Page 73 of Fly's Path

“Fly, good to see you. Havoc called after you did.”

Havoc always backs us up in any way he can.

Maddox walks towards me. “He told me you were concerned about the safety of one of your men.”

“I am. There’s a loose end I need to tie up.” I hold out a hand for him to shake.

He takes it with a firm grip. “And you need my help to do it.”

“Yup. Though I think I already know the answer to my question.”

“Then why bother asking?” He lets go and steps back.

“I don’t like loose ends. Once I’ve verified that it isn’t one, I can move on.” And focus my attention on Sheri and our first date.

Where am I going to take her? Because my mind keeps telling me to bring her back to my place and cuddle up with her, letting her fall asleep in my arms exactly like she told me she wanted. That would be the boldest first date ever. But I need her to know I respect her. To know that I’m serious.

How serious am I about her? Because the first date sets the entire tone for the future.

“I need something from you in exchange for this information you’re looking for.”

Nothing in life is free. “What do you need?”

“Has Havoc told you what we do here?”

In the vaguest of terms. “You take care of kids.”

Maddox nods. “It’s a bit more than that. We do everything we can to make sure abandoned and abused kids have every chance to live a normal life.”

That’s more than noble. What would I have done if this place had existed when I was a kid?

“That involves more than a roof over their heads, food on the table, and an education.”

Makes sense.

“Sometimes we run into a child that doesn’t fit the normal paths we have set up for success.”

There are always people who live on the outskirts of normal. “And?”

“Then we need to think outside of the box. We need to find someone special to mentor them in a way that helps them to become the best version of themselves.”

“That’s logical, but I don’t see what that has to do with me.”

“From what I’ve heard about you, you have some…unique skills and a determination to protect your brothers, whatever it takes.”

What does he know about my skills? My brothers barely understand the full scope of what I can do. “So?”

“I’d like you to meet someone.”

Maddox is giving me some really bad vibes.

He walks over and presses a button on his desk. “Send Jett in.”

What? I’m here to talk about Lola, not meet a teenage brat.

In walks a teenager. He’s about as happy to be here as I am, with his head tucked down and his hoodie pulled up covering his eyes.

The kid is on the thin side and kind of short.