Page 21 of Out to Find Freedom

Goddamn idiots.

“Who’s Shanti?”

“Oh, a girl who works night shifts that I’m screwing. Shanti Summers.”

“You got a number for her?”

“Yeah, sure.” He grabbed his phone out and rattled off the number. I quickly jotted it down. “Do you want me to tell her you’re wanting to talk to her?”

“No. In fact, don’t tell anyone we spoke.”

His brows dipped. “Looks kinda suss we’ve been speaking this whole time.”

“If anyone asks, think of somethin’ to say. If I find out Shanti or anyone on night shift is expectin’ me, I’ll know you talked, and I won’t be fuckin’ pleased. Get me, Terry?”

“Yes,” he just about squeaked.

With a chin lift, I turned and walked out of the bar, back into the cool air. I pressed a number into my phone. Butch answered, “Yeah?”

“Need an address, a Shanti Summers.”

“On it. Oh, and thanks for lunch.”

“You fucker,” I got out to a laughing Butch before he hung up. The guy hadn’t been on the team long at Violet’s firm, but he was solid. It was a sad day when Chuck left, but having Butch as his replacement was good.

When my phone rang again, I expected it to be Butch. “What?”

“Someone’s in a mood.” I could hear the smile in Mally’s voice.

Malinda May, or Mally as a lot of people called her, was a woman I could have fucking fallen for. That was if she ever looked past Declan Stoke, a member of the Hawks MC. Now she had her happy ever after with a man who thought she was the shit. Which she was. Sweet, caring, calm, happy, and damn beautiful.

She’d had some shit happen about a year ago. Violet helped out, which had me helping also. Mally and I got close. Not the close I wanted, but having her as a friend meant a ton to me than not having her in my life.

“Darlin’, how you doin’?”

“Good. But I’m guessing your day could be better.”

“It is now.” I grinned when I heard her laugh. “What can I do for you?”

“Josh has been hounding me to ring you. He wants to know if he can come stay at your place over the weekend.”

“The boy should ring himself and ask.”

“I told him that. I think no matter how much he looks up to you, you still intimidate him a little.”

“Me? He lives with a badarse and I intimidate him?”

“I know. I can’t explain the mind of a fifteen-year-old.”

“You tell him when he calls, I’ll let him know the answer. As long as you and Stoke are cool with it.”

“You know we are.”

“Even Stoke?”

She laughed. “Yes. He might not like our friendship, but he understands it. He trusts you, Ryan. With me, and with the kids.”

“Good. Get your kid to call me.”

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