“And we need to sit down and do up a roster. I know Bell, Kadence and Holly are all as keen as I am about getting on it. I’ve already spoken with Brie about what we can do for training. Do you think that will be okay?” She taps her pen to paper then looks up, waiting for me to process it all.

“Do you want to keep working for Nix at the clubhouse or would you like to come work here?” I ignore her roster plans and ask her right out. Sitting here listening to her ramble about rosters and training, I realize she’s just as passionate about this place as I am.

“Here?”

“Yeah, you don’t have to if you don’t want to. No pressure. But, darlin’, I haven’t seen you this alive in months.”

“Well, what you’re doing here is the most amazing thing ever, Beau. You don’t have to offer me a job. I’m happy to just help out when you need me.”

“You didn’t answer me, Kenz. Do you want to work here?”

“What would I do? You have all the spots filled.”

“Head of administration.” I offer her the one job Kelly and I were going to share.

“I’m barely qualified.”

“Not from where I’m sitting. Kelly and I were going to share the job. With Kell not up to it at the moment, it’s just me. I’m going to need help.”

“I can just help.”

“I want you here full time.”

“What about Nix? I can’t let him down.” She keeps fighting it, but I’m gonna wear her down.

“He was doing his books long before you came along. He’ll manage.” She worries at her lip again, letting it all sink in.

“You really mean it? You want me here?”

“Couldn’t think of a better place for you.”

“Beau, this is huge for me.” She stands, places her notebook down, and walks around the desk to me.

“So that’s a yes?”

“Yes!” She falls into my lap and wraps her arms around my neck. “For you, for Missy. It’s more than I could ever want.”

“I love you, Kenz.” I wrap my arms around her, trying to memorize having her back in my arms.

“And I you, Beau.” She rests her forehead on mine. I’m about to kiss her when a large bang on the front door interrupts us. Spinning in my chair, I turn and look at the CCTV monitors. We had more installed at the front door after Kell was attacked.

“Is that Detective Carter?” Mackenzie leans forward for a better look.

“Yeah.” I shift her off my lap and stand. “Stay here while I talk to him.” I kiss her briefly and then head out past the common area and toward the front door.

“Jackson?” I open the door and step outside.

“Beau, how are you?” He offers me his hand and I take it. If he finds it odd I just stepped outside instead of offering him to come in, he doesn’t show it.

“Good, busy. You know how it is.” I release his hand and wait for him to tell me what he’s here for.

“No news on Kelly?” I shake my head, not prepared to talk about it.

“I’m not here on official business. Just wanted to give you a heads up.” I still my breathing and lower it to stay composed.

“What’s up?”

“Had an envelope delivered to my desk last week. Pretty full on shit implicating Mayor Morre to Axle David, and his clusterfuck of a rap sheet.”

“No shit?” His brow rises at my tone, but he doesn’t comment. I know the file he has. Tiny was responsible for setting it up.

“Yeah, him and Chad to be precise. Chad’s been working some cases for them. Too bad we can’t collar him for it. You still have men looking for him?”

“Not gonna do your job for you, Jackson.” I know he’s fishing for information right now. Probably knows we know more than we’re letting on.

“I’m just concerned, Beau. Mayor turns up dead. Chad’s missing—”

“I’m not worried about Chad,” I cut him off. I probably shouldn’t be so cocky, but I’m done beating around the bush. Chad is gone. The Mayor is gone. I’m not going to play along.

“You’re not?” His head tilts slightly.

“Not in the least.”

“One would think you had something to do with his disappearance, Beau, with a comment like that. Just weeks ago we were getting hounded to find him and now you aren’t worried. What did you do?”

“Nothing. You know we run a clean club, Jackson. Maybe his father’s connections caught up with him. Axle David was responsible for Paige’s disappearance. I’m sure he’s capable of getting rid of scum,” I remind him how much he risked last time to help Paige out of her situation. It’s a low move, but I don’t give a fuck.

“You know we still have eyes in the Warriors.” He ignores my dig and delivers his own. I keep my expression blank, trying not to react. Jackson did tell Jesse a few months ago they had a man undercover, but somehow in the stress of things, we seemed to fucking forget.

“Then you’ll know we had nothing to do with it,” I call his bluff.

Yeah, okay, we fucked him up a bit, but he has nothing on us and the shit with Chad. No body. No crime. Simple.

“You might not have signed his death certificate, but you had a hand in it.” I don’t bother arguing any more. I’m done with this conversation.

“Well I can’t say this hasn’t been interesting, but I have a shelter to open next week, sixteen staff and volunteers to train up. You get my proposal for the sheriff’s department to come on board?” I change the subject, hoping he drops this. Obviously, he knows what transpired in the barn, but unless he’s going to do something about it, then there is no point going back and forth.