Page 11 of Finn (Dirty Misfits MC 6)
Which just happened to be my parents’ old bedroom.
I hung back and leaned against the wall while Porter flicked through some bullshit powerpoint cast on a bare wall. I gazed out the window while Brooks and everyone else filled her in on all of the bullshit that had gone down up until this point while cautiously sidestepping the bullshit that would easily implicate us along with the Black Flags.
Until Tanner opened his fat fucking mouth.
“One thing you need to know about the operation we ran in The Body Shop is the fact that I didn’t know Summer worked there.”
Sloane slowly looked over at him. “What?”
Tanner nodded. “Yeah. I ran into her after all those years, but I had no idea she worked there. That’s how Summer and I reconnected, if you’re wondering.”
“Tanner,” Brooks warned.
Sloane placed her hand on her hip. “So, let me get this straight: you ran an illegal operation with firearms you probably didn’t purchase legally either, and you just so happened to run into my sister so you decided to rope her in on all of this?”
Tanner went to go speak, but I jumped in to try and salvage the fucking conversation.
“I’m not sure how much you know, but one of our own was beaten pretty badly by these guys. So much so that it put them in the hospital.”
Sloane turned to face me. “You gonna give me a name so I can get their account of what happened?”
I shook my head. “No, because it isn’t important. What’s important to know is that we knew what the crew was up to because of this person, so we went in and did what we could to get as much information to pass onto the police as possible.”
She scoffed. “So, I’m just supposed to believe that you’re working with the police in the area that just so happens to be dirty, according to what Summer’s told me?”
All of the guys looked around at each other as I nodded. “Yes, because that’s what happened. Believe it or not, cops like you use people like us all the time to do their dirty work. The local police wanted more info without blowing their own operation because they know that there are dirty rats involved. So, they circumvent the rats by using people like us so that when charges are brought forth, they can implicate these assholes as well as the dirty cops.”
I was lying through my fucking teeth, but I’d always had a hell of a poker face. It was how I kept the secret of Melody’s murder after all these years, and I knew I could sway any pig of a cop to my side so long as I kept eye contact.
Like my father always said, if you say something with confidence…
Sloane pointed at me before turning back to Summer. “I like him. Keep him on my detail.”
I rolled my eyes. “Great.”
Sloane continued. “I need to get hooked up with the local police so that I can get permission to operate within Santa Cruz borders. I’ve already been in contact with the chief, and I’m supposed to meet him in an hour. Got anywhere I can grab a quick bite before I head out?”
I shrugged. “There’s a kitchen downstairs, but don’t ask me to make you a sandwich.”
Sloane made her way for the door. “Someone email me that presentation. Thanks.”
“Well?” Tanner asked.
I looked over at him. “What?”
He nodded his head. “Go with her. It’s your job to look after her.”
“She’s going to get a sandwich.”
He nodded. “And then she’s leaving this house, which means you need to be with her.”
I rolled my eyes and pushed off of the wall. “Whatever.”
I jogged out after Sloane and followed her all the way to the kitchen. I watched as she opened cabinets and found what she needed to put together a basic ham and cheese sandwich, then she grabbed a soda from the cooler on top of the table. She cracked open the can and chugged it back, and I couldn’t help but watch as her throat bobbed with every swallow she took.
And after she crushed the can in her hand, she tossed it into the trash.
“I take it you’re my babysitter?” she asked.
I nodded. “Pretty much.”
“I take it you tried to tell them that I wouldn’t need one?”
I shrugged. “Pretty much.”
Her eyes looked me up and down. “And you know I don’t need anyone to go with me, right? Especially a prospect?”
I snickered. “Trust me, I don’t want to be here anymore than you want to be, but here I am, so let’s make the best of it. Wait, you know what a prospect is?”
She nodded before heading toward the front door. “I’m driving. Let’s go.”
I followed quickly after her. “You know that me being a prospect doesn’t mean I’m not capable of protecting you, right?”
