Rian grinned as she gave him a quick kiss and snatched up his last piece of bacon before she grabbed her keys and left the house. The woman never failed to make his day better.
Rian finished his coffee before he cleared his own mess off of the table. He needed to get going, he normally arrived at the clubhouse ten minutes ago. He pushed his cell phone and keys into his pocket, before heading over to pull the top of the trash bag together and yank it from the bin.
Rian stepped through the garage, closing the door before he tossed the bag into the can just to the side of the house. He walked toward his bike, grabbing his sunglasses from the inside of his jacket. He'd just pushed them onto his face when two police cruisers pulled into his driveway.
He shifted his stance as he proceeded to pull his riding gloves on, preparing to leave as soon as they got what they wanted. Rian smiled as he saw the sheriff climb from his cruiser. Edward Rowland... the man would be intimidating if it weren't for the emotions he allowed to cloud his actions.
Rian had always found it humorous that the sheriff looked more like a biker than some of the actual members in the MC did with his full beard, salt-and-pepper hair and strong build. He knew the man held a hatred for any motorcycle club, due to his late daughter having been caught up with one. He saw them as a disease, one that corrupted his sweet daughter into the drugs which ended up killing her.
It didn’t matter that Rian and his club had nothing to do with it, they were a club and therefore they needed to go. The man who had been sworn in as a protector of the town and all its residents had made a deal with Travis Michaels, the Mayor, to cross the potential lines of legality when it came to pushing the MC from town.
Rian remained tall beside his bike, his eyes locked to the tall man who walked toward him, stride slow and purposeful. Rian hadn’t made it to the clubhouse yet to tell anyone what he saw and heard last night, only Lexi knew. He exhaled a deep sigh as Rowland stopped just before him, his features sharp as he starred to the young man. Rian sincerely hoped this wasn't going to take forever, the club needed to move and check Jenkins Street before evidence was moved or destroyed, if anything had been there at all.
“Sheriff,” Rian spoke with a slight nod, “what do I owe the pleasure to so early in the morning?”
Rowland remained still before him as his deputies fanned out to surround Rian. That made him uncomfortable, but he was careful not to show it. Show no emotion as a predator to the prey. Let them assume they're the ones in control. “It is a fine morning, wouldn’t you say?”
Rian grinned, seeming more at ease than he truly was. “Yeah, one hell of a morning.” Rian’s Irish accent was thick as he brought his hands up to cross over his chest. “Coffee? The lady of the house made a pot before she left for work. Surprised you didn’t see her on your way over.”
Rowland had often expressed his hate that his dispatcher had ties with not only Rian but the club. He had more times than not pulled her into his office to express that she should leave Rian, that she deserved more than this lifestyle and it would only cause her harm.
“I have a better idea. Why don’t you come down to the station with me? We have a few questions for you.”
Rian licked his lips, gaze remaining locked on the older man. “I can meet you there later, I have some pressing things to take care of first.” Rowland grinned with a lift of his hand, his fingers motioned for the deputies to move closer.
Rowland grinned, the smile not reaching his eyes as he motioned for the deputies to move closer. “This can be easy or not, regardless, you’re coming with me now.” Rian turned his head, glancing to the deputies on his right, as the sheriff continued to talk.
“This is about Brad Benjamin and the fact that he was found dead. Murder doesn't wait for errands.”
Rian furrowed his brows, confused. Why would this have to do with him? He gripped the keys in his palm as he stepped from his bike. Without another word Rian followed the sheriff to his cruiser. He wasn't going to give the assholes a reason to claim he'd resisted the request.
When Rian walked past Lexi, her mouth dropped to form an O as she watched him be escorted toward the interrogation room. Each desk he walked past, he got the ‘got ya’ look. Rian knew he needed to contact the club, but it'd be difficult. Rowland would certainly keep him locked in the small room for hours. He stepped inside, pulling out a chair, his gaze lifting to the young woman who popped her head in.
“You want something to drink?” The sheriff shook his head and gripped the door before he closed it with a loud bang.
Brad was a local, someone Rian had gone to school with but they'd never run in the same circles. He'd always been a simple man, had gotten married right out of high school. He drove trucks for the Brewery along with doing odd jobs around the town.
He had no kids and lived near the river with his wife and her parents. He was the good guy of the town. The one everyone loved to be around. You could trust him, he was funny, he would be the first to help anyone in need and the last to cause any problems. Rian didn’t know why he would be called
