Page 52 of Flint
Chapter 16
Flint
It’s been three weeks since we recovered that fuckin’ sedan with the blood stains in the trunk. Morgan ran the fingerprints, and the ones he was able to identify were linked to the Terrance family. But what good is that without evidence of a crime? We’re still waiting for the DNA match to come back.
We haven’t heard anything about mobsters roaming the streets of Cedar Falls, so we’re back at work. Truth be told, we were both going stir crazy hanging around the clubhouse night and day.
Today, I’m sitting at my worktable, behind the half wall, working on a Beretta 92FS. I’ve got pieces scattered across the rubber mat in front of me while I work carbon fouling out of the extractor channel. My eyes occasionally stray to the front counter where Jules is scrolling on her phone. She seems unsettled, and from my vantage point I can see her pacing behind the counter.
“Jules, is everything okay?” I ask, coming to my feet.
She startles and then forces herself to relax. “Yeah, I’m just hungry. It’s getting to be lunchtime. I’m going to run out and get some sandwiches from the pub. Are you okay watching the counter while I’m gone?”
I slowly nod, feeling uneasy about her being out by herself while knowing I can’t control a grown-ass woman, not if I want to keep her. “Sure, just go straight to the pub and straight back,though. I’m pretty sure we scared those assholes from LA off for good, but I don’t want to take unnecessary risks.”
“I won’t be long. Do you want your usual?”
“Yeah, steak and chips.”
She grabs her purse and walks out. There is some kind of nervous energy to her movement that I don’t like. Seeing her like this makes me worry. Then again, she’s still wearing my property cut. I don’t think anyone in this town, or state for that matter, would be quite stupid enough to mess with a woman wearing a Sons of Rage property cut.
While she’s gone, I can’t help but think about how right being with Jules feels. We wake up every morning together, work side by side, recreate together, problem-solve together, and fall asleep wrapped in each other’s fuckin’ arms. I’m living my best life right now, and I’m not about to let anyone destroy what we’ve built.
Not even Tommy. His club sent him to Arizona to negotiate an alliance with another club, so he hasn’t been around to talk to about this. He’s going to explode, and although I don’t blame him, I’m not going to let him force us apart either.
Jules eventually comes back with an oversized paper bag that smells delicious. But when she looks up, her face is pale, and her eyes dart away. Something has wrecked her morning. She’s still pale, but instead of the nervous energy, she’s moving slowly, as if her energy has been drained.
And suddenly, I don’t give a damn about Tommy, the mobsters from LA, or the sandwiches. I walk over to her and put my hands on her shoulders. “Are you okay, darlin’?”
“Yeah, of course I am.” She normally has a certain brightness in her voice. Right now, her response is muted and out of character for her.
When I take the bag from her hand, our fingers brush. Her hands are cold, even though it’s not cold outside today.
The protective instinct that’s been riding me hard since she left to get lunch doubles and then triples. Setting the food down on the front counter, I ask, “What happened? What has you so shaken?”
“Nothing. I already told you I’m fine.” For some reason, she can’t seem to maintain eye contact with me right now.
I tilt her chin up so I can look into her eyes. “You wanna try that again?”
Before she can answer, the bell jingles on the front door. We both glance over to see Onyx walking through the door. He’s in dark jeans and a white button-down underneath his cut. He has his laptop bag slung over one shoulder. He rarely carries around his laptop, so that lets me know that something is up.
I ask, “What’s up, brother?”
“The three of us need to talk,” he responds curtly.
Jules asks, “Did I do something wrong?”
His head comes up fast, and he’s surprised by her question. “What? Of course not! I didn’t mean to startle you or send that kind of vibe.”
“No problem. I guess my anxiety just ran away with me there for a second.”
“Yeah, I imagine it did.”
His response feels like an accusation to my ears. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”
Onyx studies Jules for a second before asking, “Have you checked your bank account lately?”
“No. Why would I? My pay goes in there every week, and I hardly spend money on anything, so I’ve not really had any reason to check it recently.”
