The other man rocked back on his heels. “We’re brothers. Come and eat with me.”
Iona said, “Sit with Seth and Elias. I’ll fill a plate for you.” She turned to Elias. “One of each?”
He nodded. “Thanks, babe.”
“I’ll get your plate, Seth,” Teagan said. Her body language said not to get used to the extra service.
Elias and Seth waited for Dutch to take a seat before sitting themselves. “We enjoyed meeting Trish last night. Will she be joining us this morning?”
The Blackthorn leader grimaced. “She picked up some kind of bug overnight. I doubt you’ll see my wife for a while.”
More like never since she blamed him for her brother being kicked out of the MC. “I’m sorry to hear that.” Elias waited for more explanation. When none was forthcoming, he threw a line out there to see if the big fish would bite. “One of our Old Ladies is a paramedic. I’m sure Violet would be glad to look at Trish if she would be open to it.”
Dutch shook his head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. She isn’t comfortable with strangers.”
“If you change your mind, please let us know.”
Iona and Teagan returned, each with two plates of food in their hands. They set the plates in front of the men, then returned to the line for their own food.
Elias and Seth monitored them as they carried on a conversation with Dutch about his favorite fishing spots in the area.
When the women joined them, the conversation shifted again to favorite movies and television shows and drifted into favorite books or book series.
When the food was gone, Dutch pushed back from the table and stood. “I need to go. I have a meeting with my vice president and enforcers in a few minutes.” His lips curved. “I call them TheCommittee. They love to discuss issues and weigh in with their opinions. Sometimes I listen. Other times I don’t.”
“Anything we can help with?” Seth asked. “We want to be useful to you and the Blackthorn Riders while we’re among you.”
The MC president was silent for a moment. “You may be able to help me with security. I have to run this by The Committee, though. They’ll need to know and approve since you’re from another MC.”
“I get that. Express to The Committee that we’d love to help if they will allow us to do so.”
He gave a brisk nod. Dutch moved away from them and joined the large group of men in the opposite corner. He turned and stared at his MC members still in the room. They immediately rose, policed their trash, and left the building.
“That’s our cue,” Seth murmured.
The Fortress operatives rose and deposited their trash in the garbage can before leaving the building.
While driving back to the cabin, Iona glanced at Elias. “What did you think of Dutch’s explanation for the absence of his Old Lady?”
“He was covering for her. We didn’t win any friends last night.”
“Do you think The Committee will allow us to work security for them?”
“Not a chance. The Committee will squash that suggestion. They don’t want us anywhere near this operation, whatever it is.”
“That’s understandable. We wouldn’t allow an outsider to help on a mission.”
Soon, they parked in front of the cabin and followed the rest of their teammates into the building.
After the operatives checked the house for more listening devices and cameras, Riley set her laptop on the coffee table, tapped a few keys, and the room filled with Dutch’s voice.
“They want to help. We should give them a chance to earn their keep.”
“Fine. Put them to work doing grunt work, not this. I don’t want them anywhere near this operation. We don’t know them, Dutch. They might be wolves in sheep’s clothing.”
Silence, then, “Red, what’s your opinion? Yes or no?”
“No.”
