Page 40 of Sniper

Anger flashed immediately. “You’re using her as bait?”

“No,” Katey shot back. “We’re forcing him to make a mistake Cal. I can’t live my life like this forever. It’s been more than a year of being on the run and now that I have some measure of protection, all I do is sit inside all day and wait for him to unleash hell on my life. Again.”

“And if he manages to pick you off while you two are making out in public, then what?”

Katey shrugged it off even though I knew the thought of that prevented her from getting a good sleep most nights. “It’s better than I’m picked off than risk him firebombing the entire clubhouse, killing dozens of other people in the process.” She shook her head. “Why can’t you understand that?”

“Because you’re my baby sister and the idea of anything happening to you is something I can’t accept. Ever.”

I understood that and I interrupted. “I’m not going to let that happen Cal. Besides if he was the one watching her, he’d have come at us already.” I told him about the carnival, all the dates we spent out in public. “He knows where she is so he’s waiting for the right moment to strike. I’m just trying to give him that moment.”

His gaze locked on mine, his expression serious before it finally shifted to resignation. “I trust you, man. It’s just—”

“Scary as fuck. I know.”

He nodded again, his gaze fell to the spot where Katey gave my hand a supportive squeeze. “You wouldn’t happen to know anything about the mess a few nights ago downtown?”

I arched one brow. “You askin’ as the law or as my brother-in-law.”

His lips twitched. “Does it matter?”

I shrugged. “Nope because I don’t know what you’re talkin’ about.”

“Several of the Black Vultures survived, just so you know.”

I nodded, leaning back as our food was delivered. When the waiter was gone, I unwrapped my silverware with a grin. “I’d assume they survived because they were meant to.”

“Wait, what happened downtown?” Katey asked, her gaze shot from me to Cal and back again. “Well?”

“Nothing,” Cal assured her. “Just a big fight.”

“I’m not a helpless child or a damsel in distress,” she grumbled and shoved a waffle fry in her mouth.

“You’re not,” Cal agreed. “But you are looking better. The bruising is gone, and you’ve got some meat on your bones.”

“So I’m fat and helpless? Thanks Cal, it’s so good to see you.” She stood abruptly and motioned for me to move so she could exit the booth. “I’ll be right back,” she said and left the table.

I stared after her until she hooked a left under the sign that indicated the bathrooms were down that hall.

“She’s growing on you.” Cal’s voice broke through my thoughts.

I nodded. “Yeah. She’s going through a lot, and I understand where her attitude was coming from. She’s calmer now, sleeping through the night a few nights a week.”

Cal nodded. “That explains the dark circles that were always under her eyes.” His jaw clenched tight. “Did she tell you about her time with him?”

“Some,” I replied with a nod. “Not a lot, but based on her reaction to certain things I can fill in a lot of the blanks, and those make me excited to get my fuckin’ hands on the bastard.”

Cal smiled. “She seems happy, which hadn’t even been on my radar when I called you. Thank you, Sniper.” He held up a hand. “Don’t even say that you owe me because this is more than that.”

“She doesn’t deserve this. Hell, nobody deserves this but especially not Katey.”

He smiled again. “Just don’t…” he shook his head and looked away.

“You gonna threaten me, Watchdog?”

His expression turned teasing. “No, a bit of advice though. Don’t try to control her and you just might have a chance with her.” He laughed when I frowned in confusion. “Oh fuck, you don’t even know yet? Amazing.” He laughed to himself and dug into his burger, eating it as if he hadn’t eaten in years.

Katey returned from the restroom, and we continued chatting. I attacked my steak and potatoes while Cal and Katey caught up on life, his words dancing around inside my head.You don’t know yet.I knew what he was getting at, but surely, he wasn’t suggesting that I felt some way about his sister? I didn’t. I couldn’t. I’d made it this far in life without succumbing to the scam of love and I’d be damned if I let some pixie doctor be the one to unravel me.

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