I have.”
He throws his hands up in the air.
“We’ve got your back, Bronte,” Abbie murmurs, reaching over and taking my hand. “What he’s saying is don’t do anything alone, we’ll be with you. There’s a smart way to do things, and if you’re emotional, sometimes you can be a little reckless.”
“I’m not going to do anything stupid,” I promise them both, knowing I cannot take on some drug dealers on my own. “I just need answers, okay? I don’t want to start any drama, I just want to know the truth. I’m not going to be able to move forward until I do.”
“I know,” Crow admits, scrubbing his hand down his face. “Okay, so what’s the plan? How are we going to do this?”
“I’m going to wait and see what Nadia can find first, and then I’m going to go back and speak with Uncle Neville and find out a little more about the family business,” I say, flashing my teeth. “I want to see if they had any competitors, I want to make a list of possible suspects, and I want motives.”
The old private investigator in me is coming out in full force, and I’m so emotionally invested in this, it’s not funny.
“Does this mean you’re not coming back to work?” Crow asks in a dry tone.
If what Uncle Neville says is true, I have enough money to not need to run back to work, but that money is drug money, blood money. I’ve never not worked and supported myself, and that’s not going to stop now. “No, I’ll be back at work. I wasn’t sure if I even had a job still.”
“Lucky for you, the boss likes you,” Abbie adds, smirking at us both. “Do you want to come back to the clubhouse, Bronte? I think it’s time you met the squad.”
I think she’s right.
* * *
My first thought is that they must only let good-looking people join the MC. Everyone is friendly enough, some a little reserved, but I can understand why. I’m being brought into their clubhouse, their safe place, and they don’t even know me.
“It’s nice to finally meet you, Bronte,” Izzy says to me, her partner, a man they call Renny, by her side. I meet Saint and see Skylar again, and the mysterious Chains, Dee and Temper once more.
“You too,” I reply, smiling at her. “I must say this isn’t what I pictured.”
The clubhouse is...homey. It’s clean and tidy, and it has personal touches—lots of black, leather and a hell of a lot of space for all of them.
“I said the same thing.” She smirks, glancing up at Renny. “I actually own a house down the road, although I seem to be spending more and more time here these days.”
“That’s nice that you have your own space if you want alone time though,” I reply, nodding in approval.
“We’re sorry to hear about your dad,” Temper says. “Crow says you’re out for revenge.”
I arch my brow at Crow. “I don’t think I want revenge. I just want the truth, and I think someone killed him.”
“Okay, I’ll bite. Let’s say there was someone who set him up, someone who wanted him gone. Let’s say he was killed, and they made it look like an overdose. What are you going to do to that person?” Temper asks, watching me very closely.
I cross my arms over my chest. “I don’t think I’ll know the answer to that until that very moment.”
“Which makes you unpredictable,” Crow murmurs, wrapping his arm around me and leaning forward until I look at his face. “And I don’t like that.”
“You don’t have to like it,” I say, lifting my chin. “And you don’t have to help me. I’m sure me and Nadia can do it ourselves. I don’t need—”
He covers my mouth with his hand. “It’s too late for that, I’m in. Look around you, we’re all in. So stop running your cute little mouth and accept your fate.”
Fate could have done me worse.
He removes his hand, and my eyes narrow to slits. “I don’t know whether to thank you or to punch you.”
He simply grins, his hair falling over his forehead, his stupid blue shirt matching his eyes.
“You’re lucky you’re cute,” I add, glancing around the room to see everyone watching us. “What?”
Abbie shakes her head, smiling. “You’re both damn cute, that’s what.”
Izzy and Skylar bring out some cocktails and a cheese platter for us to munch on.
“The way Crow looks at you...” Skylar says, moving closer so no one else