“There’s some concern from the Misfits that she might just be a plant by Vlad to have a way in when he eventually comes running in to kill us. Or that she’s feeding information to him.”
“No fucking way,” I spit, anger burning at the very implication. “There is no way that Avery or those kids are working with Vlad. I’ve seen the fear, Bullet, and I’ve been the one to watch her and those kids when Nikolai put a gun to their heads. That wasn’t a show for my benefit to make me like. They already didn’t trust her, and Vlad wanted to sleep with her. He’s pissed that she didn’t just agree to be his whore, nothing more. Avery is not working with Vlad.”
“I don’t believe it either, but as much as I hate to agree with any of their bullshit, the Misfits do raise a good point. Vlad has something over her, over those kids, and that makes people do things we don’t think they are capable of to protect those they love. Avery would do anything for those kids, including sell herself out to Vlad if it means keeping those two alive and safe.”
I shake my head, my anger burning hotter with every word he says. A rational part of my head reminds me that he’s right, but every other instinct I have is screaming he is wrong. I know it deep down. “The Misfits are trying to make it so that we’re looking at everyone else but them,” I grunt. “I know you look at everything, Prez, but if she was going to betray us by giving us over to Vlad, she would not do it with those two kids here. There’s no way. She’d have already insisted that we send themout of harm’s way, or she’d be trying to get out of here with them. Not staying here and risking all three of them.”
Bullet holds up his hand placatingly. “Brother, I know all that. Which is why I don’t think they’re right, but I have to be careful. I have to consider everything in some way.”
I understand that but everything in me is telling me to make him understand that he’s wrong. Very wrong. Except, this is my Prez, so I need to be respectful and trust that he has everything under control. I nod. “Alright. What can I do to help around here? I know I can’t do everything I want to, but I can be useful somehow.”
“Medic told me that you should still be resting until your stitches come out, but I also know how it feels to be injured and not able to do what you want. So here’s what I need from you. Right now, with Stone and Shadow gone, I need as many of our guys able to ride out of here as possible, including the Prospects as needed. Help Crypt on guarding the women and kids. Keep your ears to the ground for anything that might be said when no one else is around.”
“You want me to see if someone is slipping up?”
He nods. “And I need you to listen to the Misfits and our men. No one is considered cleared except myself, Sniper, my boys, Viper, Crypt, Theo, and you. Crypt and Theo are because they haven’t been around long enough and were in the military. I also had Cryos figure them both out first to make sure of it.”
That all makes sense. “Alright. Anyone you really want me to pay attention to?”
He hesitates again. “No, I want you to go into this without any preconceived shit going on in your head. Just let me know if you hear or see anything that stands out or makes you think it’s something we need to look into.”
“I got it. I’m going to head downstairs to get something to eat, and I’ll stick to Avery and the kids as much as I can.”
“Don’t overdo it,” he warns me again. “I mean it, Hulk. You feel like shit and need to lie down or something, then let one of us know and we’ll handle things until you can rest.”
I nod, but I’m going to do my damnedest to push through it.
When I make it downstairs after Bullet heads back up to his office, I find a few of the Misfits sitting around in the common area, all of them talking quietly. I instantly see Arson in the middle, with Silver on his right and Crow on his left, with Crook, Trix, and Ace all sitting, leaning over the table. Not a single one of them seems to hear me, so I continue walking toward the kitchen on silent feet, avoiding the spots on the floor that I know will creak if I step on them.
No point in announcing my presence.
I can’t make out what they’re saying with how low they’re talking, but I do hear the wordsmove, plan,andCobra. I wonder if they’re trying to figure out a way to get Cobra home, but my gut tells me it’s not that simple. I just hit the door to the kitchen when I feel eyes on me. I turn my head casually and see Silver watching me, eyes narrowed. I just give him a nod and walk into the kitchen.
Now to see if they send someone after me to see what I heard.
When I walk into the kitchen, I find Rose, Sniper, Thea, Isla, Sawyer, and Avery all there. The room smells delicious from whatever Rose is cooking, and my mouth instantly waters. Oh, yeah, I missed this. Rose’s cooking is always good.
As I approach, Sniper turns and sees me, his eyes moving over me quickly before rolling his eyes. “Seriously, brother, you had to go walking around like that?”
That gets everyone’s attention and I give him a sly grin. “What? Worried that your Old Lady is going to get a look at all this hotness and leave you for me?” I taunt him, waving a hand at my bare chest and abdomen. I wink at Thea, who’s rolling her eyes and laughing, while Sniper is glaring at me. A lot ofthe brothers don’t fuck with Sniper, and I know why considering who and what he is, but I’ve also known Sniper well enough to know that he won’t do shit to an injured man.
At least I hope not.
“If you don’t want him, I’ll take him,” Isla announces, drawing my attention. She gives me a quick once-over. “I do like my men a little older, but when I said you were the walking dead, I didn’t get a good look at anything more than your ass. So I’m reversing my opinion.”
“Isla,” Avery scolds, but I can see her eyeing me out of the corner of her eye.
“A girl after my own heart.” Rose laughs, high-fiving a grinning Isla. Then she winks at me. “And I do love some eye candy around here.”
“How tall are you?” Isla asks, getting up from her seat and walking over to stand in front of me, her head tilted back to look up at me. She’s tall for a teenager, but still a few inches below her brother and sister, and definitely a good foot shorter than me. Then she looks over at her sister and asks, “If you two have babies, they’re going to be giants. I hope to God your nursing knowledge will prepare you for the birth of giants, because damn, my vagina just hurts thinking about pushing out a human that’s going to be this big.”
“Gross,” Sawyer blanches, his face going a little green as he glares at his sister.
“What? It’s a natural human function,” Isla sniffs. “Besides, you want to be stupid and stick your tiny pencil stick in some girl, that’s what could happen.”
“Isla,” Avery snaps, irritation in her voice as Sawyer’s glare intensifies. “That’s enough.”
“And that’s our cue to leave,” Sniper declares, lifting Thea from her seat and into his arms. Then they’re walking out the door, with Thea protesting that he always takes her out whenthings are just getting good. I bite back a grin as I look back at the siblings all glaring at each other and Rose grinning like a fool, clearly having the time of her life.
