Neon steps up to my side. “It does… aaannnddd it doesn’t.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
“It means in any other normal circumstance that would say a lot, your defense and testimony would hold up. But, I’m sure the Baron will work the system, so you don’t get a say in any of this. Hell, he will probably have your name redacted in every part of the deposition stating legalities and safety reasons from the rest of us low-life thugs.”
She scoffs. “You saying I won’t have my day in court? This whole thing is about me!”
“Cherry, this whole thing is about Zero playing the Baron for a fool. It’s got nothing to do with you. If it did, you’d have been carted away with those cops for putting a bullet between Chuck’s eyes. You killed the Baron’s son, Cherry, in front of him, and he hasn’t come after you. If the heat didn’t pick you up at the same time as Zero, they’re not gonna. No, this is all to get back at Zero for playing the Baron like a fiddle.”
“Zero told me if you get on the Baron’s bad side, there’s no way to win.”
Cracking my neck to the side, I exhale. She’s right. I don’t know many, if any, who have come away the victor with the Baron.
I need to play this one smart.
Usually, I take all my leads from Zero.
But now, everyone will be looking to me.
Time to stand on my own two feet.
I need to push my demons back and step up, be a man, not a beast.
“Zero may have gotten on his bad side, but we can manipulate the system just as well as he can. The Baron believes he holds all the power in Houston. Well, I have news for him because Defiance has connections, too.”
Neon steps to my side. “They’re taking Zero in for booking. I’m assuming they’ll process him for an arraignment.”
“Right, we need to find an attorney. A fucking good one. Real fast.”
Neon swipes the screen of his device. “On it.”
Cherry’s eyes convey how fucking wrecked I feel. “He’s able to protect himself in there, right?”
I reach out, placing my hand on her shoulder. “I just had this chat with Prinie. Wherever they send him, I’m gonna make sure there’s someone on the inside who has his back. We know people from all walks of life all over Houston. No matter where they send him, we’re bound to have a support system in place for him quickly. But you know, he’s a six-foot-two, hulk of a man, covered in tattoos. Not many assholes are gonna wanna come near him. He has a name here in Houston. He’ll be respected, Cherry. Don’t you worry about that.”
“Should we go to the police station to support him?”
I scoff out a laugh. “Me and the boys should. You, however, definitely should not. Zero wouldn’t want you anywhere near this—”
“I can handle—”
“Sure, you can. But if the Baron is there, and he sees you, it’ll give him leverage against the rest of us. If Zero was holding you at the club, then the club shows up with you, we could all end up being busted. Then you could end up being subpoenaed for questioning with God knows who and God knows where. No, you need to stay as far away from this as possible, Rayne. Tell me you understand.”
Tears well in her eyes. “I do… I just want him to know I’m here for him. That I’m not going anywhere.”
Reaching out, I squeeze her shoulder. “I’ll tell him. I promise. But he knows!”
“Wraith…”
“Yeah?”
“You get that sonofabitch. Then you do whatever you have to, to bring that asshole down.”
If I could, I would smile. I just don’t have it in me. “The Baron will get what’s coming to him, Cherry. Don’t you worry. I gotta get my head down… figure all this shit out.”
“Then go. Do whatever you need to help Zero, Wraith. You guys might be at odds with each other right now, but there’s no one he’d trust more than you to be by his side for this… you and Neon.”
That’s the truth of it.
Zero’s go-to’s are, and have always been, the tech nerd and me.
I don’t have a problem with Neon, I’ve just never had much to do with him. Maybe for the sake of our mutual brother, we need to team up and work together on this one.
“Cherry, while the guys and I are dealing with this, I’m going to leave you in charge of running day- to-day shit around here. You need help, talk to Nessie. You need an ear, talk to Ruby. You need a gun, talk to Luc. The prospect needs something to do, so putting him on your protective detail seems like the right call for now. You’re a part of this club, a very important part… the First Lady. You need to step up and take charge while Zero’s away.”
A fire lights in her eyes. All the misery and terror from moments before vanishes as she stands taller. I’ve switched her from mourning her loss to the queen bee she’s meant to be. “Okay, I can do this.”
“That’s the spirit. Make sure you keep an eye on Prinie for me, will you? Her PTSD is triggering. Having Zero dragged off has hit her hard.”
“Okay, yeah, I will go check on her. I’ll take care of the clubhouse, Wraith. You make sure you get everything in line for Zero. Promise me?”
“Done! I’m gonna find a way out of this.” Somehow.
We both turn, walking in opposite directions, the weight of this is like a
