“Yes.” He gently tugged her from the room, the size of his hand overwhelming hers in a way that tightened her girly parts.
She stumbled and quickly regained her footing, her breath heating. Even with her knocked out, he’d ridden a motorcycle and had managed to control the bike and her. Just how strong was Kellach Dunne? “You’re crazy.”
“You’re not the first to say so.” He ushered her down a long hallway to the main bar area of the club and toward the double door. The stench of old beer filled her nostrils. A guy snored on a far couch with a scantily dressed woman on top of him, also out cold.
She pulled on her hand. “Those were good shoes, and they weren’t mine, damn it.” She’d borrowed them from another cop, and she didn’t have the money to replace them. “Any idea where we lost them?”
He tightened his hold and shoved open the door. “Nope.”
Darn it. She stumbled across the entryway. The clubhouse was one of three buildings forming a square with two massive garages. The yellow taxicab had parked in the center. Several bikes were lined up in front of a half-opened garage door. Pyro, the president of the club, slowly wiped down his Harley, his hard gaze on her.
She fought a shiver. He had a rap sheet longer than the line of bikes, and he’d done time more than once, being well known for a hot temper, hence the nickname. He’d been the president of the club for the last ten years, leading it into more drug and firearm running, and who knew what else. If he was creating or distributing the new drug on the streets, she was going to take him down. She met his gaze levelly, trying to appear in control, even biting back a wince as her bare toe scraped a rock.
Kellach glanced down at the asphalt and then at her bare feet. “Hold on.” Ducking, he lifted her, tucking her against a chest harder than steel and chiseled like granite.
She swallowed, once again struck by the sense of being delicate. Fragile. Intrigue flashed through her. “Put me down.”
“No.” He strode across the square toward the taxi as if not taking note of her weight. Finally, he opened the back door of the cab and set her town. Small rocks rolled across the bottom of her feet.
Pyro strolled over with a greasy lug wrench in his left hand. “Detective Monzelle. I’ve pictured you in a dress like that, leaving Fire just like this.”
Lex met his gaze evenly, noting the beer belly protruding over his greasy jeans. If she had a file on him, it figured he had a file on her. “I’ve pictured you in orange with shackles around your ankles.”
He smiled, showing a cracked front tooth. “Kinky. I like that.”
She had to regain control and now. “I’m sure you’ll see kinky in the joint. All sorts of kink.”
Red fused over Pyro’s cheek. He moved toward her, and her legs tensed in anticipation.
Without warning, Kell shoved her into the taxi. She landed on her side, fury rippling through her. Son of a bitch. He’d moved to intercept Pyro, damn it. If Pyro had made contact, she could’ve arrested him finally, and Kellach had thought to save her? Idiot.
Planting her hand on the torn seat, she jumped from the taxi. “Kellach Dunne, you’re under arrest for kidnapping, battery, and assault.” She glared up into his calm face. The battery charge could actually be made, considering he’d shoved her, and he certainly deserved it, trying to get her out of Pyro’s way. “Come with me to the station to answer some questions, and maybe we can forget about actually booking you.”
“Fuck it, Dunne,” Pyro hissed. “I told you not to bring a cop here, and you said you’d handle it.” He stepped closer, the wrench handle clenched in one beefy fist.
Kellach held up a hand. “You’re not serious,” he muttered.
“I am.” She lifted her chin. “In fact, if you don’t come with me, I’ll have SWAT here in an hour to do a full sweep.” She’d have to fudge some facts, but to raid the Fire facilities? Yeah. She’d do it. “Your choice.”
Fire flashed in Kellach’s eyes in the first real show of emotion he’d allowed to slip free. “You sure you wanna take me on, little blond woman?”
Oh, fuck that. She’d dealt with dangerous drug dealers while still playing with Barbies. “Get your ass in the cab.” She jumped in and scooted over. The man would learn she could fight her own battles, and maybe by taking him in, she could finally get some answers.
Bringing him to the station in a cab wasn’t her first choice, but she had to do something before he disappeared back to Ireland. At the moment, he was the only lead she had for the drugs and the new weapons. “Or back away so I can go suit up with SWAT.”