Taming Blade (Kings Reapers MC Book 5) by Nicola Jane (mini ebook reader TXT) 📕

It’s an empty threat, because I definitely do not have the lady balls to approach his wife, but he doesn’t have to know that. “Maybe I should tell her exactly how far you take undercover work.”

“Tillie, don’t threaten me,” he mutters, shaking his head with disappointment. “You don’t know what you’re doing.”

“I just want something, anything. Where did he hang out? Where did he live?”

Ethan sighs heavily. “He tried to set up his own MC. A place by the docks.” He grabs a paper napkin and scribbles something down before handing it to me. “You’re asking for trouble poking around looking for Cobra. He wasn’t a good guy,” he warns.

“Seems I’m surrounded by those types of guys anyway so . . .” I stand, clutching the address in my hand. “Thanks.”

Sara checks the address again. She insisted on coming with me to check out the place at the docks. There’re three motorbikes parked outside a rundown-looking building. “Are you sure about this?” whispers Sara. I nod, raising my fist to knock on the large, wooden double doors. “Couldn’t you do the normal thing and just ask your mum?” she asks again.

“No. I told you already, she hates talking about it. She’ll freak and think Blade’s back on scene. Anyway, she won’t know anything about his recent life. I want to know why he’s dead. Everyone says he’s a bad person right, but no one elaborates for me.”

I bang nice and loud, trying to show I’m more confident than I feel. A minute later, the door creaks open and a large man with a ruddy face scowls out like he hasn’t seen the light in days. “What?” he barks. His teeth are yellowy-brown and he’s unshaven, probably unwashed too by the looks of his stained shirt.

“Hi, I’m Matilda, and this is Sara,” I begin. He scowls harder, like he’s trying to see us clearly. “I’m looking for someone.”

“Are you cops?” he snaps.

“No,” I say. “We’re here—”

“Are you here for the Pres?” he cuts in.

I shrug. “Erm, I guess.” Maybe the Pres is Cobra and he isn’t dead after all, but even if it isn’t him, he might be more helpful than this guy.

He sniggers and opens the door wider. “Nice.” He grins, slapping Sara on the arse as we pass. She yelps and he rubs his hands together gleefully. “Pres, your arse is here!” he yells.

We stay by the door. Inside is a large room, much like the Kings clubhouse, only this one isn’t as busy or as clean. Two men are sitting at a table playing cards. They both look up and grin. They look in much better shape than this guy, but something doesn’t feel right. A door at the other end of the room opens and another man enters. He’s mid-thirties, with a frightening stare that matches his dark eyes. “I didn’t ask for any bitches today,” he snaps, watching us suspiciously.

“Actually, I’m looking for someone,” I say.

“Do I look like a missing persons bureau?” he snaps. He narrows his eyes at the man who let us in. “What d’ya let ‘em in for?”

“They said they were here to see you, Pres.”

“Fuck, you can’t just let people in,” he growls.

“Cobra,” I blurt out and all eyes turn to me. “I’m looking for him.”

The president moves closer. “Who the fuck are you?”

“Matilda Edwards,” I say quietly.

Suddenly, his hand shoots out and grabs me around the neck. I scream, and Sara grips my hand tight. “I don’t know you,” he hisses.

“My dad . . .” I choke out. His eyes narrow and then he releases me. I gasp, rubbing my neck.

“Cobra was your dad?” he asks, and I nod, relieved he’s sounding much calmer. “Why didn’t you say?” Smiling suddenly, he wraps me in a bear hug. “Shit, he said you were pretty, but we didn’t believe him, looking like he did.”

I glance nervously back at Sara as the man leads me towards a table. “I was wondering if you’d seen him recently.”

He puts a cigarette in his mouth and lights it, inhaling deeply and running his eyes over me. “Sweetheart, your dad is dead.”

“Right, I thought that was the case,” I mutter. “Did he have anyone? Like a wife or other kids?”

“Not that I know of. He came here from Manchester to keep an eye on you. He was a paranoid arse and thought you were in danger.”

“Danger?” I repeat.

He takes another drag of the cigarette and blows the smoke up into the air. “He ran in dangerous circles. It’s the risk you take when you live this life. I can see why he worried about you, though,” he says, grinning and I fidget uneasily. He’s making me uncomfortable.

I stand. “Right. Well, thanks for your help.”

“If I find out anything, like if some other chick turns up claiming to be his kid too, where should I contact you?”

“Sweetastic, on the high street,” I say, praying to God no one else turns up and gives this man a reason to come looking for me.

He grabs my hand and kisses the back of it. “Take care, Matilda.”

I step out, practically dragging Sara behind me. “Fuck, I thought he was gonna kill us,” she hisses in my ear as we hurriedly rush across the empty car park. We stop when we’re a distance away, leaning against a chainmail fence to catch our breath.

“Next time I say I want to go looking for a dangerous man I’ve never met, hit me,” I say, and we both laugh.

“Sunshine?” I spin around, and on the other side of the fence is Blade. “What the fuck are you doing here?”

“I was . . . erm . . . we came . . . why are you here?” I ask, completely thrown by seeing him.

“I’m watching someone. Your turn.”

Chapter Fourteen

BLADE

“I’m just saying she looks surprised to see us, like she’s been caught out doing something she shouldn’t be. It’s a little suspicious,” says Lake sceptically. “What if she’s here to see