Page 29 of Fletch
Everyone begins to help themselves to the food. Fletch fills my plate as Luna returns minus the child. “You never said you had a sister,” Fletch remarks. The others are making conversation amongst themselves, so I welcome the attention, even if it is about a subject I’d rather avoid with him.
“She’s my half-sister.”
“I gathered,” he says. “She looks like you.”
“We’re close.”
“How old is she?”
“Thirteen.”
“I didn’t realise your father was the Chief of Police” Axel says, finally bringing his attention to me. The rest of the group stops talking and looks my way.
I sit straighter. “Yep.”
“I’ve met him a few times.”
“He likes to get to know the locals.”
“Is that how you got so far up in the force?” asks Lexi, and I narrow my eyes on her. I expect those assumptions from men, as I get them all the time, but women usually know how hard we have to work to prove we can do the same job as the men.
“No,” I say firmly, “I moved away and worked hard. I only came back here recently.”
Fletch grabs the whiskey decanter and pours two glasses, sliding one nearer to me and taking his own. “She never wanted to be a copper, did you?” he asks and looks at me.
“I don’t remember,” I reply.
“You do,” he persists. “You wanted to grow flowers and sell them in your own shop.”
“I love flowers,” says Luna, and she gives me a small smile.
“So, what happened?” asks Grizz.
I shrug. “I just changed my mind.”
“Bullshit,” mutters Fletch, and I glare at him. “Your father forced you to join the police.”
“My father didn’t want me to join, actually,” I correct him. “In fact, he was pissed when I transferred over.”
“You joined to prove him wrong,” says Lexi thoughtfully.
“And taking us down would really make him see your worth,” adds Axel.
I shift uncomfortably. “It’s just my job,” I say.
“Bull. You want this club for a reason, but I get it, you’re playing your cards close to your chest,” says Axel. “We’re running legit these days.”
“Is that why you invited me here and had your Enforcer check me for wires?” I ask, arching a brow. I note how Axel gives Fletch a look that says he’s not happy. “Whoops,” I whisper. “Did he break command . . . go rogue?”
Axel’s lip lifts slightly. “Maybe Fletch just wanted to cop a feel. I hear you two are getting close these days.”
I feel my cheeks redden slightly, but I refuse to match his childish digs. “Or maybe he was checking me for wires,” I repeat more firmly.
“I don’t like the idea of you coming into my family to set us up,” says Fletch. “Pres is right, we’re running legit, but I know what your lot are like. And this is a private dinner. We don’t need your mates listening in.”
We spend a few minutes eating in silence when Luna clears her throat, making us all look in her direction. “You shouldn’t give up on your dreams,” she announces, staring at me. I frown, and she smiles. “If you want to make floral arrangements, you should. You’re not at work all the time, right? I made bread on the side before I had Ivy.”
I force a smile, trying to recall her file. “What did you do?” I ask, mainly to be polite because I remember that she worked in the slut house for the club.