Page 100 of Iron

I stepped to the side, giving her the opening to take my place in front of everyone. Her eyes blazed with shock for a split second before she drew the stoic shade back over her face.

“I don’t know if I ever said this,” she started, her voice calm and almost soft. “I am sorry about your man.”

That meant something and they all knew it. I fuckin’ did too. Petra wasn’t the type of person to give any kind of sympathy, not to people she barely knew. And she sure as hell wasn’t the kind of person that would say shit just to pacify people. So I had no doubt that every single person around that table knew she truly meant it.

Then she explained everything she already had to me.

“I’ve called Connor. He’s going to check into things on his end. Cable,” I turned my attention to the clubs computer whiz, “check out the town and this police department. I know Connor said he was going to look into it, but I want to see if you can dig deeper. Find me anything we can use if we should need it. Petra will show you what they found.”

He gave me a nod as Petra slid her tablet across the table to him. He didn’t hesitate to pull out his phone and start typing the names on the tablet into his phone.

I turned to B-ry and Blade, our newest officer brought to the table as a second Enforcer about six months ago.

“Keep an ear out. Watch the prospects. Make sure everyone knows to keep their mouth shut.”

They both acknowledged my order with a silent nod.

“I need someone to talk to Abigail and make sure she knows what’s going on. If someone catches on to the time of Dade’s death, they might come around askin’ questions.”

“You mean Detective Mullins?” Brand asked with aggravation in his tone. I didn’t think he’d ever gotten over what the asshole detective had tried to pull on him and the shit that poor Cami had to go through that night.

“Yeah,” I answered. “I don’t know anything for sure, but I don’t want to be blind to what might come.”

“I could fix that problem for us, if you want,” Blade said with a stony mask of indifference on his face.

I almost chuckled.

“Stand down, for now,” I told him. “Until this is handled, watch your backs and each other’s. I don’t want anyone slippin’ up. This isn’t just on Petra and we need to protect her people as well.”

I could feel her wanting to argue but she kept her mouth closed tight. She was going to learn that she was part of my world now, and that meant we all looked out for one another.

Everyone gave her a look of respect before giving me their eyes again. And then I was met with a table of firm nods letting me know they heard me loud and clear.

“That is all for now. The moment I know somethin’, I’ll fill you in.” With that, I dismissed the meeting.

Petra and I were the last out the door.

“I know you need to get back,” I said before she could tell me herself.

Yeah, I wanted to keep her close by, but her people needed her right now. And I was sure Garen was working just as hard as we were with trying to find any kind of information there was to find.

“I’ll walk you out.” I took her hand without giving her a moment to feel like she had to say something. I got it, I really did.

I sent her on her way with a lingering kiss.

Then I went back inside to grab a stiff drink.

What a fuckin’ shit circus this had turned into. And I knew it was only gettin’ started.