When Caz wears a serious face, you know it’s about to get very real, so we get out of bed and follow him downstairs.
“What’s going on?” Saint asks as we all take seats at the table.
“I’ve got a lead on our mystery dude with the camera,” Theo confirms. “I ran him through facial recognition software, and when I didn’t get any hits, I put out a few feelers among some contacts. One of them just came through.” His eyes lock on Saint’s. “It’s not good, dude.”
“Who is he?”
“He’s with the DEA,” he says, and a litany of curses rips through the air.
Honestly, I’m not surprised the Drug Enforcement Agency is sniffing around, but it seemed like he was following us when I’d expect him to follow Sinner and the senior chapter members.
“But that’s not the worst of it,” Theo adds, turning his laptop around, showing us the image on the screen.
All the color leaches from my face as I stare in shock at the photo of the DEA guy with Ruben. They’re smiling as they shake hands, looking like smug assholes.
“Holy motherfucker,” Caz says. “We’re so fucked.”
CHAPTER 30
Caz
“WANT SOME HELP?” I ask, coming up behind Lo in the kitchen. She’s making an early dinner because she wants to have it ready before the old man arrives. I think she thinks if we’re all eating it’ll be more civilized. Fat chance a mouthful of food will stop Saint from going postal on Diesel’s ass.
“Could you cut the bread?” She gestures toward the chopping board on her right as she slides the lasagna in the oven.
“That smells delicious,” I admit, sniffing the aromatic scent of garlic, tomato, and fresh herbs as it wafts around our small kitchen.
“Thanks. It’s about the only thing I can cook.” She washes lettuce in the sink. “Mom’s a great cook, as I’m sure you’ve all noticed, but I didn’t inherit her passion or talent.”
“Sounds to me like you didn’t have much downtime to learn.” I slice through the baguette. “And you definitely have other talents.” I waggle my brows suggestively, and she laughs.
“What about your family?” She looks over at me as she pats the salad leaves dry with some paper towels.
Bile swims up my throat. “Not much to tell. My sister Nelia is ten, and my brother Jake is six. Mom works at a grocery store, and Dad’s a mechanic when he’s not pulling shit for The Sainthood.”
She stops what she’s doing, her eyes popping wide. “Your dad’s a member?” She absently drops lettuce in a glass bowl while she watches me.
“Yep. And he’s your typical prick. Drinks too much. Likes to slap my mom around. And he’s a proverbial cheater.”
“Shit. I’m sorry.”
I shrug. “It is what it is. I’ve tried to help Mom. I have enough money saved so she could move out and get her own place, but she won’t leave him.” I shake my head. “I don’t get it.”
Lo moves to my side, sliding her arms around my neck. “Can I do anything to help?”
I bury my head in her neck. “You help just by being here. Helping to take my mind off it.”
She dots kisses all over my cheeks, and I wrap my arms around her waist, holding her close.
This girl. She slays me. Slays all of us. I’m never letting her go.
“Heads-up,” Saint says, sauntering into the kitchen. “The pedo’s here. I just sent him the code for the gate.”
Until recently, no visitors had ever been here. It was our private domain, locked off from the world. But Diesel followed Lo the last time, so he knows where we live and how to get in. Saint and Theo installed a new automatic mechanism to the gate last night, before all that shit went down at Galen’s house and at The Bulls’ clubhouse. Access is now via a hidden keypad and only those with the code can get in.
Saint sends Galen a pointed look, and Galen nods. Lo will throw a hissy fit when she finds out what we’ve done, but all is fair in love and war, and we’re not taking chances.
Lo sighs, removing herself from my embrace to swat the back of Saint’s head. “He’s early. And be nice to him, or no sex for a week.”
I burst out laughing, slapping Saint on the shoulder. “It’s cool, man. Go apeshit on his ass. We’ll look after our girl.” I pull her back into me, thrusting my hips against her body, my cock swelling behind my boxers.
Saint flips me the bird before his serious mask comes down. “Remember what we discussed. We don’t mention anything about last night or that we know he’s employed by VERO. We see if he’s found out anything about Ruben and if he can help us take him down for good.”
“Agreed,” Galen and Theo say, coming up behind us.
“Get the drinks,” Lo instructs. “I’ll head outside to greet him.”
Galen heads to the refrigerator while I dump the sliced bread on a plate. Theo is setting the table as Saint starts opening cupboards. “What are you looking for?” I ask.
“Anything we can use to poison him.” He says it so matter-of-factly, and I know how batshit crazy the guy can be, so I’m not altogether sure he’s joking.
Galen smirks, placing some beers down on the counter. “You kill him, the princess will cockblock you for life.”
“More sexy time for us.” I waggle my brows. “Have at it, Saintly.”
He stabs me with an irritated look, and I chuckle. Lo has really ruffled his feathers. It’s awesome to see, because if ever a guy needs to loosen up, it’s our supreme leader. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want him turning pussy-whipped like my man Theo, but he rarely drops his guard—he rarely relaxes or lets go. Not until our sexy goddess showed up and made mincemeat of our hearts.
“I’m not trying to kill him,” Saint says, pulling out a bottle of bleach. “At least not yet.” He pins us with a blinding smile as he closes the cupboard door. “I just want to make him a little ill.”
Theo swipes the bleach from Saint’s hand. “You’re not putting anything in his drink. She’s not into him. Get over yourself.” He turns to me, thrusting the bleach into my hand. “Hide that someplace the lunatic can’t reach it.”
“Your wish is my command.” I wink at him, and he quickly looks away.
I wonder when he’ll fess up and whether his new closeness with the princess will help or hinder. I’m curious and more than a little excited by the possibilities, but I can’t make a move. He’s got to put himself out there and make himself vulnerable.
“For the last time, Diesel,” Lo says, barreling into the house like a whirlwind, clutching an envelope in her hand. “I’m not running away!”
Galen slips out the back door while everyone’s distracted.
“Who the fuck said anything about running away?” Saint steps out, grabbing Lo and pulling her in front of him. His hands land possessively on her hips as he glowers at Diesel.
“I want her to leave for a while until things have calmed down,” Diesel says, standing confidently in front of Lo and Saint. We join in—me on their right and Theo on the left, forming a formidable line of defense. “You can all go with her. But getting out of the country is the safest plan of action.”
“According to you,” Saint says.
“What’s changed?” Theo asks.
Diesel runs a hand over his head, and the guy looks tired as fuck as he eyeballs us. “Can we sit and discuss this calmly? We all want what’s best for Lo, and we can’t afford to disregard any option.”
“Fine.” Lo huffs. “We can sit, but I’m not leaving the country.”
Saint smirks, kissing the top of her head before taking her hand and walking her to the table.
“Where’s Galen?” Lo asks, glancing around with a frown, once we’re all seated.
“Here,” Galen says, coming in the back door. “I was just putting the trash out.”
None of us look at him—not with the beady-eyed VERO assassin sitting across the table.
“I’ve got lasagna in the oven,” Lo says, trying to defuse the stifling atmosphere, “but you�
��re early, so it’s not ready yet.”
Diesel smiles at her in a way I’m familiar with. Dude definitely has a hard-on for our girl, but I don’t think he’s stupid enough to try anything.
Not because of us.
Because of Lo.
She’s made her feelings pretty clear, and if he overstepped, he’d risk losing her forever.
“That was thoughtful, and you know how much I love your lasagna,” Diesel says, his lips twitching as Saint stiffens. I kick Lennox under the table. He’s so fucking obvious when it comes to Lo. It’s hysterical because any other time Saint is an unreadable wall. But come after his girl, and it all rushes to the surface. “But something has come up, and I can’t stay long.”
“Get to the point then,” Saint says in a clipped tone.
“I gather Lo has told you she’s wearing a tracker and audio recording device around her neck,” he says, shooting her a look of displeasure. “I listened to the initiation meeting, and it’s obvious Lo is in a precarious situation. She can’t take out Commissioner Leydon, and if your psycho father lays a finger on her again, I will slaughter him and the entire board in cold blood.”
“We’d be right by your side,” I admit, because that’s exactly how we feel too.
“Then, you agree that disappearing for a few months makes the most sense.”
I snort out a laugh. “Fuck, no. We’re The Sainthood.”
“We don’t hide from our problems,” Saint adds. “We run straight at them.”
Diesel exhales heavily. “This is a fucking waste of my time. It’s like negotiating with a bunch of kindergarteners.”
“Diesel, I know you’re scared for me, and I’m appreciative of your concern, but running away is not an option. We already discussed this, and there’s no point going over old ground,” Lo says. “Please drop it so we can discuss more pressing problems.”
“There is so much you don’t know, Lo.” Diesel reaches for her hand, but she whips it off the table before he can touch her, shooting him an apologetic look.
“Then tell us,” Theo says.
“I wish I could, but I can’t.”
Silence engulfs us, and tension slithers into the air like thick, black smoke.
“What can you tell us?” Lo asks. “Did you find out how Ruben got his hands on the video of me killing Luke McKenzie?”
“I’m narrowing it down,” he cryptically says, looking cagey.
“I’m calling bullshit.” Saint drums his fingers on the table.
Diesel ignores him, concentrating on Lo. “I’m sorry to hit and run, but I’ve somewhere to be. Just hold tight for another couple days. I’ll have intel then and a way for you to end The Bulls.”
“How?” Theo sits up straighter.
Diesel stands. “All in good time, Theo.”
“You expect us to trust you when you’re obviously hiding stuff? Intel that could keep Lo safe?” Saint says.
“Listen, punk.” Diesel lunges across the table at Saint, but Lo pulls him back.
“Quit that shit, Diesel. Why can’t you tell us now?”
He rubs his temples. “I know a lot of this doesn’t make sense, but I’m keeping stuff back for a reason. Please trust me. I have your best interests at heart, and I’m putting myself on the line to do that. I’m working on an angle, and I promise I’ll tell you everything when it’s fully lined up.” His gaze bounces around the room. “Until then, lay low. Keep Harlow away from your father and those perverted bastards.” His teeth grind as he eyeballs Saint.
We all look to our leader. Even Lo. And I silently beseech Saint to do the right thing because she’s looking to him to do that. Not that she can’t or won’t make that call. She needs to see him do it.
“Okay,” Saint says after a few beats of awkward silence. “But if you’re screwing us, we’ll screw you back.”
“That’s not how I roll,” Diesel says, kissing the top of Lo’s head. “Stay safe.”
“You too,” she says.
We watch as he strides toward the door like he owns the fucking air we breathe. He turns around at the last second, his hand curled around the door handle. “One final thing. No more stunts like last night. I can’t help you if the cops are breathing down your necks.”
Saint flips him off. “We know how to cover our tracks.”
Diesel rolls his eyes. “Evidently not.” He fixes one final glance in Lo’s direction before walking outside.
“What the fuck does that mean?” I ask.
“That he’s watching our every move,” Theo says, frowning, and I know he’ll take this personally. Like he’s somehow failed us because he can’t stop Diesel from following our trail.
“It’s time we repaid the favor,” Saint says, standing. “Come on. We’re leaving now.”
“To go where?” Lo asks, jumping up.
Chairs scrape as we all stand.
“We’re following the old man. Let’s see what’s so important he had to leave.”
CHAPTER 31
Harlow
I TURN OFF the stove and leave the envelope with the fake IDs Diesel gave me on the kitchen counter. It seems his influence knows no bounds and, somehow, he forced Johnny into handing over my new identification. How simple that plan seems now, and it’s so far removed from my current reality it’s almost laughable.
I won’t run, because my enemies will only chase after me. I don’t doubt Diesel has the resources to hide me, but I refuse to spend the rest of my life looking over my shoulder and jumping at my own shadow.
“I’m still pissed you added a tracker to his car without telling me,” I say when we’re all safely inside the Lexus and on the move. Theo is frantically stabbing buttons on his iPad, doing what he does best.
“And that’s why we didn’t tell you,” Saint replies, and I flip him off. He smirks at me over the console. “Babe, I know you trust him, but he’s keeping shit from us, and we need to know what.”
“He’s a dangerous fucker,” Caz says, and I narrow my eyes at him through the mirror. “Hey.” He holds up his hands from the back seat. “Don’t shoot the messenger. I’m telling it like it is. He’s a highly trained mercenary who kills people for a living. We know he’d never hurt you, but the jury’s out on our asses.”
“Especially since Saintly is determined to piss him off any chance he gets,” Theo notes without lifting his head from his tablet.
“You can all fuck off with your Saintly,” Saint says, and a smile lifts the corners of my mouth.
“Done,” Theo says, and I glance over my shoulder, lifting a brow. “I’ve synced the tracking device to the GPS system in the car.” He sits back in the seat. “I also changed the code on the gate. I’ve messaged you the new one.” He pins me with a warning look. “Diesel is not to know that.”
I hate that they don’t trust him, but I can’t really blame them, which is why I didn’t go postal on their asses when they told me what Galen had done. I nod at Theo, and he smiles back at me, knowing he doesn’t need to confirm where my loyalty lies.
Saint fiddles with a few buttons, grinning like a madman, as he stares at the red dot moving on the map when it loads. “Looks like he’s heading out of Prestwick,” he adds.
“Keep a safe distance behind him,” Theo says. “He might recognize the car.”
Saint rolls his eyes, before glancing at me. “Did he say anything outside that was helpful?”
“No. He just flipped his lid over the initiation tasks and begged me to skip town.”
“What was in the envelope?” Galen asks.
“A fake driver’s license and passport.”
“They might come in handy,” Saint says.
“Only if we get some for all of you, because I’m not going anywhere without you.”
A different kind of heaviness settles in the air, and I wonder if I’ve said too much, but fuck it, I’m not hiding behind an emotionless wall anymore. They might be afraid to confront their feelings, but I’ve scaled that beast and come out the othe
r side. I’m still scared, because I’m navigating new terrain, but I’m done pretending.
“I can make that happen,” Theo says. “Because we’re not letting you out of our sight.”
“Ever,” Saint adds, stretching his arm across the console to squeeze my hand.
Tears prick my eyes, but for once, they are happy tears.
Nothing else is said, but that’s okay, because nothing else needs to be said.
“He’s slowing down,” Saint says ten minutes later when we reach the large public park and woodland on the outskirts of Fenton.
Saint follows his route through the park, pulling into the far end of the parking lot and killing the engine. It’s late afternoon, and the sun is starting to set, but there are still a ton of people around. Families taking young kids to the playground. Couples out walking dogs. Joggers and cyclists. But it’s the dark-haired man sitting on the bench beside Diesel who has claimed our interest.
Acid churns in my gut as I watch Diesel discreetly chatting with the DEA agent.
“I fucking knew we couldn’t trust that motherfucker,” Saint says, anger simmering in his tone.
“We don’t know what this is.” I’m not defending him per se—I just don’t want to jump to the obvious conclusion. “He said he was working an angle. This could be it.”
“We need fucking answers,” Saint says. “And we’re getting them tonight.” He looks into the back seat. “Reschedule the meet with Bry to tomorrow night. This can’t wait.”
We sit in silence for another few minutes, watching the two men talking, their faces changing as the conversation grows heated.
What I wouldn’t give to hear what they are saying.
The DEA dude jumps up, stalking off and getting into a blacked-out SUV. We all duck down in our seats, waiting for his car to pass. Saint has his hand on the door handle when I tug on his elbow. “I’ll go. You two will just end up punching one another.” I don’t wait for his reply, hopping out and jogging toward Diesel’s Land Rover.
He’s about to drive off when he spots me. He rests his head on the steering wheel, his lips moving as I walk around the car and climb into the passenger seat.
The Sainthood : A Dark High School Romance (The Complete Series) Page 53
