Page 30 of Fletch

“I was a sex worker,” she says almost proudly, and I want to roll my eyes. “But now, I make bread at Grizz’s bar.”

“Really? What made you give up your job?” It’s a normal question you could ask anyone, except for here in a biker club. I try not to smirk.

“I never wanted to work in the sex industry, obviously,” she says with a small laugh. Grizz places a hand over hers and gives a slight shake of his head. Luna narrows her eyes. “She asked a question, I answered.”

“Nothing to hide, huh?” I repeat, arching a brow in Axel’s direction. It’s clear the women aren’t allowed to speak to me.

“My mum was a shit mum,” Luna continues, pulling her hand free of Grizz’s. “She was an addict. I don’t know if you know much about addiction, but it consumed her life . . . and ours.”

“You have siblings?” I ask, again to be polite because her prick of a brother has been missing for months and I suspect that’s something to do with this club.

“Just me and my brother.”

I take a bite from a chunk of bread and almost roll my eyes in delight. It’s like a fluffy piece of heaven. “Do you get along?”

“No. In fact, I haven’t seen him for a while,” she says, glancing at Grizz, who’s gripping his cutlery extra hard by the looks of his white knuckles.

“Really?” I ask. “What about you, Grizz? Have you seen him?”

“You got something to ask me?” he spits.

I shake my head. “Nope. Just wondering.”

“Anyway,” Luna continues, “I was forced into sex work as a kid by my father . . . and then my brother.”

I glance down at my plate, wondering what sort of parents would do that. “Sorry to hear that.”

“And once you’re in that life, it’s hard to get out.”

“Especially when her brother pimped her out,” snaps Grizz.

“He should face charges for that,” I tell him. “Have you put in a complaint against him?” I ask Luna.

“No. No offence, but he had my baby taken from me. I’m not going to make a complaint and have him back here, only for you guys to let him go. That’s what usually happens,” she says, “I don’t exactly have trust in the police or the justice system.”

“Wine anyone?” asks Lexi, standing to grab a bottle from the side. She proceeds to fill three wine glasses without waiting for a response, placing one in front of me, then Luna, and downing the last one herself.

“Let’s cut the crap,” I say, and she almost chokes on the last gulp. “You want me to embrace the welcome, accept you’re all legit, and leave you alone.”

“We just want to be treated fairly,” says Axel. “Dawn raids when we have kids here?—”

“One kid,” I correct.

“It’s unsettling,” he snaps.

“For the baby or you?”

“What do you expect to find?” he shouts.

“Everything you’re doing wrong,” I tell him, pushing my chair back from the table. “I’m not blind, Axel. I see that this club runs this area, and it’s time that stopped. You don’t own these streets, and it’s not your job to police them the way you see fit. You can’t off pimps on a whim or chase off new dealers so you can supply the addicts.” I throw my napkin on the table and stand. “So, if I have to keep dropping in those dawn raids to disrupt your daily dealings, then I will.”

Eight

Fletch

Ilet out a long sigh as Gemma storms from the kitchen. Axel rolls his eyes. “Go after her,” he orders.

“And say what?” I hiss, “I told you this was a bad idea.”

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