“Ah, yes.” Wrath shoots a smug grin across the table at Murphy. “Sounds like a job for our support club.”
“Fuck yeah.” Murphy sits up, eager and bright-eyed, apparently thrilled at the chance to redeem himself. “They’re not officially affiliated with anyone. No ink connecting them to us. Juvie records are sealed. They already live close to Grinder, so it’s not weird if they’re at his apartment—”
“Uh, I don’t know them, so it might be weird,” I point out.
Ignoring me, Murphy continues selling the idea to Rock. “Griff and Remy already work out at Sully’s place, so they won’t raise any red flags. Eraser will be down to help. Vapor too, if anyone can track his ass down.”
“Since when do we have a support club?” I ask.
“We don’t. Yet,” Teller answers.
“We’re reeling them in slow,” Dex adds.
“Slower than molasses in January,” Rock grumbles.
Teller raises an eyebrow. “You’re not even a hundred percent on board with them as support. Haven’t come out with us to vet them once.”
Damn, Teller must be itching to have his ass kicked tonight.
Rock slowly tilts his head in Teller’s direction. “What are you, my activities coordinator now?”
“I’m just—”
“Because I don’t recall asking for your opinion—”
Wrath raises his hand to cut Rock off. “I vetted Remy and Griff plenty when we were in Virginia.” He lifts his chin at Murphy. “Murphy, Dex, Rooster, Jiggy, Ice—”
“I don’t think Ice is gonna offer up a glowing recommendation for Remy,” Murphy says.
Wrath blows out a whatever breath. “Because of Anya?”
Murphy tips his head down and snort-laughs. “You didn’t witness it.”
Rock knocks on the table. “Stay on track. You trust them or not?”
“You know I trust Vapor, full stop,” Dex says.
“Yeah, he’s solid,” Rock agrees.
“Jake will help out too.” Wrath lifts his chin at me. “Sully’s brother.”
“I met him.” At least Jake would look the part of a bodyguard. Who knows about these other guys. I trust my brothers’ judgment though. “You realize it’s gonna look weird that a bunch of younger guys are rotating in and out of my apartment, right?”
Teller smirks. “No one’s judging in that building.”
“Just say you’re mentoring them on the dangers of a criminal lifestyle,” Rock suggests with his own smirk.
“Fucker.” I rumble with laughter.
As much as I hate dragging my club toward trouble, at least I’m not dealing with this alone.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Grinder
“You tell Serena to steer clear of your place?” Wrath asks.
“Weather did it for me.” And hadn’t that hurt like hell. Telling her not to come over because of the fuckin’ snow. As if I wouldn’t have driven to Empire and taken her home with me the second she said she wanted to come over. Until I have a handle on this situation, I need her to stay away.
“Sorry, brother.”
“Ready?” Dex claps my back. He insisted on following me home.
“Yeah, let’s go. Don’t wanna miss officer punch card if he shows up.”
Wrath scowls. “You sure you don’t want us to—”
“No. I don’t wanna do anything to draw more attention to me. Hopefully he’ll get bored and bother someone else.”
His bottom lip twists as if he’s not convinced.
“I mean it, Wrath. I know you want to help but don’t disrespect me by going behind my back.”
He nods once. “All right, brother. But keep me up-to-date.”
“Will do,” I promise, convinced he’ll keep his word.
The drive to my apartment feels longer than usual. Maybe I’m being too cautious. When I was younger, I would’ve said ‘fuck it’ and stayed at the clubhouse and thumbed my nose at parole.
Now, I understand how much is at stake.
Freedom shouldn’t be taken for granted. Learned that lesson the painful way. And I don’t plan to repeat it.
I’m hyperaware of the entire landscape as I pull into the parking lot behind my building. I scan each vehicle. Nothing seems out of place or unusual. Dex backs his truck into a space on the other side of the parking lot and shuts off his headlights. Pretending not to notice him, I go inside.
No one’s waiting outside my apartment and nothing seems amiss. I step inside and send Dex a message. A few minutes later, he knocks on my door.
“Did you search the place?” he asks.
“For what?” I frown at him. “No one’s been in here.”
He cocks his head, a disapproving scowl pinching his face.
“Go ahead.” I sweep my hand toward the living room. “Not much to search.”
While he prowls through the place, I put on a pot of coffee, smiling when my gaze lands on the sweetener I’d picked up for Serena. My phone buzzes and I pull it out.
Serena: Home safe. Miss you.
Me: Just thinking about you.
There’s another knock at the door. I set my phone on the counter.
“I got it,” Dex says, hurrying to greet our guest.
“You know I can handle myself, right?” I ask.
Ignoring me, Dex opens the door and invites whoever it is inside.