Page 57 of Fletch

“Not much we can do about it now.”

I groan. “Fuck. This will ruin her.”

“Why do you care, brother? She’s a copper. Fuck her.”

I pull out my phone, but before I can text, Nyx snatches it. “Man, if you warn her, Axel will do his nut. You and her are done. Leave it at that and forget about her.”

I get a few hours’ sleep before Grizz is banging on doors calling church. By the time I head downstairs, everyone is seated.

Axel slams the gavel down to start the meeting. “As you can see, Fletch survived a night in the cells.” He pats me on the back. “Released pending further enquires, but the knife is clean.”

“The thing is, Pres, I got people pulling out of business cos they’re sick of waiting,” says Atlas. “How long is this gonna go on?”

“That’s what we’re here for,” he says with a grin. “We reckon it’s done. The copper told Fletch the funding was pulled from the investigation. So, although we still gotta lay low, we can start moving gear again.” The men cheer, but for some reason, I don’t share their happiness. “And when they view that footage, anything she’s got on us will be pulled.”

“Did you hand it over?” I snap.

He smirks. “I may have pointed them in the direction.”

I stand, slamming my hands on the table. “That was for us to use, and now she’s backed off, we don’t even need it.”

He frowns, then also stands, matching my height. “You need to watch your tone, brother,” he warns.

“You’re gonna destroy her career,” I yell.

He arches a brow. “She wanted to destroy my club.”

“But she didn’t,” I argue.

“All’s fair in love and war, right?”

“We need to get it back,” I snap.

“We need to let fate decide.”

“Pres, I’m serious, I can’t let her go down like that.”

“Your loyalty should be with this club,” he snaps.

“It is. I just . . .” I sigh, flopping down in my seat. “She’s suffered enough.”

“She’s a copper, Fletch. Don’t feel sorry for her sort,” reasons Duke.

“And this will put an end to her having any thoughts about coming back for more.”

Gemma

I stare blankly at the ceiling. I got home hours ago, but I can’t sleep. I saw Ruby off to school even though she never spoke a word to me, and now, my mind is thinking over every single bad decision I’ve ever made. I groan, rolling onto my side and picking up my mobile phone.

I type out a text and my finger hovers over the send button, but then I delete it. I can’t tell him. I want to, and Ruby needs me to, but I just can’t.

What if he wants to get to know her? What if he wants her to stay with him? I shudder. Thinking of Ruby in the clubhouse makes me feel sick. Sitting up, I start the text again. I have to try . . . for Ruby.

Me: Can we meet to talk?

I fall into a disturbed sleep but only manage a few hours before I’m awake again and that sick feeling returns.

I check my phone and find no reply from Fletch. I’m disappointed, I can’t lie.

---