Page 45 of The Monsters Within

“Death Dogs?”

“Said they weren’t wearing a cut. But they’d be fucking stupid to come into town wearing one.”

“Something tells me they aren’t that smart either,” I said. “We need to talk to Aspen.”

“Yea. I’ve been avoiding it. I don’t want to put her through more than she’s already been through.”

“Having Haizley there is a good idea. Rose should be there too.”

“Why?”

“Because the Nyght Nymphs are the ones that got her out. She might have information we can use.”

I sat still under the watchful eye of my president. I knew what he was thinking. And I knew what he was about to say. When he opened his mouth, I held up my hand and cut him off.

“I am not asking, nor do I want her involved in club shit on a regular basis. But my old lady or not, she has knowledge of the situation. And if she wasn’t involved with me, you wouldn’t think twice about using her for information.”

“But she is involved with you.”

“And she’ll want to help.” There was no question that Rose would want to help Aspen.

“This won’t become a habit,” King warned.

“What the fuck is your problem? Do you have an issue with Rose being my old lady?”

“I didn’t vote against you, did I? But she has her own club.”

“So does Sypher, and you don’t seem to have an issue with him being in church.”

“It’s not the same thing.”

He wouldn’t meet my eyes and suddenly I understood what the problem was. “You misogynistic son of a bitch.”

“Cash.”

“Fuck you, King.” I stood, slamming my glass in his desk, and moved to the door.

“It’s not because she’s a woman,” he said, standing behind his desk.

“Then what the fuck is it?” I waited for him to come up with an excuse. Something that made sense other than the fact she was a woman. “That’s what I thought.” The knob twisted in my hand and I expected it to break with the force of my grip.

“I don’t trust her.”

I spun around and glared at my oldest friend. “Say that again? ’Cause I know I didn’t hear that right.”

“Please sit down.”

“If you have something to say, fucking say it.” My hand tightened on the knob. It was the only thing grounding me in this moment. I wanted to jump over that fucking desk and knock my president’s teeth out.

“She’s young.”

“King—”

“Just fucking listen.” He sat back in his seat and motioned to the one I had left. Fuck him. I stayed where I was, one hand on the doorknob and one foot out the door, metaphorically, of course.

“She just turned twenty-one. She’s Mimic’s twin sister. A brother who lied to us to get into the club.”

“A brother you allowed into the club, despite knowing he was lying to us,” I pointed out.