“I know he’s involved with this. At the very least, he knows who is. That club has something to do with this.” Rian tilted his head, his focus on the voices of the sheriff and one of his deputies, his palms closed over his knees.
“I know you want that, but the evidence isn’t there. Last thing you want is him or anyone from his club to have grounds for a lawsuit. If they are involved, we will get the evidence we need.”
“I’ve still got over forty hours left on his hold.” Rowland spoke with a stern tone. “He won’t be released a minute before.”
“I’m not trying to overstep, and I know your feelings of the club, but sir…”
“You’ve said your peace. Now get back to work.” Rowland commanded. Rian heard the heavy shift of the deputy’s footsteps, standing from a seated position. It appeared he wasn't willing to argue any more.
“Have you seen Lexi?” Rian’s head turned, his eyes remaining closed as he listened.
“Yeah,” Rowland replied.
“With Rian here, I figured she’d be…”
“She’s taking a few days off.” Rowland inserted.
Rian’s eyes opened, scanning the empty holding area on the other side of the bars. Lexi would never take a day off, especially now. He knew something was wrong. Rian stood from the bed, his hands gripping tight around the bars.
“Hey!” He yelled. “I need my phone call! C'mon, you can't refuse it, that's the law, assholes!
Rian knew he needed to call the club. He needed to get to the bottom of why he had been pulled into this mess, yet all of it took a backseat to ensuring Lexi was okay. Rian banged on the bars, his boot hitting against the bottom, a loud boom echoing in the empty room.
“Hey, quiet down. Stop making such a damn racket. What do you want?” The deputy spoke as he entered the room.
“Deputy Weasley, I need my call.” Rian demanded. “Please, man. I need to make a call.”
“Lawyer or club?” The deputy asked.
“Lexi.” Rian knew he should contact the club, but Lexi was his woman, his partner, his mate. She had stood next to him through every possible situation, loved him regardless of what and who he was. She had given him the life he had at one point only dreamed of having. He needed to hear her voice. “Please, I just need to know she’s okay.”
“Why wouldn’t she be?” The deputy asked as he stepped into the holding area.
“Come on,” Rian replied as he lowered his hands from the bars. “She would never not come into work, especially with me being held here. You know that, I know you know it.”
The deputy furrowed his brows as he stepped closer to the cell. “What does that mean?”
“I know you believe I’m innocent. That the club has nothing to do with Brad’s murder. That maybe you believe we aren’t the bad guys.”
“I just need a second to call her, make sure she’s okay.” The deputy remained still, Rian could hear the rapid beat of his heart. Rian nodded his head, stepped forward in anticipation to be let out, when the deputy spoke.
“Sorry, I’m under orders. Lawyers only.”
Without another word, the deputy spun around and made his way from the holding area quickly. Rian’s jaw tightened, his gaze shifting to a glare as he looked at the empty room before him. He wanted to shift, but what good would it do with him locked up, except expose what he really was? Rian turned his back to the cell door, his eyes lifting to the small window at the top of the concrete room.
When nightfall arrived, Rian was laid out on the center of his bed when he heard the movements of someone entering the holding area. His head lifted as his gaze fell to Brett Keppel, the man he'd spotted yelling at one of the brewery workers. Rian stood swiftly, remaining in the center of his cell. The tall man made his way across the empty room, his features pulled into a smile as his eyes shifted from one side of the room to the other. Rian’s glance fell to the scar that ran down the side of his neck, before they connected with his eyes as Keppel started to speak.
“It’s a shame, isn’t it?” His tone was cocky. “To be locked up like some animal. Locked away from everything you know.” Why would this man be here? What purpose would he have to speak to Rian?
“Free meals. Lay around and relax all day, can’t complain. Well, I do wish they had steak.” As Rian took a step forward, Keppel let out a short laugh before his expression changed. No longer amused, he was focused.
“Something tells me that’s not true. Can’t be easy, being locked away, isolated from your club, from your girl.” Rian’s brows furrowed, a low growl built deep in his throat as his hands closed to a tight fist.
“Where is she?”
Keppel smirked. “Lexi? Sweet girl.”
“Where is she?” Rian repeated.
“Maybe she’s home.” He shrugged as he took a step forward. “Maybe she’s not. The better question you should be asking, why you? I mean, what’s the odds the sheriff happens to grab the one member to be out late alone that night?”
Rian chuckled as he walked closer to the bars.
“That’s your move? To put questions in my head of Lexi’s loyalty to me, make me think she set me up?”
Keppel shook his head with a step forward. “Nah, she’s very loyal to you. One could say to a fault.”
He cleared his throat with a short pause. “Look, I don’t play games. I’m more of a 'to the point' man of action, so to speak. So, let’s be to the point. I know you didn’t kill anyone, in fact, I know who did. My employer would be willing to give up
