Page 74 of Filthy Liar

I excused myself so I could join Slash in the office, sitting in the chair opposite his once he’d closed the door again.

“I really wish you’d put a Psychos jacket on. You get here faster than my guys,” he grumbled, giving me a thoughtful look. “You sure Raven wouldn’t be okay with it?”

“Right now, I wouldn’t even bring it up with her,” I said seriously, making it obvious that I wasn’t going to budge either. “We’ve talked about it though. It might be a possibility when things blow over. She’d be okay with me running the bar for you, at least.”

“Let me know if you want to wear the jacket, and we’ll talk,” he answered, leaning back in his chair. “As you can see, I’m swamped with paperwork. I have a few things I need done, and Harley and Caden are the only two people I have right now. Most of my guys are out on jobs for me, but I need a few simple things done.”

“Like?”

“You can shoot a gun, right? I need you to go and get Noah from school and make sure he gets home safely. Fucker’s been suspended for fighting, and he’s being a little prick. Maybe you can talk to him, he likes you.”

“You want me to play parent to your foster kid?” I asked dryly, and he rolled his eyes.

“No, we’ll scold him later. I just need him taken home, and I trust that you’ll keep him safe. He looks up to you boys, so have a youthful bro conversation or something.”

“Why couldn’t Caden do it?”

“Caden is currently on the phone to the Kings trying to figure out this mafia mess, and Harley has a meeting with the foster agency in twenty minutes so he has to leave.”

I frowned, not following. “Why does he have an appointment with them?”

“You don’t usually ask so many fucking questions,” he muttered, crossing his arms. “They’re considering taking on some kids. We put in a good word, but they still need interviews and their home inspected.”

“Oh. That’s kind of cool then. I like how you guys take in so many. I wish you’d somehow stumbled across me as a kid, but I also wonder how different my life would be if that had happened.”

“You know if you need a family, you’ve got one,” he said seriously. “You technicallyarefamily since you’re Maddox’s cousin.”

“It’s taken him a long time to even be comfortable in the same room as me. I’m pretty sure he hated me when we first met.”

“We’ve talked about this. You probably represented a part of his life that caused him so much trauma. He’s healing, and he also understands that you were a victim to your father and his men, just like he was. I’m glad you boys are getting along though.”

Part of me wondered why Maddox held so much hatred when he’d been saved at such a young age, whereas I’d been abused until I was a teenager and my wounds were fresher.

I’d learned to lock that shit down and move on, not wanting it to control me.

Everyone coped differently, I guessed.

“I’m grateful for the help you and your family have given mine.”

“I know, and that’s why we keep doing it.” He cleared his throat, the deep and meaningful conversation gone. “How would you feel about going on a job later with Maddox and Caden?”

“It honestly depends what it is. Raven’s on edge right now, and you know what she’s like. I’d love to do whatever you need, but it can’t be at the expense of her emotions. I lost her once, and I won’t lose her again,” I said firmly, making him nod.

“I won’t lie to you and say she’ll be fine with it. They’re moving a shitload of coke from one of our warehouses to another. You don’t have to touch anything, but Maddox and Caden can work while you keep a good lookout. I’d feel better if you didn’t even know about it, trust me, but I need someone who’s a good shot, just in case.”

“Why don’t you hire the Thieves? Knox would bring the tactical team without question.”

“They’re spread thin too right now. Between mafia leads and their own business, they can’t really spare people. I honestly understand if you say no, and I’d be grateful if you could just get Noah safely home for me,” he said with a sigh, his phone lighting up on the desk and making him glance down at it. “Great, and now the guys that were on a stakeout job got themselves shot at, so I really need to handle that.”

“Are they okay?” I asked slowly, watching as he picked up the phone to type a response.

“Alive? Sure. Mikey got a bullet to the leg though.”

“Maybe you should bring Noah here to see the consequences of not going to school,” I joked, earning a raised eyebrow.

“Mikey went to college and passed with flying colors. He just needs to learn to weave instead of duck. You know what? Go get him and bring him here.”

“Mikey?”

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