Page 13 of Whiskey Tango Foxtrot

“I was in college, not underage. Not that it would have stopped them. I honestly believe they didn’t care how old I was at the time. I was 19, and I looked young for my age.” She shrugged her shoulders as if it was no big deal. I know that wasn’t not the case, but I didn’t want to push anything here and have a potential outburst from her that could attract attention. I’d find out later though, and I’d file that information away for future reference. We didn’t run into too many Kind’s Demons members, but there was always Sturgis Bike Rally in August when all types of bikers made their way close to our territory.

“We’ll discuss all that later,” I told her.

“Or we won’t, because it’s not necessary,” she counters.

“It is necessary to know so that my club understands how they operate and what to expect. We don’t have dealings with King’s Demons normally since they’re over here in Nevada, Arizona, California, and New Mexico while we’re up in the Dakotas and along the East Coast. We will definitely be having a conversation about what went down before, and I’ll expect you to be completely transparent with us when we do.”

She sighed and bit down hard on her plump lower lip while glancing up at me with those whiskey-colored eyes that had my attention the moment I first saw them. “Whatever you think will help,” she finally conceded.

“I’m going to need you to help break everything here down for the night, and we’re going to pack all the supplies to go for transport back to my shop, because I have a sneaking suspicion that I won’t be able to finish out the weekend now that they’ve been spotted at the expo.”

Another sigh comes from her. “I’m so sorry you got dragged into my brother’s mess too.”

I reached out and took hold of her chin, forcing her face to look up into my own. “Don’t worry about that shit. It’s not on you.”

“No, but my brother is affecting your business here, he’s making me your burden, disrupting your life as well as mine. It’s not fair.”

“I could have said no, babe. I didn’t. That makes all the rest of it on me. Now, help me pack up, and we’ll go grab something to eat before we hit the hotel for the night.”

“I still don’t have any of my things. Frankie didn’t grab any of it.”

“Don’t worry about your stuff. I have a prospect with me that went to grab it.”

“Won’t they know I’m with your club if they see your prospect going into my place? I’d bet money they have someone watching my place.”

“Don’t worry, he’s a prospect so he’s not allowed to have any club tats, and he won’t be wearing his kutte either. He’ll just look like some asshole heading into your building and leaving with some luggage. He also hired a hooker to meet him there, so it’ll look like he’s leaving with his woman.” I winked at her when I let her in on that little secret.

She was staring at me wide-eyed for a full minute before she started laughing. “You guys are too much! A hooker decoy! Oh my God!” Her laughter continued as she helped me pack up and I couldn’t help the way that laugh of hers was like a punch to my gut. The good kind. The type of feeling that lets you know if you’re not careful you’re going to be in too deep before you know what happened.

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