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“Didn’t ask to be a role model,” I murmured low, aching for my own cigarette. I hadn’t had one for a while and being around the smell was making me crave one.
Simon returned to the filing cabinet where Red was earlier.
“We never get to ask for those sorts of roles. They just get set in front of us, and we do it because we love the people who set it there.”
I considered his words and already knew I’d graduate, even if it was simply because he’d asked me to. I didn’t want to be a role model, but I wondered if Simon did either? He was my hero, and he probably didn’t want to be. Yet, he continued showing up for me and I knew it was because in his own way, he saw me as his kid, just like Callie was his daughter.
“I’ll graduate.”
Simon paused, looking over while he exhaled a cloud of smoke, and after a few seconds his head gave a slight nod.
“What are we dealing for the mayor?” I asked, trying to change the subject. Because I’d have to hire someone to hack the system and change my grades or pay someone to do a shit ton of extra credit for me if I was, in fact, going to graduate.
Simon smiled, letting out a laugh. “Oh, mostly we’re just offering him some padded protection at a few of his rallies. While also making a few disruptions happen for his competitors. He wants us on his payroll.”
“And in exchange?” I’d learned a few things since shadowing our club president, but one of the biggest lessons was, no matter the status of the person, we offered nothing unless we got the better end of the deal.
Sure enough, Simon smiled again, this time pulling out a file labeled, “Mayor Witt.”
“Clemency.”
My face must have conveyed my confusion. I may be failing two of my current classes, but government was actually one of the ones I had a passing grade in. We would only need clemency if we’d done something wrong.
Simon rounded the desk, and gently took my paper. He lifted it up to see the design and then gently placed a new sheet in front of me with a fresh pencil.
“One day there will be someone who wants our club to atone for a sin or two. That or they will want us behind bars. Witt, who will no doubt eventually become the governor, fuck maybe even the senator of this state, will ensure that won’t happen. He’ll protect us from measures passed that might negatively impact us, and overall, he’ll keep the powers that be away from us.”
“You’re putting a lot of trust in him…what if he isn’t even reelected?”
With a dark chuckle and a new eraser handed over, he moved away from the desk with one last parting phrase.
“We’ll just have to make sure he is.”
TWELVE
LAURA
Buzzing from the shredder filled the room as I continued to feed the machine image after image.
I really didn’t understand why the club, or any club for that matter, would want to hold on to this sort of information. It was morbid, and sort of felt dangerous to just have it all locked away in the office.
What sort of establishment wanted to hang onto evidence of their crimes?
Shaking my head, I slid another manila folder into the finished pile I’d created and then took a small swig of water before moving on to the next report. The office door was cracked in order to protect the images, in case anyone was walking past, but for some reason, I didn’t want it to be closed completely. I was also slightly jarred by the arrival of the Chaos Kings and how they’d talked to Natty.
After bonding with her the other night, I was feeling protective and wanted to be sure she wasn’t afraid of them calling her out by name. I was too far removed from everything in the club to understand anything that happened, but I still wanted to keep her safe.
Hopefully Killian would ensure she was.
Suddenly the door to the office pushed open and Killian was stalking in, wearing his cut over a plain white tee, black jeans and motorcycle boots. My heart leapt in my chest at seeing him. He had suddenly been touching me nearly every chance he got, and yet acted aloof and distant when we were in public.
His focus went to the stacks of files around me.
“As of right now you’re pulled off these.”
“What?” I was nearly finished; I was through the letter T as far as names went. I had a handful left.
Killian began stacking the remaining files into a heap.
