Page 103 of Cannon
“I need something more important than money right now,” I said, cutting him off. “I’ve been framed. I’m locked up on some bullshit domestic violence charge.”
There was a pause on the other end. “You serious?”
“Dead serious. My crazy-ass sister is saying I beat her. Got a corrupt cop helping her sell the story.”
“Man, you and I are cut from the same damn cloth,” Riot laughed. “Always in some shit. Listen, don’t even worry about it. I’m sending my lawyer—Maurice Daniels. Best defense attorney in the city. He’ll be there within the hour.”
“You serious?” I asked, genuinely surprised by how quickly he was coming through.
“Dead serious. What, you thought I was gonna leave my brother hanging?” There was something different in his voice now, less hostile than before. “Maurice has gotten me out of way worse than this. Trust me.”
“Thank you.”
“You lowkey saved my life with that Smoke shit. That nigga wasn’t even on my radar and could’ve caught me and Creed slippin’. I got you just sit tight.”
I hung up the phone, relief washing over me like a cold shower on a hot day. The guard looked at me with bored eyes as he escorted me back to the holding cell, but I barely noticed him. My mind was racing with what just happened. My half-brother…the same man who’d thrown hands with me a few weeks ago was sending his high-powered attorney to get me out.
The cell door clanged shut behind me. I sat on the metal bench, leaning my head back against the concrete wall and closing my eyes. For the first time since they slapped those cuffs on me.
I felt something shift inside me. For the past five years, I’d been completely on my own. Even after getting out, I’d kept people at arm’s length, convinced that depending on anyone was a one-way ticket to disappointment. But I was starting to learn that I had allies in the unlikeliest of places. I thought it would be Reese, but I was wrong and as soon as I was out, I was gonna deal with that bitch.
Chapter 39
Cannon
I flexed my wrists, the ghost of handcuffs still burning against my skin even though they’d been off for hours. Freedom tasted different this time than when I’d walked out of prison. This time it wasn’t as sweet, more like something bitter I needed to wash out of my mouth. The black SUV’s tinted windows kept the morning sun from hitting my eyes directly as we pulled away from the courthouse, but I could still feel the heat of it on my face.
“You good?” Creed asked from beside me, his eyes scanning my face like he was reading a book written in a language only he understood.
“How the fuck did you pull this off so fast?” I asked instead of answering. The leather seat beneath me felt soft and luxurious after that concrete bench I’d been sitting on all night. “Bail hearing wasn’t even scheduled until this afternoon.”
Maurice Richmond, the lawyer sitting behind us, explained, “Mr. King has friends in high places, Mr. Price. The right call to the right judge can expedite matters considerably.”
“Domestic situations are easy to beat,” Creed added, “If it were murder it would’ve taken us a bit longer. But Reese is an interesting character.”
I turned to him, eyebrow raised. “You already digging into Reese?”
“Started the minute Riot called me,” he replied without looking up. “She has a gambling problem. She has a lot of debt. A quarter of a million dollars. But her husband just died and she’ll be receiving a huge insurance payout.”
My jaw clenched at the thought of how she manipulated me into killing Gage so that she could get that money. I wanted her to pay for all of this shit. How could she play me like this? Get me arrested. I would’ve done anything for her. She was my family.
“The prosecution doesn’t have much of a case,” Maurice chimed in, straightening the cuff of his tailored suit. “I’ve already spoken with the DA’s office. We’ll grease a few palms and the charges will likely be dropped altogether within a week.”
I nodded, relief washing through me even as rage continued to simmer beneath the surface. Reese had tried to put me back in a cage. After everything we’d been through together, after I’d killed for her, she’d tried to lock me away because I wouldn’t give her what she wanted.
In my mind, I could see her face, twisted with that sick obsession she called love. I could picture my hands around her throat, squeezing until that light of madness in her eyes went dark forever. One problem solved permanently. No more manipulations, no more lies, no more?—
“Don’t even think about it,” Creed said sharply, cutting through my thoughts like he’d heard every word in my head. “I know that look, and whatever you’re planning, it stops right now.”
I turned to him slowly. “What look?”
“The one that says you’re figuring out how to get away with murder,” he replied, his voice dropping lower so the driver couldn’t hear. “Listen to me carefully, Cannon. You touch hernow, with these charges hanging over your head, and you’re done. No lawyer, not even one as good as Maurice, can save you.”
“I wasn’t thinking anything,” I lied, my jaw clenching.
“Bullshit. Your face gives you away. Same way Riot’s does when he’s plotting something.” Creed’s eyes locked with mine, no room for argument. “We’ll handle this the smart way. My team is already digging deeper into her background, her finances, her connections. We’ll find out exactly what she’s up to and neutralize her legally.”
“And if that doesn’t work?” I challenged.
