Page 37 of Brooks (Dirty Misfits MC 1)
I knew what it sounded like when someone was trying to get out of earshot, and Raven was trying to do just that. So, I walked her over to the rugged set of steps Hyde had built for the club one day to easily get down to the private beach that was otherwise inaccessible. The ocean breeze kicked up, wafting through my hair and tossing the smell of her body spray in my direction. And as I drew in long, silent breaths, I ushered her out onto the beach.
Before she finally started talking. “Chops was out on the porch when I was attempting to sneak out.”
I nodded. “And?”
She peeked over her shoulder up at the clubhouse. “Put on a smile and I’m going to lean against you.”
I did as she asked. “Someone watching?”
She leaned her head against my arm. “Chops.”
The hairs on the nape of my neck stood on end. “Maybe we should go back to your place. Just to pick up some things for you if you’re going to stay here.”
“And there’s no reason to fear the Black Flags coming back since the police were called out.”
“We could take the back way in. No one would even see me.”
Her voice lowered to such a soft whisper that I had to strain to hear her. “I know you don’t understand now, but we need to stay at my place. Not here. I promise it’ll make sense once we can talk.”
I nodded slowly, lowering my voice to match hers. “Then, I’m staying at your place to protect you in case anyone comes back.”
“What is Chops—”
“You leave Chops to me,” I growled, “you just focus on getting your words together. Because when we get back to your place, I want to know what the fuck’s going on.”
She nodded. “All right, let’s wave off toward the horizon, then get back on up there.”
I watched her wave and mocked her movements, repeating the action from Gage’s memorial service that I never got to attend. He had been cremated and sent off on a small paper boat out into the ocean before a small timed firework went off. It sent the boat up in smoke, let his ashes naturally spread along the saltwater he loved so much, and gave him the Viking sendoff he always thought was cool as fuck.
Then, we turned together and made our way back up to the clubhouse.
And all the while, Chops watched our movements like a fucking hawk.
Eighteen
Raven
I stood around the corner while Chops and Brooks talked. And I could tell by the tones of their voices that the conversation got heated at times. Chops was upset that we came and went when the whole point was to shroud me away until I was safe, and Brooks insisted that I’d be much safer at my place with someone watching over me. Brooks used my job as an excuse: I couldn’t just take that kind of time off. I didn’t have those kinds of benefits. And with Gage not around to reap the benefits of Chops’ “alternative jobs”—whatever the hell that meant—money was tight.
Things weren’t that bad, but playing it up to Chops apparently worked.
Because he let us go freely and without further questioning.
The ride back to my place was silent. I clung to Brooks and kept my head on a swivel, wondering if Chops was having us followed. I didn’t doubt it for a second, but what I really craved was to know who the hell was on the other end of that phone call.
“All right,” Brooks said as we walked into my townhome, “time to talk.”
I locked the front door behind me. “You hungry?”
He shook his head. “After we talk.”
“Then, let’s a least get some coffee.”
“Raven,” he said curtly.
I sighed as I made my way into the kitchen. “When I was sneaking out, I found Chops on the side porch talking on his cell phone to someone.”
“All right, and?”
I started making a pot of coffee. “And what he was saying on the phone didn’t sound very good.”
“Who was he talking to?”
I put water in the pot. “That’s the thing, I’ve got no idea. I wish I did, though. What he was saying didn’t sound very good.”
Brooks leaned against the countertop while I worked. “Tell me, verbatim, what he said. And leave nothing out.”
I licked my lips. “The first time I heard him speak, he said ‘of course they didn’t go for the idea.’”
“What idea?”
I shrugged. “I’ve got no clue. But that’s what he said. He kept trying to talk after that, but I guess the voice on the other end of the line was interrupting him? Anyway, when he got the chance to speak again, he said ‘I told you these guys are a bunch of pussies. I’ve got this. Don’t go questioning me just because things backfired.’”
I looked over at Brooks and found him fuming. “What else?”
