Cruz (Dark and Dirty Sinners' MC #5) - Serena Akeroyd Page 0,79

than what I'm already doing. I like keeping my hands dirty, and you guys give me the opportunity."

"Is it true what Maverick says?"

"What does he say?" was Cruz's wary retort.

"That you used to be a scientist? Wore a white lab coat and everything?"

His smile was twisted. "Yeah. I even had a pocket protector and a little lanyard just to tie it all up in a neat bow."

My brows rose at that. "Legit?"

"Legit." He just hitched a shoulder. "Not like it's something to brag about."

"In a place where half of us didn't bother to get our high school diplomas, I'd say that I respectfully disagree."

"Never known you to be respectful, Nyx, so don't feel the need to start now."

His insolence pricked my temper, but he'd done Indy a solid. My baby sister knew what it was to kill someone now, but this man, this brother of mine, had helped make things right. Had covered it up.

That was the joy of the law.

No body.

No crime.

Was there anything more beautiful than that?

I leaned my arm against the door, peering through it as Indy and Cyan sat together, their shoulders hunched as they talked about things I didn't really understand, or want to.

After Carly, Mom had done her best. She'd taught Caleb and Indy how to protect themselves, what to watch out for. But it wasn't like Stranger Danger was a thing here when your fucking uncle was the viper in the nest.

Just thinking about Kevin made my blood boil, and normally, I wouldn't let it. I'd force myself to calm down because if I killed too often, then shit would come raining down on me.

Before Giulia, I'd always thought I'd either end up dead before forty because no way was I going to let the cops take me in willingly. I'd imagined a blaze of glory with the boys in blue shooting my ass before I ever got to jail. Or, if luck wasn't on my side, then I'd end up in an orange jumpsuit and I'd die on the inside.

I had no intention of heading toward either future. Not now. Giulia needed me. More than she knew. And I was very okay with that. I needed her to need me. It kept my head on straight. Stopped me from losing my shit on the regular.

Like now.

I had the wherewithal to reason that I couldn't piss in my own backyard, which was where this fuck, who thought he could groom a Sinner's kid without retribution, was.

Well, he'd learn otherwise soon enough.

I reached for my cell and flipped through for Maverick's number, before I hit connect, Cruz murmured, "She's already called Keira."

"She isn't who I'm ringing." When the call connected, I murmured, "Mav, I need you to do a search for me."

"Sure. Who?"

"No surname, not yet—"

"Jesus, I swear you think I can find a needle in a farm of needles."

"Stop bitching, you know you love a challenge."

Mav grunted. "Go on, give me details."

“Martin's a volunteer at Cyan's gymnastics' class."

He hesitated. "Huh?"

“Cyan—Storm's kid."

“I know that, dumb fuck, but what the hell am I—" He broke off, then a hiss escaped him. "No."

"Not yet," I soothed, but there was no soothing either of us.

"Storm needs to know."

I blew out a breath because Mav was right, but this couldn't happen here. It was bringing too much shit to our door.

There were already whispers about the guy who killed kid fuckers, who made them pay for their sins. They roamed around the States because I usually did my hits when I was on a run, but if I pulled a stunt here, it could lead things directly to our front door. We'd already had an issue back in Coshocton, at our sister chapter where Storm was the new Prez, because Giulia had inadvertently blown up the warehouse where we'd been torturing the last guy on our shit list.

The police were dumb fucks, but they weren't that goddamn dumb.

"Let's just find shit out first. I need confirmation, you know that."

Maverick grunted. "I'm on it."

"Whatever you do, don't tell Lodestar. This kill is mine. And if not mine, then it's Storm's, you hear me?"

"Loud and clear. You have any other information?"

"No. I don't want to ask Cyan, either."

"Understood. I'll figure shit out."

He cut the call, and I shoved my cell back into my jeans' pocket, wondering at my next move.

With Maverick on the case, working to find evidence that Martin deserved my wrath and wasn't just an overzealous parent—it hadn't happened once in all the time I'd been doing this,