped away. I do. So for me, their lifestyle isn’t from a place of control or fanaticism. It’s from a place of choice, freedom and unconventional beliefs. I like their rules. They make me feel secure. They have a protocol they rarely deviate from and a code I find honorable.” Juliette shrugged. “It made me view things from a different perspective.”

“It’s freeing in a way when you strip everything down and focus on only the things that matter,” Evonne agreed.

“Exactly. You’re close enough to understand. We all do. I think Hil would too if she wasn’t so stubborn.”

“She’s going through her own upheaval. It’s hard to trust after betrayal,” Evonne noted. “I worry about her researching this sex club, and the victims the founders left behind.”

“Me too.” Juliette sighed. “I keep it to myself because I don’t want her to clam up. I’ll be happy when this is all over.”

“You and me both. Are you staying for dinner?” Evonne asked, hopefully.

“Is that okay? I don’t want to overstep or anything.”

“Girl, please. If there’s a meeting, chances are he won’t even be in ‘til really late.” Evonne shrugged. “Usually, he gives me a heads-up though.”

“It was a sudden thing. I doubt he knew.”

“I wondered why the prospects kept popping in all day.”

Juliette chuckled. “Do they always come to the door?”

“No, which makes me wonder what’s going on. Usually, it’s just drive-bys and keeping tabs on the surveillance cameras outside.”

The girls exchanged a concerned look. Perhaps they were about to get exactly what they asked for—for things to be resolved.

* * * * *

Rocky pulled his bag out of the locker and swore. Ten missed messages all from the brothers meant bad news. He redialed Shooter. Next time I won’t leave the phone on vibrate or forget to bring it with me.

“Yo, Rocky, we were about to swing by,” Shooter said.

“Yeah man, I’m getting ready to head home now. What’s going on?” Rocky said.

“We got a lead, time to come together and figure out our next move,” Shooter said.

Rocky’s thought instantly went to Evonne. “Someone at the house?”

“We got the prospects on it and members doing drive-bys. Juliette is there with her, so she won’t be alone.”

“Okay, good. So, I’ll head over to the clubhouse.”

“Yeah, and be quick, Prez is looking ready to get this shit on the road,” Shooter said.

“Roger.” Rocky hung up the phone, wondering what the hell he was about to find himself into, and how long he had left with Evonne. The relief that flooded him should have worried him, but he’d accepted weeks ago, shit with Firecracker would be complicated.

Seated beside Maverick a few minutes later, he leaned back in his chair and appraised the situation. Specs and Gadget had their laptops out, Tiny looked tense while Shooter and Moose looked pissed.

“About fucking time, brother,” Shooter said.

“I know, had my phone in the locker,” Rocky said.

“Now isn’t the time to go off the grid,” Tiny grumbled.

“Won’t happen again,” Rocky said.

Tiny nodded. “Good. Give him the rundown.”

“Levi finally used one of the accounts we have monitored,” Specs said.