Jax (Titan #9)(6)

"You're not telling me anything I'm not aware of." Respectfully, she bit her lip instead of asking him to get to the part about why was he there. "But I don't know anything that might help you." Her skin went cold at the possibility of the visit. "I'm not going to go see my dad."

Her dad would tell her anything Hawke wanted to know. Cullen Blackburn couldn't say no to her, and he'd never had his mind away from the MC entirely, even behind bars.

"No. Not why I'm here."

Relief came quickly. Anything else would be a cakewalk. "Okay, then?"

Hawke paced at the bottom of her bed, and Seven ran her finger along the slim barbell piercing at the bottom of her eyebrow instead of jumping out of bed and folding the blankets over and over until he explained what the MC wanted from her. No need to tip her hand this conversation made her nervous.

He leaned back on her dresser. "Lots of talk how Suarez's folks are less than thrilled with the club vote."

That wasn't news. Mayhem's dissenting votes were pissed and wanted to know how the club would continue to line their fat pockets. Greedy jerks.

Maybe the Suarez cartel handled paying off the cops, ATF, and DEA agents that helped Mayhem with distribution, or… Maybe she should stop thinking about it. She'd made it twenty-four years of living the Mayhem life without knowing the who and how. If there was a guiding guardian angel who oversaw all cartel-related activities, Seven didn't want to know because she wanted to make it to her twenty-fifth birthday.

Hawke tilted his head. "Seven?"

"I don't know what you're getting at." She smoothed the edges of the sheets, pushing out and up, as his gaze bore down.

"We need another friend. Someone to force a conversation with leaders. Not foot soldiers."

Her fingers splayed on the bedspread. "I can't help you. I know a lot of people. Suarez cartel members? Friends? They're not in my contact list."

"Someone neutral."

"Unless you want Sidney, second-key at The Perky Cup, I'm still useless." Which she hated being. "I'm sorry."

"Victoria knows someone I need to know." The intense focus seemed as though he were trying to telepathically pass along his secret, silent plan.

"Oh." Seven reached for her cell phone. "You know she left for her honeymoon. Like, hours ago. But chances are, I know anyone she does." Swiping her screen open, she looked up. "Who am I looking for?"

"Her husband works for a private contracting firm. I believe they have the ability to step in and help negotiate."

"Titan Group?" Seven bit her lip, not wanting to speak out of turn.

Hawke took a step closer. "And judging from their wedding reception last night, you know a few of these guys too."

Her cheeks went hot as she remembered slapping Jax, in public, and storming off. "I have a couple contacts."

"Make a meeting. Feel out the situation."

If her eyes weren't attached to her skull, they might've popped out. "You want me to ask Titan to help you negotiate drug distribution? With a cartel?" Seven blinked, dumbfounded. "I don't know that that is what they do." She closed her hanging jaw. "I think they do legal work. Save people and stuff."

"Actually, I've asked around. I think they do work that needs being done. Simple."

Seven shook her head, not wanting Ryder and any of Titan to know Mayhem's dirty little secrets more than they did. She had spent time with several of the guys years ago and then became friends with a few of them off and on through Victoria and Ryder.

Though her biggest concern wasn't Ryder. It was Jax. The guy was a decent guy except when he was a first-rate prick. When that was the case, he was nothing but a cocky bastard with a bad attitude. All his charm had evaporated in a hot, arrogant Italian second.

Her teeth grated even as her pulse fluttered. The nerve of him, asking what else might be pierced.

Seven drew in a deep breath, hating the way heat crawled up her neck when she recalled how Jax took the tall, dark, and handsome cliché to another level by brooding like a military badass who needed a fucking hug. Someone needed to tell Jax to take his persona down a notch or two. "I'm not that friendly with Titan."

Hawke cast a doubtful glance. Another freaking witness, as Jared would have called it.

"I'd wait for Victoria. She'd be stoked to help."

"Don't wanna wait, Seven."

"If she green-lights this with her thumbs-up, the likelihood of their help will go through the roof."

"Do you really think I'd be up at the ass crack of dawn, coming into your house unannounced, if this wasn't time sensitive as shit?"

Well… "No."

"Get ahold of someone you trust at Titan. Set up a meeting. Make it happen." Hawke didn't wait for her to respond as he walked out but paused at the doorjamb. "If not for you, do it for those kids playing with your old man."

Seven held on to her eye roll with every ounce of respect she could muster. "I'm not his old lady."

Hawke shrugged. "Hard to let an institution die. Johnny might even have been a good pops if he could keep his nose out of the powder bag."

She toyed with her tongue stud. Johnny wasn't snorting coke anymore. She was almost positive. "Only if his old lady gave birth to chrome and leather."