I double down. “We delivered them exactly what they deserve.”
“Fuck you.”
“You sure you want to do that in front of an audience?” I glance at Slick, who clears his throat.
“And when did you leave the clubhouse?” Slick continues.
“I have no clue.” Her lower lip trembles. Sniffling, she clears her throat. “After working around the clock, my sense of time is usually off-kilter.”
I feel for her pain, but her people brought this on themselves. I’ll never regret putting down a threat to my family.
“Understandable, but if you had to guess.”
“A little after three o’clock,” she keeps things purposefully vague.
“And you noticed nothing strange?”
“Sir, I’m not sure if you’ve ever been to a motorcycle club the afternoon after a party, but everything is strange and out of sorts. When I walked in the door, the first thing I saw was a group of naked people passed out on the pool table. For reference.”
Slick clears his throat. “Right. The club is a boy’s club. Why did you have access?”
“Because I’m a nurse who moonlights as their fixer-upper for minor injuries and health and wellness checks.” The bitterness tinging her words is genuine.
What did they do to my sweet girl? Despite the lifestyle, she’d always walked around with stars in her eyes and big plans. There was an inherent sweetness at odds with her gruff father’s demeanor. I watched the light dim when she graduated high school. Her pursuit of a nursing degree reignited that spark inside her that drew me like a bee to honey.
“You mean to tell me they couldn’t go to the hospital?” Slick’s tone is condescending. He wrinkles his nose like he smells garbage.
“We all do things to make it easier for our family.”
“You want us to believe you’re an upstanding citizen on the straight and narrow, but we all know the things the Feral Wolves got up to.” Slick slams his palms down on the table. “You can drop the act.”
“There’s no act to drop. I wasn’t privy to whatever my father did in his spare time.”
“Do you even want us to catch the criminals who did this?”
“Of course, I do.” She snaps. “It’s your job to figure this out. Not me. If you continue to harass me, I’ll be contacting my lawyer. I have a funeral to plan. If you’re done with questions, I’d like to leave.”
Slick nods his head, humming his approval. “Excellent job. I assume you have a lawyer on retainer?”
“Yeah. The club’s lawyer.” She swipes at her eyes with the back of her hand.
“There’s not much more we can do except wait.” Slick leans back in the chair, and she turns to me.
“Can I please shower?” She bounces her leg up and down, vibrating the table. I nod.
“I’ll be in touch.” I stand, and she follows suit, trailing beside me.
Arms wrapped around herself; she seems even smaller than her actual five-foot-seven.
I grip the back of her neck and pull her to me. “You’re doing good. Keep it together until we get back to the room.”
Sniffing, Nadia nods.
I guide us through the club, ignoring the stares and smirks. They think she’s gaining safe passage with her body. As long as they don’t touch her, I could give a shit less.
“Little Nadia is all grown up. You in the market for a protector now, baby girl?” someone catcalls. Her spine stiffens.
“Her dance card is booked, assholes. Go find your own woman to harass.” I keep my tone light as I flip them the middle finger.