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“What if we race there?” I ask him excitedly, looking both ways on the road that stays mostly deserted apart from the MC members.
No one’s coming. The coast is clear. His eyes light up in delight and he takes off running, only stopping when he reaches the edge of Pocus’s driveway and looking back at me.
“You’re slow, Mama.” He giggles, and he’s not wrong. I’ve put no effort into running behind him, taking my time and mulling over what to say if I run into Pocus.
It seems I don’t have to worry. When we reach the front door, Abigail greets us with a smile. At least I can count on her as an ally in this battle. She’s probably as frustrated with our men as I am. We can’t let it affect the kids, and I won’t let it affect our relationship either. I pull her into a tight embrace, taking in her citrus-fresh scent. She’s been cleaning.
“We have company,” she whispers into my ear before ushering us inside.
Sure enough, when we walk into the living room, I spot a young girl sitting on the floor with Daisy, coloring. Her aura is dark, but she looks up and smiles, seeming perfectly happy. I look at Abigail questioningly, and she gives me a look that indicates she’ll explain later. I push Nicky toward the girls, and he shyly approaches the stranger.
The girl stands and extends her hand to him, introducing herself as Charlie. There is nothing in this world Nicky loves more than acting like a grown-up. He takes her hand and shakes it like a tiny businessman. Daisy comes up behind him and wraps him up in a tight hug. He lets go of Charlie’s hand to turn to Daisy and hug her back. It’s adorable to watch.
“Should we start planning the wedding now?” Abigail jokes as she heads toward her large, industrial-style kitchen.
I adore this kitchen. It’s twice the size of the one in the clubhouse and with modern, stainless-steel appliances. It isn’t covered in dishes and leftover trash the club members can’t be bothered to take care of. The first thing I made Nicholas do when he took over as Prez was hire a maid. God knew it wouldn’t be my job.
I look around the kitchen, and my gaze lands on a slim, brunette woman sitting at the kitchen island, clutching a cup of coffee. She looks at me in surprise, her striking blue eyes widening. She doesn’t move to say hello or get up, so Abigail introduces us.
“Meredith,” Abigail addresses her. “Tory and I usually like to gossip over coffee and discuss what’s happening in the clubhouse. You’re more than welcome to join us.”
“That’s okay,” she murmurs, holding her cup as she stands and moves toward the door. “I should probably check on Charlie. She’s too quiet.”
She smiles apologetically at us, but the smile doesn’t reach her eyes. We watch her as she disappears into the living room. Then comes the sound of Nicky introducing himself to her in his most formal voice. I turn to look at Abigail and she shrugs.
“She’s apparently a friend of Graveyard’s,” she whispers to me. “They’re in some kind of trouble. Seer couldn’t keep them at the house because of… well, you know.”
Suddenly the fight between Nicholas and Pocus makes more sense to me. Not only is Pocus upset about the undercover cop, but he’s angry to have to take in these two. Something is definitely odd about them, though I can’t quite put my finger on it. Of course, who are any of us to judge what’s odd?
“What kind of trouble are they in?” I ask, a pit of dread growing in my stomach.
We’ve all been through some horror or another over the last few years. Pocus accepted us all and brought us into the fold. None of us would be here without Pocus’s generosity and compassion.
“I’m not sure,” she says. “The little girl had to be snuck out of the hospital. She’s gifted somehow, but Meredith will barely speak to us. I don’t think she trusts us.”
“Maybe she’s right not to,” I murmur. “We’re a strange bunch.”
Abigail shoots me a look, and we both burst out laughing.
I open the door of the clubhouse and gestured for Damien to enter. He shuffles in, a look of apprehension on his face. I understand his hesitation. Cops have never been willingly welcomed into our clubhouse. He’s getting an inside view that some would kill for. If any of my men find out who he is, they might just try to kill me.
I take a deep breath and assess him. He’s skinnier than I thought he’d be. I’m starting to think the chief sent in his scrawniest guy, though for what reason, I can’t imagine. The other guys will eat him alive. He’s got to be half the size of Hex. Still, he has a steely look in his eye and a grit that will do him well. He’ll need to hold his own against this group.
“Welcome to the Ruthless Kings, Damien,” I tell him firmly. “There are a few rules we need to go over. I need to make it very clear I’m putting my ass on the line for you. If you do anything that pisses me off, you’ll be out of here faster than you can blink.”
He nods, and I continue. It’s my responsibility to ensure he understands what he’s getting into. And what he’s not allowed to get into. I’m doing a disservice to my men if I don’t do everything I can to protect their privacy. This investigation isn’t about us.
“You can never investigate the Ruthless Kings for any purpose,” I tell him. “Your detective duties end the second you walk through that front door. When you’re out in the field, you ask any questions you want to, but this house is a sacred space. You will not ask my men questions about this matter because they know nothing. If they did, you wouldn’t be here. If they make you, I can’t be held responsible for what they do.”
He nods again, taking my word seriously. This is a unique situation, and we don’t have a road map for how it should look. My men trust me to make decisions for their benefit. I have to ensure this will be one of them. If Damien takes one step out of line, it’s on my head.
“You’ll be treated as any other probationary member,” I tell him. “Nothing more, nothing less. You have to follow the rules like everyone else. You can’t ask for special privileges. If you do happen to mess up, you tell me immediately.”
I pause for a moment and let the message sink in. He looks around the house, familiarizing himself with the layout. Not for the first time, I wonder if this is the right decision. It’s like there’s a wild animal in the clubhouse. I only have so much control over him. At the end of the day, he is an officer of the law. He can fuck up our operation.
“You know the story?” I ask him, ensuring he doesn’t slip up.
“I saved your life,” he says in a flat, monotone voice. “You owe me.”
