Her words cut me to the quick. “I haven’t just been bouncing around from dick to dick, hoping that I’d stumble upon you,” I say, “Leo and I have been getting along. The way to a man’s heart is on your back, right?”
“He kidnapped me,” she hisses, pulling her hands away, “The Wraiths drugged us, and Leo stood and watched as I was carried away from my home.”
“They’re justifying it in their own minds,” I tell her, “The Wraiths think that the Nine are trying to take them down by spreading lies and mistrust. That means something to guys like them, Kassie.”
“The Nine haven’t done shit to the Wraiths,” she says sharply.
“I know that,” I tell her, “I’m on your side, Kass. The Nine’s side.”
“Is that true?” she asks pointedly, “You’re one hundred percent with the Nine?”
“Yes. Of course.”
“And not the least bit taken with your very own biker crush?” she goes on.
“I...There are things about Leo that I find very compelling,” I begin.
“Holy fuck,” she mutters, “I can’t believe this.”
“But that doesn’t change anything,” I rush on, “As soon as we get you out of here, as soon as we figure out what’s gone rotten between the Nine and the Wraiths, it’s over between me and Leo.”
“Whatever you say,” Kassie mumbles, “Because your eyes tell a very different story. And I’m sure your heart’s not on board with what your mouth is spouting.”
“Kassie, I don’t—”
“Let’s just drop it for now,” she cuts me off, “And figure out our next move.”
“Alright,” I say, sliding her jacket across the table, “What do you think we should do?”
“The Wraiths have been letting things slip around me,” she says, shrugging into her leather jacket that wears like a second skin. “Buck isn’t exactly the most discreet person in the world. Or the quietest.”
“What kind of things have they been saying?” I ask.
“This stuff they’ve been hearing, about how the Nine are dragging their name through the mud,” she says, “It’s all coming from anonymous emails. All different addresses. All of them sent right to Leo’s personal email account.”
“Why Leo’s?” I ask, “He’s the VP. Why not just go to Mac?”
“You honestly think old-ass Mac is going to be consistently checking his email?” Kassie laughs, “Not a chance.”
“No, I know he isn’t,” I say, “I broke into his account my first day here.”
“Good girl,” Kassie smiles, “You’re on the right track. But it’s Leo’s account you’re gonna want to break into now.”
“Oh,” I say, biting my lip.
“Come on,” Kassie says, “Don’t tell me you’re skittish about invading his privacy.”
“I’m not,” I tell her, “I just...it’s been easier getting him to trust me while he can actually trust me.”
“What are you talking about?” Kassie gapes at me, “You’re a spy, Kelly!”
“Well, yeah...but a spy whose heart is in the right place,” I say with a halfhearted laugh.
“You have to find out who those emails are coming from,” Kassie says sternly, “That could be the key to understanding what’s going on between the clubs. I know they’re still coming in, and the accusations are getting worse by the day. And if someone’s fucking with the Wraiths opinion of the Nine, I bet the Nine are getting false information too.”
“But why would someone be feeding both clubs bad intel?” I ask.
“I don’t know,” Kassie says, “Has Declan said anything about the Wraiths to you? Anything new they’ve found out?”
“He did say that they’d learned something new about Sam’s death...” I say, my chest tightening, “Do you think that’s faulty information, too?”
“I wouldn’t doubt it,” Kassie says through gritted teeth, “I know that what the Wraiths have been hearing about the Nine isn’t true. I know those guys too well to think they’d do another club wrong.”
“And I know the Wraiths weren’t responsible for Sam’s death,” I put in.
“What, did Leo tell you that?” she says, rolling her eyes.
“Yes. He did,” I snap, fed up with her disdain, “And despite the shit going on between the Wraiths and the Nine, I believe him, Kassie. I know that what his club is doing to you is shitty, but I doubt that Declan’s track record is spotless when it comes to club tactics, either.”
That shuts her up.
“I know you’re angry with him, but I trust Leo,” I say, taking her hands once more, “I know for a fact that he’s not going to let anyone hurt you. The Nine are too prideful to fix this mess on their own. We have to help them, Kassie. We have to save these guys.”
“You’re right,” she breathes, squeezing my hands, “I know you’re right.”
“We can do this,” I tell her, “Together, you and I can make this right. Now, pour me some more of this whiskey and let’s get a game plan on the table. We’ve got work to do.”
Chapter Fourteen
“What are you, some kinda sorceress?” Buck asks, as I step back down out of the RV, “How did you get her to quiet down?”
“Just a woman’s touch, I guess,” I smile, looking between the three Wraiths who have been guarding my conference with Kassie.
“Well shit,” Dewey says, “We should always keep you on hand for hostage situations. You’re a natural.”
“Everything cool with her now?” Leo cuts in.
“Everything’s cool,” I assure him, “I think she just needed to talk to someone on her level. You know?”
“Good shit, babe,” Leo says, “I knew you’d handle it.”
I feel my heart swelling with pride at Leo’s praise. Sure, Kassie’s secretly my best friend in the world and was bound to be comforted by my presence...but he doesn’t have to know that.
“Looks like our work here is done,” Leo says to Buck and Dewey, “Think you two can make it through the night without having to call in our ace negotiator again?”
“I’m sure we’ll be just fine,” Buck grumbles, kicking at the dirt with his steel-toed boot. I roll my eyes at his petulance. Guess someone doesn’t like having been outdone by a girl.