Page 67 of The Trust We Broke
I look up the hill. “Feels like the coward’s way.”
“Brother, you already went away for a decent sentence. You ever get arrested again, they’ll throw the fucking book at you. And trust me, me and Wraith talked about this as soon as you became president. Club mandate is to keep you out of trouble.”
“Jesus. That feels even worse.”
Atom shrugs as he rides. “We had the same plan for Butcher. It’s just passed over to me, Jackal and Shade, now that Wraith is VP. So, move your fucking ass.”
19
LUCY
“Over there,” Catfish says, pointing in the direction of a second sprawling home on the Addams estate. It’s a beauty, but the garden around it is in need of some love and attention.
I navigate the driveway up to it. “For some reason, I’d forgotten just how big Atom’s family land is.”
“Yeah. Can’t imagine what it must feel like to be tied to such a legacy, though.”
“Hmm. Know what you mean.” It’s why I’m a lawyer. It’s only in the last few years I’ve carved a path in the legal system I feel proud of.
Catfish pulls down the passenger-side visor and checks the cut and bruise on the side of his head. “You really think I can get some cash for this?”
I glance over. “Stop poking it with dirty fingers. It’s going to get infected.”
He drops his hand and closes the visor. “I want every penny, Lucy.”
“I’ll help you get it. You can be my first client. No win, no fee.” The words slip out without me really thinking them through. But somehow, they settle me.
Catfish turns to me. “You’re staying. For Prez?”
I blow out a breath. “How about you let me get comfortable with simply saying, ‘I’m staying’ first?”
“Whatever you say.”
When I park up outside, Catfish is quick to exit the vehicle. “Thanks for the advice, and getting me out so quick, Lucy. And I’m serious about suing the fuck out of them if you think we can.”
“You weren’t named on the warrant, they broke into your room, they executed an illegal search of your person without probable cause. Then, they hurt you getting you into a vehicle.”
“Greer can take a look. Don’t think it needs stitches.”
I smile at that. “Persuade her that you do need stitches. Stitches make injuries seem more credible.”
Catfish grins, and I can see why he got his name. He explained it to me while we were waiting for his interview. How some lady had been scammed by a person using his image when he was a prospect. He’s damn handsome. But more the pretty kind than the rough and gruff man I love…loved. “Why, Counselor. Are you telling me to make my injuries appear worse?”
I shake my head. “No. I’m giving you advice on how to make sure no judge can minimize what happened to you.”
“That feels like semantics,” he says, tapping the roof of the truck. “But for what it’s worth, a lawyer like you could be a good addition to the club.”
He closes the door, just as Grudge walks out. I don’t hear what the two men say to each other, but Grudge playfully taps the side of Catfish’s face, and then, gestures into the house.
Grudge watches Catfish disappear, then steps up to the truck window, and I wind it down. “Everything go okay?” he asks.
“Yeah. He’s good. Probably has a case against them for the injury he received. Told him I’d help, if he needed.”
Grudge smiles softly. “Thanks, Bug.”
“You’re welcome.”
Silence settles between us. There are so many words, that unleashing them would cause a flood. Worse, a tsunami we can’t recover from.
