Page 95 of Crow
“If you know so much, then why areyousitting so far away?”
“Respecting your move. I didn’t want to make you feel uncomfortable.”
“I don’t,” she said, looking away. Crow had the most unnerving gaze—as if he could see right through her.
“Okay then.”
He stood up and sat down next to her, but not so close that his leg would touch hers.
“Want to talk about it?” He poured some tequila in the tumbler.
“There’s nothing to talk about—I’m just not ready.”
“I meant about finding Abe.”
All at once, Abe’s brutalized body flashed through Angie’s mind. She shrugged. “There’s not much to say except it was horrible. His throat was slit and—” Squeezing her eyes shut, she willed the images out of her brain.
“You don’t have to tell me the details unless you want to. Do the badges know anything?”
“I don’t know. I left after giving my statement. A boy who lives at the complex told me that his mom saw a guy roaming the third-floor halls the other night. He called himeldemonio—the shadow man. I guarantee whoever killed Abe is the same guy who’s been preying on those homeless guys.” She glanced up at Crow. “I just feel it, you know?”
“I agree. The fucker’s the same asshole.” He poured some more tequila in his glass. “And the fucking badges can’t find their ass with both hands. They’re useless.” He threw back the clear liquid.
“I’m sure they’ll find him. It takes time. But how many more men have to die? I can’t believe this is happening in Alina. If we were in a big city that’d be one thing, but this town is small, and everyone seems so friendly. I can’t believe someone who lives here is responsible for these horrible murders.”
“My first presumption is that you can’t trust anyone, then I go from there. Based on that, I’m sure it’s someone in town. You’d be surprised at how many assholes and psychos live here.”
“Now you’re scaring me.”
“You just need to be careful. People think a small town is some fucking safe, idyllic place, but it’s got its share of bullshit just like anywhere else. Predators bank on that false sense of security.”
“I forget you’re a biker. I’ve read that you guys aren’t open to many people.”
“We’ve learned that keeping to ourselves is the best policy. Nothing can match the brotherhood.”
She licked her lips and cocked her head to the side. “Nothing? Do you only trust the other men in your club? What about your family?”
“They’re my family.”
“But your sisters, your parents, your friends like Benny and Josh … and that other one.”
Crow laughed. “His name is Stu. You’re confusing love with trust.”
“But if you love someone, don’t you trust them?”
“I guess. I tried that, and it didn’t work out too well.”
“That’s one time. What about your parents? Wouldn’t you trust them with your life and defend them with yours?”
“Yeah.” He shook his head. “It’s hard to explain what the brotherhood means to a citizen. They never get it. I’m close to Josh, Benny, and Stu—we grew up together back in Mesa. Do I consider them family? No. Would I trust that they’d have my back no matter what? Not really. Do I trust Eagle, Scorpio, Aztec, or any of the guys in the brotherhood with my life? Absolutely. That’s just the way it is.”
“It must be comforting to know you have such strong support from a group of people. I have that with my family as long as I play according to their rules. They treat me like I’m a twelve-year-old.”
“What about your mom? Is she still in the picture?”
Angie leaned back against the armrest. “She died when I was in high school. Cancer.”
“Fuck, I’m sorry. That sucks big time. It’s hard not having a mom in your life.”
