Page 58 of Rogue's Path

“Have you two talked about anything? Or has it all been physical?”

We just started when you called me. “Mostly.” But it doesn’t feel like that’s all it is.

“Why don’t you go spend the afternoon with her? I’ll find someone else to take care of the golf carts.”

But… “Thanks.”

“If you two end up together, you can name your first child after me.”

I shove him. There’s no way I’m thinking about bratty kids with Peaches’ attitude…

There’s a knock on the door.

Havoc glares at the door for a moment. “Come in.”

Vandal, Ryot, and Torque step in. They’re hardly recognizable with their haircuts. We should send them to some preppy school after this to learn manners.

“We came to ask you to reconsider letting us attend the funeral. He was our friend. We went to school with him. It isn’t right.”

It isn’t right. His death will never be.

“You’re about to go undercover. What if one of these clubs is part of the drug ring? None of these people would recognize you after your makeovers. I hardly recognize you, which is what we need right now.”

Torque steps forward. “It isn’t right.”

How do you convince kids that this is for the greater good when their hearts are in the right place?

Havoc walks away, probably thinking the same thing. “You three are correct. You should be there when he’s finally laid to rest.” Havoc turns around. “What’s happening tomorrow isn’t that. It can’t be that while his murderers are roaming the streets. When this is done and you three have helped take them out, ‘every member’ of the Children of Chaos will be there when he’s finally laid to rest. But tomorrow we need you three manning the security room, keeping the clubhouse safe. Reaper is up to something. He doesn’t care about anything or anyone. The best time for him to make a move is while we’re distracted.”

“So you want us to take him down.” There’s a weird blend of excitement and fear in Ryot’s voice.

“No, you’re supposed to contact Rogue and wait for instructions.”

My instructions will likely be wait and watch, even though they should be to lock him in a cell and forget he’s there. Or drop him in the woods somewhere hundreds of miles from any other humans. Reaper is slimy enough to find a way out ofthat one. Maybe throw him into shark-infested waters covered in chum. Oh, I like that.

When the three leave, I ask, “What do you think Reaper is up to?”

“No good. But whatever it is, we need to be prepared for it.”

There’s another knock. How Havoc hasn’t gone insane, I don’t know.

Bear walks in. At least I think it’s Bear. The man in front of us trimmed his beard and his hair. He’s also wearing slacks and a dress shirt. The only way Bear would clean up like this is for court, a date, or a…funeral. Duh.

Havoc reaches for a file on his desk. “About that girl, Maddox would only send us images. He said they’ll take care of her stalker.”

Maddox wants to feed his snakes.

“Don’t worry about it.” Bear waves Havoc off. “It was all a misunderstanding.”

A mis — “You found her.” And all of this change is for her benefit.

“Yup.” He grins. “I just wanted to tell you there was no stalker. It was just the booze talking.”

“And you got the date.”

“Sure did. I’m meeting her tonight for dinner and a movie in the park. Don’t worry, I’ll be back before my shift starts at midnight.”

Maybe I’ll invite Peaches to go. There are plenty of dark corners where we can sit and ignore the movie. That’s why they picked the park in the first place.