My eyebrows rose in surprise. “Just a tip? You didn’t have any physical evidence tying the guns to the Raiders besides the tip?”

Peterson crossed his arms over his chest. “Would you like to tell me what you were doing there? Considering the spectacle between you and Bishop Malloy, I’m pretty sure you weren’t there in an official capacity.”

After jerking a hand through my hair, I sighed. “A week after Gavin’s murder I went to see Bishop. We’ve been talking every day since then.”

“Just talking?”

“This past weekend it became more.”

“Just exactly how much more?”

I threw up my hands. “I’m in love with him, okay? Somehow along the way as I was getting to know him, I fell in love.” Although I hated myself for it, my bottom lip quivered as I added, “And now he despises me.”

Peterson exhaled loudly. “How is it possible you fell for a man that you hated so much? Have you forgotten his involvement in Gavin’s death?”

I shook my head. “That’s just it. He’s not who I originally thought he was. None of the Raiders are.” At Peterson’s skeptical look, I continued. “Yes, at one time they did partake in illegal activity. But then they lost several of their members to violence, and then Deacon became a father and wanted a better, safer life for his daughter. Those factors made them choose to go legitimate. Because I spent so much time with them, I know they’re innocent.”

“If they are innocent, how do you explain the guns in their warehouse?”

“They were framed.”

Peterson scoffed as he leaned back against his desk. “I usually appreciate conspiracy theories, but I’m not in the mood today.”

“Bishop told me that there were members of their organization who weren’t happy with them going legitimate. He said they were the ones who orchestrated the shooting in Virginia. I think whoever has this bad blood wanted to get back at Bishop and the others, so they planted the guns there and then called the tip in to you guys.”

Scratching his chin, Peterson appeared thoughtful. “And where does this animosity for the Raiders come from?”

“I think it somehow all goes back to that deal with the Rodriguez cartel. I think that the Raiders wanted out of the gun business as part of going legitimate, so they gave their gun trade to the cartel. Then someone didn’t like getting cut out of the guns.”

“That’s an interesting theory, but do you think you can prove it?”

My heartbeat thundered loudly in my chest. “If you give me a chance, I can.”

“You do realize what a chance you’re taking on this case? If it falls apart, your career is over.”

While my stomach twisted at the prospect of never rising through the ranks at the ATF, I knew that I had to do everything within my power to see that Bishop and the others weren’t falsely imprisoned. “I am aware of what could happen.”

Peterson stared me down for a few seconds before he turned and walked back around the side of the desk. As he sat back down in his chair, I couldn’t help holding my breath in anticipation. “Look, I know you’ve had a hell of a time since Gavin’s death, but never would I have expected you to go so far as to hook up with Malloy.” When I started to defend myself, Peterson raised a hand to keep me quiet. He got up again, then paced around in front of the desk as if he was searching for the right words. “I’ve always trusted your instinct, Vargas. Always. You’ve never given me any reason not to. If you’re willing to go out on a limb, then you have my support.”

I wheezed out the breath I had been holding. “Really?”

Peterson nodded. “I hope you realize how fucking hard it’s going to be on me to get you the resources you need.”

“I know it’s going to be tough.”

“It sure as hell is. I’m going to be jumping through hoops like a damn dog.”

I smiled at Peterson. “Thank you. I promise I won’t let you down.”

“You better not, because it’ll be both our asses on the line. You’ve got forty-eight hours to get your shit together before they are arraigned. That’s the best chance we have of getting the charges dropped.”

Although anxiety threatened to choke me, I bobbed my head at Peterson. “I’ll get right on it.” I whirled around and headed for the door. “Thanks again, Peterson.”

He gave me a small smile. “You’re welcome. And good luck.”

NINETEEN

SAMANTHA

Although I had been on a lot of dangerous missions in my career, I had never felt the bone-deep level of fear that I did as I pulled into the parking lot of the Raiders compound. With trembling hands, I turned the car off and threw open the door. My shaking knees barely supported me as I made my way to the front door. The immense fear that I felt didn’t come from the fact that I was facing down drug lords or gang leaders. No, I was about to piss my pants because I was going to talk to the Raiders women.

For the first time ever, there weren’t any guys guarding the door. I had to wonder if they had been brought in as well or if they were lying low because of what had happened. My stomach churned as I jerked open the door and stepped inside.

When the door slammed shut behind me, every pair of eyes in the room was on me. It took about two seconds for Kim to come charging at me, her nostrils flaring like a bull. “You got a lot of fucking nerve coming here!”

I held my hands up in front of me. “I know I do. But I need to talk to you guys.”