12. Dutch
The wind whipped in my face as we rode away from the safe house. Prompted by Makari's earlier discussion, I imagined myself in a different life, something permanent. It felt foreign but oddly appealing.
As we pulled up to her shop, The Ink Spot, I couldn't help but admire how she'd made a life for herself. Makari slid off my bike, her locs swaying as she turned to face me.
"I'll hit you up when I'm almost finished with my last client. I can't give you an exact time since tattoos can be finicky, but it shouldn't be more than a few hours."
I nonchalantly nodded. "I have club business anyway, so no rush." As the words came out of my mind, I was trying to figure out how to keep her safe.
Makari quirked an eyebrow. Obviously, her bullshit detector was pinging. "Uh-huh, don't go fighting any wars while I'm inking up some stay-at-home mom."
I smirked at her sass. "Me? Starting a fight? I'm wounded."
She rolled her eyes, a smile tugging at her lips.
My phone buzzed while she was standing there, and I waved at her, hoping she'd walk off, but Makari's nosy ass stood there listening.
"Talk," I instructed, peeping Saint's name across the screen. It couldn't be good news with him calling this early.
"We have a situation. Trigger intercepted some chatter from Jahlil's crew. Seems the ledger thing has popped back up, and it seems someone close to us is leaking information." Saint's voice was loud despite my ear covering the speaker.
I glanced Makari's way, hoping she was out of earshot before I responded. "You sure? Who's on our radar?”
"I don't know, but it's solid intel. They specifically mentioned it had to be someone on the inside."
I ran a hand down my face in frustration. "Keep digging. We need names like yesterday."
"There's talk of a late-night meet on their end, Easton District," Saint disclosed.
I chose my words carefully, knowing Makari was standing there. "Regarding that family heirloom, did you get a timestamp on that digital footprint? If not, we need to bring in an outside source. Feel me?"
It took a second for Saint to decode my words. "You thinking about reaching out to our brothers in blue?"
"It crossed my mind as long as they aren't trying to add to the collection, but I'm on my way," I relayed, ending the call. Thinking about the traitor amongst us and Jahlil making underhanded moves, all we needed was a match thrown on the fire.
I turned to Makari, but the look on her face stopped me cold. Shit . She'd heard something .
"What the hell were you saying about Malakai?"
My eyebrows shot up. "I didn't say anything about Malakai. You never heard me mention him."
"Don't bullshit me. Did you forget I could decipher you were speaking in code?"
I swallowed hard. Fuck, she was too damn much for me, and I wondered how much I could share without putting her in further danger.
"There are so many moving pieces right now. I can't?—"
"What? You can't tell me if my dead brother might be alive? Jesus, do you know what this means to me?" she asked.
"Got damn Inspector Gadget. How the hell did you get all that from what I said?"
"You're not funny."
I reached out for Makari , but she jerked away. "I don't , which is why I'm trying to figure shit out without giving unnecessary heartache. I'll explain, but not now?—"
"No, I want to know what the fuck is going on. No more of your cryptic lies, no lies. I deserve to know!"
I blew out air. "Okay, but not here. We'll talk later when I pick you up. I promise."
Makari's eyes clouded. "You better not be fucking with me. No, games, I'm expecting the truth."
I nodded, knowing she was pissed. "I got you , babe. I promise."
Makari held my glare a moment longer. I understood her pain, kind of, because I hadn't lost a loved one. Still, I wasn't sure I'd trust me either if I was in her position.
"Fine." Her voice was sharp. "I swear if you try to dodge me, we're over for good."
I flinched at her words. "I hear you loud and clear."
Makari turned on her heels and strode into her store. Despite the anger, she moved confidently inside and looked at me again before closing the door. Once she was safely inside, I gripped the handlebars and kicked the engine to life.
I pulled away, wondering how I was going to tell her about the video. I couldn't keep her in the dark any longer. She was too damn smart for that.
I pulled over a few blocks down the way and called Rico.
"What's the word, Prez? Is this about the leak?" he questioned.
"No, Makari's shop, the Ink Spot on Main. I need you to do some shadow work. Don't let her out of your sight but keep your distance."
"Got it."
"I need to know she's safe while I figure shit out."
"No problem, I'll be invisible," Rico reassured me.
"I'm serious. The woman has eyes like a hawk and a temper to match."
I disconnected the call, taking a breath at Makari being safe. Still, I wondered who could be leaking information. It couldn't be Saint. He had been my right hand since day one. Nina, the club secretary? She had a mouth, but I didn't think she'd betray the club. I mentally ran through the usual suspects in my head. I felt a headache coming on. There were too many questions and no answers.
As I kicked my bike back into gear, one constant remained present, which was keeping Makari safe. The roar of my Harley bounced off buildings as I sped down the street. Like a throat punch, Makari's expression kept flashing in my mind. She was hurt, and I didn't blame her.
After a short drive, I stopped for gas before pulling up to the club. I threw my leg over my bike and headed up to the door. When I pushed through, I scanned the room out of habit. Saint was perched on a stool at the bar.
"Yo, Saint," I called and strode his way.
"Hey, remember Jahlil mentioned Darian the other night?
"Yeah, what about him?" I asked.
"We know him by Hunter. It turns out he might be more than a dirty cop. He's had interaction with Jahlil's crew."
I snapped my finger. "Fuck. Are you sure that's the same nigga? And if so, why would Jahlil throw his name out to Makari?"
"Good question."
Saint shook his head. "Whatever it is, it can't be good."
"I keep hearing through the grapevine that there's a mole eating at our table," Saint said.
"Anyone on your radar?" I asked.
"Not yet."
I nodded. "Keep digging. I need to know who we're up against because this could change things."
"This leak needs to be plugged, that's for sure, before everything smacks us in the face,"
Saint pointed out.
I looked at the clock. It was only ten in the morning, and most of the crew would not be in until later.
"Yo, round up whoever's here so we can map out a strategy. A crooked cop thrown in the mix changes things."
Within minutes, Saint returned with a few other members. I mentally noted who was present so I would know who to brief later.
"We have a situation. That cop we had our eye on turns out he's in bed with Jahlil."
Murmurs rippled at my analogy. But I held up a hand to silence them.
"It's fucked up, but here's the rub. We move quiet, we move smart. No one outside this room hears about this. Understood?"
The members nodded.
"Boss, what about the mole? Is it connected?"
"It's possible. Watch what you say and to who. Keep your old ladies in the dark for now." I weighed my words carefully.
I thought of Makari and the irony of me telling them not to tell their women. However, Makari was built differently, and whether I liked it or not, she was already in this.
"Questions?" I asked, wrapping up the meeting.
The room was quiet as everyone processed the information.
I nodded. "Okay, keep your mouths shut and eyes open. We'll meet later as a full crew. It's business as usual until then."
I looked at Saint, and he hung back. "You good?"
I rubbed my temples, headache threatening to take over. "Makari heard part of our call this morning. I have to tell her something. My dumb ass forgot she could decode what I was saying."
Saint's eyebrows shot up. "Are you sure that's a move you should make?"
"It's not a move I want to make, but keeping Makari in the dark now might be more harmful, especially since she knows tidbits of info."
He nodded. "All I know is the more people who know?—"
I cut him off. "I know, Trust, I'll give the bare minimum. With Jahlil out there, I can't have her flying blind."
Saint walked away, and I was left to my thoughts. The weight of all this shit pressing on me was a lot to balance. Still, it came with the duty of leadership, living with consequences after making the hard calls.
I headed to my office and sat in the leather chair at my desk. I needed a minute to gather my thoughts and try to ease this headache. I picked up my cell phone and texted Rico.
Me:
Keep me posted.
My phone buzzed.
Rico:
All is quiet.
I nodded, feeling satisfied. I dialed a number I very rarely used.
"Yo, I need everything you can dig up on Darian Hunter. The usual dirty laundry, associates, and financials. I need it ASAP."
I disconnected the call and tapped on the computer to see what I could dig up since I probably had a few hours before Makari would call.