As much as she may act like she can’t stand Neo, I can tell she is fond of the man and has a great respect for him. Seeing the teasing way he treats her, more like a little sister than anything, the caveman inside of me eases a bit knowing I have nothing to worry about from him. Though, Neo doesn’t need to know that.
“Okay, okay, as much as I love sitting here watching the two of you measure your dicks, I believe we have a few things to discuss. Like, you know, what information you have on Burns and what shit he might be up to? Oh… and what the fuck Ava was supposed to do with that damn car last night.” I ask, getting down to business.
Neo’s eyes flash to Ava. “Slash didn’t take care of it last night? Where the fuck was he?”
Ava shrugs, “Getting laid.”
This makes Neo laugh again before taking a swig of his coffee and sobering, clearly ready to talk “Fine, well first off, don’t worry about the car. I’ll make Slash take care of it, if he ever comes up for air. If he was gettin’ some last night, the fucker is gonna be unbearable to be around. Too fuckin happy. it’s the least he can do.” Ava laughs at this and raises her mug in salute to him before he continues.
“So, Sheriff…”
“Kaden.” I correct, cutting him off.
“Whatever. Kaden. I’m assuming Princess here filled you in on Club at least a little. So, you know I can’t tell you everything, not till we know we can trust you. And only Axl decides that. Got it?” Neo asks, all business now. I simply nod and let him continue.
“Good. Okay. Without going into too much detail… Have you noticed the number of young women and girls who seem to leave home and just never come back? Never reported as missing, never show up again, and no one talks about them again? How about the fact Burns sold his businesses when he got elected yet the fucker has more money than he knows what to do with? Or all the money coming into town for public works? Yeah improved roads and shit are great, but where is it all coming from? Our taxes just aren’t that high.”
“Where’s it coming from?” I ask, knowing he isn’t going to give me anything I don’t drag out of him.
“It’s not hard to guess that all the disappearances have to do with a trafficking ring. I wish I could say our sleepy little corner of the world wouldn’t be a target for that shit, but small towns are ripe for human trafficking. The disappearances are one thing, could have been something coming up from one of the bigger cities. When the money started coming in, that’s when we started taking notice.” Neo explains.
“Okay, you don’t want to give me details. I’m a cop, I get it. But can we please get to the point and stop with the cryptic shit?” I can see where he is going but my patience is wearing thin.
“All you need to know right now is we have almost everything we need to pin it all on Burns. The fucker has been just this side of too careful so far though. We have nothing concrete enough to stand up in court.”
“So what you’re saying is you have more than enough to take him out, but not enough for me to do it.” I ask. I can’t say I’m surprised the club has so much on Burns, but I am more than a little surprised they are even attempting to go through legal channels to deal with him. I’m honestly impressed, I wasn’t expecting that. “Okay, so. What are you missing? What pieces still need to fall into place to nail him?”
Neo looks surprised for a moment, “Is the Sheriff seriously asking what shady shit we still need? That sounds like an offer of help to me. Jesus Ava, your pussy must be magic.”
Before Neo can even finish his sentence I’m out of his seat and dragging Neo forward by a fist in his shirt, slamming him face down on the table. While Neo is disoriented, I swing to the other side of the table and wrench his arm behind his back, twisting his wrist up between his shoulder blades.
“Don’t you ever speak to her like that again. I will not hear you, or any of your fucking friends referring to her in such a manner again. Get me?” I growl close to his ear.
“Hey man I was just…” Neo says, his face smashed into the table still.
Not wanting to hear excuses, I wrench his arm up and back farther, threatening to pop his shoulder from its socket. “Get me?”
“Alright, alright! I get it! I’m sorry!”
Giving his arm one last push up, I shove him away, forcing him down into the table again as I step away and return to my seat next to Ava, once again settling my arm on the chair behind her. Ava’s hand goes to my knee and squeezes gently. Her touch is reassuring, settling my temper more than I would have expected it to.
“This isn’t the way to get me on your side Neo.” I explain, forcing a bored tone into my voice.
“Who said I want you on our side?” Neo bites, rubbing his wrist with a petulant look.
“I do. Neo, you know we need him. Things are only getting worse. It’s been five years. It’s time.” Ava says.
“Five years since what?” I ask, feeling like I’m missing something.
Neo snaps his hard eyes to Ava, giving her a warning look.
“Five years since the first girl disappeared.” Ava explains.
“Annalise. Her name was Annalise.” Neo says a hard edge to his voice.
“Annalise, who was she?” I ask.
“She was Neo’s…”
“She was mine.” Neo bites, cutting Ava off.
“Yours? As in…” my voice trails off as I give a meaningful look over at Ava.
“No. Not fated. If we had been, I wouldn’t
