Page 7 of Filthy Savage
“He can have the whole fucking lot of them, for all I care,” I reply. I get to my feet and step around the meeting room table, ready to leave. “About tonight, you could say I’m following a Mongols lead.”
“Whoa, what lead? You of all people know that the Mongols and Los Diablos MCs are both off limits right now. We don’t need Dean Roman on our case.”
“Trust me, I won’t go starting trouble. Just don’t ask me to go into all the details with you right now.” I snatch up the background check document and wave it around. “You know why? Because I’ll be busy for half the fucking day filling out this shit.”
Silas let out a chuckle and gathers up his things. “Get the fuck out of here.”
“I’ll update you on everything tomorrow. So, we’re cool?”
“Yeah, we’re good.”
I slap palms with my president and leave with the papers. Stepping outside, I put the documents into the satchel on one side of my Harley, already dreading the time I’ll waste filling it out. A text comes in from Vincent, letting me know he’s free and on his way home now. Perfect. I can get both tasks out of the way at Vincent’s place, and use the rest of the day doing some intel on Angel.
* * *
I’ve beenat Vincent’s mansion for over three hours. We used one of the security vans to drive around the fifteen-mile perimeter of his over five thousand acre estate, stopping at several points to walk the higher risk areas. The place is huge. I remember someone asking Vincent how large five thousand acres was, for a visual. His answer was that the property can fit six Central Parks on it and still have room for his house. This is one of the reasons I’m glad Si finally agreed to taking him on as a client. A lot of shit can go down under Vincent’s nose around here and he probably wouldn’t notice. He needs people he can trust to keep this place safe.
Of course, as we’re long-time friends, the topic of my security clearance comes up. Vincent knows how much I hate paperwork. Once the assessment is wrapped up, he offers to help me fill out the forms. He’s probably the only person who knows everything there is to know about me, so I agree.
We make our way back to his house and head into the main floor sitting room, relaxing over glasses of whiskey.
Vincent unbuttons his black suit jacket and takes a seat at his desk. He takes some time to look over the blank security clearance forms. “I don’t see why you’re so worried about this, Axe,” he says after some time flipping through the pages. “You’re applying for the lowest clearance level that the Department of Defense issues.”
“Is that supposed to make me feel better about filling it out? There are over a hundred fucking questions. Talk about thorough and exhaustive. I started filling it out, but just couldn’t get into it.”
Vincent smirks, amused. “All you did was fill out your name, social security number, and date of birth. That’s all.”
“That’s what I mean,” I shout, getting up to refill my glass. “I don’t even feel comfortable giving them that much.”
“Relax.”
“Easy for you to say. You don’t have to subject yourself to this crap.”
“I have a valid security clearance,” Vincent informs me with a blank stare.
“What? How the fuck did you pull that off? You’d think your association with the weapons trade and organized crime would’ve raised some red flags,” I joke.
Vincent flashes me a half-smile and raises his eyebrows. “Try passing a polygraph test while holding on to more secrets and lies than a politician.”
“Good point.”
“Listen. You have nothing to worry about.”
“Try me,” I answer, downing the rest of the whiskey in two full gulps.
Vincent swivels his chair to look at me this time. “What?”
“Ask me a question from the form,” I tell him. “A tough one.”
“All right.” He returns his gaze to the document and flips through a few pages. “Have you ever been arrested?”
“Arrested, yes, a few times. Charged or convicted of a crime, no.”
“What were the arrest dates and locations?” Vincent asks.
“See what I’m saying? How the fuck would I know? Who walks around adding their arrest dates into a calendar?”
“Did you ever think of paying for a criminal records check at a local police station?”
