Outlaw Revenge (Back Down Devil MC #1)(22)

It was early afternoon when the office secretary, Janine, came to Emily’s desk. She was in her late fifties and dressed like a grandmother. She had beads dangling from her glasses and wore them on the end of her nose. The funny thing about Janine though was that if she rolled up her sleeves, she was tattooed shoulder to wrist. She had once been an old lady to the VP of a MC that shut down years ago. She could never force herself to leave the life, even if it meant being a secretary for an escort business.

“Someone is coming for you,” Janine said.

“For me?” Emily asked. She instantly thought of Gaige. She scrambled to find her phone but there was no message from Gaige.

“They’re in a helicopter,” she said. “Said he landed his jet twenty minutes ago and got in his helicopter.”

“Who would…?”

“Are you working out of office now?” Janine asked and smiled. She put a hand to her chest. “Not that I’m judging. My goodness, Emily, if I had your body, I would be out there working it.”

“I’m not out of office,” Emily said. “Did he leave his name?”

Emily gripped her phone tight, ready to call for Gaige if need be.

“He just said he was Mr. S.”

“Mr. S.? Who…” Emily gasped and lost her breath. “Mr. S.”

“Know him?”

Emily nodded. “It’s okay. I’ll be okay. It’s all okay.”

“Are you sure? You look pale.”

“No,” Emily said. She forced herself to smile. “Just someone I haven’t seen in a while. A family friend.”

“Okay. Well, I’ll let you know when he arrives.”

Emily stood up. “I’ll just wait outside.”

She had to get out of the office. The room suddenly felt too small. As she charged through the office, she hurried into the bathroom for a quick stop. Barely making it to the sink, she threw up everything she had eaten for breakfast back at the clubhouse with Gaige. Her eyes burned and when she looked at herself in the mirror she knew she needed to clean up and act cool.

Mr. S. was coming.

Mr. S. as in Mr. Strokner. Rachel’s father.

What does he know?

It was the question that burned in Emily’s mind as she washed her face, took a deep breath, and left the bathroom. She put her cell to her ear to make it like she was talking so she could get out of the office without anyone bothering her. The moment she stepped outside she heard the sound of the helicopter. She spotted the black dot in the distance and watched as it grew closer and closer until it finally dropped down to the open strip behind the building.

The engine was shut off and came to a whining end. The side door opened and out stepped Rachel’s father, the powerful Bob Strokner. He owned real estate across the country and even across the world. He was loaded with a ton of money and a nasty attitude. The second Emily saw him she wished Gaige was there with her. Then again, bikers and Mr. Strokner would be gas and fire, for sure.

Emily held a straight face the best she could as Mr. Strokner approached her.

“Mr. Strokner,” Emily said. “This is a surprise.”

His face was drawn. His eyes intent on Emily. “Haven’t you heard yet?”

“Heard…?”

Emily felt her body sweating. She needed to hold the lie together.

“Oh, Emily,” Mr. Strokner said. He sighed and offered his hand.

Emily took it. “What’s wrong?”

“When was the last time you spoke to Rachel?”

“I, uh, yesterday,” Emily said. “She stopped by my apartment. She, uh… is something wrong?”

Mr. Strokner nodded. “There is.” He looked at the building and swallowed hard. “Did Rachel ever come here with you?”

“Here? No. She actually doesn’t know I work here. It’s not the most flattering job. I told her I was in school. I’m sorry I lied to her. How did you…?”

“I find out everything I need,” Mr. Strokner said. “Emily, I need you to get into the helicopter with me. Please.”

Emily knew she shouldn’t go with Mr. Strokner, but what choice did she have? She couldn’t reveal that she knew the fate of Rachel. So Emily walked with Mr. Strokner and got into the helicopter. When Mr. Strokner leaned forward to the pilot she feared he was going to order the helicopter be started. Instead, Mr. Strokner told the pilot to take a break. He exited the helicopter and then Emily was alone with Mr. Strokner.

“I have to tell you something,” Mr. Strokner said.

“Okay,” Emily said.

“Rachel was shot yesterday.”

“Shot?”

“Multiple times. She’s… gone…”

Gone.

Emily shut her eyes and felt the pain swell in her stomach.

“Gone?”

“Murdered.”

Emily’s eyes welled with tears. She was finally able to openly cry for good reason. This only sold the lie more to Rachel’s father. He pulled a small cloth from his suit jacket and handed it to her.

“You know why this happened?” he asked.

“No. She never mentioned any problems to me. How…?”

“This wasn’t an accident,” Mr. Strokner said. “I have the report already.”