“Before any of you say anything, I’m just as concerned about him as you are, but he’s a grown man, and this is something that he needs to do by himself. He doesn’t need us there to witness their reunion, be it good or bad. What he needs is for us to be here ready to support him when he returns to Croftridge, especially if he comes home alone,” Badger informed us.
Duke asked me to join him at the bar before I went back home to Harper. “About the break-in, do you agree with the cops? Do you think it was personal?”
My jaw clenched at his words. “It had to be. Nothing was stolen and the damage done to her house was odd, to say the least. It doesn’t sit well with me, brother.”
“Me either. Thanks for getting her the dog. After seeing him in action, even though it was against me, it makes me feel a little better about leaving her in Sugar Falls on her own. I wish she would move here or back to Devil Springs.”
I smirked. “I sure wouldn’t mind having her living in Croftridge.”
“Don’t even go there, man.”
I laughed. “Payback’s a bitch, isn’t it?”
“Seriously, what do you think we should do about this?”
I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose. “There’s something else that hasn’t been mentioned yet. I thought it was the reason Phoenix called us into Church today, but it looks like it got sent to the backburner since he located Annabelle.” Duke nodded and waited for me to continue. “Someone broke into my condo and stole one of my guns. It was found at the scene of a murder a few days ago. I was pulled over and arrested on the way back from Sugar Falls. Harper got a printout from the security company showing the alarm was set all night. She also had a few pictures that proved I was at her house with her that night. Otherwise, I would still be in jail.”
“What?!” Duke bellowed, pushing back from the bar. “When exactly did all this happen?”
“They dropped the charges yesterday. We came back to Croftridge as soon as she got off work.”
“And you’re sure it’s your gun?”
I looked at him incredulously. “Of course I’m sure. It’s registered to me. I just don’t understand why that was the only gun they took. It was the little .38 I bought for Reese years ago so she could use it for target practice. I’d meant to give it to her, but never got around to it.”
“Was anything else missing?” he asked.
“Nothing as far as I could tell. I went over the whole place last night after Harper fell asleep. There were no signs of forced entry on any of the doors, including the locked closet where I keep my weapons. If I hadn’t been pulled over and arrested, there’s no telling how long it would have been before I realized that gun was missing. That doesn’t sit well with me either.”
“And you left my sister at your place by herself?” he shouted.
“No. I left her there with Titan, and Kellan is outside, but she doesn’t know about that.”
“We need to talk to Badger,” Duke said.
“Talk to me about what?” Badger asked from behind me.
I started at the beginning and filled him in on the details of Harper’s break-in as well as my own. Badger listened intently and remained silent for several minutes after I had finished. He leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest before declaring, “You need to file a police report with the Croftridge Police Department and let them dust for fingerprints and whatever else they need to do.”
“Phoenix did that on my behalf right after I was arrested. They didn’t find any prints that didn’t belong there, and there were no signs of forced entry,” I told him.
He nodded and scratched his head. After a few minutes of silence, he added, “Call Judge and get him down here to install some cameras at your place, today if possible. Wouldn’t hurt to add cameras to Harper’s place as well. Seems odd that her place was broken into while she was here with you and then your place was broken into a few days later while you were at her place. You two piss anyone off recently?”
“No, not that I know of. I’ve been around here dealing with club issues and going to see her on the weekends. We rarely left her house when I was there. As far as I know, Harper goes to work during the week and spends her weekends with me unless she is here visiting or I’m tied up with club business. We haven’t been around anyone to piss them off,” I explained.
He clapped me on the shoulder and stood. “Call Judge and get him down here. You and Harper stay vigilant. Keep your eyes and ears open while we get this sorted.”
“Thanks, Badger,” I said. Rising to my feet, I pulled out my phone to call Judge and head back to my girl.
Pulling up to my condo, I scanned the area for Kellan. He was either good at staying out of sight, or he was slacking on his job and going to get his ass kicked. I stomped to the front door, trying to rein in my temper before I entered. My efforts proved futile when I opened the door to find Kellan sitting on my sofa in his t-shirt and boxers. What the fuck?
A growl from me was his only warning before I lunged. Wrapping my hands around his throat, I pressed him into the sofa and demanded, “Where is my girl and what the fuck are you doing in my house without your pants on?”
Titan came running into the room, snarling and growling, ready to attack. He took one second to look between the two of us before he leaped onto the couch and continued his growling only inches from our faces.
Tightening my hands around Kellan’s neck, I demanded through clenched teeth, “Where. Is. She?”
“Carbon!” Harper shrieked. “What in the hell are you doing? Let him go, you big monster!”