Page 153 of Outlaws of Tulsa

“I just wasn’t expecting this,” I choke out. “I feel so closed off from the world. This feels like a lifeline.”

Guilt shines in his eyes. “You have friends and family missing you?”

“Sadly, no friends.” I sigh. “I miss the twins. They’re used to me not talking to them for long spells, though. All it took was getting accused of trying to be their mom and I backed off. I keep up with them and shoot them the occasional email, but I try not to pry.”

“What do they think now that you’ve gone off the grid for so long?”

“Not sure. Probably just think I’m busy working.” I shrug and cast a glance at the sparkly lake. “I want to call them. Not now but soon.”

Copper stands and presses a kiss to my head. “You’re not a prisoner anymore.”

“Thank you.”

All through dinner, I replay Copper’s words. Here, just the two of us, I may not be a prisoner, but it doesn’t change what happened with Koyn and Filter. I’m sure the bro code protects me from Koyn—barely—but Filter has no allegiance to Copper. I feel like as long as I’m with Copper, I’ll always have to keep looking over my shoulder.

We’re just cleaning up when Copper’s phone rings.

“Hey,” he grunts out in greeting and then scowls. “What?”

Their conversation is short and then Copper ends the call.

“What’s wrong?” I demand, grabbing his hand and squeezing it.

He lets out a heavy sigh. “Something happened at Koyn’s compound. A couple of suits showed up. Pretended to be the authorities.”

“Collins and Vidal?”

“No. Too easy.”

“What did these guys have to say?”

“Not much. When they realized they’d been had, they pulled their guns out. Filter put them both down. Bullets in each of their heads.”

I imagine Filter with his god-like good looks all twisted into a furious glare, a gun in his hand. But instead of them, he’s pointing it at me. A shiver wracks through me.

Copper grips my jaw, angling my head up. “He won’t do shit to you.”

I blink at him in shock that he can so easily read me.

“Now let’s get your laptop set up. We have a lot of shit to dig into. Time to do what you were trained to, little storm. We’re going to bring these motherfuckers down.”

Copper

It’s time.

The Royal Bastards need to know that we’ve been investigating their asses looking for someone seeking refuge within our ranks.

Last night, Filter put down two men who showed up at Koyn’s. Since Filter and Dragon were the only ones we told about Collins and Vidal, the rest of the guys are clueless. Everyone is on edge wondering what the fuck is happening. Koyn may not want to out Dragon for knowing about his past and his name, but we have to get help with this shit and can’t keep these guys in the dark any longer. Hence why, today, I’m attending Church, much to my son’s annoyance.

Blake will get over the fact I’m still not a patched in member. I’m family and that’s more than a fucking patch.

As Koyn calls the meeting to order and goes over financials with Bermuda, I glance over at my son. He’s too young to be involved in illegal shit, but I’d much rather him be doing it under my watch or my brother’s than out with someone else. At least we can keep him safe. I’ve watched him grow since he turned eighteen from a little shit into a man. He respects these guys and loves them like brothers. Krista was madder than hell when she found out he joined a motorcycle gang, but she soon realized she either had to get on board or go on down the fucking road.He’ll always be a momma’s boy, which means she supported his choice.

Blake catches me staring and his nostrils flare. Last time he bitched about me being in Church, Koyn ripped him a new one. I know he hates that I’m involved, but it is what it is. One day, when the timing is right, I’ll officially patch in to the Royal Bastards. I’ll give up my good boy federal agent ways and take to living in the lawless way my brother does.

Soon.

The other guys are unusually somber. Bizzy isn’t playful and Gibson is frowning. Katana and Dragon are leaned against the wall, their shoulders nearly touching as they scowl at everyone. Filter is still acting like a little bitch anytime I’m around and won’t look at me. Halo and Payne seem agitated. Bermuda just appears to be tired, probably because Koyn’s been secretly having him hunt down all this financial shit on Collins and Vidal. Koyn, though, is pissed.

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