It’s why Cason lets my leash loose on certain club business sometimes.
“As long as you get results, and no one gets hurt. It’s fine with me,” he’s said so many times.
But this time, knowing there’s the matter of Rose as well as her dad, and the fact I skipped my duties yesterday.
Well. I know his curiosity’s been piqued.
We’re the same age, and Cason’s seen as much military action as I have, him having been a sniper. But I’ve always been covert ops. With most of us not even knowing who or what we were working with, just a mission’s end game as a directive.
With the MC though, and Cason at the helm, I gotta play it slightly differently.
I gotta share what I know and be ready for the whole team to help as required.
It’s what I like best about the Men of Valor MC. Having brothers I can trust, having a tribe I can see and talk to. Not just a piece of meat following orders.
Once Rose offers to go make us something to eat and drink, I hear back from Cason after making a call of my own.
He’s only wanting to know a little more about the one thing I let slip by not mentioning.
Rose.
“This, uh… Rose Maxwell?” he says, his voice sounding firm but friendly. Like he has a secret of his own.
“Yeah?” I reply, feeling my heart swell at the thought of her. Not liking it so much that her name’s on another man’s lips though, even if it is Cason.
“She uh… coping alright, not being with her dad I mean. Younger girl isn’t she? Twenty-something?” he asks, extra emphasis on the word coping.
Cason having done his homework as well as knowing me better than most, always hoping I’ll find someone and settle down soon.
“She’s coping,” I respond, keeping it professional. “I had her stay here for safety, those louts aren’t afraid to use their fists, so I’ve since found out,” I volunteer gruffly.
Cason murmurs in agreement. “And more than fists if they don’t get what they want. You be careful Thorn, eyes open,” he cautions me.
And my hands to myself?
I catch his meaning but it’s far too late for that.
“We’ve put a couple of our guys near the house,” Cason tells me, something I knew he’d do straight up.
“They’ll say hi to any visitors for us until we sort this mess out,” he adds.
Which leads me to my own updates for him.
“I got some friends too, checking the business names and details of those tax returns. Some people in the government are, shall we say very interested to look into it right away. No stain on Blake Maxwell’s career either. His work is instrumental in proving what they have planned.”
“Really, sounds peachy...” Cason says, leaving the sentence wide open. I can almost hear the smile on his face from the other end of the line.
“So another job well done, without even giving any free dental work to local scum?” I offer, feeling like it’s all wrapped up before it’s even happened.
But I know the real issue.
I know what Cason’s thinking as much as I know my own mind.
“Guess so,” he drawls again, and I wonder if he’s sore about me bailing on the appointment we’d set for the day before.
A problem trifling compared to Rose and her dad.
The problems it would cause in Valor long term.
“I would’ve done things a little different, Cason. If only…” I try to tell him, hearing myself stammer a little, Rose coming back into my office with a tray of coffee and sandwiches she’s made.
“I hear you, friend,” he says gently in my ear, well a gentle as a guff man like him can.
“And I feel you too. If things over there are just security, you looking after the young lady, well that’s fine,” he says with some satisfaction.
“And if it’s a little more than that?” I ask, almost defensively.
“Well… If it’s more than that. I hope you’ll both have me over for pot roast once all this is done,” he chuckles.
“Now, let the Men of Valor MC do their job and your spooks do theirs. You? Go enjoy yourself for a change, Thorn. You might even like it.”
“Well, I do have something to do… something has just come up,” I hear myself saying, watching Rose set the tray down, followed by the buttons on her shirt starting to pop across the floor in front of her.
A shirt of mine she’s wearing.
And nothing else.
Cason signs off, promising the Men of Valor MC have things well in hand as much as myself, and I look forward to an early lunch.
My new favorite meal.
Rose.
Chapter Eleven
Rose
I don’t know why I do it.
Okay, I know exactly why.
Thorn’s told me he’s taking care of business with my dad’s problem, and once I overhear him as I prepare us an early lunch, well.