“Something fucky?” Hawk comes up next to me, taking a drag from his beer while watching the party.
“Yeah. Someone's been talking to the mob. I just can't figure out who.”
“Motherfucker.”
“Nah, it’s not Eagle-Eye. I already asked him.” We both glance at him next to Miriam. Hawk snorts.
Beatrice weaves through the crowd, drawing attention from the guys. She's fresh meat, and while she's not one of the sluts, she's already played at being one once, that night we knocked up Alessa. Hopeful glances follow her as she wiggles her ass through the common room.
“It's got to be her, right?”
“I've thought about it, but Alessa swears by her. Trusts her with her life, she says, and Beatrice kept the baby a secret for nearly a year. Why would that change now?” I shrug. It's the most obvious answer, but I can’t see how it fits.
She flashes us a smile of recognition as she passes by. I nod back, but Hawk remains stone faced. Of course, for him, that's the default lately, so who the fuck knows?
“The mob's good at exploiting people's weaknesses. We've got our share of gamblers, drinkers and trouble makers. Think they've gotten to one of ours?” Now that's a thought I hate, but can't quite shake.
“Fuck no. We might bicker and argue like old women, but at the end of the day, even when I want to kick your ass, I’d still never betray you.” He wrinkles his nose and frowns, making the scar in his eyebrow dance.
It’s good to hear him say that. “Yeah, that's what I want to think, too. I just don't know. Fuck.”
“Talk to Alessa.”
“I don't want to worry her. She's had a rough enough time of it already.”
He snorts. “Then let me do it. She expects me to be an asshole anyway, right?”
“I guess… Listen, I'm gonna see about setting up something to break the encryption. If that works, we'll have all our answers without bothering her. If we have to address it then, we'll do that.”
“Then hurry it up. This shit can't wait. Someone on the inside? Fuck.”
“Will do. If we have a leak, I'm going to figure it out, and they'll fucking regret it.” I give him a nod, then take my laptop somewhere quieter to work.
24
ALESSA
Dario knows about Izzy.
Dario knows about Izzy.
No matter what I do, I can't shake it. I've been in Viking's room for over an hour now, while he's out at the party with the others. They offered to take turns watching Izzy, but I'm not in a partying mood tonight.
How does Dario know? Who told him? Dad? I can't imagine that. But if not, they have to be inside the club, and I can't imagine who it would be.
And the messages keep coming.
Alessa, I love you. You were meant for me, and you know it.
We’ll find your girl someplace safe so you can get back to the life you should have.
Alessa, fucking answer my messages. I need to see you.
Jesus. He's getting worse.
Who's talking to him? I'm going to rule out Viking, Snark and Bear right away. Hawk? It doesn’t feel right, but I know he has secrets. Despite what he said after he saved me, I still feel like he'd be happier if I was out of the picture.
But selling me out to the mob?
So who else? The sluts? Maybe. They don't like that I've basically become an old lady. I came in, got knocked up and took four eligible bikers right out of their pool. But how would they have found Dario?
Other bikers? Pretty sure they're not jealous of me and the guys. They've accepted Emily, so why not me? Unless it's a grudge against one of the guys, or something, but again, how would any of them know who Dario is or find him?
Emily? She has connections into the Family, I'm sure. But why?
It's got to be someone who knows what's going on.
Bea? No way. She's had so many opportunities to sell me out in the past. Why now? She's obsessed with being Izzy's auntie. I refuse to believe that.
My thoughts keep coming back to Hawk, and I hate it. And if it's him, can I risk telling the other guys? How would they react?
Maybe I should talk to Bea first.
But she's at the party, too. With Izzy down for the night, she figured maybe she could convince one of the guys that she was open for business. Some things don't change, I guess.
I push off the bed. Izzy's out like a light, her little arms raised over her head and her chest gently rising and falling. God, what a little angel. She'll be fine for a little bit. Maybe Bea hasn't roped in a biker for the night yet.
Fat chance.
But I can take a look. After turning on the baby monitor and making sure the app for it is running, I sneak out. If she wakes up, my phone will vibrate and alert me. The door doesn't make a sound as I shut it behind me and head down the hallway.