the Nighthawks around when you were growing up?” I asked. She nodded. “Things have changed since then, right?”
“Yes,” she said. “They used to be regular guys who were part of the community. Then a bunch of them got caught up all at once and went to prison, so obviously there was more going on than what we saw on the surface.”
“My club—the Reapers—are more like the original Nighthawks,” I said. “We’re part of our community. We do a lot of charitable things, we hang out together. We’re a family. A big, loud family that has a shitload of fun.”
“But you commit crimes together, too,” she replied, meeting my gaze steadily. “Brandon prosecuted a major case against a club. I’m not an idiot.”
“We’re one percenters,” I told her. “Do you know what that means?”
“Not a clue.”
“It means we don’t let the law get in the way of living our lives,” I continued. “We ride our bikes, we party. We have a hell of a good time, and we’ll do whatever it takes to keep that life. For the most part it has nothing to do with the civilian world—our battles are our own, and you should know that the Reapers are the dominant club in this region. That means we have alliances with smaller clubs like the Nighthawks, but ultimately we call the shots. What the Nighthawks have been doing—harassing the community, that kind of thing—that’s what happens when a club falls out of balance. I came here to fix things. Marsh Jackson is going to prison, and so are his boys. It’s time to rebuild the club in Hallies Falls, turn it back into what it was when you were growing up.”
A sudden pounding on the door startled us, and Tinker sighed.
“God, I swear, if that’s Mrs. Webbly . . .”
I snorted. “I told her I’d get to the toilet tomorrow. She has two bathrooms.”
“Let me talk to her,” Tinker said, pushing my hands off her knees. She stood and had started toward the door when the pounding came a second time, and a man shouted, “Are you okay, Ms. Garrett? This is Tony Allen, with Hallies Falls PD. Can you open the door?”
Fucking hell. Tinker hesitated, then shot me a quick question with her eyes. Did this have anything to do with me? I shook my head in quick denial, following and standing behind her as she opened the door. A young deputy—hardly old enough to shave—looked at us with wide eyes.
“Um, we got a call requesting a welfare check,” he said slowly. “A friend of yours called, said he was concerned about a man coming into your home. Can you step outside, Ms. Garrett?”
Oh, that fucker. That cowardly little fucker. Guitar Boy hadn’t had the nerve to stand up to me so he’d called in the cops for no damned good reason. Just what I needed.
“Of course,” she said, following him. I knew the drill here. He’d talk to her separately, make sure I wasn’t forcing her to do anything. If she truly wanted to jack me up, now would be her opportunity. I considered that. Tinker was pissed at me—really pissed. She could tell him I’d lied about my identity, not that much would come of it. The club’s lawyers could fix anything that needed fixing, and the local cops followed the Nighthawks’ lead. Still, I was a little surprised when she finished talking to the guy and came back inside.
“Sorry about that,” she said as we watched him walk down the street to his squad car. “I think Joel called them. He was worried you’d hurt me or something.”
“Must’ve been real concerned,” I said, crossing my arms and leaning against the doorframe. “He made that phone call just as soon as he got his own ass a safe distance from yours. Sounds like a real winner to me.”
She looked up at me. “You know, for a lying asshole you’re sort of cute when you’re jealous.”
“What?” I asked, thrown off-balance.
“You heard me,” she replied crisply. “Let’s finish talking. I’m tired and want to go to bed. Alone, for the record. The sooner we get this over with, the better.”
“You have a way of making a man feel appreciated,” I said wryly, and she shrugged as she closed the front door before sitting on one of the wingback chairs in the living room. I settled on the couch, leaning forward with my arms on my knees to pin her down with my stare.