He raised a brow. “I’m listening.”
“What if I told you I could get your son released from prison?”
He leaned forward, his interest piqued.
I knew that would get his attention.
His son, Oakley, was a computer genius. Had an IQ that rivaled Bill Gates and he was Rowdy’s VP. A few years back, he’d somehow managed to hack into some classified government files. He would have gotten away with it too if it hadn’t been for one of their own who turned coat on Oakley and the club. He was now serving a twenty-five year sentence up in San Quentin with no possibility of parole.
“What the hell makes you think Del Marco will agree to that? If the man wants someone dead, I won’t be able to stop him.”
“Jameson says if Del Marco thinks she’s under your protection, he won’t touch her.”
Anger and frustration nipped at my gut. I hated that I had to rely on this man to help me keep Cassidy alive. I could protect her but keeping her safe would be tough if someone like Del Marco wanted her dead.
Rowdy nodded with understanding. “I see. And what happens to my boy once he’s released?”
“The condition of his release is contingent upon his cooperation with future cases.”
“Speak English, boy.”
“He’ll be working for the FBI.”
His face hardened with indifference, and for a moment I wondered if he would take the deal, but then a flash of acceptance washed over his face and he grinned. “Once Oak is released, I’ll make the call to Del Marco.”
“You got it. Special Agent Jameson or I will give you a call when everything is finalized.”
As we left the compound, I felt like I’d made a deal with the devil. But it had been a necessary evil. A deal I hoped would buy me some time to figure out what the hell I was going to do next.
That was the million-dollar question.
“What next?” Cassidy asked as we pulled out onto the highway.
“We check into the nearest hotel. I have to make some calls, and I need to book us a flight back to LA.”
“Then what?”
“Then we sleep.”
Fuckwas what I really wanted to do. I was so wound up. I needed to let go of some of this frustration before I could actually think clearly.
No, this will all be over soon and she’s going back to Florida. Stop making shit harder.
“Do you think he’s telling the truth? Can we trust him?”
“If Ryder says he can help us then I have to believe he will. There’s motive in this for them, too. He wants his son out of prison and he knows that’s the only way it will ever happen.”
“I feel like I’m trapped in a dream. Like none of this is real.”
“It’s real, baby.”
She reached for my hand.
Without hesitation.
Without permission.
I fucking loved it.
