Evelyn's dream of securing a scholarship to America's top ballet school shattered when her mother was brutally murdered during her teenage years. Determined to make a difference, she became a detective, ready to take on the world. Assigned to invest...
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Evelyn sat anxiously in the back of a cab, her fingers twisting restlessly in her lap as the city blurred by outside the window. She had dressed in her old officer's uniform, the one outfit that made her feel the most confident. It wasn't confidence in the truest sense, it was armor. A mask she could hide behind. Watching the streets slip past, she reminded herself she needed that shield now more than ever. The driver kept sneaking glances at her in the rear-view mirror, his curiosity impossible to hide. At last, he cleared his throat and asked why a police officer would want to set foot in a place like that. Evelyn didn't bother with details. She simply replied that she had business there, her tone clipped, and after that the car fell into a heavy silence. When they finally reached the edge of the MC's territory, the cab slowed to a halt in front of a weathered metal sign. The driver shook his head firmly.
"Well, miss, this is as far as I go. No one sane drives into their territory." Evelyn bit down on the urge to snap at him. Did he really expect her to drag two heavy bags the rest of the way? It looked to be at least a kilometer, maybe more. Still, when she thought about it, she couldn't exactly blame him. If it weren't for the mission, she wouldn't drive in either. Not unless her life depended on it. Forcing herself into politeness, she paid the fare, hauled her bags out of the back seat, and started the long walk toward the main house. Her shoulders ached with the weight, the bags bumping against her back with every step, but irritation warred with reluctant admiration.
The place was undeniably beautiful. A thin layer of snow blanketed the ground, glittering like diamonds under the morning sun. Quaint houses dotted the distance, smoke curling lazily from their chimneys, while larger homes loomed closer to the heart of the territory. As she passed one, she caught sight of women peering out through frosted windows, their faces hard with disdain. The looks they gave her were as sharp as blades, as though she carried a disease. Evelyn clenched her jaw and quickened her pace, heat crawling up her neck. The sudden roar of bikes broke the fragile quiet, the sound vibrating in her chest. A cluster of riders tore past her, their engines growling, the stench of oil and exhaust mixing with the crisp sea air. One of them turned to glare at her, raising his middle finger high before speeding away. Rage surged hot and sharp through her veins. She hadn't wanted to be here in the first place, and the last thing she needed was attitude from a pack of men who knew nothing about her. If she could just get her hands on that idiot... she'd show him exactly what she was capable of...
The tang of salt filled her lungs as the wind shifted, carrying the scent of the ocean from somewhere nearby. Evelyn's irritation burned hotter with every step. The bikers were going to make her time here hell, she could already feel it. At the main house, Jax sat sprawled on the porch steps, waiting for the detective to arrive. Word had reached him that she was walking the last stretch alone, and the thought had made him smirk. By the time she reached them, she'd be an angry little hornet, buzzing and bristling. He found he almost looked forward to it. Beside him, the inner circle lounged, though their eyes were sharp with curiosity.
