Locke raised a brow. “What makes you think this was a hit and not just an accident?” The look in his eye said he agreed with me but wanted to hear my reasons.
“Because eye-witnesses say the SUV was at the red light and was stopped with their hazards on, then out of nowhere guns it and smacks into Sal’s car. They said it was like the SUV was waiting for them to drive by.” I clenched my fist and took a breath. “I want the guy that put the hit out. I want the person that decided that it was okay to try and kill my girl’s parents.”
“What about the SUV? It just drove off?” Viper asked.
“How is that possible?” Ezra wondered out loud. “Seems like if there were so many witnesses, one would’ve gotten the plate.”
“It seems that some of the witnesses really don’t remember anything, and the details are fuzzy. Some say they never noticed the SUV, others say they didn’t see the accident, they only heard the crash.” I reached beside me for the brown bag I’d grabbed on my way out of the room. “We did manage to get pieces of the cars. Tech, I want you to run all the tests you can. Get Wizard to help you. He knows all that weird diagnostic car shit. See what you can find out about both cars. We also need to talk to the other witnesses ourselves. Press them for information. I have a bad feeling about this.” I shook my head and looked at Locke. “What are you thinking?”
“Who would want Sal and Cara dead? Or at least Sal. Because it seems like he might have been the main target, since they hit on his side, and Cara was just collateral damage.” Locke’s jaw tightened. “Sal has his share of enemies, like we all do. His list just might be a little longer.”
“What about John?” Ezra asked.
Viper frowned at Ezra. “Why would John kill Sal?”
“It’d make sense. It’d get Sal out of his way and start clearing his path to Jules.” Locke’s eyes darkened. “If this is John, he has people on the inside at Sal’s club for sure, and maybe some we haven’t found yet in ours. I don’t want this going out of this circle until we find out what the fuck is going on. Understand?”
“You got it, Prez,” was voiced from each brother.
I jumped up and started pacing back and forth as Locke started giving orders.
“Ezra, go get clothes for Cara and Grace. They’ll stay at the compound until all this is worked out. Viper and Axel, go with Ezra to get Grace and Cara’s clothes, and snoop around the house. Find out what the hell is going on in that club. Do whatever it takes. Something has to be going down in there. Nobody just accidentally kills the President of the largest MC in New York. This shit was planned, and probably with info from inside. Let’s get this shit done.” Everyone nodded. Locke watched me wear a hole in the floor. “Dom, you stay with the girls. They’re going to need you. And boy, don’t let your guard down for a minute. Who the hell knows who else is out for this family?” Locke said, his anger rivaling mine.
“If this is John, then he might want something else. This may not just be about getting Jules.” Viper remarked. He gave me a look of sympathy. “Sorry, brother, no offense, but no fucker is going to this extreme just for pussy, no matter how good that shit is.”
I turned on Viper, holding myself back from clocking him. “Fuck you, brother!” I shouted.
“Hey,” Locke barked. “Cut the shit!” he bit out through clenched teeth. He slapped Viper on the back of his head. “You don’t talk about another brother’s woman that way. You’re lucky I don’t let him gut your ass,” he quipped as he stood. “You all have your orders. Get the fuck up and get to them!” Locke demanded. “Tech, grab Mac and a prospect and get up here so you can get this evidence, then escort the girls home when they’re ready.”
“On it.” Tech hung up.
Locke turned for the door. “I’m going to make some calls and get some answers,” he muttered as he walked away.
29
Jules
The rest of the girls had just left, and Mom was asleep again, so Grace and I were talking about Dad. She’d only had a small amount of time with him, but his death had broken her just like the rest of us.
“I’m sorry you didn’t get a lot of time with him,” I murmured, looking at the photo of the four of us we’d taken last week in the antique frame by Mom’s bedside, which Grace had brought with her.
Grace gave a sad smile. “I’m just grateful I got to have any time with him.” She looked lovingly at the picture. “Growing up in foster care, I could always tell when the family really cared about me, or if they just wanted the check that came with me.” She swallowed back tears. “I could tell he really cared. For the first time in my life, I felt whole and truly loved. I had the perfect story book family. A mom and a dad and even a big sister.” She broke down then.
Mom squeezed both of our hands. “Oh, sweet girl, you still have us. We may not be the perfect family, but if you still want us, we’ll still be your family,” she finished on a whisper.
“I’ve always wanted a little sister to push around,” I quipped, trying to lighten the mood.
We
