Chapter Three.

Demon was sitting outside the motel waiting and watching for Lacy to run, he knew she would. Knew she didn't have a choice. His phone ringing drew him from his thoughts.

"Hello?"

"We've got a body. One of Laurel's men." Wolf said.

"And?"

"Ivan thinks Lacy did it."

"Why would he think that?"

"If you'd see the body, you'd know. They were tortured and I'd be lying if I said it didn't look like a job you or Lacy would do."

"So what do you want me to do?"

"Meet me at the docks, look at the body see what you think. If Lacy is taking out our allies we'll have to act immediately and permanently."

Demon glanced back at the motel, he'd tracked Lacy down once and he could do it again. "I'll meet you there."

He hung up and started his bike with a heavy sigh and one last look at the motel.

"What the hell are you doing Lacy?" He asked out loud.

Years ago Laurel had been the right hand and Vice President of the MC the Trojans. Her husband Ivan had been the president and a direct descendent from the clubs founder. They'd seemed to be making the dream work when one day Laurel had left. She filed for divorce and everyone in the Biker world had been shocked when Ivan had granted it without a fight.

In most cases she'd have been exiled at best, ran out of town and warned never to return. Possibly killed if the boss ordered it. Ivan had done neither, he simply signed the papers and that was it. Laurel stuck around and started her own club, she also developed a hell of a reputation for being ruthless and handling her own business.

Neither the Animals nor the Trojans had any problems with her club, but they'd never been allies either. When the war broke out between the Aces and Trojans the Animals had assisted the Trojans. Laurel and her crew had stayed uninvolved until a few weeks ago when six of her men were gunned down by the Aces. Obviously done because of her prior relationship with the head of the Trojans.

Laurel had gotten involved and her crew had as well, backing the Trojans and Animals. If Lacy was working for the aces and Demon hoped she wasn't then it was possible she had acted on Kings behalf and killed some of Laurels men. He'd know once he saw the body if Lacy had committed the crime or not.

He drove to the docks and parked next to his brothers bikes, Ty, Zeke and Wolf were already inside. A few yards away sat four more bikes but the only one he recognized was Ivans. He swung from his seat and walked into the building. He just closed the door behind him when he felt the blow to his cheek.

"Bastard!" A tiny blonde raged.

"Laurel!" Ivan called out.

"Because of you one of my men is dead!" She lunged at him again.

"Laurel!" Ivan caught her around the waist holding back her slight frame.

"You promised me! You promised me he was going to take care of her! You promised!" She yelled shoving Ivan away from her.

"What the hell?" Demon asked, side stepping another vicious slap.

"Lacy, we were all under the impression you were going to handle it." Ivan said.

"I am handling it."

"Then why is my man dead?" She asked.

"I don't know, but depending on when it happened it couldn't have been Lacy."

"All we want is you to look and see if you think it was her," Wolf said, speaking for the first time.

Demon glanced at Laurel who was glaring back at him but seemed to calm down, Ivan was watching her warily. As he crossed the floor to wear a body lay on his stomach he could feel every pair of eyes on him, even his brothers.

He reached the body, a man, mid to late thirties and at least twice Lacys size. Using the tip of his boot he rolled the body over onto his back, Laurel let out an involuntary whimper and turned away. The Mans fingerprints had been burned off, teeth pulled out, just like he always showed Lacy to do. His face was a beaten, bloodied mess and his left hand clutch one long tendril of white, blonde hair.

"That's her hair, there's no doubt about it." Zeke said.

Demon bent down and pulled the hair from the mans grip, the satin extension sliding through his fingers.

"It's fake, it's not real hair." He said.

"What does that mean?" Ivan asked.

"That it wasn't Lacy but someone wanted to be damn sure we'd think it was."

"You can't be sure," Ty said.

"Yes, I can. Lacy doesn't have cheap fake hair and she wouldn't leave any trace of her behind."

"How can we be sure you're not lying?" Laurel asked.

Under normal circumstances he'd be angry at the implication he couldn't be trusted, but it was a viable question. He'd only be lying if he said he hadn't considered covering for Lacy.

"It'd be easy to lie to you and tell you she didn't do this, hell I might have even done it but I don't have to because this wasn't Lacy."

"You're positive?" Wolf asked.

"I'd bet my patch on it."

"It had to be the Aces, they're the only other crew who would have a reason to take out one of our men." Ivan said.

"And want to make Lacy look guilty," Zeke added.

Laurel wrapped her arms around herself, seeming to calm down slightly. Demon didn't blame her for being so shook up, one of her own men was tortured to death.

"If you don't need me for anything else, I have a biker to try and track down."

"I'll walk you out," Wolf offered.

Demon and Wolf left the others still standing around the body, Ivan standing near Laurel but not touching her. His constant hovering spoke volumes to anyone who was watching him.

Wolf and Demon stepped outside and started to walk towards their bikes.

"Demon, I didn't anticipate how difficult this might be for you."

"It's not."

"When the time comes, and I give the order to have her taken out....can you honestly say you'll be able to do it and live with yourself?"

Demon paused and then swung onto his bike with a heavy sigh, he was closer with Lacy than anyone else and it might not bother him at first but it would later. When he first got the order he'd go into autopilot like he always did and carry it out to the fullest, when he came down from the high he knew it would be hard to even breathe.

"I made her, I brought her into this life. It's only fair I finish it."

"Nobody would blame you or think less of you, if you didn't."

"What's the other option?"

"I can call Raphael."

"No, not him. I'll take care of it."

"It's an option, Demon."

"No, it's not."

"Okay, but if I think you're not up to the task and I give the order. I will call him."

"I will take care of it, I give you my word."

"Fine," Wolf said with a heavy sigh.

Demon started his bike and pulled onto the street, he knew Wolf meant well by offering him an out but he refused to let Raphael anywhere near Lacy.

Raphael was a mercenary, he didn't belong to any club in particular. He traveled all over America and when a club called he always came. On his jet black bike he'd ride into town and whomever he was instructed to take care of would disappear.

His job wasn't much different from Demons, except Raphael never left a body. When Demon was done they'd be disfigured but could be returned to a loved on, Raphael didn't leave a trace. He barely spoke and had no loyalties, he could work for a club one day and kill their leader a next if paid to do so. His face and body were scarred and even the toughest men feared him, nobody knew how he killed his victims but it was likely painful, Demon didn't want that for Lacy.

Raphael didn't know Lacy, didn't know who she used to be. He didn't now her favorite color, or how much she loved that damn cat, didn't know she liked to drive way to fast and listen to music way too loud. He didn't know she was once a great club member, a friend, a partner to another man. Didn't know that she was allergic to bananas or that she preferred vanilla over chocolate.

Raphael would only see her as a mark, as body. As someone to make disappear and then do the same himself. He didn't know her like Demon did, Demon refused to let him be the one to take care of her. He would do it himself, no matter how hard it was, he'd do it because he's the only one he trusted to make it quick and painless.

After he would give her a proper and decent burial, she didn't have family but she deserved to be recognized. Even if the club wouldn't recognize her as a member.