White Heat (Lost Kings MC #5) (31 page)

“I guess.” It’s then that I notice, both pups curled up on a pile of blankets in the corner, next to Z’s desk. “They look cozy.”

His mouth turns up in the impish grin I’m used to seeing Z wear and glances over his shoulder. “Yeah, they wore each other out this morning. Gotta find a vet to take them to. Wanted to make sure they weren’t microchipped first.”

“That makes sense.”

He turns back my way. “I don’t want to upset you, but when we found her, it was a bad scene. She wasn’t there willingly. And I doubt she had a choice in telling those lies. So no matter what, it wasn’t for nothing.”

I swallow hard imagining what things were like for Mariella before coming here. “I know.”

He leans back and sighs. “You gonna give Glassman a heads-up?”

“I don’t think it’s a good idea. The less he thinks I’m involved with her recanting, the better.”

When Z’s done giving me his pep talk, he walks me down to the dining room. Teller, Murphy, Heidi and Mariella are having an awkward lunch together. Heidi glances up and smiles in relief when she sees me. “Hi, Hope.”

“Hi, honey. What are you doing up here?”

“Murphy promised to give me driving lessons.”

Teller rolls his eyes. “I said I’d take you.”

“No way. You’re mean.” Heidi shakes her head vigorously to emphasize how mean her big brother is, which gets a laugh out of everyone.

“We’re ready whenever you are, Hope.” Teller says with a nod at Mariella.

I don’t want to get into the details of where we’re headed in front of Heidi. Glancing at my watch, I nod. “We should probably leave now.”

Mariella waits for Teller to get up.

Heidi watches the three of us, but doesn’t say anything. Murphy nudges her elbow. “Ready for your first lesson?” he asks, distracting her.

“Heck, yeah!” She throws her arms around Murphy’s neck and happy laughter spills out of her. “I’m getting really good at three-point turns, Hope.”

“Good. If you want to come downtown with me one of these days we can practice parallel parking.”

“Yes!” Her enthusiasm for what now seems like a mundane driving skill makes me chuckle. Even the simplest things seem to be more fun through Heidi’s eyes.

My heart races as we pull into the cramped parking lot behind Damon and Mara’s office. They share their modest legal practice with two other partners. Since Damon’s an Empire city court judge, he can’t take cases in Empire. Most of his work is in Slater County, or one of the surrounding counties. They haven’t gotten around to a receptionist yet, so no one meets us in the outer office. After a minute, Damon comes out and greets us. I introduce him to Teller and he motions for Mariella and me to follow him.

“Mara will be back in a few minutes. I’ll have her sit in, since you can’t do it, Hope.”

I open my mouth to protest, but he’s right. I don’t want to do anything that could jeopardize Rock’s release. Instead I turn to Mariella. “You’ll like Mara, she’s a sweetheart.”

When Mara arrives, she hugs me and sends me out to wait with Teller.

“Is she okay?”

“Yes. She’ll be fine with them.”

He’s jittery and can’t sit still. “Do you think we’ll get Rock out today?”

I snort. “Probably not. First, she has to recant. That’s why she needs an attorney, so they don’t try to prosecute her for falsifying information or something stupid. Damon’s in a better position to argue coercion than she is. Then Glassman has to be notified.”

“Should we let Rock know?”

The question kills me. Of course I want to tell Rock. “I don’t want to get his hopes up in case something goes wrong.”

Teller nods. “Probably better no one at the jail knows until they need to.”

Jeez, I hadn’t even considered
that
.

Shaking off my worry, I continue answering Teller’s original question. “Normally, if a victim recants, they might still continue the case because they can still prosecute using police reports, photographs and other evidence. In Rock’s case, they have no other compelling evidence. Crap, even her statement wasn’t compelling enough to—” I have to stop myself before I get worked up again. “Even after the charges are dropped, it will probably take twenty-four hours to process him out of jail. Glassman will need to request an emergency hearing if the DA
doesn’t
drop the charges when she changes her statement. There may have to be some formal hearing either way. I’m not sure. This whole thing is out of my realm of expertise.”

Even though I’d mostly been talking out of my ass, Teller seems satisfied with my explanation. He reaches over and takes my hand. “You’ve been so strong, Hope. You’re such a good ol’ lady. I’m glad Rock held out for the best.”

Teller’s not usually so expressive. I squeeze his hand back. “Thank you.”

By the time Damon, Mara and Mariella emerge, I’m ready to explode from the tension. Damon reads my expression clearly and reassures me. “I just got off the phone with the DA, he’s waiting for me to bring her in.”

Teller lifts his head. “This guy legit?”

Damon quirks an eyebrow.

“Are you sure he’s not on Viper payroll,” Teller clarifies.

Damon opens his mouth to answer, but Mariella cuts him off. “Not that I know of. They coached me on what to say for a couple days. They wouldn’t have bothered if—”

“Okay.” Teller agrees. He pulls out his phone and taps out a text. “I’m gonna have two of our guys meet you there and wait outside, just in case.”

Damon doesn’t seem to know what to do with that. I smile weakly at him. Behind him, Mara flashes me a bright smile. Somehow she always makes me feel a little better—even at my worst—and I’m grateful for it.

We make arrangements to meet them on their way back from Slater, so we can pick Mariella up and bring her back to the clubhouse. I’m so numb, too afraid something will go wrong to let myself get excited about Rock’s release.

“Z and Wrath are heading over there now to wait outside,” Teller says after we get in his car.

“You think it’s necessary?”

“Just in case. I didn’t like that he gave the DA a heads-up. Too easy for him to tip someone else off.”

I don’t know what to say. From the world Teller operates from, that makes complete sense. From Damon’s side, it would be rude to just spring this sort of thing on a colleague. I’m sort of torn between both worlds these days.

Sometimes I wonder which side I’ll end up on.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

According to Hope—who got her information from her judge friend—the recant went well. The DA supposedly started the process of getting the case dropped last night. We still haven’t heard anything about when Rock’s getting out though. Hope put in a call to Glassman and he assured her he’d keep his calendar clear. He also reminded her he’d run through our initial retainer and would need more money soon.

“Send me the bill,” Hope snaps before hanging up the phone. “Asshat,” she grumbles.

Z chuckles at her irritation. We’d been listening in on speakerphone to the conversation. “Don’t sweat it, Hope. We’ve got it covered.”

“I know. It ticks me off though. He knows you guys are good for it. Get my fiancé out and worry about your damn money later,” she fumes.

Spitfire.

I stand and motion for her to follow. “Let’s get you some breakfast. You’re cranky when you haven’t eaten.”

She scowls up at me. “I am not.”

Behind me, Z snickers. The pups stir, nudging and wrestling with each other. While Hope crouches down to play with them, a smile spreads over Z’s face and he shakes his head.

The three of us walk down to the dining room together while the pups zig and zag around us.

“They’re getting bigger,” Hope says. “Did you name them yet?”

Z points to the Rottweiler. “Ziggy.” He points at the one we determined was a Cane Corso. “Zipper.”

Hope laughs. “Appropriate.”

Murphy and Teller are at one table, bickering about something when we enter. The both glance up and smile at Hope. “Any news?” Murphy asks.

“Not yet,” she answers.

Teller jerks his thumb at the kitchen. “Trin’s in there with Mariella,” he says, nodding at me.

Trinity explained that Mariella’s eager to repay us for rescuing her. She’s grateful none of us expect sex from her in return for our shelter, so she’s more than happy to take over Trinity’s chores around the house.  But for fuck’s sake, Trinity’s been showing Mariella around her kitchen since she got here. I think the girl’s got it by now.

Hope seems to read my irritation and taps my arm. “I’ll get her.”

“Thank you.”

Breakfast is quiet once the girls join us. We’re all tense waiting to hear news about Rock’s release. Mariella declines to join us, even after Teller specifically asks her to.

Hope whips her phone out and starts tapping away when she’s finished eating.

“Something about the case, Hope?” Z lifts his chin at her and she blushes, but doesn’t tuck her phone away.

“No.”

“Well, you’re awfully intent on something. Spill.”

“It’s nothing.”

I don’t know what the fuck is wrong with Z, but he won’t leave it alone. “Come on. What’s got you glued to your phone?”

Hope finally snaps. “I was setting up an appointment for a bikini wax if you must know.” Everyone at the table—except Z—bursts out laughing. Poor Hope turns bright pink. Her gaze zeroes in on Trinity who’s still laughing. “They have
two
openings if you still want to join me.”

Trinity sputters and it’s probably awful of me, but I laugh so hard I can’t breathe.

“I don’t know how Rock puts up with you guys,” Hope grumbles.

Z still looks a little traumatized from all that information. Serves him right for being nosy.

Hope’s mouth curls into a smirk. “What’s wrong, Z? The girls down at CB must talk about their girly grooming habits all the time.”

“Yeah, but since I can’t enjoy the benefits, I’d rather pretend neither of you even have any of those parts.” He shakes his whole body, as if he thinks snapping his head from side to side will toss the mental image out of his head.

Hope rolls her eyes, but she’s laughing too. Still chuckling, she nods at Trinity. “Come on. I made an appointment at the dress shop too. You can help me pick out a strapless bra to take with me.”

All of us groan and she grins.

Trinity shakes her head as she stands. “You realize what they’re all picturing now, right Hope?”

No, she didn’t. She grumbles and storms off with Trinity laughing while she catches up to her.

As soon as they’re out of sight, I glance at Z. “Not it.”

“What? Oh, hell no.”

“What are you two talking about?” Murphy asks.

I tilt my head at Murphy and Teller. Z gets my meaning and smirks. “Someone’s gotta stick with the girls. I still don’t feel comfortable letting them run around by themselves.”

“No fucking way,” Murphy says.

“Maybe you can get your sack waxed while you’re there. I hear some chicks dig that.” Z’s laughing so hard he almost doesn’t get all the words out.

Teller shakes his head. “I gotta pick Heidi up and bring her to the dress shop, so I can’t do it.”

Murphy groans. “Fuck me. Are you fuckin’ serious?”

“I can’t do it. I’ve got stuff to take care of here.” I pin Murphy with a hard stare. “I
trust
you.”

He’s stopped most of his bitching by the time the girls return.

Hope claps her hands to get our attention. “Okay. Who’s taking us? We’ve got ten o’clock appointments,” she asks, glancing at each one of us.

Murphy slowly raises his hand as the rest of us snicker at him. “I hate you guys,” he mutters, which only makes us laugh harder.

“We need to be at the dress shop by two,” Hope says to Teller who nods.

“Got it.”

“Glassman has everyone’s numbers in case there’s news about Rock. I’ll keep my phone on, so if I get any information, I’ll let you know.”

“Sounds good.” I push my chair out so I can stand and signal Trinity over to me. She approaches with a sly smile and I tug her away from the table and my nosy-ass brothers. Remembering what a hard time she had at the doctor’s office, I have to ask. “You gonna be okay?”

“Yeah. I told her I wanted to do that…before…I’m not...now.” My face must betray some disappointment, because she reaches up on tiptoes, sliding her arms around my neck and pulling me down so she can whisper in my ear. “I’d rather maybe let
you
be in charge of that particular bit of grooming.”

Well now. That was the last thing I expected her to say or want. One corner of my mouth curls up. “I can get on board with that.”

She laughs and kisses my cheek. “I figured.”

As she starts to pull away, I grab her for a real kiss. My hand runs up her back, into her hair. Her lips part for my tongue to sweep inside. She tastes minty-sweet and for a few seconds I forget everything else around us.

Until the guys start whooping and making noises.

We break away, staring at each other. My knuckles skim over her cheek. “Love you, Trinity.”

Her eyelids drop and she tilts her head, rubbing her cheek against my hand. “Love you too.”