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“Mmm,” I nodded in confirmation.

“But I am gonna tell you to be careful. Not just as your president, Henny, but as your friend.”

I clapped him on the shoulder, not looking him in the eye.

“It’s not gonna be a problem,” I tried to sound casual, but I wasn’t so sure that I was being truthful. I washopingthat it didn’t become a problem, sure, but I couldn’t guarantee that I was smart enough to stay away from this girl.

Fuck, I had spent the night on her couch just to be near her.

So how could I promise my boss, my president, the closest thing that I’d ever had to a father, that everything was going to be okay?

The bell sounded, letting us know that we were no longer alone.

Jess reemerged from the alley, quickly spritzing herself in that fucking fruity perfume that she thought covered the smell of her cigarette. She looked towards the counter to greet the men stepping inside, but her face quickly fell into one of irritation.

I looked over my shoulder at the cause—two cops with shit-eating smirks on their faces were having a look around.

“Can I help you?” Jess asked, her voice tight.

“Sure, bub,” the shorter one said. “I’d like to talk to Harlen Prince.”

Jess looked over her shoulder towards us, the question on her face.

Did we want her to lie?

Prince sighed, shaking his head as he made his way over to the counter.

“I’m Harlen Prince,” he said, crossing his arms over his chest.

He towered over both of them, and I could see how much they were irritated by the fact as they both straightened to their fullest height and puffed out their chests.

“Mr. Prince, we’re here on an anonymous tip that you may be selling drugs through this establishment.”

“Right,” Princey nodded once. “And the Melbourne Police Force has nothing better to do with their time than to follow up anonymous tips about small-time drug dealers?”

“It’s our job,” the other added, not looking at Harlen.

“Well, gentlemen, if you’re out to do your job and bust a few street dealers, I’d welcome you to set up shop across the road. That club pushes through more MD in a night than you’ve probably seen in your life.”

“Cut the shit, Prince,” the larger officer banged a fist on the desk, and that was my cue to join in. I tapped Jess on the shoulder, motioning with my head for her to go back outside and she quickly obliged, taking her phone and entire packet of smokes with her.

“We know that you’re the president of the Redline Angels Motorcycle Club. We’re not idiots.”

“Oh, you’re not idiots? Right… So then you would already be aware that the Redliners are asocialMC, which is entirely legal in the state of Victoria?”

“Y-ye–” the officer stuttered.

“And you’d also be pretty aware that the Redliners don’t have any current or past criminal charges relating to drugs, right?”

“Look, Prince?—”

“Stop,” Princey said with a hand up, his commanding tone influencing even the cops. “This anonymous tip, is it genuine or are you just out bribe hunting today, fellas?”

That shit-eating smirk returned on the stouter cop.

“Let’s just say it was a long-time friend of the station who thinks maybe you’re concerning yourself with people or things that you shouldn’t. That maybe you’ve forgotten your place.”

“Right,” Prince rolled his eyes. “And these friends… Are they of theMario and Luigipersuasion?” He brought his fingers together in front of his face, gesturing wildly like the Godfather.