Page 7

He exhales through his nose, pushing off the doorframe and walking closer to me. “I need you to back me in church for a pledge vote.”

“No.”

I don’t babysit. Don’t train people who haven’t proven they can survive at least a little heat.

“I didn’t even get to finish,” Lennox says.

“Doesn’t matter.”

“It does when I say it’s a family friend,” he insists.

That makes me pause—not agree, not even close. I look at him harder now, tossing the rag onto the workbench.

“Define ‘family friend.’” I eye him cautiously, trying to read between the lines, but his face gives away nothing.

“Someone I trust you with,” he states flatly.

“That’s not an answer.”

“It's the only one you're getting.”

I drag a hand over my beard, already feeling irritation creep in. “You’ve got a full club of fuckers that would do what you’re asking, no problem,” I tell him. “Pick someone else.”

“There’s a reason I didn’t.”

“Then say it already, enough with the mysterious bullshit.”

His voice drops just enough for me to notice the shift in him. “She needs protection.”

My posture tightens instantly. A woman? Is he fucking with me right now?

“You're fucking joking,” I say, trying to figure out what game he’s playing.

“No, I’m not.”

“We don’t prospect women, Pres.”

He pushes back, “You don't think I know that, Switch? Think about it, man. I am asking. She needs the kind of protection that can’t be half-assed.”

I step closer, closing the space between us. “She being chased?” I ask. When he doesn’t answer I press on, “By who, Len?”

“Dead men,” he says.

I let out a slow breath. “Try again. The truth this time. It’s just me and you in this garage.”

He holds my gaze. “She was tied to Redline.”

“Was tied?” I repeat.

“They’re done.”

Redline’s gone? I fucking doubt it. I know exactly what kind of mess that club is, and they’ve been a pain in my ass for far too long.

“Bullshit. Since when?” I snap.

“Since two days ago; the DEA got involved. There'll be more details in church," Lennox says. "Right now, I need a fucking answer."

“Sure.” I huff out a dry laugh, pacing once across the concrete. “For now. But if she brings the alphabet boys to our door, she’s gone. I don’t care who she is.”