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She gives me a short nod and looks away. “More than you can imagine.”
“There’s a story there, but right now, I don’t have time to ask more questions. We need to get to the clubhouse.”
“We?” Her eyes go wide, and she pushes away from the table, shaking her head as if I’m leading her to her execution.
“No way. You go and tell your friends what you found and just leave me out of it.”
“I don’t know about all this computer mumbo jumbo. Just come with me and explain it. Please?”
I’m not letting her whine or plead or wiggle her way out of this. The guys need to know what’s going on, and she’s the only one who can explain it properly.
“Fine. I’ll tell them, but if one of them gets out of line, I am out of there. I don’t owe them shit.”
She stands angrily and marches out of the kitchen.
I chug down a mug of hot coffee, rinse the glasses and go in search of Gia, who is lounging on the sofa, scrolling on her phone. I notice her duffel bag by the front door. “What’s this?”
Gia leans to the right to look at me without lowering her phone. “My bag? Oh, come on, Preacher. Last night was great, really fucking great, but we both know your boys are gonna jump up my ass over what I found, and you’ll send me packing. I’m leaving on my terms, this time.”
I stare at her for a long time, and to her credit, she glares right back at me, refusing to look away or show any signs of weakness or fear.
“The bag stays here,” I tell her and grab my keys. I open the front door and gesture for her to leave first.
She grabs her bag and turns to me with a defiant glint in her eyes.
“The bag comes with me.”
I let her have this victory because I know the guys are going to be pissed, and she’s the closest, most convenient target.
“Helmet,” I remind her and smile when she puts it on with a reluctant groan.
“Ready.”
I can’t deny the wave of disappointment that goes through me when she places her hands on my shoulders, keeping a solid distance between us, as much as possible on a bike. She’s upset, and I know before the afternoon is over, she’s going to be more upset, but this has to be done. We need to find the truth so we can face it head on.
A few of the guys are around when we walk inside. Wild Man is hunching over his laptop, doing whatever it is he does on it. Coop is having a beer and eyeing the corner where Kelsey and Letty are chatting quietly. Shades is with the prospects at the garage, and some of the other guys are watching the port and other MC businesses since Dix and the boys are on their way back from Costa Rica.
Coop looks up first with a smile that slowly fades when he spots Gia.
“Preacher. What’s up?”
“Ace around today?”
Coop nods toward the rooms in the back, the office and the sanctuary. “He’s back there somewhere. Anything I need to know?”
“Yeah,” I sigh. “Anyone who’s here and patched should hear this.” Gathering as many members as possible when this information is revealed will be the best way to figure out what’s happening.
“Hear what?” Ace’s deep voice sounds from the edge of the bar, his dark brows dip into a tight vee, and his mouth pulls into a straight, angry line.
“We should sit down,” I tell Ace and nod to the corner table where Gia takes a seat. She looks so young and vulnerable, all defensive and waiting for my brothers to attack her.
“Shit,” Ace growls and stalks over to Gia, dropping down in the chair to her left. “What good news are you bringing this time?”
Gia held up both hands. “Hey, I don’t even want to fuckin’ be here, but Preacher insisted.”
“Why,” Ace asks and turns his attention to me, sitting to Gia’s right. “What’s going on?”
“Gia was doing some digging on the dark web, and she found something. It’s serious.”
