Page 65 of Nest Of Lies

“It’s looking like it might be the kid.”

I raise a brow. “Kyle?” The prospect shows promise. He’s good, solid. I like him.

“No, Nick.”

I sit up straighter. “Nicky? But his father-”

“Is your dad’s VP, I know. I don’t believe it myself. All the evidence is saying so, but that ain’t the Lockwood we know, and it sure as shit ain’t his son. He’d kill his own kid before he’d raise a traitor.”

I scowl and look down at the desk. “You told Dad yet?”

Badger hesitates. “Not much to tell, yet.”

I nod my head. “Thanks, Badger.”

“Thing is, I’ve been looking over the finances, and I made some calls, and someone’s been adding fees on top. Not just to deliveries of bikes and cars, a few thousand here or there, but to clubs.”

I sit up. “And no one can name them, can they?”

“Oh, they can.”

For a moment, I get excited, but seeing his expression, it dies.

“Who is it?”

“You,” Badger says and sits back in his chair. “The person who authorised all these emails approving an extra ‘service’ fee is you.”

Rage flashes through me, making it hard to think. I clench my fists so I don’t upend my desk.

“Who is picking it up?”

“That’s the thing I’ve been checking, and it’s the kids. On every single trip out.”

“Who went with them?”

“That we didn’t keep track of.” Badger strokes his beard, frowning fiercely.

I groan. “All right, so we keep watch and keep tracking. How did we go with Ranger?”

“I can account for every club member. No one went near the Despair MC. I have checked security and everything I can think of. I can’t find where there is overlap.” Badger scratches his chin. “Could it just be coincidence?”

I shake my head. “No, they knew we always stop there. The regular attendant from that store was in an accident the night before. Hit and run.”

“If it smells like a rat-”

“It’s a fucking rat.”

Badger hums and looks up at the ceiling. “You can’t stay over there much longer. We need you here.”

“I know. But when I come back, I’ll be bringing her with us.”

Badger’s blue eyes open wide. “Finally made a move on her? It took you long enough.”

I snarl at him, but it’s half-hearted. “She’s not what we thought she was.”

Badger waits.

“She’s resilient and strong, but she’s suffering, and she’s ours.”

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