A corner of Demon’s mouth quirks up. “Well, well. If you keep using that brain of yours, maybe soon you won’t be the dullest knife in the drawer anymore.”
I ignore the jab. “Why Kayla? Why now, after two years?”
Dragon frowns, turning to Demon. “You mentioned last night that your men weren’t the only ones looking for her thenight she was kidnapped. Was it Naomi targeting Kayla then, too?”
Demon’s smile widens, but there’s no warmth in it. “Naomi really is a delight, isn’t she? Such enthusiasm for her hobbies.”
“Cut the cryptic bullshit,” I snap. “This isn’t a game.”
Gray steps forward from his position by the window. “The question stands. Why would Kayla be such a target? What does Naomi gain?”
“Do you remember Diesel?” Demon asks, his eyes sliding to mine.
I nod slowly. “Diesel was a solid mechanic before he started moving up in the ranks. He was road captain when I left.”
“And he became Atlas’s new VP after that,” Demon says, leaning back in his chair. “Shame what happened to his old lady though. Shelby’s brakes failed a few months ago.” He clicks his tongue. “Didn’t survive the crash. But Naomi is doing an excellent job of consoling the grieving widower.”
I blink, trying to process this. “Wait, Shelby? That doesn’t make any sense. She was one of Naomi’s attack dogs. When Kayla left me, Shelby was leading the harassment campaign. She did whatever Naomi wanted.”
“And yet,” Demon says, spreading his hands wide.
I shake my head in confusion. “You’re saying Naomi had something to do with Shelby’s crash? But why would she-“
“Do I have to spell it out for you?” Demon interrupts, irritation finally cracking his casual facade. “If the question is, ‘Why does Naomi?’ the answer is, ‘She’s fucking insane.’” He stands up and begins to pace. “I’ve been watching her for years. She doesn’t like competition, and everyone is disposable to her. Shelby wasn’t her only victim.”
A chill runs through me. “What do you mean?”
“Most of the old guard you would have known are gone,” Demon says. “The members who joined under your fatherand tried to stand against her. Some disappeared, some had unfortunate ‘accidents,’ and others just got pushed out.”
Steel. Wrench. Guzzler. Names and faces flash through my mind; they were all men who taught me, men I respected, men I abandoned when I walked away. Guilt turns my stomach sour. I should have protected them somehow.
Demon continues, his voice bringing me back to the present. “As for why she’s targeting Kayla?” He shrugs. “You rejected her for Kayla. You left the Rejects because of Kayla. You chose Kayla over the club. Over her.”
“And why now?” Dragon asks.
“If I had to guess, Atlas was keeping her on a tighter leash before,” Demon replies. “He’s many things, but he’s not stupid. He wouldn’t have wanted to risk problems with you.” He nods at Dragon. “But Atlas hasn’t been in the best health lately. According to my men inside the Rejects, it’s Naomi and her hand picked circle who are increasingly running the show.”
I straighten in my chair. “You have men inside the Rejects?”
Demon smirks. “I have men everywhere.”
“What exactly do you have on Naomi and the Rejects?” I press. “You’ve been hunting her for years. What’s your endgame?”
Something shifts in Demon’s expression. “Naomi has big dreams of making the Devil’s Rejects powerful. She wants to be feared. And in the last year, she found someone to help her make those dreams come true.”
“Who?” Gray demands.
Demon shrugs. “Not even I have been able to figure that out. But whoever it is pays very, very well. Naomi had been skimming off the top of the club businesses for years to fund her habits and lifestyle. But now she doesn’t need to.”
Dragon leans forward, his exhaustion momentarily forgotten. “What is this mystery person paying the Devil’s Rejects to do?”
“Storing things. Moving things. Selling things.”
“What kind of things?” I ask, already dreading the answer.
“Just the type of things that could get a person sent away for life,” Demon says casually. “Certain types of drugs. Weapons.” He pauses for effect. “People.”
Dragon jolts visibly, his eyes widening. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”