The Tangled Series Complete Digital Boxed Set (Bad Boy Rock Star, Millionaire, and MMA Fighter Bundle) (77 page)

Chapter Twenty-Seven

“Do you have something to hide, Ms. Nikolas? Because when someone brings up their lawyer, it usually means they do,” said Stone, frowning.

“I’ve got nothing to hide,” I said, glaring at him. “And I don’t appreciate you making me feel like a criminal”

“A criminal” he repeated.

“Yes!” I cried. “Not only have I just found out that my best friend was kidnapped, but I had this monster following me around earlier, a man who scared the hell out of me on purpose. Now, you’re looking at me like I’m the guilty one around here? That’s a bunch of crap!” 

Just then, the front door opened and my mother walked in.

“What is going on in here?” she asked, staring at all of us in surprise.

“Mom, Krystal’s been kidnapped,” I said, rushing over to her.

“Kidnapped?” she repeated, as I threw my arms around her. “By whom?”

“We don’t know,” I said.

She patted me on the back. “Honey, I’m so sorry. That poor girl. Her mother must be worried sick.”

“I haven’t talked to her yet, but I’m sure she is.”

“Ma’am, my name is Detective Stone and this is Detective Williams. Your daughter has agreed to come down to the precinct for an interview. You’re welcome to join her.”

“Of course,” she said as I released her. “But, I don’t understand, why does she need to do this?”

I explained what had happened, starting off with Breaker following me this morning.

“That’s why you were acting so strange today,” she said, looking upset. “This man was harassing you? The man that’s been killed?”

I nodded. “Yes and they think I might have had something to do with it.”

Her face turned red. “Of course you didn’t,” she said angrily. She looked at the couple. “My daughter wouldn’t hurt anyone! This monster was obviously shot by someone else. How dare you even accuse her of something like this!”

“We aren’t accusing her,” said Stone. “We just need to interview her properly.”

“Why can’t you do it here?” she asked. “Adriana isn’t under arrest, is she?”

“No, not at all. We’d just like to record the interview,” he replied. “And see if your daughter might agree to a polygraph test.”

“I can’t believe this is happening,” I moaned, staring at Trevor, who was very quiet.

“I’m going to call our lawyer,” said Vanda, taking out her cell phone. “Before you start agreeing to anything, Adriana.”

“If she’s innocent, she doesn’t need a lawyer,” said Williams. She looked at me and sighed. “Look, just come down, pass the test, give us a statement, and you’ll be on your way. That will be cheaper and a lot easier than bringing in a lawyer.”

I sighed. “She’s right,” I said, looking at my mother. “I’m innocent. I haven’t done anything wrong. I’ll take the test and give them a recorded statement. If it will get them off my back.”

“Are you sure?” she asked, looking concerned. “I can call him. You remember Stanley Bruebaker, don’t you? He’s the lawyer I used when your father passed away. I’m sure he can direct me to a lawyer that will help us with something like this.”

“No, I don’t remember him,” I said. “Anyway, Mom, I haven’t done anything wrong so it would be silly for us to fork out money when we don’t need to.”

“Adriana, I’m sure you haven’t committed any crimes, either,” said Williams, digging into her wallet. “This is really just nothing more than a formality. Here’s my card with the address to the precinct. We’ll meet you there?”

I nodded.

She turned to look at Trevor. “I’d like you down there, too. For further questioning.”

“I’ll be there,” he said, moving to my side. He put his arm around my shoulders. “Now, who’s going to be searching for Krystal while you waste your time with us?”

“Don’t worry, Mr. Larson, we have people searching for her,” she replied, smiling coolly.

“Tell me, Raptor, isn’t it? Do you think Krystal’s disappearance could have anything to do with Thomas Kramer’s execution?” asked Detective Stone.

“Execution?” repeated Trevor. “Hmm… I don’t see it.”

“You don’t think it might have been for some kind of retaliation between the two of your…clubs?” he asked.

Trevor’s expression was stoic. “No. We’re all good.”

“Even with Mr. Kramer harassing your girlfriend?” asked Detective Williams.

He grunted. “Breaker deserved an ass kicking for that. But murder? That’s extreme, even for us.”

“Well, someone sure felt he deserved it,” she replied, studying his face closely.

“I’m not saying he didn’t deserve it,” said Trevor. “He was the scum of the earth. A guy who enjoyed raping women. Now, some of those women he assaulted can sleep better at night.”

“That was the monster who was following you today, Adriana?” asked Vanda, her eyes wide. “A convicted rapist?”

I nodded.

Her eyes were stormy as she turned to the detectives. “When you actually do find out who killed him, call me. I want to thank him personally.”

“For murder?” asked Detective Williams.

“For protecting my daughter and every other girl who caught his eye,” she replied.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

When the two detectives left, Vanda turned to me. “This is your fault,” she said, angrily. “If it wasn’t for you, none of this would have happened.”

Before I could respond, Adriana got between us. “Mom! It’s not his fault. He had nothing to do with this.”

“They’re both in gangs,” she said, waving her hand at my cut. “Obviously, they hung around each other. Didn’t I tell you if you hung around biker scum that you’re just looking for trouble?”

“Wait a second,” I said, now glaring back at her. “You have no right to judge me or any of my crew for that matter, and I think you owe me an apology.”

She snorted. “An apology? Right. What are you even doing in my house?” she said and then looked at Adriana. “Adriana, what’s he doing here? Didn’t we talk about this earlier? You promised you weren’t going to see him again.”

Clenching my jaw, I found myself hoping for the first time ever that a woman I was interested would grow a set of balls.

“I never said that,” she replied. “And he had nothing to do with this. I met him through Krystal…”

“Who’s been kidnapped, God forbid,” she said, making the sign of the cross. “How does Krystal even know any of these people?”

“She’s seeing Tank,” replied Adriana. “Who is in their club. The Gold Vipers.”

Her lips tightened. “And you wonder why this happened? Didn’t I tell you how dangerous these people were?”

“Ma’am, I wouldn’t let anything happen to your daughter. You have my word,” I tried again, hoping she’d give me a break for Adriana’s sake. I could tell how much she loved her mother and I respected that. I didn’t like the shit spewing out of her mouth, but I wasn’t about to make a scene.

Her eyes burned into mine. “I don’t care about
your
word. It’s the word of the people you hang out with that I have a problem with.”

I clenched my jaw. “My brothers respect women. Most of them.”

“And was this guy, Breaker, one of your brothers?”

“Fuck no. He wasn’t part of our crew.”

“Charming vocabulary you have,” she scoffed.

“I never claimed to be a saint, Mrs. Nikolas.”

“Believe me, no one would never mistake you for one,” she answered.

I grunted.

“Look, we don’t have time to argue about this right now, Mom. We need to get down to the precinct.”

“I’m coming with you,” she replied, picking up her purse.

Adriana raised her hand in the air. “No, actually, I prefer that you stayed home.”

Vanda’s face fell. “Why?”

She let out a frustrated sigh. “Because I don’t need to listen to you rail me about Trevor on the ride out there.”

Vanda looked at me, her eyes full of venom. She turned back to Adriana and raised her chin. “Fine. I will drive separately.”

“You don’t need to come,” said Adriana.

“Of course I do. Someone needs to be there for support,” said Vanda. 

“That someone is already going.  Me,” I replied.

“If you want to look out for my daughter, you’ll stay out of her life,” she said firmly.

“Mom!”

“I’m sorry, Adriana, but you know how I feel about bikers. I’m not going to pretend I’m happy to find the both of you together in my house.”

“I thought this was my house, too,” said Adriana, now looking almost as angry as me.

“Of course it is. But, you are my daughter and I am just trying to protect you.”

I sighed. “I’m going upstairs to get my jacket,” I said, heading for the steps.

“What is his jacket doing in your bedroom?” said Vanda shrilly.

Shaking my head, I went into her bedroom and grabbed my jacket. As I was turning around, Adriana stepped into the room.

“I’m sorry about my mother,” she said, walking over to the mirror. She ran her fingers through her hair. “She can be a real pain in the ass.”

I walked up behind her. “Yeah, well she’s not afraid to speak her mind. I’ll give that to her.”

“She doesn’t know you, though. So, don’t let it get to you.”

I grabbed her around the waist and smiled at her in the mirror. “The only thing that gets to me, Kitten, is you.”

She smiled.

I kissed the side of her head. “What a nightmare, huh?” I whispered.

Adriana nodded.

Letting out a frustrated sigh, I let her go.

“I wish I would have waited for her to pull out of the parking lot,” she said, looking teary-eyed again. “I feel like it’s my fault.”

“It’s definitely not your fault, babe. Don’t even go there.” I reached inside my jacket for my phone. “And, don’t worry, I’m sure Slammer and Tank will get her back.”

She wiped a tear from under her lash. “What do you think happened?”

I couldn’t tell her about The Judge. She wouldn’t understand. But, I wasn’t going to lie to her either. “Personally? I think it was retaliation. I think the Devil’s Rangers believe we had something to do with Breaker’s murder and took her.”

“Did you?” she whispered.

I looked her in the eye. “I can honestly say that none of us killed him.”

She let out a sigh of relief. “Okay.”

“Are you two coming?” asked Vanda, standing in the doorway. She was glaring at me again.

“Yes,” said Adriana, grabbing a pair of socks from her dresser.

I looked down and saw Adriana’s dress still lying on the floor next to her bra. When I raised my eyes, I saw that Vanda had noticed it too, and was not happy.

I couldn’t help but to dig into her. “Looks like a bomb went off in here,” I said, grinning.

Vanda’s eyes narrowed. “I’ll wait for you outside,” she said, walking away from the bedroom.

I walked over to the doorway and leaned out.  “Since you’re not riding with Adriana, you can certainly ride with me.” I smiled evilly. I just couldn’t help myself. “I don’t bite.”

She grunted. “Hah. I’d rather walk.”

Man, she was brutal
. “You sure? Riding on the back of a Harley might just put a smile on your face.”

“Nothing you could do for me would
ever
put a smile on my face,” she answered, heading down the stairs. “Unless it has to do with leaving my daughter alone.”

I sighed.