“What’s new?”
I respect the hell out of the guy. He does his job well, making sure to check in with everyone regularly enough, offering his ear or a helping hand where he can to lighten the mental load we carry. But tonight is not the night.
I can’t make heads or tails of my emotions myself, let alone hope to cultivate a conversation with somebody else that doesn’t let on too much.
“Just what you’ve probably already heard about.”
“Seen your old man lately?”
Fuck.And there it is. The one thing Iwasn’tthinking about that made this sense of overwhelm that much more bearable. “Nope.”
“How was he the last time you did?” Flinch asks, relaxing into his seat.
Damn it.“Same as always. Half drunk and complaining about the direction of the wind.”
Flinch shakes his head. “I should probably go out there and see him myself, but he was never the most welcoming to my interference when he was active in the club, so I can’t imagine it’s any different now.”
“Probably not.” Also, probably where I got my proclivity to shove my feelings into an iron box from. “But you’re welcome to try.” It might make me feel better knowing he’s getting as much hell as he gives me.
“And you?”
“Working.” I lift the document a little.
“Apart from that?”
Fuck my life.I set the document back on the keyboard and sandwich it between the closed screen. “Want to narrow down where you head with this?”
Tease leaves the room, perhaps feeling he’s no longer welcome if one of his officers gets somewhat personal. I like the kid. Quiet. Wicked sense of humor. But disciplined. I get the impression he’ll go far.
“I heard you’ve been tasked with befriending Kyra Green in the interest of the club.”
Fuck my drunk ass for telling him about her all those years ago. The man has a memory like an elephant.
“I have.”
“How is she?”
“Why don’t you ask her yourself?”
“Do you think that’d be a good idea when you already act defensive about her?”
We stare at one another a long while. He’s never been formally trained, as far as I know, but the guy is a Grade A mindfucker. He knows how to massage the reactions from you, forcing conversation about the shit you just want to keep fucking hidden.
“I respect her. That’s all.”
My phone vibrates against my leg.Of course.
“If you say so.” Flinch steeples his hands before him. “It’d be dangerous to mix personal feelings with the responsibilities of the club, though. You should be mindful of getting too attached.”
You don’t say.I run my teeth over my bottom lip and glance at Darko. He doodles away, headphones now tugged over his ears.If they’re even switched on.Wouldn’t put it past the fucker to listen to every word I say.
“If I have a problem with those boundaries, I’ll be sure not to let you know.” I open up the laptop for the umpteenth time and pointedly ignore him.
His observation gnaws at my awareness, needly teeth digging against my nerves until I slam the computer closed and set it on the side table with a thunk. “What?”
“You know I only aim to help.”
“I think the difference in my mood now compared to when you walked in shows that you’re not.”
