“Really? So, what’s the grand plan? You’re gonna hang us”—my arm waves at the goons ahead as if I care what happens to them—“out to dry for a crime we haven’t committed yet? Really solid, asshole.”
“No, I never wanted you to be a part of this. That’s why I ditched you after the compound was raided. It seemed to all work out for the best when Byron hired you.”
My eyes narrow into sharper points than my entire knife collection. “You’ve been keepin’ tabs on me?”
He has the audacity to smirk. “Part of the job, whether you’re my target or not. How’s the nanny gig? Can’t say I ever would’ve guessed that.”
“You and me both,” I mutter before remembering that I’m mad at him. “Quit trying to distract me. You’re a snake.”
He holds up his hands when I aim a blade at his throat. “Whoa, whoa. Think about what you’re doing, Frankie.”
“Don’t worry about me.”
“I’m not the enemy.”
“I disagree. We were friends, or so I foolishly thought. Lying bastard,” I spit.
“We are friends,” he reiterates. “You’re like a little sister to me, which is why I care where this leads. Put the knife down.”
“Why would I do that?”
“Because you’re smarter than this,” Jax states calmly. “It would also save me the trouble of disarming you.”
“As if you could.”
His eyes twinkle. “Wanna bet?”
I want to argue and beat him in a fight. Years of experience strongly suggest I shouldn’t bother trying. Steam spews from my flared nostrils. At least now I understand how he was always so damn skilled at hand-to-hand combat.
With a flick of my wrist, the dagger is tucked into my bag. I discreetly turn on my phone while my fingers are in the vicinity. The rapid-fire buzz of silent notifications isn’t that easy to ignore.
My arms cross over the noise and I tap my foot for an added precaution. “Happy?”
His nod is quick. “You will be too.”
“That remains to be seen.”
“As I was saying,” Jax drawls. “There are a lot of big players in this game. James Keller was a pawn meant to get me higher in the ranks, but then he died. I stuck around to sniff out these bikers. It took months to determine they’re a dead end.”
“Wow, great detective work.” I slow clap.
He scowls. “It’s a process to get accepted by a criminal organization. Plus, paperwork is a bitch.”
“Uh-huh, I almost care enough to keep listening.”
“What’re you two ladies gossiping about?” The bellow ricochets at us like rancid morning breath.
“That’s my cue,” I chirp. “If you’ll excuse—”
But Jax yanks me back before I can even take a step. “Fuck off. We’re having a meeting,” he yells at them in return.
“Shouldn’t we be included?” It’s the same voice from earlier.
“No,” Jax clips. “We’ll be along shortly. Find something to do.”
“Don’t like that guy,” comes out as an offended mutter, but they don’t say more.
“Wait,” I say as a thought occurs to me. “If these losers are getting you nowhere, why am I here?”