“Slate,” I answered.
“You got a minute?”
Looking between the woman in my life and the man who left me behind a long time ago, I realized a minute was exactly what I didn’t have. But one subtle glance at Ayda and her set jaw, and I knew she could handle any snark my father had to pass her way. She wanted to be strong. Maybe this could be her first test.
“Yeah, I got a minute.” I stood and turned towards the door of the safe house, pressing the cell closer to my ear. “What’s happening?”
“Jedd thinks he’s seen that ATF chick sniffing about. Winnie or whatever she’s called. Said he saw the same vehicle driving past the yard four times within the same two hours.”
“Has she tried to approach anyone?”
“Not yet.”
“Then she hasn’t got shit. Trust me, I’ve met her. If shehad anything on us, she wouldn’t waste time. She’d be straight in that yard with a warrant, and she’d be taking pictures to frame and put up on her animal print bedroom wallpaper.”
“You seen her bedroom, pres?”
“Just know the type when I see them.” I grinned, glancing down at Eric and Ayda.
“There’s something else I need to talk to you about,” he said, sounding shifty. “Are you alone?”
“Do I need to be?”
“Yeah. You do.”
Chapter Seventeen
AYDA
The door had barely swung closed behind Drew when my anger finally flared to life inside of me. There were a hundred things I could forgive a person for. Hell, I’d just walked straight over the fact that Drew had almost killed a woman to punish the man who had killed Harry. What I couldn’t forgive, move past or ignore, was the fact that Eric Tucker had used the situation to his advantage. That he’d manipulated his son.
I’d seen Eric’s face fall when he’d seen me here with Drew. I’d seen the forced smile he’d thrown at me when he’d approached, and I’d seen the tightness in his eyes when he realized I was a full part of this now… Full disclosure.
“You son of a bitch.”
Eric leaned against the railing of the porch as he pulled his riding gloves from his hands. “That in there wasn’t my idea, sweetheart.”
“Don’t call me sweetheart, asshole. Don’t pretend to be innocent here. What did you think was going to happen? You and Drew would have a little secret you could keep from the rest of the club? Something to bond over so you could throw him under the bus later?”
“I know you think you have me all figured out, but youdon’t, Ayda.”
“You’re right. I don’t know you, Eric. I sure as shit don’t trust you. You have everyone else believing you were here to say goodbye to Harry, but you’re not fooling me.” His eyes hardened just the same way Drew’s did, but I didn’t care about him. I didn’t care what he thought of me, so I stepped right over it. “If you were concerned about Drew and the guys you’d have been back long before now. Where were you when Drew was in prison after Pete? Where were you when he was almost killed inside?”
Eric opened his mouth, surprise etched on his features.
“Yeah, I know all about that,” I confirmed, shaking my head in true disgust. “And I see that you do, too. Where were you when he was almost ripped apart in that warehouse or almost died from a fever after the fact? Where were you when he proposed to me and was almost dragged under by the Navs? You can’t tell me that you didn’t know about any of that, Eric. I can see it in your face. Every event in Drew’s life where he could have used your guidance, you just ignored and stayed away. Not even him almost dying brought you back. Why now? What’s changed now? What do you want?”
“I don’t expect you to like me. Don’t particularly care if you do. Hell, I’m even okay with the fact that my own son looks at me like he wants to chain me up and flog me for my sins most days. You have questions. That’s fair. Unfortunately, my answers aren’t available right now.”
“They aren’t available?” I asked, my tone full of sarcasm. “That’s really convenient. You may not have instigated this shit show, but I know you had something to do with the secrecy. Iknowkeeping it quiet was your idea.” I laughed once, no ounce of humor in the sound. “You don’t know yourson at all, do you?”
I rose to my feet, towering over him being two steps up. I was so confident in my distrust and dislike of this man, it gave me more power. I may not have known much about what was going down, but I knew I wouldn’t let him hurt Drew again.
“I didn’t care one way or the other whether you or the whole club knew about Helen.” Eric tilted his head to one side, the same blue-green eyes of his son shining back at me with a special dose of Tucker arrogance. “What I do know is that Drew called me for help, and I showed up. I’ll continue to show up while I’m in Babylon. I’m not here to make friends. Don’t hate me because he didn’t choose to call you.”
I laughed, my arms crossing tightly over my chest. “You think you see everything. Believe me when I say you’re not hiding shit from me, either. I see everything you don’t want me to see. I know you’re up to something. I know it’s not good, and I will use my last fucking breath to make sure it doesn’t come back to bite Drew or the boys in the ass.”
“It’s a waste of time to look for dirt on a clean conscience but go right ahead.” Eric took a step up the porch, moving slowly before he took another and came closer. “Have fun with that. I’ll be helping Drew and the club in the meantime. Let me know what you find on me if you find it.”