“No.”
“What else?”
“When I snuck in there tonight, I found several wallets in the back of a desk drawer. When my bar was hit, they stole my customers’ wallets.”
“Anything else?”
“And then Buddy returned, and I overheard some things.”
“Shit, Maggie, you took a big risk. I swear to God, I should turn you over my knee for putting yourself in danger like that.”
“Do you want to hear the rest or spank me?” I sass.
“Both. But I’ll save the other for later. Keep talking.”
“Buddy came in to double-check he’d locked the back door. He was on the phone with Remy. He said he was already running out of money and asking when they were gonna make the next hit. Then Remy said something about…” My voice trails off.
“About what, Six?”
“He said they needed to do something about the Royal Bastards, that one was giving them problems and needed to be taken care of. I’m sure they meant you.”
Keno’s jaw ticks.
“There’s more.”
“Go on.”
“Then Buddy said, ‘Like you took care of the last one who got in our way, Remy? Derek told you that you fucked up with that, but you wouldn’t listen. Ever since then, they’ve been a thorn in our side. Now they’re everywhere.’”
Keno strokes his chin. “So, it was Remy. I thought as much.”
“What are you going to do?”
“That’s up to the MC, but they’re not going to let this slide.”
“You can’t kill them, Keno.”
“The MC can, babe. They absolutely can.”
“Keno, please.”
“They tried to kill Darko. Almost succeeded.”
“What if I turned them in? They’ll go to prison and hate me, but at least they’ll be alive.”
“Maggie, we handle our own business. We don’t call the cops and turn people in.”
“You don’t, but I could.” I’m frantic for him to understand. My eyes fill with tears. “Please help them, Keno. Please. I already lost my parents. I can’t lose them, too.”
He strokes my leg. “I’ve been trying to think of a way, believe me.”
It relieves me to know he feels that way. “Thank you.”
“I can’t make any promises.” He puts a finger to my chin and turns my face to his. “Do you understand?”
“Yes.”
He takes the glass from my hand and sets it aside, then stands, lifting me in his arms. “I’m done talking about it tonight. We’ll talk more tomorrow.”