Page 40 of Cinder
“Which I can disable,” Bram adds. “But the system has an alert on it, so if it’s disabled for too long, their security will be triggered.”
“Meaning we’ve only got a small period of time to get inside that warehouse and see what we’re facing.” Beast looks around the table. “Bear, Ryder, and Stone, you’ll take care ofthe fire power outside. Lars and Zac, you’re with me inside that warehouse.” We all nod in agreement. “Meet me at the bikes in thirty minutes. Let’s find these assholes and show them what we think about people who try to run contraband through our town.”
He brings church to an end with a hard smack of the gavel on the table.
The room empties quickly, but before I can leave, Beast asks me to hang back.
“You think there’s any stick to Cheezy being our guy?” he asks as we walk toward the door.
“He’s an asshole. But smart enough for this? I don’t think so.”
“Me neither.”
“Then what’s your next move with him?”
“Bram is checking into his financials. See if there’s any suspicious payments. Don’t want to spook him until I’ve got something to spook him with.” He gives me a raised eyebrow. “I see there is a new face in the kitchen. Cheezy’s date from the party. Wanna tell me what that’s about?”
“Don’t read anything into it. Kid needed a job. Her last boss liked to hit.”
“Is that how she got that shiner on her cheek?”
I nod. But inwardly the urge to find the man who hurt her twists like a pit of vipers in my guts. I want to find him. Just so I can hurt him.
“I figured she needed a new job, Mrs. V. needed a new kitchen hand, so I killed two birds with one stone.”
“Do we know anything about her?”
“Bram will do the usual background checks this morning. She had all the necessary identification for the hiring process. She looks legit.”
I conveniently ignore the curl of unease in my gut.
I don’t believe for a second that she is tied up with whoever is selling the Knights information on the dark web.
But she is still a mystery.
And until I crack the mystery, there is always a need to be on alert.
“Since when do you go around offering random women jobs?” Beast asks.
“Since I met a girl whose asshole boss liked to put his fist in her face.”
There is not one Knight who condones violence against women and children. If they did, they wouldn’t wear the cut.
“I don’t want this to turn into a problem,” Beast says. “If you need to get something out of your system, then get the fuck on with it. If I’m right, shit’s about to hit the fucking fan and I need you focused.”
I share the same feeling.
“Like I said, she’s just a kid that needs a job,” I assure him.
“She’s not a kid. And don’t even try to tell me you haven’t noticed.”
“Point taken.”
He’s right. I can lie all I want, but the truth is, Ella’s got my attention.
Worst of all, she’s got me interested.
CHAPTER 19
