Page 112 of The Trust We Broke
They?
“Could it be the Bratva?” I ask, taking Vex at his word. “We annihilated them a few months ago.”
Saint looks cautiously at Wren. And what I see is something akin to paternal concern.
Spark wears the same expression.
Vex shakes his head. “I don’t think so. They have nothing to gain and everything to lose from a deal with the Feds. They’retoo big an organization. If they wanted you gone, they’d come at you head-on. It would kill their reputation if they were known to be Fed informants, so my gut says it’s not them.”
“You’re having some other problems, though,” King says. “With the Rebels. They’ve become…problematic.”
I shrug. “Another day in paradise. Just protecting what’s ours and keeping them away. We scared ‘em off, once; we’ll do it again. It’s heading into winter. Business is always lighter in winter. We’ll just hunker down. Lie low. We’ll ride out the heat until spring.”
“It’s not so simple.” Vex reaches for a mug of coffee and takes a sip. “There seems to be momentum for an entrenched campaign to get each and every one of you.”
King smacks the tabletop. “And that’s why Wren is here.”
Wren looks up at the mention of their name. They’re wary, at the mention. And while I know King is a good man at heart, for a second, I wonder if I’m looking at a person being trafficked.
Saint looks at them. “Wren, this is Grudge. He’s the president, like King.”
They nod their head at me in a move that feels reverential.
I nod back.
“Wren needs a secure place to hide,” King says. “I said they’d be safe, here; however you see fit. One of you take them in. Whatever works for you. But I want them under twenty-four-seven protection until we tell you they don’t need to be.”
I look over the table at Wren. “They?” I ask.
“They,” Wren answers. “I’m non-binary, if that’s the question you’re really asking.”
“Okay, just want to address you properly.” And that means making sure the club does too.
Which feels like a fucking challenge, because we got some knuckle-dragging old-timers. Plus, they’re pretty. Gonna be trouble among the single men, if Wren floats that way.
But the way King is looking at me tells me the request to have someone look out for them isn’t optional.
And this club will always honor its debts.
“Whatever Wren needs.”
“I’m glad you said that,” Vex said. “Because Wren’s going to be your best asset in figuring out what’s going on.”
“Why?” I ask.
“Wren’s one of my old lady’s protégés,” Vex says.
“And what does your old lady do?” I ask.
The rest of the men at the table smirk, and Wren looks to Vex, who nods.
“Calista is arguably one of the world’s greatest hackers,” Wren says.
“And you?” I ask Wren.
Wren looks at me and smiles. “I’m better.”
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