I raise a brow. “Wouldn’t you? We aren’t necessarily on the best of terms. And for the most part you don’t particularly like the club. What is holding you back from turning my ass in?”
The match Snake holds meets its end as it burns the tip of his finger. Feeling no pain he strikes another match and directs the flame at Crow. “I second that question.”
“Nora,” he says her name and I straighten up in my seat, fists forming on top of the table.
It hasn’t slipped my attention how he looks at her. The only time the man has shown true emotion is when he’s around her. He’s soft, affectionate. Completely unlike the man he is to everyone else.
My eyes narrow at him as they harden. “Nora,” I repeat through clenched teeth.
He appears the least bit intimidated nor afraid. The truth is I can’t strike fear into a man who has seen the horrors of combat.
“Are you going to provide context?” Either way I’m going to fucking ruin his face.
Now it’s Crow who leans back in his chair as cool as a fucking cucumber. He leaves his hand on the table and raps his knuckle against it without time or rhythm. “If I was a different man I would enjoy the misery I’m making you suffer, but you suffer enough, Oak. Even I recognize that. And I would never use Nora in that way.”
My finger twitches against my thigh. All within thirty seconds he’s not only confirmed his feelings for Nora, but he’s also letting me know that between us he’s the better man.
It’s like rubbing salt into a gaping wound.
“So, you have feelings for my little sister.” My voice is as sharp as a blade.
“I’m not even going to tell you what I feel when I haven’t even told her.” He sits back up straight, cocking his head from side to side. “But all I will say is I will always have her best interests at heart. And I wouldn’t do a god damn thing to hurt her.”
In my eyes no man is good enough for my sister, not even this righteous fucker who is sitting across from Snake and me.
“You’re going to stay the fuck away from her. Do you understand me? If I ever find out that you’ve even touched her you’re dead,” I threaten him in a voice that’s unnervingly cool and calm.
He regards me unaffectedly. “With all due respect Oak, you can fuck off.”
Snake whistles lowly. “Wrong words, Crow.”
“Nora wouldn’t want your ass rotting in jail and quite frankly neither do I.” Crow opens the ominous Manila folder and spreads out its contents.
Before me I see multiple pictures. All with what can be damning evidence if used against me.
One of me with a hood over my head and my knuckles busted, hands stained crimson. Another photo of me tailing Stud after his MC had posted his bail. And finally photos of what witnesses have said. Many claiming that I was a man on the path of vengeance and wouldn’t be satisfied until Stud was dead.
And if any of this evidence has been seen by those two fucking agents then I’m fucked.
“This is enough evidence to charge you but not enough to keep you.” He pushes the photos in front of me but I don’t need a closer look. “They’re going to question you, Oak. I want you to be prepared for what they are going to throw at you.”
Fucking great.
I wipe an exasperated hand down my face before scratching my jaw. “This is all the evidence they have?” Crow nods and I hear Snake curse under his breath.
“What they really need is a confession. And I don’t know what state of mind you’re in but I’m here to tell you as a request from Nora not to fucking talk.”
“Why wouldn’t Nora tell me that herself?”
Crow looks at me as if I’m the dumbest creature on the planet. It’s not a look I appreciate and if he doesn’t change it Imight just for him. “Because she knows you better than anyone, and she also knows that the guilt you’re suffering will be your downfall.”
I stay silent because I hate the fact that he’s fucking right. And I hate the fact of my sister not coming to me and discussing this but she went to Crow instead.
“Nora doesn’t have to worry,” I assure him, although he doesn’t look quite convinced.
“I sure hope not. Even on the most traumatic night of her life she was thinking about you, Oak.”
The tendons in my neck strain as my eyes harden. Through tight lips I ask him, “What the fuck do you know about that night, Crow?”
