“Let’s go get him,” Vince said, ready to go but Dillon stopped him.
“Hold on, it’s not that easy,” Dillon said. “We might have a pretty good idea of who did it, but we don’t have any evidence. That’s going to make it hard to prosecute.”
“Who said anything about prosecution? I could give a fuck if he gets a fair trial. I’m going to be judge, jury and executioner in this case.”
“Listen, I know you want to see him punished and he will be, but we need to move cautiously or else this Preacher fuck is going to end up doing exactly what he set out to do — ruin the Buchanan name.”
“How so?”
“Apparently, he’s been spreading rumors that we’re not seeing to our club members safety any longer, which is why is started beating unsuspecting women. He’s trying to ruin Malvagio and by proxy, us.”
“All because he got kicked out?” Vince asked. “What a pussy.”
“Yeah, well, he’s not very smart because he might’ve evaded the cameras but he didn’t think to wear a mask or anything to hide his face. All we have to do is find him and then your girl can identify him.”
“She’s not my girl,” Vince corrected Dillon but Dillon waved away his correction, which made him wonder what his brother saw that he didn’t. Was he giving off some sort of subconscious possessive vibe? He shrugged off the thought and focused. “So let’s go get the shit. I have a few words for him.”
“All right, I have a detective who’s friendly. If I give him the word, he’ll go pick him up for us, all legal and tidy. Then, you bring Emma to the station and she can do the rest. Sound good?”
Vince nodded, relieved to put an end to all this. He looked to his brothers and even Shannon, and said gruffly, not because the emotion wasn’t genuine but because he had a hard time saying shit like this, “I appreciate your help in all this. Means a lot.”
“When all this is done, you can let that poor girl go home,” Shannon said. “I can’t imagine how horrific this has been.”
He stiffened at the thought of letting Emma go but he wasn’t about to admit that. “Thank God. It’s been a fucking nightmare being her damn babysitter. She doesn’t listen worth a damn and she argues with everything I say. Good riddance.”
“Really? I kinda thought you and her had some serious chemistry,” Nolan said, fishing a little but Vince shut him down quickly, not liking where this was going.
“Well, you were wrong. And besides, you and I both know I’m not that kind of man. I don’t do long-term. No matter how hot she is.”
“Have you slept with her?” Nolan asked.
“None of your business,” he retorted, turning to leave but Nolan stopped him. “What?” he asked, irritated.
“Whatever it is that’s making you feel all prickly and scared…go for it. Don’t shut that feeling down. It’s worth the risk,” he said to Vince quietly as he shared a look with his wife. “Trust me.”
Vince suppressed an odd shudder at his twin’s words and shrugged off his brother’s hand on his shoulder. “Maybe for you…not for me.”
He couldn’t get away fast enough. It was true about that twin thing — they each shared an uncanny understanding into one another’s thoughts and feelings. When they’d both been wild and reckless, that sixth sense had been a fun bonus, particularly when they’d been on the prowl for a woman to share for the night. But now? It was just fucking annoying as hell. He didn’t want Nolan pushing his married bliss at him in the hopes that it was contagious. Vince wasn’t like Nolan or Dillon. He wouldn’t make an awesome husband or father. He drank to excess, fucked to excess, and he damn well liked it!
“Let’s go,” he commanded Emma and she scowled at his tone. “Now.”
Emma cast Penny a look that said, See? He’s such a jerk but he didn’t care. Once all this was done, he’d gladly go back to life the way he liked it — completely debauched!
But as they reached the parking lot, Emma dug in her heels and said, “I want to talk to my sister,” she demanded.
He did a double take and kept walking. He didn’t need that particular headache. “Not now, Emma.”
“No. Now.”
“She’s fine.”
“I don’t know that. I need to talk to her.” Emma held her ground. Of all the blessed times for her to become even more difficult…Vince felt his temper rising until he saw the true concern reflecting in her eyes and he caved — albeit not very gracefully.
“Fine,” he snarled, grabbing his phone and dialing Laird. When Laird picked up on the third ring, he told him to put Lana on the phone. He was surprised when Laird hesitated. “What’s the problem?” he asked.
“She’s sleeping.”
“Well, wake her up. Her sister needs to know she’s all right.”
Laird didn’t sound happy about it but he did as Vince requested. As soon as a sleepy female voice came on the line, he thrust the phone at Emma but not before putting it on speaker.
Emma scowled but accepted the phone with a tremulous, “Lana? Are you okay?”
“Em,” Lana said with a happy but sleep-fuzzed tone. “Where are you? Yes, I’m fine. Laird told me about what happened and I’ve been worried sick.”
“I’m fine but what about you?” she asked. “Is Laird treating you right? You can tell me if he isn’t.”
“Laird is…very nice,” Lana answered, almost sheepishly. “He’s been very kind and sweet.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, Em. Don’t worry about me.”
“Vince and his brothers are working to figure out who did this to the both of us so it shouldn’t be too much longer.” Emma shot Vince a look that said, I’m lying through my teeth for you so don’t fuck up, and he felt a certain amount of pleasure that she was putting her faith in him to solve the problem. “Listen, sit tight and I’ll come get you soon. Okay?”
“I’m good, Em. Stop worrying about me. Laird is unlike any man I’ve ever met. And that’s a good thing.”
Emma looked ready to quip, don’t get attached, but Vince was surprised when she swallowed it and said, “I love you, Lana. I’ll be in touch.”
“Love you, too, Em.”
When the line clicked off, Emma returned the phone with a speculative expression. “What’s wrong?” he asked. “I thought you’d feel better knowing she was okay.”
“I do feel better. There was something about her tone. She sounds…I don’t know…almost as if she likes Laird.”
“Why is that strange? Laird is a good guy.”
“Yeah but Lana has had difficulty being around strangers since the incident. But she sounded…secure.”
Vince considered that and realized Laird had been pretty protective over his new charge. He wondered if there was something going on between the two. Vince suppressed an annoyed sigh at the idea of those two hooking up but he supposed it was better than complete animosity. “So…feel better?” he asked Emma, almost anxiously. He really didn’t want her to worry about her sister needlessly. They had bigger issues to work through.
Emma’s mouth turned up in a warm, relieved smile and his heart skipped a beat. “Much,” she answered and started walking again, only this time, her step seemed much lighter and for that he was inordinately relieved.
Well, hell, he thought. Maybe he should’ve done that in the first place. Hindsight and all that…
But as they climbed into the car, Vince realized Emma’s mind was still moving fast as her pensive expression filled him with apprehension. He had a terrible feeling that whatever Penny had filled Emma’s head with was bound to kick him in the ass later.
As it would turn out, later wasn’t too far behind.
-13-
“Who is Isabel?” Emma asked, once they were back at the penthouse. Penny’s frank conversation had blown her mind but the questions it’d created were overriding her sense of whoa! and now that she knew Lana was safe, she wanted answers that only Vince could give.
Vince cut her a sharp look. “No one I want to talk about.” He grabbed a bottle of ibuprofen and shook out a few. “Here, take these.”
Emma accepted the pills and tossed them back with a glass of water but she wasn’t going to let her question go unanswered. “Who is Isabel?” she repeated.
“Where is this coming from?” Vince asked, glowering. “I already said I didn’t want to talk about it. Besides, it’s none of your business who Isabel was.”
“Was?” Emma picked up immediately on the past tense. “What do you mean, was?”
“What do you think? She’s dead.”
“What happened?”
“What is wrong with you? Are you deaf?” He thundered at her, glaring hard. “I don’t want to talk about her.”
“Penny seemed to think that she mattered to you.”
“Penny ought to keep her mouth shut about shit that doesn’t involve her,” he muttered.
“Maybe but she told me plenty and I want some answers. Start talking.”