Page 62 of Red Queen (Red Thorns Crew 3)

“You looked in a mirror lately? You should be more worried about yourself.”

I grinned. “That bad, huh?”

“You’re gonna need two cups of coffee to wake up, let’s just say that.”

I stifled my chuckle as I walked into the kitchen. Standing there, in every corner and along every wall, were my men. Tall and short. Broad and lean. Their hands were on their weapons, waiting. Protecting us even in the dead of night.

I owe them my life.

We all got coffee while John whipped up some toast and eggs. Then we gathered around the kitchen table. John and I sat with a few guys in front of us, the rest standing around the table as if they were looming over us. I groaned over John’s coffee. I hadn’t had a decent cup of caffeine in fucking days. It felt so great that I refused to communicate until I had gotten through two mugs.

After pouring my third one, John finally spoke.

“We’ve got some bad news.”

I clicked my tongue. “I’m well aware of the fact that Dad’s still alive.”

John blinked. “Wait, what?”

My eyes peered over at him. “What?”

“Dad’s still alive?”

I furrowed my brow. “That’s not what you were about to say?”

John turned fully toward me. “Are you fucking telling me our father survived?”

“What the hell were you about to tell me?”

My brother sighed heavily. “Rupert’s been charged with attempted murder.”

I felt my anger boiling over. “Shit.”

How the fuck were we going to reverse something like that? Especially when it was fucking true. I didn’t know how we were going to dig him out of this mess. I mean, shy of my father admitting what really went down at the estate, I didn't know what the fuck to do. The only way out of this I saw for my best friend was to convince a jury that, had he not taken that shot, my father would’ve killed me, Dani, and him. Just to get what he wanted.

But a jury would never know that if my father kept quiet what happened that night.

“You know he’s not the sort of man to bend over and accept defeat,” John said. “But it’s not going to be easy, either.”

I leaned back. “The only shot we’ve got is getting Ashton to give up the truth.”

Even the guys chuckled at that statement as John quirked an eyebrow.

“Okay, I’ll bite. How do you figure we pull that off?”

I rubbed my stubbled jaw. “We’ll have to trick him.”

Now the guys were holding back snickers that should’ve gone along with bigger guffaws. I mean, even John rolled his lips over his teeth.

“Trick him? Really, Max?”

I nodded. “Yes. Trick him. Convince him we have something he wants.”

“Something he wants. Like…?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s just a beginning idea. But if we can convince Dad that sending Rupert to jail isn’t going to be good enough, we might catch him in another act.”

John paused. “You want to convince Dad he has to kill you? Are you crazy?”

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