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“Yeah, but maybe you’re also mad because you haven’t found a man who can go toe-to-toe with them; who can stick it out.”
“I know who could stick it out—a biker.” She rubbed her third eye and thought for a moment. “Actually, I talk a big game but I don’t really want to get involved with a Tarnished Angel.”
“No?”
“No. They don’t really scream bring me home to your parents, you know? Even though they’re cleaning up their image, they aren’t what I’d call shining beacons of morality. And it doesn’t matter how many clinics they fund or charities they start, they’ll always be on the other side of the law.”
Brielle was clearly intoxicated and running her mouth, so she had no idea how her words were affecting me.
“I thought the club wasn’t involved in shady shit anymore,” I said.
She shrugged. “I don’t know if they are or not. I’m not part of the club—pun intended. I’ve heard my brothers talk though, when they thought I wasn’t around.”
I frowned. “What did you overhear?”
Brielle’s phone buzzed in her bag, effectively derailing our line of conversation. She fished out her cell and her fingers flew over the screen. It wasn’t until I was pulling up to her apartment complex that I finally had her attention again.
She unlatched her seatbelt. “I’m off tomorrow. So is Jazz. Come over for breakfast.”
“Breakfast sounds great.” I smiled. “Sleep off the hangover if you can.”
“I’ll try.”
She climbed out of the car and waved as she headed inside.
I drove back to my new apartment, turning down the wrong streets because I was thinking about what Brielle had said. What ties did the club have? Why did I want to know? Staying away from Smoke—and the club—seemed like a good idea. A safe idea. I didn’t know what they were involved in, but if Brielle’s words had any merit, I needed to steer clear.
The next morning, I knocked on Jazz and Brielle’s apartment door. A moment later, Jazz answered. Her hair was in a lopsided ponytail, and she was dressed in pair of loose pants and a tank top.
“You’re not wearing pajamas,” Jazz said in way of greeting as she took the bakery box from my hands.
“I didn’t know I was supposed to,” I said. “Besides, I’ve already been to the gym, so I’m showered and dressed for the day.”
She stepped back and let me in. They lived in a loft-style apartment built into an old warehouse. It was one large, open room with high ceilings and big windows.
“You’ve already gone to the gym? Man, you’ve had a day already and I just woke up.” She held up the box of baked goods. “Thanks for this.”
“Least I could do,” I said with a smile as I set my purse down by the door. “Perks of living above a bakery. Where’s Brielle?”
“Brielle isn’t home yet.”
I blinked. “She’s not home yet? But I drove her here yesterday.”
“Yeah.” Jazz rubbed her third eye. “By the way, your friend Tavy is awesome.”
“I think so too. So, Brielle?”
“Juice? I’ve got grapefruit and orange.”
“Can you mix them?” I asked.
“Weird, but sure.”
I sat down on a kitchen stool while Jazz moved around the space. “So, after you guys left, the five of us went to a bar. I got a text from Brielle sometime around nine saying she’d gone out and would be back late. I got home around midnight and she wasn’t here. I sent a text to check on her and thankfully she replied. She said she’d see me in the morning. Only now it’s morning and she’s still not home.”
Jazz placed my drink in front of me.
“And you have no idea where she went?”
