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He exhales through his nose, pushing off the doorframe and walking closer to me. “I need you to back me in church for a pledge vote.”
“No.”
I don’t babysit. Don’t train people who haven’t proven they can survive at least a little heat.
“I didn’t even get to finish,” Lennox says.
“Doesn’t matter.”
“It does when I say it’s a family friend,” he insists.
That makes me pause—not agree, not even close. I look at him harder now, tossing the rag onto the workbench.
“Define ‘family friend.’” I eye him cautiously, trying to read between the lines, but his face gives away nothing.
“Someone I trust you with,” he states flatly.
“That’s not an answer.”
“It's the only one you're getting.”
I drag a hand over my beard, already feeling irritation creep in. “You’ve got a full club of fuckers that would do what you’re asking, no problem,” I tell him. “Pick someone else.”
“There’s a reason I didn’t.”
“Then say it already, enough with the mysterious bullshit.”
His voice drops just enough for me to notice the shift in him. “She needs protection.”
My posture tightens instantly. A woman? Is he fucking with me right now?
“You're fucking joking,” I say, trying to figure out what game he’s playing.
“No, I’m not.”
“We don’t prospect women, Pres.”
He pushes back, “You don't think I know that, Switch? Think about it, man. I am asking. She needs the kind of protection that can’t be half-assed.”
I step closer, closing the space between us. “She being chased?” I ask. When he doesn’t answer I press on, “By who, Len?”
“Dead men,” he says.
I let out a slow breath. “Try again. The truth this time. It’s just me and you in this garage.”
He holds my gaze. “She was tied to Redline.”
“Was tied?” I repeat.
“They’re done.”
Redline’s gone? I fucking doubt it. I know exactly what kind of mess that club is, and they’ve been a pain in my ass for far too long.
“Bullshit. Since when?” I snap.
“Since two days ago; the DEA got involved. There'll be more details in church," Lennox says. "Right now, I need a fucking answer."
“Sure.” I huff out a dry laugh, pacing once across the concrete. “For now. But if she brings the alphabet boys to our door, she’s gone. I don’t care who she is.”
