“Wasn’t trying to be.” He was already backing away, movements slow and visible. Never give the guards a reason. “Win her case, Ryker. Then come back and tell me all about it. I’ll be here.”
Always here. That was the unspoken truth hanging between us.
“Knox—”
But he was already walking away, navigating the tables like a shark through a reef. The other inmates gave him space out of respect or fear. Probably both.
I sat there for another minute, watching him disappear through the security door. The toddler had fallen asleep in his mother’s arms. At table three, an older woman held her son’s hand through tears.
Knox had been in here for years. Years of becoming someone harder, sharper, more dangerous. But underneath all that prison armor, he was still the guy who’d draw frogs. Still the guy who’d sacrifice his freedom for a woman he’d never met, just because she was Blake’s sister.
Just because it was the right thing to do.
I thought about Faith. The way she’d looked at me last night.“I wouldn’t have killed him. Not on purpose.”The drunken honesty that had felt more real than any testimony.
I had a thirty-minute drive to Faith’s. Thirty minutes to figure out how to apologize for the way I’d reacted when she’d finally trusted me with the truth. Thirty minutes to find the words that would convince her I was still on her side.
Because Judge Kearns wanted to bury Faith Morrison.
And he was about to learn what happens when you come for someone the Sinners and Saints call family.
31
RYKER
SINNERS AND SAINTS GROUP CHAT
Jace: Just got off the phone with Knox. Some judge is threatening to bury him if you don’t drop Faith’s case?
Blake: What the FUCK?! Seriously?
Axel: Give me a name. I’m free Tuesday through Thursday. Possibly Friday if I move some things around.
Me: Let’s not put felony conspiracy in writing.
Axel: Too late. I already started a PowerPoint presentation, titled Definitely Not Crime.
Jace: That’s a yes then. Whatever you need, we’re in.
Axel: We find this judge. We make him understand that threatening one of us is a PHENOMENALLY bad idea. Right up there with pineapple on pizza.
Blake: Your priorities are fascinating.
Me: Keep this from Faith. She’s got enough to deal with. If she finds out, she’ll try to fall on the sword and tank her own defense.
Blake: We’ll handle it. She doesn’t need to know.
Axel: Can’t have another one of us behind bars anyway. Knox already claimed that territory. We need diversity in our criminal portfolio.
Blake: Jesus Christ, Axel.
Axel: What? I’m being STRATEGIC.
Jace: Focus. What’s the play here, Ryker?
Me: Working on it. But Faith’s already pissed at me, so that’s not helping.
Blake: Why is she pissed at you?
