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My hand slams over my mouth and my stomach threatens to empty itself on the spot. “Are you saying someone killed my parents?” My lips wobble and the sting of tears attack my eyes.
“I think this agency your mom has been working on for all these years is way bigger than she anticipated. They got people on the inside, either clients or people who are paid well to protect. I guess Helen got too close to finding out who those people were.” If the man didn’t look so scary, I might think he sounds sympathetic toward me.
“Let’s get you inside.” Brax pulls me toward the cabin and then guides me to sit on the couch.
“So what do we do now?” He looks up at Prez, his eyes still fierce with anger.
“We find that list, we give the Bastards their evidence, and we keep the girl safe until they’re all locked up. The pair of ya might as well come back to the club now that the cat’s out the bag.”
Prez looks at me. I don’t know if I like the idea of that. I feel safe up here in Brax's secret cabin.
“I’ll call a church meeting first thing in the morning, explain the situation to the others.” Prez scratches at his stubble, looking exhausted.
“I just got to figure out where to find this list. Helen was a clever woman, but she’s left me with nothin’ to go on.”
“I can help you with that.” Standing up, I make my way toward the table. “Here,” I pass him the folder and watch as he flicks through the paperwork my mom must have put together before she died.
“This man was working with my mom.” I stop him when he gets to the other agent's profile, his badge is photocopied on the page. “They were partners. This is the guy she trusted. I’ll bet he knows something.”
While Jessie and Brax had been out, I took some time to study the file.
“You’re ya mama’s girl alright,” Prez tells me, almost smiling. “Let’s get back to the club. Jessie, you take this to Mads and get her to work. I want an address for that guy ASAP.”
“Can’t we stay here?” I ask, the thought of leaving the cabin makes me anxious.
“Jess and Brax here have ruffled enough Bastard feathers today, we need you safe in the one place where they won’t dare to come,” Prez explains.
“He’s right,” Brax adds. “At the club, you’ll have a whole heap of protection. We all got our reasons for wanting Clunk out of power.” He moves his focus to Jessie before looking back at me. “This is our chance to take him down, and at the same time do what your mama worked so hard on.”
“Okay, I’ll come with you,” I agree, and Prez throws his head back and laughs at me.
“You’re saying that like you had a choice, sweetheart.”
“I do have a choice,” I bite back, then notice how Brax subtly shakes me a warning.
“Listen to me, darlin’,” Prez speaks at me with a sharp tongue. “I may have promised your mama I’d look out for you, but you will respect me the way everyone else does. Do you understand me?”
“Yes,” I cross my arms over my chest defiantly, pissed that I’m all out of options. “But I am helping you find these people. And just for the record, there are other ways you could have protected me. You didn’t have to forcefully take me from my home,” I point out while we’re on the subject.
“To be fair, that is kinda the only way we know.” Jessie shrugs.
“And despite having four CIA agents try to kill ya, you’re still fucking breathing, so I say if it ain't broke don’t fix it,” Prez looms over me as he speaks.
“Are you gonna let me help?” I swallow down my fear and keep my brave face in place.
“As it happens. I have a lot of shit to deal with at the moment, so yeah I’ll let you help.” Prez smiles me a fake smile.
“Brax, you’re still the one responsible for her.”
“Got it,” Brax responds, looking far from happy about it.
“Get your shit together. I want you both at the club by morning, church is at nine.” He’s about to step out the front door but must think of something else to add, because he suddenly turns back around.
“A truce with the fuckin’ Bastards.” His head shakes disappointedly at Jessie before he leaves with a hard slam of the door behind him.
“Well, that went well.” Jessie lets out a long breath before shooting us a sarcastic smile. Brax looks way too serious to make jokes, he’s pissed at me, I can tell that from the way he’s refusing to look at me.
“I’ma get goin’. See ya both tomorrow.” Jessie lets himself out, and I walk into the kitchen to distract myself by making something to eat.
