Page 9 of Big Red

Fuckin’ coward.

“Watch your fuckin’ mouth! This is bullshit, Langley, and you know it!” Viper hisses.

“Actually, it’s not. She assaulted an officer tonight, and that particular officer is my brother.”

“That piece of garbage was an officer? He was beat?—”

“Not another word, Cara!” Paul shouts as he storms out of the clubhouse. “Our lawyer will be meeting you down at the station.”

Vincent smiles wide at Paul, not the least bit intimidated. “Well, seeing as it’s a Friday night and courthouses don’t open back up till Monday, I’m afraid there isn’t much I can do. She’ll have to spend the weekend in jail at the very least.”

Vincent tells the officer to take Cara in. As they load Cara in the backseat, Viper mounts his bike. Before he can start up the bike, his phone rings.

“What?” he barks into the phone.

He listens for a few moments before saying, “Are you sure?” After a few seconds, he ends the call.

“Who was that, Prez?” Blade asks.

“Michael. Sara sent over surveillance footage from the parking lot, proving Cara’s innocence. It was self-defense. Michael said he can have her out by morning, but he doesn’t want any of us going down to the station. He’s afraid our tempers will take over and make things worse.”

“Well, can you blame him?” Paul asks with a raised brow.

“She’s my ol’ lady.”

“She’s also in their custody. While you’re making threats, she’s alone with men who hold power over her.” Paul walks away, leaving Viper in a panic.

“Fuck,” he growls.

Thor and Ghost approach the group. “We’re going down to the station and sit all night. I know there’s not much we can do, but we can at least give some updates and possibly talk to the chief. Why the hell wouldn’t he give us a heads up about this?” Thor asks.

“Because for the first time ever, the old bastard decided to take a vacation,” Viper grunts.

Curses go around the group. Now we know why Vincent made his move. The chief protects us, and he knows it. He just doesn’t have any proof.

“I don’t care what Michael says. I’m going down to the station. I won't leave until Cara is out of there.” Viper starts his bike. Thor and Ghost race over to their bikes and follow him out the gate.

I make my way inside the clubhouse to find Cindy and Colt.

I find them in the common room with Sara and Crystal trying to console them. As soon as their eyes land on me, they run to me. I bend down to catch them. Standing up, I hold both of them to me.

“Crystal, can you tell Levi to bring my truck home?”

She nods while wiping her own tears. I know this is hard on her, watching her daughter being arrested. I walk home with my kids still in my arms. Their whimpers die down the closer we get to the house.

By the time I’m walking through the door, they’re out like a light. I don’t know if it’s the exhaustion of the day or if they’ve cried themselves to sleep. I don’t bother putting them in their beds. I take them to my room instead.

After the emotional roller coaster they’ve been through today, I know they need me to be close. Hearing the agony in their voices while watching Cara be arrested nearly killed me.

Sighing, I get into bed to get a few hours of sleep before all hell breaks loose. I know Viper. He isn’t about to let this go. And he shouldn’t. Vincent took it too far coming for his ol’ lady.

I just have a feeling this war isn’t going to be an easy one.

Chapter Four

BIG RED

I’m awake before the kids. I lie there, staring at them. I know the second their eyes pop open, they’re going to bombard me with questions.

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