Page 10 of Cole

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, I’m fine,” I said, turning my attention to my drink.

“Go shoot your shot… she’s probably here for you anyway,” Maddox said, joining in.

“No, she’s not. He’s gay, remember?” Gage cut in, laughing.

Maddox sighed, not rising to the bait. He looked at me. “No one would judge you for breaking your own rules.”

My rules for myself at The Clutch were simple. I didn’t fuck around there. That included late at night, when it was just the Hounds and their old ladies, and things got wild; I didn’t participate. I wasn’t going to be sucked off in a booth, or fuck some broad over the bar, while my brothers sat around and watched. It wasn’t my thing. I didn’t bother sticking around when anyone else did it either. Not my scene, but I couldn’t fault the rest of the Hounds for embracing that lifestyle. It was part of the draw to the club.

Luckily for me, Gage, and Maddox, no one expected us to get involved. Idly, I wondered what the pretty little mystery girl at the bar, with her too-upright posture and pristine boots, would think of an after-hours Harbor Hounds orgy. Would she want to join in? Would she want to watch? The thought sent an unexpected jolt through my fucking balls.

I snuck another glance over to find her leaning closer to Finn and laughing, softer this time. Finn was eating it up, and it pissed me off. He shouldn’t be here, and neither should she.

“I bet she’s just a college girl who got bored with all those uptight, tucked-in polo shirts kind of boys. Thought she would have a fun night slumming it here,” Gage said.

“No,” I answered, “She’s watching everything too closely. She isn’t getting drunk. She's here for something.”

“Maybe she's a cop,” Maddox said, fully looking over at her for the first time.

“She isn’t a cop,” Gage snorted.

“Well, she’s something,” I said.

We sat in silence for a minute, watching the kid’s best attempts at flirting. I could tell Gage and Maddox were watching her with a new interest, trying to figure out what she was here for.

Then Finn leaned in close and whispered something in her ear. Her brows lifted, and she dipped her head to say something back.

That was when I stood up.

“I’m tired, I’m going home. You two know what needs to be done. Make sure it happens.”

Gage chuckled. “Are you sure you don’t want to go introduce yourself first?” he asked, still smiling.

“I don’t need to get mixed up with some troublemaking broad,” I sighed, scrubbing a hand over my tired eyes. I’d been overdoing it lately. I needed a goddamn break. I needed to go home. I should go home.

“Don’t you? Ask me, it’s exactly what you need.” Gage smirked.

three

ISABELLE

I watched Rosie’s son talking to Cole. When he’d approached me, I’d felt like my heart was going to pound out of my chest. He looked just like his picture. A sweet, young boy, trying his best to swagger and look like a grown-up. I resisted the urge to tell him his mother was worried about him and try to send him home.

Clearly, Rosie had a reason to be worried, I realized, watching Finn talking to the boss. He had Cole’s ear, somehow. He had to have all kinds of info on the MC and its illegal goings-on, but unfortunately, Rosie had already told me how she’d tried to get information from him. He wasn’t spilling any MC secrets. To his mother, anyway. Maybe I could get him to spill something to a stranger he was trying to impress.

I played around with my handbag, checking that the sleek little listening device, disguised as a stylus, was in there. It was voice activated and had amazing battery life. Should I try to record my conversation with Finn?

Before I could do anything with the pen, Finn headed back toward me after speaking to the boss and his boys. That’s what I’d decided to call the others, until I knew their names, at least. I dropped my bag onto the floor at my feet and turned my smile to him.

“Sorry for the interruption, I’m Finn. Finn Collins,” the boy said, and stuck out his hand for me to shake.

“Nice to meet you,” I returned his smile. Pretending to be interested in a kid hitting on me wouldn’t be a good look, but I could be kind and polite, and hopefully he’d overshare.

“So, you’re the youngest member of the Hounds, right?” I prodded, resuming our previous conversation.

Finn laughed. “Sure am.”

“No, he’s not,” Ronnie said at the same time. She was leaning against the bar behind us, looking bemused by the conversation.