Page 71 of Keys

“Not sure if he’s out on bail or managed to get some immunity deal,” she admitted, which worried me. “Did you miss the part where I said he was talking to new outlets?”

“So, that’s not my problem. That’s for the lawyers and judges to piss and moan over. If he’s turned state’s evidence on others, then he painted a giant target on his back for them.”

“Please, check your texts, watch the video, and then get your ass back here before the vultures figure out where you are and descend on you.”

“Wait,” I yelled into the phone in an attempt to catch her before she hung up. “My mom?” I asked without having to explain what I meant.

“We sent someone to get her when we couldn’t get in touch with you right away. I hope that’s okay, but if not, you can bitch at me for it later.”

“Shit.” I hung up and turned my eyes up to meet Quickshot’s. He was already standing and tossing money down on the table. I glanced at my half-eaten plate of food and lamented the fact that I wouldn’t get to enjoy the rest. Quickshot offered me a quick smile.

“I’ll bring you back when the dust settles.”

No further conversation was necessary as we left our first real date where we weren’t trying to hide anything that might be brewing between us. My lips parted in awe as I watched him walk ahead of me in order to sweep the droplets of rain that had beaded on the seat. He took an old, beat-up looking towel out of one of his saddlebags and used it to wipe down the rest of the evidence that it had continued to rain for a brief time while we had been inside. The skies were already cleared of the lower-lying clouds that dumped their burden on us earlier. That was good because the quick rain left behind cooler temperatures too.

The ride back to the clubhouse was peaceful, despite the reasons we were headed there. I kept my visor down for the ride back after Tash’s ominous media vultures warning. Thankfully, there weren’t any signs of press camped outside of the S.H.E. Compound when we arrived. To my surprise though, Quickshot killed the engine and hopped off his bike right along side me. I turned to look at him as he wrapped a protective arm around my shoulder and pulled me close.

“You’re coming in?”

“That shouldn’t even be a question, my sexy keyboard warrior.” I giggled, because that seemed to be his favorite thing to call me ever since I hacked his bank account and emptied it. Personally, I would have thought he would still be pissed about that, but since the money found its way back to the account after I proved my point, I guess he chalked it up to a lesson learned.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

“What did I tell you about thanking me for things I am compelled to do?”

I rolled my eyes at him but couldn’t hide the smile his words brought to my face. We were just about to the door when two riders pulled in. I recognized them both immediately. Sweet and Angel Girl each had their club’s emblems painted into their tanks these days. We waited for them there, figuring they got the same message we had been given while at dinner. My family life was about to fuck with the clubs once more, thanks to my father’s big mouth.

“Sorry your family sucks,” Sweet told me while ruffling my hair once he got closer. He was the epitome of what I thought an older brother would have been like. And that included the times he absolutely pissed me off, just like family was supposed to do from time to time.

I turned to Angel Girl though as a more prominent worry pinged around my head. “Tash said they’re bringing my family in.” Her tight smile was all the answer I needed to know that she had been made aware and wasn’t necessarily happy about it. “I can find somewhere else to put them for now.”

Angel huffed and then kicked a rock across the pavement. “You know family is family. We take care of our own and the people who mean shit to one another.”

“But you’re worried,” I supplied for her.

“Yeah. I’m sorry, Keys. I know this is your mom and her husband, but what do we really know about either of them? You didn’t even know your mom’s real name until all this shit went down.”

“That’s not fair,” Quickshot spoke up quickly.

“Not your place, Quick.” Sweet’s voice was low and serious as he gave his second in command that order. I didn’t need him getting into any trouble with his club on my behalf though.

“Can we stop with the power trip issues? I said I would take them somewhere else.”

“Where?” Angel Girl asked. “The Holiday Inn?” I rolled my eyes at her sarcasm. It was time to bite the bullet and get a fucking house of my own. “How about we compromise, and you stash them in one of the bunk rooms in the Redemption Inc. offices?”

“Is there one available on the main floor?”

Angel took out her phone and dialed whoever was working over there. It wasn’t normal business hours now, but we always kept a ghost crew on staff in case there were any emergencies that popped up with any of our crews who were out on jobs. Redemption Inc. took on various security positions from personal bodyguard to installing top-of-the-line systems in people’s homes and businesses. We had tight-knit groups who went out and ran security for bands who were touring the country as well as the rest of the world and a couple guys who specialized in taking care of Hollywood’s elite.

Then there was me. I ran background on everyone and everything from our own people to clients, and all the people in and around their lives that may pose a worry for our teams. It was a well-oiled machine most days, and it was that way because we ironed out all the kinks early on and took good advice from some of the men who came to work for us too.

Since doing that type of work was sometimes a round-the-clock gig, we had what we lovingly referred to as bunk houses stashed away in strategic places throughout the building. Some were glorified jail cells, for good reason. Others were on par with efficiency apartments or long-term stay hotel rooms. The main floor rooms, of which there were two, were equipped with a queen-sized bed, a full private bath, a tiny little efficiency kitchen, two-seater dining table, and a couch. There weren’t any entertainment amenities because they were usually used for people to crash in when they were able, but needed to remain on hand at work for some reason.

“Both of the main floor rooms are available.” Keys tucked her phone back into her pocket, but not before I noticed it was all nicked up. She must have dropped it again. I chuckled inwardly, but she most have sensed my mirth because Angel Girl gave me a shitty look before grinning. “You saw the dings in it, didn’t you?”

I laughed out loud then. “Reading again?”

She shrugged her shoulders kind of sheepishly before toeing another rock on the pavement near her feet. The girl really was a sucker for her books. “I guess my mom and her husband will be here soon, but Tash didn’t say if she did anything about my sister.”

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