Tanner (Dirty Misfits MC Book 5), page 15
And I was stunned at the beauty of this place.
“Good God,” I whispered.
Molly snickered. “How do you think the guys are feeling right now?”
And Tanner answered our question when he stepped out of his car and threw his hands in the air.
“What the fuck, Finn!?”
I barked with laughter as I slid out of the car. “Seriously, Finn. This house is gorgeous.”
Cole rushed to help Molly out of the car and Tanner came to get me. All of the engines to our vehicles went silent, and other than the sounds of the city in the background we could all hear the waves of the ocean in the backyard.
“Okay,” Finn said as he trotted up to us, “so my family’s got a bit of money. Big deal.”
Brooks gawked. “Big deal? Dude, this place could hold twice the size of our crew.”
Cole grinned. “You didn’t tell us your parents were rich as fuck.”
Finn rolled his eyes. “Because they aren’t. Yes, they have money, but they didn’t come from it. When my parents married, they didn’t even have the money to pay the courthouse for the marriage certificate. Mom had to put it on her almost-maxed-out credit card.”
“Wow,” I murmured.
Then, Finn dangled a set of keys from his finger. “Want to take a walk around inside?”
We were all eager to get inside and see the palace from the inside. But I wasn’t nearly prepared for the beauty of the place when we entered the foyer. I gasped at the beautiful white marble floors and the crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling. The red accents of crystal in the chandelier itself lent a beautiful pop of color that matched the black-and-red artwork on the walls, and the white marble staircase in front of us matched the white wood banister that followed up either side.
But Brooks caught our attention. “Are your parents not alive, Finn?”
We all turned in the direction of his voice and I saw what he was looking at. I walked over to him and found him staring at a picture of what looked like Finn, but in his earlier years. Behind him were two proud parents, all smiles and dressed to the nines.
And below it was a plaque that simply said, “In Memorium.”
“Finn?” I asked as I turned around.
I found him standing behind us with tears in his eyes. “Yeah. They died a few years back.”
Tanner nodded. “Is that why you live in an apartment and not here?”
Finn shrugged. “I was always a rebellious kid. So much so that it landed me in juvie for my senior year of high school. I guess…”
Raven took his hand. “You figured you didn’t deserve any of this after they passed away.”
He swallowed down his tears and drew in a deep breath. “Anyway, it’s here for us to use if you’d like. I don’t have the heart to sell it off, since it’s kind of the last property they touched. But it doesn’t feel right just… living here. You know, when it’s only me.”
Brooks walked over and hugged him. “Thank you.”
Finn sighed deeply. “You’re welcome.”
I looked up at Tanner. “Wanna go find our room?”
Finn interjected. “Yes, that’s a great idea. Everyone, go find where you’d like to stay. Then, we can figure out what we want to stock the kitchen with.”
“Cole and I got the master suite!” Molly exclaimed as she wobbled quickly for the stairs.
I giggled. “Trust me, no one will fight you on that.”
Tanner threaded our fingers together as he held my hand. “A bathroom is important to us. If there’s any bathrooms with a walk-in shower, we’ll take that bedroom.”
Josie’s hand shot into the air. “I want the room with the jetted tub!”
Brooks chuckled. “I think Raven’s going to want a room with a view, yeah?”
Raven smiled. “You know exactly what I like, handsome.”
I gazed up into Tanner’s face. “Ready to go check out the bathrooms.”
He kissed my forehead. “Let’s do this.”
We walked up the massive stairs hand in hand, and it didn’t take us long to find a bedroom that had a walk-in shower in the bathroom. We claimed one of the rooms without a view as our own and quickly shed our clothes, wanting nothing more than to wash the soot and smoke off our bodies. It shocked me that the water was even on, much less how hot the water poured from the waterfall shower head.
Then, we walked into the stone shower together and held one another after we sat down.
“I think I need to call Sloane,” I said.
Tanner kissed my temple. “Of course. I’m sure you’re worried about Cheyenne.”
I shook my head. “Not about that.”
He paused. “Then, about what?”
I climbed into his lap and tucked my head beneath his chin. “You know damned good and well that she’s the only person that can really help us out right now.”
“Summer, she doesn’t even live in—”
“She’s got ties in the department. She’s traveled into town on numerous occasions to contract out her skills and help the Santa Cruz Police Department. We need her help, and you know it.”
“Then, who’s going to watch after Chey?”
I drew in a deep breath. “Her and I will figure that out. Right after I call her and tell her that we need her help.”
He held me close. “You know I love you, and I support you in everything you want to do, right?”
I reached up and kissed his jawline. “Even this?”
And when he looked down at me, he captured my lips with his own. “Even this.”
Sneak Peak at Finn
I hated this house. Every time I walked through it, I was reminded of all the terrible things that had taken place behind its front door. The people that lost their lives and the blood stains that never saw justice.
I thought about her. My ex.
And how I still wanted to wring her stepfather’s fucking neck.
“Hey. Finn.”
I heard Tanner’s voice and I turned away from the ocean view in front of me.
“Yeah?” I asked.
He jogged up to me. “I called Summer’s sister, Sloane.”
I blinked. “And?”
“I need your help convincing the guys to let her help.”
I furrowed my brow. “Sorry, what?”
Tanner placed his hand on my shoulder. “I know it’s a shitty position to put you in, but--.”
I shrugged his hand off. “You’re damn right, it’s a shitty position.”
“What’s a shitty position?” Archer asked.
Tanner glared at me. “You owe me. You know that.”
I stood my ground. “Why is it that every time you want to run my ass through the wringer, you bring up the fact that you helped me become a prospect? You know damn good and well they’re gonna chew your ass off for this, and I’m not going down with you. Not this time.”
“Down for what?” Porter asked.
Tanner rolled his eyes. “Come on out of the woodwork, everyone. We gotta talk.”
I turned back toward the ocean and thought about all of the blood that had been washed away upon its shoreline. I thought about all of the shadows and terrible memories that would strangle me so long as we were in this house. It was because of those shadows--because of those demons--that I couldn’t sell the house off. Because believe, I’ve tried.
But, what was the use in telling the crew that?
Not like we had anywhere else to go.
“What’s going on? What’s the fuss about?” Brooks asked.
I rolled my eyes. “Great.”
Tanner cleared his throat. “We need help. More help than we can provide for ourselves. So, I called Sloane.”
“Who the fuck is Sloane?” Porter asked.
I peered over my shoulder. “Summer’s sister. You know, the cop.”
The room fell silent and I felt their anger seeping from their pores. Tanner nudged me, but I kept my back to them because I sure as hell wasn’t gonna be roped into this fucking scheme. I didn’t owe Tanner shit. Not after all of the messes I’d had to clean up ever since I became a prospect with the Dirty Misfits.
He could clean this one up by himself.
“I’m sure you meant well,” Porter said as he tried to keep his voice calm, “but bringing a cop into the mix right now really isn’t a good idea.”
Tanner scoffed. “It’s the only shot we’ve got, and you know it. We need someone from law enforcement on our side. Someone who’s going to take some risks. And I believe that person is Sloane. I mean, she works in the Special Victims’ Unit for crying out loud. This is her arena.”
“In Santa Barbara, sure,” Brooks said with a shrug, “but not here in Santa Cruz.”
Archer nodded. “Yeah, her jurisdiction is over four hours away.”
Tanner shook his head. “Not if she is granted special permissions by the local department. Then, she can come and go as she pleases.”
I sighed as I finally turned around. “It’s a shit idea, and you know it. The only reason why you didn’t run it by us before you placed that phone call was because you knew we’d all react this way.”
Archer furrowed his brow. “Aren’t you supposed to be on his side?”
I threw my hands into the air. “The man introduces me to the crew and now I’m his bitch? You guys should know me much better than that by now. I’ve been a prospect for almost two damn years.”
Brooks grinned. “Yeah, longer than any of us were.”
The guys chuckled, but I didn’t find it funny. They were always teasing me about stupid bullshit and coming up with reasons as to why I couldn't be made a “full member” yet.
I was a few steps away from leaving them all in the dust, to be honest.
“Look,” Tanner groaned, “if we can get Sloane on our side, she can get the cops to focus on the trafficking part of the case. That’s where the focus needs to be. Taking down the Black Flags isn’t about slaughtering them and pushing them out. It’s about stopping their only source of revenue in the city. And you know we aren’t equipped to take down a fucking sex and human trafficking ring.”
“I don’t know, he’s got a point,” Cole murmured.
“I don’t want that fucker in jail,” Porter glowered, “I want him dead. I want to put a bullet between his eyes and watch him bleed out at my feet.”
Brooks nodded. “Same. That jackass doesn’t deserve another shred of the light of day.”
I pointed at the two of them. “That. That right there is what we need, Tanner, not some fucking cop.”
Tanner snickered. “What is with you and the police? You still mad that you got tagged and went to juvie?”
I growled. “You have no idea what the fuck you’re talking about, so can it, Meathead.”
The room fell silent until Archer spoke. “If we kill Chops, you know we run the risk of some other fucker in that crew retaliating and causing more problems for us.”
Tanner nodded. “And if we get the cops involved, we can put the whole damned club in jail and get them off the streets.”
Cole cleared his throat. “Then, if you want, I can pool together my contacts on the inside and have Chops taken care of since they won’t be able to retaliate after that.”
I shook my head. “Not you too, Cole. Come on.”
Brooks and Porter looked at each other, and it didn’t give me a good impression of what was about to happen. But, once Porter nodded his head, Brooks fell in line like the good little slut he had become.
“All right. Let’s get her on our side,” he said.
Tanner turned to me. “Finn?”
I opened the sliding glass door I had been standing at. “Not like my opinion matters to this group anyway. Do whatever the hell you want.”
I stepped outside and closed the door behind me before walking down toward the beach. I needed to get away from these meathead assholes before I punched my fist through one of their throats. I felt my anger mounting. I felt my heart surging out of control. And as my heart rate skyrocketed, I stood at the edge of the water and gazed out over the horizon.
As my mind pulled me back to memories I wanted to forget.
“Mom, what’s going on?”
She rushed to me and took me in her arms. “Let’s get you upstairs. Theres’s a lot of--.”
I shoved her away. “A lot of what? Dad? Why are all these police here?”
“Upstairs,” he said curtly. “Now.”
“No!” I exclaimed as I rushed down the hallway. “What’s going on? Why are they all out back?”
I shoved my way through the crowd and knocked a police officer on his ass trying to figure out what was happening. I smelled blood before I set foot outside, and the second my eyes laid themselves onto the scene out on the sand, I wanted to vomit.
And as I bent over, hurling up the dinner I just had with my best friend at the diner down the road, I felt the cold metal of handcuffs come down around my wrists.
“What the--Mom!” I exclaimed.
“You’re under arrest for the murder of Melody Hartman,” the officer said as he pulled me upright, “and I suggest you keep your mouth shut while I read you your rights.”
I folded my arms over my chest and closed my eyes. If I concentrated long enough, I could still smell her blood, still warm as it dripped from the lifelessness of the rest of her. Bile crept up the back of my throat. I felt like I was going to be sick. But, I swallowed it down, refusing to let the guys see me as some sort of weakling that couldn’t even handle his own damn memories.
Then, I heard footsteps behind me.
“You want to talk?” Brooks asked.
I shook my head. “Nothing to talk about.”
He sighed. “We know you don’t like cops.”
I looked up at him. “It’s not that I don’t like them. I just don’t trust them.”
He nodded. “I know.”
I turned my eyes back toward the water. “And yet, here we are.”
He placed his hand on my shoulder. “We can’t stop doing what’s best for this crew when one of our guys--.”
I shrugged off his touch. “I really wish you assholes would stop touching me.”
He turned his gaze out toward the water as well. “Some of the guys are ready to kick you, you know.”
I snickered. “Figures. Can’t handle a guy with a bit of balls around here.”
“It’s got nothing to do with that, and you know it.”
“Then, why don’t you tell me what this is actually about? Because for the life of me, all I’ve done is devote my time, my sanity, and my talent to this crew for two damn years, and what the fuck do I have to show for it?”
He slowly turned to face me and I felt his eyes drilling a hole into the profile of my face. “Maybe start by thinking about someone other than yourself for a change, and you’ll see us change around you.”
Then, I turned my head to look at him. “Then maybe, you should start with yourself. Because I’m pretty sure we got out of the predicament we were in only a few days ago because I was selfless enough to come back to the one place I told myself I’d never be ever again.”
He furrowed his brow. “What do you mean?”
I turned my back to him and started inside. “Earn my trust and stop making shitty decisions, and maybe I’ll actually feel compelled to open myself up to a bunch of guys that are ready to toss me to the wind.”
And as I started inside, only one thought crossed my mind.
If they gave me the job of babysitting that pig, I’d have all of their asses.
Want more of Finn? Get him here!
More Books by Savannah Rylan
Box Sets
The Bad Disciples MC Box Set
The Road Rebels MC Box Set
Marked Skulls MC Box Set
Dead Souls MC Complete Collection
Black Hornets MC Box Set
The Lost Boys MC Box Set
The Callaghan Mafia Box Set
The Black Cobras MC
Dragon Riders MC
Series
Brooks (Dirty Misfits MC #1)
Porter (Dirty Misfits MC #2)
Archer (Dirty Misfits MC #3)
Cole (Dirty Misfits MC #4)
Tanner (Dirty Misfits MC #5)
Finn (Dirty Misfits MC #6)
Link (Dragon Riders MC #1)
Bowser (Dragon Riders MC #2)
Ash (Dragon Riders MC #3)
Knuckles (Dragon Riders MC #4)
Sly (Dragon Riders MC #5)
Declan (The Callaghan Mafia #1)
Brody (The Callaghan Mafia #2)
Gael (The Callaghan Mafia #3)
Flynn (The Callaghan Mafia #4)
Cage (Dead Souls MC: Prospects #1)
Bear (Dead Souls MC: Prospects #2)
Saint (Dead Souls MC: Prospects #3)
Ryker (Dead Souls MC: Prospects #4)
Toxin (Dead Souls MC: Prospects #5)
Texas (The Lost Boys MC #1)
Stone (The Lost Boys MC #2)
Bronx (The Lost Boys MC #3)
Notch (The Lost Boys MC #4)
Jace (The Black Hornets MC #1)
Maverick (The Black Hornets MC #2)
Duke (The Black Hornets MC #3)
Colt (The Black Hornets MC #4)
Thor (The Black Hornets MC #5)
Jagger (The Black Hornets MC #6)
Knox (Dead Souls MC #1)
Grave (Dead Souls MC #2)
Brewer (Dead Souls MC #3)
Rock (Dead Souls MC #4)
Diesel (Deal Souls MC #5)
Girth (Marked Skulls MC #1)
Rodeo (Marked Skulls MC #2)
Abe (Marked Skulls MC #3)
Oz (Marked Skulls MC #4)
Dash (Marked Skulls MC #5)
Hawk (The Road Rebels MC #1)
Talon (The Road Rebels MC #2)
Snake (The Road Rebels MC #3)
Fox (The Road Rebels MC #4)
Gunner (The Bad Disciples MC #1)
