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“The school’s on my back about his behaviour. He looks at me like he hates me. I’m having a parent guilt fest right now.”
“Have you talked to Mama B?” he suggests.
I frown. “You want me to ask her for advice about her dead husband’s secret love child?”
He smirks. “When you put it like that . . . but seriously, she’s good at that sort of thing. She raised me, didn’t she? And I don’t think she struggles with you both like she did when you first returned.” He’s right, Mama B treats me the same as everyone else here, and she treats Ollie like she does her grandchildren.
“It’s just hard sometimes, yah know. I still feel like a teenager myself most days, and I hate that we’re not close like we used to be. Before I came here, it was just me and him against the world and it worked. Now, I’m lucky if he even looks in my direction.”
“Isn’t that just teenagers for you? They’re all like it. I could speak to him for you, if you like. He doesn’t usually backchat me.” No one talks back to Mav—he’s the club President.
“It’s worth a try.”
ALBERT
I stare wide-eyed at Archer. He’s taking over from Rosey, and she’s been showing him the ropes, but I have to admit, as much as she annoys the hell out of me, I prefer her way over Archer’s. “What?” he asks innocently.
“It’s not a clean kill,” I say like he’s stupid, which right now, I think he is.
“It’s still a kill,” he replies, shrugging.
“Arthur won’t be happy,” I mutter, looking around at the mess in the shop. We’ve been trying hard to pull ranks back on the streets after recently acquiring a new area. It’s been run by street gangs for a long time, so getting on top of the thugs who think they still run those streets is a pain in the arse. It’s a job we passed to Rosey and her sidekick, Archer. “Where is Rosey anyway?”
“Problems with her kid, apparently.”
I shake my head in irritation. This is why we shouldn’t hire people who are not one hundred percent invested. I throw Archer a burner phone. “Call the clean-up and get this sorted. I’ll update Arthur, but he won’t be happy.”
My older brother, Arthur, lives in a newly built house right at back of the MC’s clubhouse. Since he got with the President’s sister, Meli, he’s done everything in his power to make her happy, including moving her closer to her old home.
I spot Rosey outside the clubhouse, sitting on the wall, looking lost. I march over. “Where the fuck were you today?” I snap, bringing her from her daydream. “Archer caused a right mess, blood everywhere.”
She inhales and releases it on a sigh. “I was busy.”
“Busy?” I yell. “You let me down and you don’t even have an excuse ready?”
She jumps off the wall. “I don’t work for you, Albert. And right now, you’re pissing me off,” she snaps. “If Arthur’s got a problem, tell him to put it in writing.”
I grab her arm, pulling her to me. It’s risky given her quick reflexes and short temper, but she doesn’t react. Instead, she crashes against my chest, placing her palms against it and resting her head on her hands. I frown. She’s acting odd. “Are you okay?”
“Don’t be nice,” she whispers. “Whatever you do, don’t be fucking nice. It’ll tip me over the edge.”
I glance around to make sure we’re alone before gently tucking her hair behind her ear. “Anything I can help with?”
She shakes her head. “Nope.” She looks up into my eyes, and I see the sadness that’s usually well hidden. “I should get back inside. I’ve left Mav to talk to Ollie. I couldn’t be in there while Mav had his President head on. It makes me wanna jump in and defend the kid.”
“Ollie’s in trouble?”
She nods. “With school. Mav’s pulling rank.”
“If you’re free later . . .” I begin, but she’s already shaking her head. We’ve hooked up a couple times in secret, a no strings kind of deal, but if I ever try to arrange it, she always turns me down. It’s on Rosey’s terms completely, and I’m okay with that. “Well, the offer’s there. I’ll be at Bertie’s most of the night unless I get called out to help your protege.”
She smiles. “Archer’s not so bad.”
I roll my eyes. “If you don’t mind paying for an extra clean-up team every time he does a job.”
Chapter Two
ROSEY
