Consume: A Standalone Romance by Lauren Hunt Read Free Book Online Page A

I see my lawyer.”
     
    I nodded. “I can understand that. I'd do the exact same thing in your position. But I know your not to blame for this. We already know who did the shooting. It was the Los Diablos Motorcycle Club. There's Mexican blood all over the streets. You don't want to talk to us because you're trying to protect someone. What time does your restaurant close?”
     
    “We normally close at ten.” The man realized that he had spoken and quickly shut his mouth. Start off with an easy question and a witness will find it hard not to respond.
     
    I hid a smile and continued. “So you close at ten and the cops get a call an hour and half later that there was a shooting. What were you doing open so late?”
     
    The witness turned his head. He wasn't going to speak anymore but I didn't need him to. I could tell everything from his eyes.
     
    “How about I tell you what happened. You stayed open late to let a special customer eat alone and then the Los Diablos shot the place to shit. The Los Diablos are about to lose their only drug supplier: the Dark Steel MC.” The witness's eyes darted away when I mentioned Dark Steel. I continued my story, “Los Diablos killed the waiter and the Dark Steel member took out a Mexican before running out the back door. Does all that seem about right?”
     
    The witness shifted his feet. He avoided eye contact but I could tell by his slouched posture that he confirmed my story.
     
    “What do we do now, Swift?” Malarkey asked me, placing a bullet with tweezers into a bag.
     
    I waved the sheriff to take the maitre d' away and turned my attention to Malarkey. “We know that this was revenge on Dark Steel and that they're supposed to have a meeting tomorrow afternoon with Los Diablos. Reach out to your contact and find out if they're still planning a meet. Otherwise contact the sheriff and let him know that there will a lot more blood in the streets.”
     
    Malarkey chuckled. “You got a funny look in your eye. What is it?”
     
    “I know how we can finally get Dark Steel.”

Chapter Eleven
     
Winter

What just fucking happened?
     
    Axe and I were having a nice dinner. Not just a nice dinner, an amazing dinner. We were getting know each other and flirting when all of the sudden, all hell breaks loose. My ears were still ringing from the gunfire as we rode into the night on Axe's Harley. My hands shook slightly and tears were streaming down my cheeks. I hugged his waist tightly as he zoomed down the streets. My heart was pounding but I felt safe.
     
    Axe had protected me. He saved my life .
     
    I didn't know where he was taking me and didn't care. I just needed to get away from that restaurant. I wouldn't be able to think about Italian food in the same way ever again. A flashback crossed my mind of the waiter getting blown away and falling dead right in front me. That was the first corpse I'd ever seen. Please, let it be the last.
     
    Axe pulled into the parking lot of a shitty motel called: Rest Inn. The lights in the sign were going out and only a few of the letters were actually lit. Axe stopped the bike and helped me off.
     
    “Are you sure you're all right?” he asked me.
     
    I rolled my eyes. “For the millionth time, Axe, yes I'm fine.” What was it with this guy and always needing to know that I was okay? I'm a big girl, I can handle difficult situations. But this situation was way beyond difficult. No one should ever be shot at.
     
    Axe calmed down and hugged me tightly. “I'm so sorry, I put you in harm's way.” His musty scent penetrated my nostrils and left me with a sense of longing.
     
    “Why did they try to kill us?” I asked, confused and curious.
     
    Axe put his hands on my shoulders. “I want to make myself clear. They were only targeting me. You have nothing to do with this.”
     
    “Then why were they trying to kill you? ” I shouldn't be prying so much but I had to know. I had to know why I almost died.
     
    Axe looked to the