Page 69 of The Echo of Violence

“I figured. I know a professional trainer, but they always use German commands, so nobody else can take control of the dog.”

I snort. “Unless someone else speaks German. Toto is my dog, and he only listens to me. It’s as simple as that.”

“And who are you, Jinx?”

“My name is Jinx. I’m a fugitive recovery agent. I like strong coffee, sweet tea, and pineapple on my pizza. I’m right-handed. Gemini and I struggle to find shoes that fit,” I deadpan.

Scope’s lips twitch, but Wizz glares at me. “You think this is funny?”

“Kinda. You want to tell me your names, you know, break the ice a little?” I look at each of them. “Yeah, I didn’t think so.”

“We don’t owe you anything.”

“Pretty sure I could say the same thing. I understand that MCs don’t like to involve outsiders, but the woman Scooter beat up was not his old lady. The kid is not his child. You had your chance to fix it. You didn’t. A woman and child will sleep better because of what I did, so don’t ask me if I’m sorry. I’m not.”

“You have a real attitude.” Kaz snorts.

“Thank you. It’s one of my better qualities.” I sigh and lean back, reaching up to rub my chest over the spot where the bullet hit. “Believe it or not, I didn’t come here to make trouble. If Scooter hadn’t returned with his tail between his legs, you guys would have been none the wiser. I’m still not sure how you didn’t know what was going on with him, though.”

“He’s a prospect. He doesn’t matter much until he gets his patch.”

“You don’t do background checks on your prospects?” I ask, surprised.

“Basic ones, yeah. His came up clean. The charges came later,” Wizz tells me coldly.

“I don’t understand. You run a basic check on your prospects and a deeper one before they potentially become brothers?”

“That’s the way it’s always been done.”

“But don’t the prospects guard your old lady?”

The room goes quiet as they look at each other—the atmosphere becoming tense.

“You make a good point, especially in light of today’s events. Wizz, I want a deep dive done on all our prospects. Starting with Jinx here.”

“I’m not a prospect.”

“Yet.”

Say what now?

“Scope, are you nuts?” Wizz complains.

“Don’t answer that. We already know.” Kaz rubs his hand over his face.

“She can’t be a prospect, Scope,” Wizz insists.

“Actually, she can. You said so yourself, Wizz. There’s nothing in the bylaws to say a woman can’t join the ranks.”

“Being a woman won’t do her any favors, but that’s not it. She pissed off the club today. She won’t get the votes she needs.”

“I don’t need votes to bring in a prospect—only someone to sponsor her. By the time we vote her in as a fully patched member, she’ll have won them over.”

“Okay, time-out. Let me just stop you right there. Firstly, I am not a people person, so if you hope my sparkling personality will win people over, you’re screwed. Secondly, I don’t want to be a prospect. Why in the hell would I sign up to become a resident slave for the next however many months you decree necessary, knowing in the end I won’t get voted in.”

“Six months instead of a year, and you won’t have the same tasks as the others because you’ll be training for a different role.”

The two beside him complain. I look at Scope, trying to figure out his angle. It’s easy to dismiss it and assume he’s setting me up for failure, yet I’m not getting that vibe from him.

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