Page 14

As we head upstairs, I lean closer, asking as quietly as I can, “What does Switch know?”

“Family friend. No relation,” he whispers back.

I nod, straightening up, and he takes the stairs to the end of the hall, opening the last door on the left. The room Lennox leads me into is basically a small apartment. Bedroom. Bathroom. Sitting area. Tiny kitchenette. Perfect. Switch is the last one in, closing the door behind himself.

Lennox turns to face me. “You couldn’t behave for ten minutes?”

“I was behaving,” I say with a conviction I shouldn’t have.

“Tatum…” Lennox scoffs.

“What?” I glance up at him as I settle onto the sofa. “One of them called my bike cute.”

“That poor bastard.” A reluctant grin flashes across his face before he shakes his head. I snort quietly.

“Switch meet Tatum, formally. Tatum, Switch.” Lennox introduces us like I didn’t just give them a rundown of how well I knew each officer. I nod anyway.

Switch finally speaks. "Lennox told me everything. Or at least, what he thinks is everything." His gaze settles on me. "We'll keep you safe, but I need to know one thing—Whose old lady were you?"

His eyes drill into me and my throat dries up. Trying to keep my composure, I look at Lennox, who just subtly shakes his head. "I'd rather not say."

Switch's jaw hardens. "That club is tearing itself apart right now. My information says they're eating each other alive."

“Good. It’s about time they destroy each other.” The words come out colder than I intended. His brows rise, and I lean back against the sofa.

“The man running that show was a fucking monster. The club wasn’t any better. They used kids as runners. Then got them hooked on the same shit they were moving. Who the fuck does that?” My tone is angry just thinking back on it.

“So, you turned on them?” His voice is cold toward me.

“Call it whatever you want.” I shrug, acting unphased by his tone and words.

“Tatum—” Lennox tries to cut in, but I cut him off.

“Call me a traitor. Call it betrayal. I don’t fucking care. I did what was right and what you failed to do, Switch. You couldn’t even find your own rat.” I sit up straight, speaking before he can. “I know what loyalty is supposed to be, probably better than anyone else here. If you don’t think that killed me, you’re wrong. All I can do is prove that I can be trusted and earn respect. While I was voted in, I’m sure you have members who don’t agree.”

"No," Switch admits. "They didn't."

Lennox drops onto the couch beside me, rubbing comforting circles on my back. "It's not just because you're a woman," he says. "You came from another club. We also had to tell them about Eric."

Nodding, all I know to say is, “I can’t blame them for being nervous. That’s a lot at once to find out. I'd be disappointed if they weren't cautious.” A bomb was dropped, in a sense.

“Do members know what club I came from, or only the officers?” It has to be asked.

“Officers only,” Lennox states.

“Good. The less people that know where I came from, and that I am here, the better.”

Switch’s expression softens slightly. "I can respect that."

"I’ll take what I can get right now." I scoff.

He nods with uncertainty still etched on his face. "I'll be cautious, too. However, that doesn't mean I won't be fair."

I incline my head. "That's all I'm asking for."

"Then be ready at six tomorrow morning. Prospect training. Fuse is running it." It sounds more like an order than a statement.

"Six?" I grimace.