Page 16 of Sly (Dragon Riders MC 5)
“And if you come around here again looking for Tara, I’m going to—”
I waved my hand in the air as I backed away. “Yeah, yeah, yeah. Leave the tough talk for the men, prospect.”
I high-tailed it down the stairs before I took one last look up at the apartment. And I could’ve sworn I saw something moving around behind the curtains. I narrowed my eyes as Chains approached the railing of the third story that housed his apartment, yet that shadow continued to move around inside.
Tara was in there.
Or possibly a federal agent.
I licked my lips as I slung my leg over my motorcycle. Then, I tore off for the Iron Horse. I had to talk to the guys, and quickly. I had to tell them about Tara’s slip-up on our date. I had to tell them about my suspicions.
I also had to tell them that I was in no shape to lead the charge on this thing.
Tara’s compromised me.
I barged in through the front door. “Link!”
He turned away from the bar. “Sly! Hey there. We were just—”
I stormed up to him. “We need to talk. Now.”
His eye twitched before he let out a screeching whistle, bringing the entire bar to a halt. Everyone looked at us as he studied me, and all I did was give him the softest nod.
Letting him know that it was urgent.
“Church!” Link exclaimed.
Bootfalls rustled around in every dark corner. Bowser, in the back room trying to pull out things to stock; Knuckles, in a corner booth with a drink; and Ash, charging down the back hallway from one of the offices.
They all gathered around us before Link nodded his head.
“My office. Now,” he said.
We all followed him back as the rustling of the bar slowly got back underway. And pretty soon, the dull roar of lunch rush covered our muffled voices back in Link’s office. As far as anyone was concerned, we were having an owner’s meeting.
Though, this was anything but.
“All right,” Link said as he crossed his arms, “spill.”
I drew in a deep breath. “I think I know how to prove that Chains is federal.”
Ash blinked. “I’m sorry, you what?”
I shook my head. “I’m telling you, this man isn’t a prospect. He’s a federal agent. The timing is much too conspicuous and it’s—”
Link interjected. “Tell me you’ve got something more than timing to back up that statement.”
I snickered. “I’m surprised you guys don’t have this theory already rocking around.”
Bowser stepped up beside me. “Actually, I’ve been a bit worried about the same thing.”
Link gawked. “And when the fuck were you going to bring this to my attention?”
Bowser shrugged. “When I had proof. You’ve got proof, right?”
I nodded. “I’ve got things we can run down to find that proof, yes.”
Link licked his lips. “Fine. Get on with it. What are we running down?”
I grinned. “A name.”
Knuckles’ eyebrows rose. “You’ve got a name for this joker?”
I held up my finger. “A potential name. So, if you take a look at Chains and the girl he brought to the poker game, Tara? Their facial structures are much too similar to be anything other than related. So, I took her out on a date this past Saturday, and I figured out that Chains is her brother.”
Link paused. “You took his sister out on a date?”
Knuckles chuckled. “Way to go, Sly.”
I shook my head curtly. “Not the point. Her name is Tara Langley. I’ve been getting her voice message for a few days because Chains charged our date and whisked her away before anything could get started.”
Ash smiled. “You always knew how to start trouble.”
“Again, not the point. The point is, her last name is ‘Langley’ and when we were talking about Chains on our date? She almost called him a name that started with a ‘B.’”
Link narrowed his eyes. “And you’re sure of this?”
I nodded. “I’d stake my life on it. She said ‘B-Chains’. His last name is ‘Langley,’ and his first name starts with a ‘B’.”
Ash shrugged. “More than what I’d need to find the son of a bitch.”
Link pointed at him. “Then, do it. And do a background look into Tara while you’re at it.”
I held out my hand. “Whoa, whoa, whoa. Why’s that necessary?”
Bowser furrowed his brow. “Are you saying it isn’t?”
Link scoffed. “What if she’s the one pulling the strings? It wouldn’t be the first time we ran into a woman who double-crossed us for other reasons.”
I growled. “She’s not like that. She’s innocent in all of this.”
Ash placed his hand on my shoulder. “Then, I’ll find the proof. You know that.”
I looked up at him before shrugging his touch off. “There isn’t anything to find. So, if you want to waste your time doing that, then have at it.”
Bowser looked at me quizzically. “Why didn’t you tell us you were going on this date?”
