Page 41 of Red Queen (Red Thorns Crew 3)

I shook my head. “You mean to tell me--?”

Dani leaned in closer, whispering. “I think

some of these cops are on your father's payroll. You have to be careful. Do you understand?”

I jammed my tongue into my cheek. “Shit.”

As Dani scribbled it down for my lawyer, I raked my hands down my face. I mean, I should’ve seen this shit coming. He owned the rest of this town. Why the fuck wouldn’t he own the police department, too? My father had always operated without a fear of consequences from the law. Back when we all still worked together, my men and I always seemed to skirt them in the nick of time without anything coming down onto our shoulders in the process.

How the hell had I been so blind to that fact?

I’m screwed.

For all I knew, he’d simply bury me in the prison system to keep me here. For all he knew, he had his paid minions trolloping around using everything in their power to hold me here until they could find a way to kill me. I felt the ground undulating beneath my feet. For the first time in my life, I felt physically sick to my stomach. I drew in a deep breath, trying to put on a brave face. And as Dani handed everything back to my lawyer, I felt her hands on my forearms.

Slowly, and softly, massaging me back to reality.

“We’re going to get out of this, okay? You’re going to be just fine,” Dani said.

I wasn't sure I believed her, though.

If my father had free rein of Ann Arbor, everyone was screwed. This beautiful, thriving town would become nothing but a desolate wasteland being bled dry by my father. And if I wasn’t there to stop him, he’d hop from city to city, doing the same damn thing. My father was practically impenetrable. No one had ever been able to get anything he did to stick in court. He always weaseled his way out of situations like this one.

How the hell is that man still alive?

“Max?”

Dani’s voice pulled me back to reality once more and I put my hands on her shoulders.

“Dani, I need you to listen to me. This is important.”

She nodded. “I’m listening.”

“I know this looks hopeless, and I know you’re scared out of your mind. But my lawyer is capable. I have a very good feeling about her. And I trust her to bail me out of this.”

Miss Hall sighed. “Aww, thanks. You shouldn't have.”

Dani snickered. “No offense, but are you sure you want to put all of your eggs in that basket?”

Max quirked an eyebrow. “You sure that’s a smart thing to say in front of a lawyer?”

Miss Hall laughed. “What are you two talking about? Sorry, I was checking my phone.”

Dani grinned. “See?”

I shook my head. “Dani, you’re not going to like what I have to say--”

“I know I’m not. So I’m going to beat you to the punch. I’m not leaving your side.”

“You have to.”

“Well, I’m not.”

I gripped her shoulders tighter. “You are, and that’s an order.”

She scoffed. “You don’t order me around. That’s not how this works.”

“Fine, then I’ll break up with you.”

---