Page 62 of Fierce Monarch

“My father is finishing with paperwork and threats.” Lewis fidgeted with his sleeves. “Apparently, he’s going to prove that they planted the evidence and take their badges.”

“If anyone could, it would be him,” Grey agreed before turning to get his own Shara hug.

“What—”

“Not here.” Mari’s pointed glance at Lewis was obvious to everyone, and the man paled again. Good lord, he was not fit to be around us.

Mari seemed to agree as she nodded toward the car. “You can leave, Lewis. Tell your sister I look forward to meeting her.”

“I’m sure my father was joking, Ms. Marcosa.”

“I’m sure he wasn’t, but if he was, I’ll fix it. Have a nice night.”

Dismissed, Lewis shuffled away and out of sight.

“That boy is too fucking innocent for this life,” Shara said.

“That boy was supposed to get you out. Thank god his father is much better equipped to handle this.” Mari linked her arm with Shara’s and pulled her forward. “Come on, the boys are bodyguarding us.”

“You wouldn’t need a bodyguard if you would stop acting out,” Greyson murmured, though he glared right back when Mari turned furious eyes on him. “We’re right, and you know it.”

Her eyes narrowed. “We can talk about this later.”

Which meant we were right and she didn’t want to admit it.

Another beep came as we were almost at the car, and Mari frowned at her phone.

“According to Ronan, they dropped the charges. He’s positive he can expunge your record fully, though it was made clear they’re not going to stop poking into Marcosa business.”

Of course not. Cash had found a weak spot in our defenses, and he was using the pigs to dig at it. Pathetic.

“What does he suggest?”

When Mari didn’t answer, Shara snatched the phone out of her hand and laughed. “Stick to the straight and narrow for a while. Keep your nose clean. Does he know who he’s talking to?”

Shara didn’t seem to care one way or another, skipping ahead to slide into the car with a grin. “Can we stop for burgers? I’m starving.”

“We’ll order in,” Grey said firmly. Neither of us wanted to be out longer than necessary tonight. There was a reason Cash had targeted Shara, and it wasn’t just because the women were friends.

What better way to assassinate Mari then to get her out of her fortress?

Thankfully, the ladies seemed to realize the danger, and Mari quickly slid in, shutting the door behind her. Greyson sent a food order to a local Marcosa-owned-and-run place nearby for delivery as I climbed into the driver’s seat and sent a text to Moore.

Pickup needed, SPD.

Cop or car.

Car for now.

Got it, boss.

Mari’s patience lasted until we were locked in the car, doors barred from the rest of the world.

“Are you okay?” she asked Shara.

For her part, Shara seemed unfazed. “I’m alive.”

“That wasn’t what I asked.”

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