Page 102 of When He Defends
Emerson nodded. She advanced toward Gray.
“How did they have an army?” Hannah asked.
Gray looked back at her.
“The chef. The cop. What army did they possibly have?”
Gray smiled at her. “You ever hear of the Night Strikers Motorcycle Club?”
Hannah’s eyes widened. “Wh-what do they have to do with anything?”
“Oh, you’ll be finding out, and it will not be pretty.”
Cassius “Cass”Striker glared through the one-way glass. Hannah McIntyre rose to her feet. She stumbled a bit, thanks to the ankle shackles, and the FBI agent with her, Malik Jones, put a steadying hand on her shoulder.
The door to the observation room opened, but Cass didn’t take his gaze off his prey. Footsteps entered the room. The heavy tread of Gray’s steps. The tap-tap-tap of Emerson’s heels.
The door closed softly behind them.
Hannah had tears on her cheeks.
“I’m pretty sure that I told you I would handle Anzo’s killer.” Cass’s hands fisted at his sides.
“Pretty sure I told you that I wasn’t just going to stand there and let you kill someone,” Gray retorted.
Cass finally turned his head away from the glass. He glared at Gray. “You got to shoot her accomplice in the chest.”
“He was going after Emerson at the time. Not like I wouldeverlet anyone hurt her.”
Cass’s gaze shifted to Emerson. “Why the hell did you save him? Heard you fucking had his veins in your fingers or some shit like that in order to stop the blood flow.”
“That’s notexactlywhat I did.”
His eyes narrowed.
“But I saved him, yes.” A nod from Emerson. “Justin McClintock is the reason we now know so much about themurders. He’s cooperating fully, and hewillbe spending the rest of his life in a cell.”
He’d wanted the bastard in the ground. Cass advanced on Emerson.
Surprise, surprise, Gray stepped into his path. “What the hell else did you expect her to do? Emerson isn’t a killer.”
Cass’s hands moved fast. A blur as he signed,I am. You are.Signing was almost second nature to him, especially when he was with Gray. Sign language had come in damn handy as a way for him and Gray to communicate when they didn’t want the people around them—often enemies—to know what the hell they were saying.
“Sheisn’t.” There were dark shadows under Gray’s eyes. His cousin’s skin was a bit paler than normal, and Cass thought about the story he’d gotten…how Gray had beentrampledbeneath horses. His cousin could have died on the case. A case that Cass had insisted Gray take.
Then what would I have done?Because he had the MC. Yes. But Gray…
Gray was more like a brother than a cousin. After Cass’s mother had died, Gray had been the person there for him. Always, Gray was there. Whenever he needed anything. No matter the risk.
“Hannah and Justin will both go to jail for a very long time.” Emerson edged closer.Tap, tap, tap.“With Justin’s cooperation, we will be able to determine if there were any other victims. We will give all of the families the justice that they need.”
“Justice. Right.” He nodded. “That’s what you’re after.” He slanted her a glance. “Meanwhile, I personally just like some good, old-fashioned revenge. You know, the eye-for-an-eye type of vengeance. You fuck with me, and I fucking put you in the ground. That type.”
Gray shifted slightly, putting himself in a position where he shielded Emerson. As if Cass would ever hurt her. He knew how Gray felt about the woman.He was willing to give up his life for her.
“You wanted to know who killed Anzo and Kim. I got confessions for you. You know now.” Gray nodded. “The rest…I can’t control the rest.”
No, you can’t. I can. If they get locked away, I have reach behind bars. I know how to make problems vanish.So he really should just calm the hell down. This was a win. Except… “I’m pissed that you were hurt.” That hadn’t been the plan. “Thought you were always prepared for dangerous situations. You slipping?” Maybe Gray was slipping because he was too tied up in his partner.
