Page 66 of Walking Red Flag

The cupcake and beer I’d had prior to Shasha coming home was threatening an uprising.

“Shasha…”

“It wouldn’t have to be for long. And it wouldn’t have to be real, per se. It’d just have to look real on paper. I can have you married legally by a judge I have on my payroll. Paperwork will be filed. You just have to act like you’re happily married, that’s all,” he offered.

“First off, that’s not going to work because Cutter would have to agree,” I declared. “Not to mention, Cutter’s family and friends probably don’t have the same kind of mindset that our family does. This isn’t something that we can just do and people not know about it.”

“I’ll talk to Cutter,” Shasha said. “I’ll explain why I need him to do it.”

“This is a big ask,” I pointed out. “And you haven’t told me why I need to be married yet.”

“It’s not necessarily being married, exactly. It’s being married to him, exactly.”

“Why?” I narrowed my eyes.

“Because Cutter Clayborne is an interesting man.” He expounded, “One, he’s sergeant at arms for the Truth Tellers MC, which is one of the biggest motorcycle clubs in the nation. They have chapters all over the United States. Not to mention, they’re allied with the biggest motorcycle club in the United States, The Dixie Wardens MC.” He took the seat across from me. “Men like Pennington will think twice about messing with me if I’m connected with them. And I’ll need the coverage if I’m going to take that piece of shit out.”

My brows rose at that.

“And, I don’t know if he told you, but he’ll be particularly motivated to help because his own sister was assaulted like you were. By their own father,” he explained.

My stomach sank.

I mean, I’d assumed, of course. But to have it actually shared with me…

“Oh,” I replied softly.

“That’s why Copper is in prison. For killing their father when he caught him abusing his sister,” he said softly. “Keely, their sister, is pretty fucked up still. She tries to act like she’s not affected.” he leveled me with a look that clearly said that he thought I did the same. “But she’s spiraling.”

I imagined she was.

To have her own father…

No, I couldn’t think about it.

“Copper is set to get out of prison in a few years…” Shasha said. “But I know a few people that can get him out early if he’ll agree. If Cutter says yes, then they’ll enjoy their first family holiday together in almost two decades. I’ll guarantee it.”

I scrubbed at my face. “It’ll take away all of Cutter’s freedom.”

“There’ll be an expiration date,” Shasha said. “If you both want it.”

I couldn’t imagine him ever agreeing to this…but the fear that was taking root inside of my soul told me that I was going to agree.

I’d do anything to no longer feel the fear anymore.

It was suffocating me.

All this forehead and I still can’t remember anything.

—Cutter’s secret thoughts

CUTTER

I was putting the finishing touches on the front room’s row of shelves when I heard the door open behind me.

I glanced over my shoulder, fully expecting my wood delivery to be the one arriving, and came to a stop when it was one I wasn’t expecting.

Milena looked…terrified.

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