I’d get my access back and didn’t have to go to HQ. It sounded like a win.
Chapter 46
Kane
The vending machine in the staff room opposite the ops centre swallowed my money, and I punched in my selection. Footsteps in the hallway had me snatch up my purchases and shove them in my pockets, right as Tyler and Ash entered the space.
Tyler noticed me. He folded his arms.
I’d been looking for him, an apology ready to give. I wasn’t sure if I could stretch to an explanation. Not when my actions in the game had spoken louder than any words.
Ash gazed between us. “I’m going to go run into traffic.”
When he was gone, I let the silence stretch for a moment. “If the job offer’s still open…”
Tyler raised one dark-blond eyebrow. “Even if ye weren’t tied to your lass’s side for a month, it isn’t. As I recall, ye refused.”
My heart sank. After quitting on him, I hadn’t expected to walk straight back into his good graces, but I’d hoped to plead my case. Lovelyn lived in Deadwater. I had to work here, and fuck was I joining one of the rival gangs.
“I understand. But I’m not accepting it. I’ll prove myself. I’ll work harder than either of those arseholes?—”
“Heard that,” Ash hollered from the corridor.
“I won’t give ye reason to doubt me.”
Tyler’s expression was unreadable. He studied me, his posture casual, but his scrutiny anything but. “I don’t take lightly to being fucked over, but I also know that ye didn’t ask to join my team. I hand-selected ye, and I thought we had an understanding. That the work interested ye.”
“It does.”
He held up a hand. I shut my mouth.
“I also know men go to extremes for what they care about. Fucking over traffickers isn’t just so I can get my hands dirty. It’s important to me.”
“I respect that. In fact, there’s something I meant to ask. The Marchant family shite, is that connected to the trafficking you’ve dealt with?”
Tyler rolled his shoulders. “I believe there’s a network in Deadwater. Rich, old boys, secrets, entitlement. The more ye root through that family closet, the more skeletons you’ll find.”
Lovelyn would be all over investigating that.
It interested me, too. For the first time, I had a method of dealing with my Marchant side. One I could get on board with. “Take out the buyers, take out the trade.”
Intrigue flashed over Tyler’s features, transforming the stoic, bear of a man to the killer I’d seen on the boat. The dark side he kept under wraps. “We’ll never end the trade, but we can draw blood disrupting it.”
A whoop came from outside. Ash stuck his head in, eyes bright. “My bad. I was listening and got caught up. Is Kane back on the team?”
Tyler eyed me.
“I want it,” I told him. “It’s personal to me if people I’m related to are responsible. Even if not, I’ll enjoy bringing them down.”
Quietly, Heretic emerged into the room, the darker shadow of his brother. I barely knew him, but I’d make the effort, given the chance.
Tyler took us in, then gave a short laugh. “Looks like I have a new crew.”
In Cassie’s apartment, I publicly kissed Lovelyn hello, earning snickers of laughter and a quiet whoop from one of the women, then brought my array of snacks out from my pockets and set them on the counter. “Mils?”
Only once ever before had I given my sister that nickname. And that was only to piss off Convict. Mila trotted over, and Lovelyn returned to the group, the women deep in discussion about something.
Mila took in the selection in front of her. “What’s this?”
