“My father—” What if they walked in there to find someone injured, or God forbid killed by her father or husband?
Oh, God. She pressed a hand to her stomach. If she were responsible for harm coming to Thunder’s club, she’d never be able to set foot on this property. Hell, she wouldn’t be able to look at her own face in the mirror ever again.
“We don’t know anything. Let’s get inside before you think the worst. Sometimes the cops have nothing better to do than swing by and harass us.” He flashed her his famous grin, but tension simmered beneath it in the stiff set of his shoulders. “Maybe they’re just arresting one of my brothers.”
That had a whole new spool of anxiety unraveling in her gut. “Seriously? Is that supposed to make me feel better?”
He winked.
Bless the man for working so hard to keep her from melting down while he had to be as worried as she was.
“Come on. We won’t know until we go in.”
He gripped her hand, helped her off the bike, then on stiff, wooden legs, she walked at his side into the clubhouse.
The place was a hundred times quieter than the few instances she’d been there in the past. Normally rowdy and full of activity, the place had the soundless and strained feel of a mausoleum. Copper, Zach, and some of the other Handlers sat scattered throughout the main room. A few of the ol’ ladies were present as well, seated together at one table as though they’d been hanging out before the cops showed up.
No one lay face down with their arms cuffed behind their back, so she’d consider that a win. And the place wasn’t riddled with bullet holes from her father, which counted as a victory. Mak blew out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.
“See,” Thunder whispered. “Everyone’s good. Everyone’s safe.”
Well, everyone in that room, anyway.
“Thunder,” a man in uniform said as he watched their entrance. He stood with his thumbs hooked in his standard-issue belt. The belt that boasted an enormous silver buckle. Mak had heard the town’s sheriff moved from Texas less than a year ago.
“Slow day, Sheriff?” Thunder asked as he guided Mak to the closest table.
The man snorted, making his bushy blonde mustache rise and fall. “Not exactly. Why don’t you and your lady friend have a seat. I was just about to tell your president why we’re here.”
“Sounds like a plan.” He pulled out a chair for Mak, and she sat, unable to take her eyes off the sheriff. Where she’d come from, the police were dirtier than shit. They’d lived in her father’s pocket as long as the money kept coming. Once, when she’d been ten, she’d snuck away from her family on an outing to town. She’d run straight to the police station and blabbed about a plot she’d overheard to terrorize a town council member’s family. This particular official happened to be an outspoken critic of the community. The cop had laughed, called her father, and she’d spent the next week alone in a shed with one meal a day and a host of bruises.
Once she situated herself, Thunder sat as well, then dragged her chair directly next to his. “Shoot,” he said, also focused on the sheriff.
After nodding to one of his deputies, who moved to stand by the door, the sheriff turned to look at Copper. “I need a formal account of everyone’s whereabouts for the afternoon,” the sheriff said.
With a scoff, Copper frowned. “Gonna need more than that before my men tell you shit.”
The sheriff rolled his eyes. “Look, Copper, I’m still new in town, and I get that my predecessor caused a shit load of trouble for your club, but I’ve yet to hassle you or arrest a single one of your members, so cut the big bad biker act.”
Copper folded his arms across his massive chest. The man really was a giant. “Sheriff, since you’re new, I’ll clue you in as to how we work around here. You give it to me straight, and I’ll do the same for you.”
If it benefits my club.
Those words weren’t spoken aloud, but everyone in the room heard them anyway.
“Fair enough.” The sheriff took a few steps forward, then planted his palms on a vacant table and leveled a glare at Copper. “A group of heavily armed men attacked the CDMC clubhouse about an hour ago. Wrecked the fuck outta the place. I’m talking Swiss cheese walls all around. It’s a total loss. That club gave as good as they got though, and now my department is dealing with a bloodbath. I got almost a whole club of dead bikers and about ten cowboy crusaders who I’ve never seen also fucking dead.”
All around the room, shocked gasps and harsh curses sounded.
Mak remained silent, her body frozen solid. Every hair on her body stood straight on end. No one needed to confirm anything. She knew in her bones exactly who had launched a violent attack on the Chrome Disciples clubhouse.