“I’m right here,” she says as she strolls into the room.
Without missing a beat, Phantom grabs her arm and forces her to stop next to him. “Did you know that Demon likes the way I suck his cock?” he asks, his tone teasing.
Jez darts her eyes to mine. “I’m better though, right?”
I lift my hands as if to surrender. “I value my life, so I’m not answering that. So, were you guys able to find any more on the pedo ring?” I ask, recognizing that this is a safer topic, despite its traumatizing nature.
Like I said, I value my life… and my balls.
“No,” Jez admits. “But they’re still working on it. I did have an idea, though.”
“What’s that?” I ask, trying to dampen the frustration washing over me at the lack of more info.
“We set a trap,” she says simply.
“A trap?” Phantom asks. “Like a digital one?”
Jez looks at me, and it hits me like a ton of bricks what she’s thinking. “Not exactly,” she says. “More like a Demon and Jez baited trap.”
“Absolutely fucking not!” Phantom shouts, and he begins to pace. “No way. Not happening.”
“It’s not a bad idea,” I say quietly, and he falters in his steps to glare at me. “But just a Demon-filled trap.”
“What the fuck?” Jez snarls. “There’s no way I’m gonna be left out of my own plan.”
“Neither of you are doing this,” Phantom growls. “We’ll get them, but not like that.”
“Phantom,” Jez begins, stepping in front of him to stop his pacing. “Crane won’t be able to pass up a chance at getting to Demon, and Agent Betts will be the same with me. I’m the hacker who exposed him.”
“I’mthe hacker who exposed him,” Phantom bites out.
“And I’m your boss,” she snaps.
“C’mon, guys,” I coax. “We can’t do this. If we let this come between us, they win.”
Jez whirls on me, her eyes sparking fire. “You’re taking his side?”
“Jesus,” I mutter, closing the distance until I’m standing next to both of them. “No, I’m not taking sides. Well, okay, I am, but it’sourside I’m taking. I finally feel like maybe there’s more for me than trauma and pain and… loneliness.”
“Damn, that talk with Apple really did help,” Phantom says with a grin.
“What talk with Apple?” Jez asks, darting her gaze back and forth between us. “What am I missing?”
Before she can answer, there’s a loud banging on the door, and the three of us turn to see Grim standing in the open entry.
“We really need to remember to shut that from now on,” I mumble.
Grim lifts his hands and signs, “I need Phantom.”
Jez stiffens. “No.”
“Let’s go, prospect. Duty calls.”
Grim’s lips curve into a sadistic smirk as I glare at him. My fucking brother is going to test my patience. He knew exactly what he was doing when he sent Grim to fetch Phantom. This shit could’ve waited until tomorrow.
“Tell Soul to go fuck himself,” I sign without speaking. “It can wait.”
I don’t want Grim or anyone else to think Phantom isn’t cut out for the club but fuck all if I’m still not happy about him prospecting. I’m not ready to lose him to Saints Purgatory when we’re just starting to explore our relationship. I have no doubt Phantom has what it takes to be a member of the MC, but he’s naive if he thinks he knows what this life is about. Being a member of the club is messy.