Page 90 of The First Cut

I leave her to it and head down to the kitchen, leaving a note for Hannibal to explain where we are. I grab a couple of bottles of water from the fridge, along with a few cereal bars, and add them to my bag just as Millie comes jogging down the stairs. She’s wearing ripped black jeans, a pair of Vans, and a huge black sweatshirt that swallows her slim frame.I don’t work hereis written across the chest in purple script.

I chuckle and nod to the door. She slings her bag over her shoulder and heads outside, waiting for me as I lock up behind us.

“So, they won’t mind us coming over?”

I shrug. “They won’t mind you coming over. People are curious about you.”

She looks at me. “I don’t have to make small talk, do I?”

“Nope. You can sit in the corner and read your book or watch a movie in the media room. Hell, you can go raid the kitchen if you want. You’re the club princess. Nobody is going to tell you no.”

She doesn’t say anything as we keep walking, but I can practically hear the cogs turning in her brain.

“Do you like it here?” she asks hesitantly.

“You don’t have to worry about offending me, Millie. If I don’t feel comfortable answering something, I won’t. I don’t want you to feel like you can’t be yourself, okay? Well, unless you’re a raging kleptomaniac. Bikers don’t like it when you steal from them,” I joke with a wink.

“Please. Kleptos are so last season. Arson is what all the cool kids are doing,” she jokes back, making me laugh.

“Oh, good. Remind me to buy you some matches. I wouldn’t want you to feel left out.”

She giggles, drawing the attention of Smokey, who comes trotting over with his tail wagging a mile a minute. Millie freezes when she spots him, but he pays her no attention in his excitement to get to me.

He bumps into my legs, making me wobble. “Ugh, you big lump,” I complain as I reach down and stroke his head. “Millie, this is Smokey. His brother Bandit is around here somewhere. They’re the guard dogs, but they’re also my friends. Just don’t tell anyone,” I whisper to her conspiratory.

She reaches out slowly to pet him. “We couldn’t have a dog at home because Mom was allergic.” She runs her fingers over his fur before she looks up at me with sad eyes. “I guess I can now, huh?”

“Maybe you can just fuss on Bandit and Smokey for a little while,” I tell her softly.

She nods absently, still stroking his fur until his ears cock up, and he turns his head. Moments later, he’s off, running across the compound to investigate whatever noise he heard.

Tugging my cardigan around me, I nod toward the clubhouse. “Let’s go. They usually have hot chocolate in the kitchen, and I have such a craving for some.”

“I could go for a hot chocolate,” she agrees as we trudge forward.

The door opens before we get to it, and a couple of club girls practically fall down the steps as they laugh uproariously at something. Snoopy follows them out, licking his lips as they flash him the goods in their tiny skirts.

“This is going to sound really bad, but there are some things you might see here that you probably should avoid telling Miss Taylor about.”

She looks at me before surprising us both by laughing.

Snoopy looks over and frowns before walking toward us. “What’s going on?”

“Hannibal got a call from Havoc. Something is going down with Nevaeh. He’s gone to help.”

He narrows his eyes at me as if he knows I’m not telling him everything.

“I don’t know what’s happening, but I know it involves Driller. I just thought we might be better off here.”

Understanding dawns on his face. “I tell you what, I’ll let the guys know we’re getting company so we don’t scar Hannibal’s kid for life. And then I’ll see about rustling up some food. Are you guys hungry?”

Millie answers before I can. “Always. Lola says you guys have hot chocolate, too?”

Snoopy looks at me, his face softening, though I don’t know why. “I think she might be right. Give me a few minutes, and we can go find out.”

He turns and heads inside as Tracey and May start laughing again. I look over and see them looking and pointing. I narrow my eyes when they focus on Millie, whispering to each other like a pair of school kids.

“You have something you want to say, May?” I call out.