Page 34 of The Price of Love

“I dunno. Probably because the Graces think they’re above it all.”

“Above it all?”

“Yeah, ya know proper. While the Thorns get their hands dirty.”

“You mean like in illegal stuff?”

I’m happy I’m driving, so Nadine doesn’t see my eyes. Nobody brings up the law. While she technically hasn’t, I’ve never heard a patch say the word illegal. I know it’s just us, but talking like this makes me uncomfortable.

“Nah. I just mean they straitlaced.”

Nadine chuckles. “Nothing straitlaced about the Thorns. Does it bother you?”

What the hell? She’s not letting up.

Before I can respond, she says, “You work at the garage. Don’t you worry you could get arrested?”

“Nope.” The less I say, the better.

“Too bad Storm stopped Frost from bringing in more abandoned vehicles.”

Her tone is obvious when she says abandoned. The Thorns don’t bring in the vehicles we chop, but we don’t ask questions about the ones that come in. Halo’s got some legal-sounding bullshit for it. It’s small time, a handful each month.

“We’ve helped plenty of locals with the abandoned cars,” I say, feeling like I need to defend the crew I work with at Black Briar.

Nadine lets out a chuckle. “Maybe we can donate a few of your cars on Saturday. I’m sure the ladies at the shelter could use them.”

Now I know she’s baiting me, but I ain’t biting. We ain’t just running away with the money. We’re helping families, especially single mothers who can’t pay for repairs or old people on fixed incomes. The Graces aren’t the only ones helping the community.

I feel Nadine’s eyes on the side of my face, so I give her my most casual smile and motion over my shoulder with my thumb. “We’ve got enough donations for tomorrow. Their periods will be covered for months.” I laugh, trying to seal that I’m not bothered by her questions. “They’ll think of the Thorns when they take care of their coochies.”

“Eww, gross,” Nadine says, but she laughs.

Crisis averted. “Speaking of coochies. What happened to Chad? You haven’t brought him around lately.”

“He’s a dick.”

I could have told her that. The first time I met him, I disliked him. Lots of clubs don’t just segregate by race but who you sleep with. Aces didn’t play that game. She was a lesbian, but she never discriminated against the straight girls. I like that.

Still, I can’t help but give it to Nadine. “Maybe you’ll walk away from the dark side and step into the light.”

I take my eyes off the road and glance at her, wanting to see her expression. Her face goes from surprised to serious. “Are you propositioning me?”

My eyes widen. “Jesus. No!” I don’t need rumors circulating the club or for Dimples to hear. I snap my gaze back to the road as my face heats.

We drive for at least a mile in silence before Nadine bursts out laughing. “You’re too easy. I wondered if you were gonna jump out of the van while it was moving.” She chuckles again. “I might have let you if you weren’t driving.”

“You’re an asshole,” I say, but I laugh, too.

She grins at me. “Never underestimate me.”

“Oh, I won’t.” And I mean it.

After Nadine and I finish bagging up the donations so they’ll fit in the girls’ saddlebags, Nadine calls it a night. I should go home. I live in an apartment over Black Briar Motors. Several of us who work there do. It’s a sweet deal.

When I emerge from the supply room, the bar has thinned out. I’m disappointed that Dimples isn’t around. She’s made herself scarce this week.

I could get a drink. Instead, I head out the back door. After spending the time with Nadine, I’m worn out from pretendin’. I wanna go home, have a beer, and try to sleep, something that’s escaped me this week.