Chapter 7

Seven

Fletch

" A ny idea who tipped them off?" asks Grizz.

Axel shakes his head. "My man on the inside knows nothing."

"What about the copper? Did she scream out all her secrets while you fucked her?" Nyx asks.

"Nope. The only thing on her lips was my name," I say with a wink.

"Not fucking good enough," spits Axel. "Go find me something. I wanna know what they know."

"I told you, she's by the book, she'll never spill."

He narrows his eyes in annoyance. "Then you're not fucking her right. You need me to put someone else on it?" His words piss me off, and he smirks, knowing they've affected me. "Don't tell me you're feeling shit for her. We don't need that complication."

"Nah," I say quickly, "of course not. But she knows me. If she's gonna talk, it'll be to me."

He slams the gavel on the table and stands. "Glad we understand one another."

Atlas walks out with me. "What's the plan?" he asks.

I shrug. "I dunno. I don't think she'll risk her job."

"Brother, women do all kinds of stupid shit for love."

"Love?" I repeat.

"Yeah, you gotta make her fall for you if you want to break her."

I sigh. This keeps getting more and more complicated.

I wait across the road from the police station, by the old Scouts hut, and stare at my mobile phone. Gemma's reply comes instantly, and I grin.

Snap: WTF. Stay there!!

I tuck my phone away and watch the gates slide open. Gemma rushes over the road towards me, and the second she's closer, she grabs my arm and drags me behind the Scouts hut. She shoves me hard against the wall, and I grin. "Easy, Snap."

"What the fuck are you doing here, Fletch?" she barks.

"I like it when you're in work mode," I reply, raising my hand to brush her hair from her face.

She slaps it away in annoyance. "I'm not messing. How dare you turn up here of all places?"

"You snuck out of my bed and then ignored my calls for the last two days."

"So, take a hint."

"Come on, Gem, don't act like we didn't have a good time."

"Is that why you're here," she hisses, "to fuck with my career?"

I grin. "You hurt me with your assumptions." I place a hand over my heart. "I'd never blackmail you."

She arches a brow. "Blackmail?" she repeats. "Are you shitting me? It's your word against mine."

"True." I begin to move away from her.

"What are you doing?"

"Seeing how much weight my word holds against yours."

She grabs me and hauls me back behind the wall. "Don't even think about it. I'll have you in a cell before you can even open your mouth."

"Is that a threat?" I ask, smirking.

"It's a promise," she snaps.

My smirk fades, and I grab her by the throat, pushing her against the wall. Her confusion gives me a second to take back control, and I turn her so she's facing away from me. I use my weight to keep her there and push my hand into her trousers. "Fletch," she mutters, but she makes no move to stop me as I push the material of her underwear to one side and brush my finger over her opening.

"Tell me to stop," I whisper close to her ear, and she closes her eyes. I rub faster as she turns her head slightly and her lips part. I kiss her, thrusting my tongue into her mouth, then I push two fingers into her and she parts her legs some more to give me access. It takes less than a minute before she comes hard, pressing both hands against the wall as she shudders uncontrollably.

I remove my hand and slide my fingers into my mouth to taste her. She watches, her cheeks pink from her orgasm and her lips swollen from our kiss. "Don't fucking threaten me again, Snap. It won't end well." I turn and walk away.

I get back to the clubhouse to find most of my brothers out. I head into the kitchen and find Lexi and Luna helping Duchess. "What's going on?" I ask, resting against the worktop.

Axel enters the kitchen. "Just the person," he says, and I almost groan, wondering what joy I'm in for now. "Family dinner tonight. Bring the pig."

I frown. "Huh?"

He arches a brow in annoyance, and Lexi steps forward, placing a hand over his chest and tucking herself into his side. "What he means is, we're making dinner for tonight and we'd love for you to invite Gemma."

"Absolutely not." I can't think of anything worse.

"It wasn't a polite request," snaps Axel.

"Didn't you tell her she didn't belong in this club?" I remind him.

"Me and Grizz talked," he mutters. "We reckon if we keep her close, she'll crack."

"Pres, I'm already working on her, there's no need to make her feel welcome here." It's bad enough I'm gonna have to break her heart all over again without making her think we're one big, happy family.

"Bring her," he repeats before stomping out.

I roll my eyes, and Lexi catches me, smirking. "We're not that bad," she says. "Besides, what harm can it do?"

I pull my phone out and send Gemma a text.

Me: You feel better after your midday release?

Her reply comes within seconds.

Snap: Fuck off!

Me: Temper, temper. Dinner tonight?

Snap: I'd rather die.

Me: Harsh. My President's invited you especially.

I wait for a good five minutes before her next reply comes.

Snap: Okay. What time?

Me: I'll come get you at seven.

Snap: I'll walk.

Me: Seven, Snap. Be ready.

Me: And Snap, don't do anything stupid that would piss my President off . . . like come wired.

I head for Axel's office and find him staring into a glass of whiskey. He looks up. "I told her. She cleared it with her bosses."

"She told you that?" he asks, sounding surprised.

"Nope. She's at work and she took way too long answering when I told her you'd invited her."

"I kind of expected her to run it by them. She probably thinks she's gonna get something."

"What if she comes wired?"

He shrugs. "So, what if she does? I ain't planning on confessing my sins."

"I just think it's a little . . . dangerous."

"You're my Enforcer, Fletch, you love danger."

"What angle are we spinning here, Pres, just so we're all on the same page?"

"We need her to see there's nothing here for her. We're not some mastermind criminal gang."

"But we are."

He grins. "Does Lexi talk about club business?" I shake my head. "Because I hide it fucking well. If my own old lady doesn't know my business, that cop ain't gonna find shit out. She'll get bored and move on."

"So, that's the plan? Let her see there's nothing to hide and she'll get bored."

"The way I see it, she's gonna keep coming back uninvited if we don't become more open."

I shake my head. "She's not stupid, Pres. She'll know our plan."

"Just like we know hers. It's one big game that we can't afford to lose, so we're gonna do whatever we can to throw her off the scent."

I run my hands over my face, showing how exhausted I am. "So, who will be at this family dinner?"

"Just us, Grizz, and the women."

I give a nod. At least it's not the entire club. "I'm gonna get my head down for a few hours before I go get her."

Gemma

I release a long, nervous breath and brush my hair from my face. I don't know why the fuck I agreed to this dinner. That's a lie. I had no choice cos when I told my Chief Superintendent, she forced me to accept. We're not stupid—we know it's a show. The club's President probably thinks that by being open and welcoming, I'll assume they have nothing to hide, but with the intelligence we have on the club so far, there's no way we're falling for the clean-up act.

Ruby watches me from the couch. "Who is this guy?"

"Someone I used to know. No one important."

There's a loud knock at the door, and I jump in fright. Fuck, why am I so nervous? Ruby dives up from the couch and rushes to open it, despite my protests. She returns seconds later with a huge grin on her face and Fletch standing behind her.

"He's got tatts," she states, arching a judgmental brow. "What will our father say?" And then she laughs, knowing full well what he'd say.

"You're early," I say, glancing at my watch and noting it's only quarter-to.

"I knew you'd leave before I got here," he replies, and I almost smile because he's right. I was just about to leave to avoid seeing him here in my home, with Ruby just a few steps away. I stare at the pair, noting how similar they look, and my heart squeezes.

"Anyway, we should go," I say, grabbing my bag.

"Hold on," he says. "Aren't you going to introduce us?"

I glance at Ruby, who looks amused by my flustered state. "Ruby, this is Fletch. Fletch, this is my younger sister, Ruby."

He smiles wide, and she holds out her hand. They shake, and he arches a brow. "Good handshake. Strong."

"Gem taught me to look a man in the eye and shake hard," she replies.

He looks impressed. "How old are you, Ruby?"

"We really should go," I cut in. "Ruby, lock the door behind us."

"Why don't you come?" asks Fletch, and I freeze.

"No, that's not a good idea," I say, now trying to bustle him towards the exit.

"Snap," he says firmly, and I still, "what's gotten into you? Ruby, there's plenty of food if you want to come."

"And play third wheel? No, thanks."

"It's not a date," I say, glaring back at her.

"She's right," Fletch agrees. "It's a work thing, right, Gem?" The way he stares at me, challenging me to deny it, makes my skin prickle.

"Right," I confirm, and he looks away, an annoyed expression on his face. "Besides, Father would have a fit if I took you along," I tell Ruby.

"God forbid," mutters Fletch as he heads for the door. Ruby gives me a little wave, and I follow Fletch.

By the time we arrive at the clubhouse ten minutes later, I'm fully nervous. I don't usually get like this, but being this close to Fletch changes things.

I follow him inside and am surprised to see no one in the main room. He leads me towards the kitchen, stopping right outside the door and turning to me. "I need to check," he mutters, looking uncomfortable.

"For?" I know exactly what he means. He wants to see if I'm wired-up. I roll my eyes and lift my shirt. Fletch takes the hem and lifts it higher, then he runs his hands around my back, gently stroking my skin before dropping onto his haunches and feeling up my legs. "Seriously," I say, "I'm not wearing anything." He gives a satisfied nod and stands.

He pushes the door open and the smell of food hits us, making my stomach growl in hunger. The sound of laughter and chatter makes me smile, as it's not something I've ever really experienced. When I lived at home, we had to eat at the table in silence, and with Pete, well, we never really laughed and we never really sat down to eat together.

Axel is sitting at the head of the table, and Lexi is on his knee with her arms around his neck. Luna is standing with her child in her arms while Grizz is telling them some tale that has them all engrossed, until we step farther into the room and everyone falls silent. I give an awkward smile, but no one returns it. Luna is the first to speak, announcing that she needs to put the baby to bed, and she passes us without another word.

Axel stands, placing Lexi on her feet beside him. "Welcome to my club," he says. "Take a seat." He points to the one beside him and then half pulls it out. Lexi moves to his other side and sits, so I do the same. Fletch sits beside me, shrugging from his kutte and placing it on the back of his chair.

"It smells amazing, Lex. What we got?" he asks.

"Luna made bread," she announces, pointing to the fresh loaf in the centre of the table. "And I made chicken pie." She proceeds to lift the lids on the pots in the centre of the table. "I hope you're not a veggie," she adds, looking at me, and I shake my head.

Everyone begins to help themselves to the food. Fletch fills my plate as Luna returns minus the child. "You never said you had a sister," Fletch remarks. The others are making conversation amongst themselves, so I welcome the attention, even if it is about a subject I'd rather avoid with him.

"She's my half-sister."

"I gathered," he says. "She looks like you."

"We're close."

"How old is she?"

"Thirteen."

"I didn't realise your father was the Chief of Police" Axel says, finally bringing his attention to me. The rest of the group stops talking and looks my way.

I sit straighter. "Yep."

"I've met him a few times."

"He likes to get to know the locals."

"Is that how you got so far up in the force?" asks Lexi, and I narrow my eyes on her. I expect those assumptions from men, as I get them all the time, but women usually know how hard we have to work to prove we can do the same job as the men.

"No," I say firmly, "I moved away and worked hard. I only came back here recently."

Fletch grabs the whiskey decanter and pours two glasses, sliding one nearer to me and taking his own. "She never wanted to be a copper, did you?" he asks and looks at me.

"I don't remember," I reply.

"You do," he persists. "You wanted to grow flowers and sell them in your own shop."

"I love flowers," says Luna, and she gives me a small smile.

"So, what happened?" asks Grizz.

I shrug. "I just changed my mind."

"Bullshit," mutters Fletch, and I glare at him. "Your father forced you to join the police."

"My father didn't want me to join, actually," I correct him. "In fact, he was pissed when I transferred over."

"You joined to prove him wrong," says Lexi thoughtfully.

"And taking us down would really make him see your worth," adds Axel.

I shift uncomfortably. "It's just my job," I say.

"Bull. You want this club for a reason, but I get it, you're playing your cards close to your chest," says Axel. "We're running legit these days."

"Is that why you invited me here and had your Enforcer check me for wires?" I ask, arching a brow. I note how Axel gives Fletch a look that says he's not happy. "Whoops," I whisper. "Did he break command . . . go rogue?"

Axel's lip lifts slightly. "Maybe Fletch just wanted to cop a feel. I hear you two are getting close these days."

I feel my cheeks redden slightly, but I refuse to match his childish digs. "Or maybe he was checking me for wires," I repeat more firmly.

"I don't like the idea of you coming into my family to set us up," says Fletch. "Pres is right, we're running legit, but I know what your lot are like. And this is a private dinner. We don't need your mates listening in."

We spend a few minutes eating in silence when Luna clears her throat, making us all look in her direction. "You shouldn't give up on your dreams," she announces, staring at me. I frown, and she smiles. "If you want to make floral arrangements, you should. You're not at work all the time, right? I made bread on the side before I had Ivy."

I force a smile, trying to recall her file. "What did you do?" I ask, mainly to be polite because I remember that she worked in the slut house for the club.

"I was a sex worker," she says almost proudly, and I want to roll my eyes. "But now, I make bread at Grizz's bar."

"Really? What made you give up your job?" It's a normal question you could ask anyone, except for here in a biker club. I try not to smirk.

"I never wanted to work in the sex industry, obviously," she says with a small laugh. Grizz places a hand over hers and gives a slight shake of his head. Luna narrows her eyes. "She asked a question, I answered."

"Nothing to hide, huh?" I repeat, arching a brow in Axel's direction. It's clear the women aren't allowed to speak to me.

"My mum was a shit mum," Luna continues, pulling her hand free of Grizz's. "She was an addict. I don't know if you know much about addiction, but it consumed her life . . . and ours."

"You have siblings?" I ask, again to be polite because her prick of a brother has been missing for months and I suspect that's something to do with this club.

"Just me and my brother."

I take a bite from a chunk of bread and almost roll my eyes in delight. It's like a fluffy piece of heaven. "Do you get along?"

"No. In fact, I haven't seen him for a while," she says, glancing at Grizz, who's gripping his cutlery extra hard by the looks of his white knuckles.

"Really?" I ask. "What about you, Grizz? Have you seen him?"

"You got something to ask me?" he spits.

I shake my head. "Nope. Just wondering."

"Anyway," Luna continues, "I was forced into sex work as a kid by my father . . . and then my brother."

I glance down at my plate, wondering what sort of parents would do that. "Sorry to hear that."

"And once you're in that life, it's hard to get out."

"Especially when her brother pimped her out," snaps Grizz.

"He should face charges for that," I tell him. "Have you put in a complaint against him?" I ask Luna.

"No. No offence, but he had my baby taken from me. I'm not going to make a complaint and have him back here, only for you guys to let him go. That's what usually happens," she says, "I don't exactly have trust in the police or the justice system."

"Wine anyone?" asks Lexi, standing to grab a bottle from the side. She proceeds to fill three wine glasses without waiting for a response, placing one in front of me, then Luna, and downing the last one herself.

"Let's cut the crap," I say, and she almost chokes on the last gulp. "You want me to embrace the welcome, accept you're all legit, and leave you alone."

"We just want to be treated fairly," says Axel. "Dawn raids when we have kids here?—"

"One kid," I correct.

"It's unsettling," he snaps.

"For the baby or you?"

"What do you expect to find?" he shouts.

"Everything you're doing wrong," I tell him, pushing my chair back from the table. "I'm not blind, Axel. I see that this club runs this area, and it's time that stopped. You don't own these streets, and it's not your job to police them the way you see fit. You can't off pimps on a whim or chase off new dealers so you can supply the addicts." I throw my napkin on the table and stand. "So, if I have to keep dropping in those dawn raids to disrupt your daily dealings, then I will."