Page 12

“Y ou wanna come in?” I ask as I shut the door to my car.

“Nah, you go spend some time with your pops. I’ll be here if you need me,” Fang tells me.

“At least wait for me on the porch so you’re out of the sun.”

He smiles, and dear Lord, if I wasn’t already hung up on someone else, he would have turned me into a puddle.

“Lead the way,” he says as he gets off his bike.

He follows up the steps and takes a seat in one of the padded lawn chairs while I head inside.

“Hello,” I call out as I shut the door behind me.

“In the kitchen, sweetheart,” Dad yells.

I walk through my childhood home that hasn’t changed at all since I moved out and head toward the kitchen. When Dad sees me, he lights up.

“Hi, Daddy,” I murmur as I pull him into a hug.

His thin frame makes the sadness set in. Even after being in remission for a while now, he hasn’t gained back the weight.

“How’s my girl?” he asks, pulling away.

“Good. You?” I ask as I study him.

His hair looks a little thinner and has more salt than pepper now. He’s getting old, and there’s nothing I can do about it.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” he asks, pulling me out of my head.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I lie.

He raises a brow and shakes his head. “I told you that I’m fine, but you were a million miles away. What’s on your mind, baby doll?”

“I’m not ready to talk about it yet. How was your doctor’s appointment this week?” I ask.

Dad finishes loading up two plates full of food that he made and hands one to me.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Now my doctor’s appointment went well,” he says as we walk to the table.

We sit down, and I turn toward him. “Still in the clear?”

He nods as he picks up his water glass that he already had set on the table. “I’m still cancer free. You need to stop worrying about it, Bailey. I’m fine.”

“Hate to break it to you, Dad, but that’s not exactly something I can just turn off,” I tell him as I pick up my fork.

He makes a grunting noise and picks up his fork, taking a bite.

“This is good,” I tell him after a few moments of silence.

“It could use some salt,” he mutters.

“You know you aren’t allowed to have much salt, Dad.”

He sighs. “I’m an adult. I should be able to have salt if I want it.”

“Dad…”

He cuts me off. “Anyway, how’s work? Are you working on any interesting cases right now?”

“Loads, I’ve been hired by the cartel to help them take down another,” I deadpan.

“Smart ass. Tell me what you’re really working on.”

Appetite lost, I begin to push the food around my plate. “Do you remember Laura’s brother Phillip?”

He nods. “Good kid.”

“Yeah, well it looks like Phillip got himself into some trouble. He’s been missing for a while now, and Laura has me trying to track him down.”

“Credit cards?”

“Haven’t been used since the last night he was seen. He hasn’t popped up in a morgue, hospital, or jail. Somehow Phillip did the impossible and disappeared.”

Dad leans back in his chair, deep in thought. “I take it his phone is dead and his place is empty.”

“Yeah. Laura brought me his computer, and so far that hasn’t been helpful at all.”

“Have you thought about asking someone for help? Tech hasn’t always been your strong suit,” he says as he begins to eat again.

“I did actually.”

Dad nods. “Good, I’m assuming you called Chris,” he says, referring to another PI.

“Actually, I called Hayes, I mean Savage.”

Very slowly, Dad sets his fork down, then reaches for his napkin. I watch as he bides his time, wiping his mouth.

He shakes his head. “I’m sorry, I must have misheard you. I thought you said you went to Hayes for help before asking me, or one of our associates.”

“I did.”

His fist clenches on the table. “How long has he been back?”

“Does that really matter, Dad?”

“Damn right, it does. That boy nearly killed you when he left. He was never good enough for you when you were kids, and now he’s got you back under his thumb.”

“Dad…it’s not like that.”

“Oh please, Bailey Marie. I might have been born at night, but I wasn’t born last night. That boy is bad fucking news and always has been. You need to walk away from him, now.”

I hate how his view has changed. When Hayes left, he didn’t break only my heart. He broke my dad’s too. When we were kids, he loved him like a son. I know he thought we would get married one day, making it legal. Then he left and tore both our hearts along with him as he went.

I shake my head, refusing to look at him. “You and I know that I won’t.”

“I don’t know how you could trust him again, sweetheart. I just don’t understand how you don’t see how wrong he is for you. The boy has always clouded your judgment.”

“So you’ll really hate to know what I was thinking then…” I say, slightly changing the topic.

Dad closes his eyes as if he’s in pain. “What?”

“I was thinking about offering him part of the business.”

“Hell no,” Dad says harshly.

“Dad, I can’t do it on my own. I’m drowning in work, and frankly, I’m overwhelmed. I don’t mind going on easy cases where I’m following some socialite around and shit, but when it comes to tracking someone down, I just don’t have time.”

“Then ask Chris or one of the other PI’s in the area if they are interested. Not him.”

“But I don’t trust them the way I trust him. You taught me trust is a big thing, and with you retired, I have no one to watch my back. I need someone with me, Dad.”

“Well then, I guess it’s a good thing that the business is still in my name then, isn’t it? It’s not up to you.”

“Dad, hear him out. Hayes isn’t the same kid who ripped out of here like his ass was on fire. He’s a good man.”

And you would think so too if you knew what was really going on.

Dad’s jaw clenches as he thinks. The air is thick with tension, making my stomach roll. Fighting down the urge to flee, I try to stay still and wait him out.

“Fine. Bring him by. If he’s interested, I’ll think about it, but I’m telling you right now, Bailey, I don’t like this.”

“Thank you. You won’t regret this.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t be so sure about that.”

Stepping into the clubhouse, I whistle, making everyone look my way. “Club meeting in an hour. Call everyone in who’s not here.”

Guys nod and pull out their phones. I leave them to it and head to my room. As soon as the door shuts behind me, I whip my cut off and strip, needing to get the strip club filth off of me immediately.

Naked, I head into my private bathroom and turn on the shower. Not even bothering to wait for it to heat up, I step inside, hissing when the ice-cold water hits my skin. After a second though, it feels amazing after being outside in the heat. Quickly, I finish the shower and redress.

I grab my phone from my jeans and frown down at the screen as I fight the urge to text Fang and see how Bailey is doing. Or just straight-up texting her.

It’s crazy how I went years without hearing from her, and now just going a couple of hours makes my skin crawl.

Shaking off the feeling, I grab my cut and head back into the bathroom and wipe it down. With the threat of diseases out of the way, I put it back on and head back out to the main room of the clubhouse.

“So, what’s going on? We ridin’ out?” Happy asks as he cracks his knuckles.

I chuckle. “Love the enthusiasm, but no. You’ll find out soon enough, though.”

Heading into the kitchen, I grab a quick snack. By the time I’m done, it’s time to get this shit on the road. I start to head toward the chapel when I hear it.

“Hayes!”

I look over my shoulder as Bailey runs toward me.

“I’m sorry, babe, but this isn’t a good time. I’m about to go into church.”

“I just need five minutes, please. It’s important,” she pleads.

Sighing, I grab her shoulder and lead her to my office.

“Thank you,” she says as she steps inside.

“I only have a few minutes. What’s up?” I ask as I shut the door.

“I have a proposition for you.”

“Yes, I’ll marry you, but it will have to wait until after church.”

Bailey rolls her eyes. “That’s not what I was going to ask you, but good to know your answer.”

I roll my hand through the air, telling her to hurry this up.

She rolls her shoulders back and takes a deep breath. “What would you think about taking over the family business? My family business.”

“Wait, what?” I say, shaking my head.

I had to have misheard her, right?

“You heard me. I want you to take over the PI thing.”

“I don’t understand. That’s your business.”

“One that I’m clearly not very good at. Look, if this Phillip thing is anything to go by, I suck. I need someone who actually knows what the hell they are doing working the more serious cases. I’d still like to do some things, though. I don’t know why, but I like doing the easy cases. Don’t even get me started on the paperwork and bills. I hate doing it, and if someone else is willing, then by all means they can have it.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes.”

I shake my head. “Have you talked to your dad about this?”

She nods. “Fang and I just came from there. He wasn’t too excited about the idea.” She cringes. “That might have more to do with you than me wanting to sell, though, but he is willing to hear you out.”

I blow out a deep breath.

Fuck.

Shit, I wasn’t expecting this. It’s almost as if everything is coming together at warp speed after sitting still for so long. The possibility of taking on not one or two but three businesses is heady. Having a business I know is clean and in the black on the books would be nice. Especially where I trust Bailey and her dad. I know they wouldn’t do me dirty, but at the same time, I hate the thought of taking her family legacy from her.

“Wait, what did you say about your dad and me?”

She cringes. “Dad might not be your biggest fan right now, but don’t worry. I’m sure if you prove to him that you aren’t the same kid you used to be and that you aren’t going anywhere, he will warm right up.”

I open my mouth to ask more questions but shake my head. I don’t have time to get sidetracked.

“Are you sure you want to do this?”

“I’m positive, Hayes. As long as you and Dad can come to an agreement, it’s yours.”

“Okay. Then I’m going to go bring it to the table and see what the guys say.”

She nods, and I open the door. We walk out together, side by side.

What I would do to be able to just reach down and hold her hand.

“Get everything figured out?” Fang asks from his place on the couch.

“We did,” Bailey tells him.

“You coming to church to vote on this shit?”

“Hard fuckin’ pass, brother. You know my thoughts on it all.”

“Are you sure?”

“You can be my proxy. I don’t want to listen to them bitch and complain for an hour, only to come up with approving everything, so I’ll protect Bailey. She’s better company anyway,” Fang tells me.

“Aw, that’s so sweet,” Bailey coos.

“Hey, no making eyes at other men,” I tell her.

She rolls her eyes before kissing my cheek. “Fang and I are headed to my place. I need a shower.”

“Not together.”

“Jesus, I won’t touch your woman. I like my hands and dick right where they are,” Fang quips.

Bailey cringes. “Nope, nope, nope. I don’t want to hear about your dick.”

“Pres, you ready?” Loyal asks, cutting us off.

“Go,” Bailey says.

Leaning down, I kiss her cheek. When I pull away from her, I nod to Fang, silently telling him to look after my girl. He nods in understanding.

Taking a deep breath, I walk into church, Loyal shutting the door behind us. Walking around the table, I eye the men that make up our cabinet. The men are carefully picked to help us make club decisions. I move my seat back and stand next to the table. I pick up the gavel, banging it against the table.

“Church is in session. Let’s get started…”