Page 10 of Cash’s Trouble

“Wade took statements from Doran and the other man. They’re claiming Cash attacked them without cause outside the bank, forced Lilly-Rose onto his motorcycle and brought her to the compound against her will.”

“That’s bullshit,” I say.

“It’s not surprising,” Kane says. “A badge tells the story first. People listen.”

Dad continues. “Corbin’s presenting Lilly as frightened and manipulated. He’s telling the department I’m the compromised one because I haven’t ordered an immediate recovery, and the outside investigator says he’s preparing an affidavit for a warrant.”

Cash’s hand settles at my waist. “Let him come.” I can see the anger bubbling beneath his calm.

“We’re not firing on honest deputies carrying paper because Corbin lied to them,” Kane says. “We need to prove Wade Corbin is a dirty cop before he gets to use the law in his favor.”

I understand the trap. Corbin is turning the rescue into the crime, Cash into the kidnapper and anything I say into proof of coercion.

The badge meant to protect me is becoming the weapon.

CHAPTER 4

CASH

The phone on the church table goes silent, but the sheriff’s warning stays in the room. Wade Corbin is building a warrant from two sworn lies. If a judge signs it, deputies can come through our gates believing they’re recovering an abducted woman and arresting the biker who took her. The story works because Ransom has spent thirty years believing the worst of Kingdom Come, usually with good reason. Corbin knows it, because he was part of it.

Kane looks around the table. “We don’t fire on deputies carrying paper, and we don’t hand Lilly-Rose to a department Corbin controls.”

Judge sits beside him, expression hard. “Then we find something that kills his story before he gets here.”

“Mick Doran knows who gave the order,” I say. “He also knows what Corbin promised him for taking her.”

Tank unfolds himself from the wall. “I’ll ride with you.” He already knows how this is going down.

Kane nods once. “Bring back what matters and, for fuck’s sake, leave Doran breathing.”

Lilly-Rose stands near the end of the table. I try not to think about having her naked beneath me a few hours ago. Her gaze drops to my mouth as if she’s having the same problem, then returns to Kane.

“What happens to me if the warrant comes before you find proof?”

“You stay here,” Kane says. “A warrant gets them through the gate. It doesn’t let Corbin rewrite what you say.”

She looks at me. “And if he arrests Cash?”

“He’ll have to get close enough to try.”

The answer makes Kane’s eyes narrow, but Lilly-Rose understands it. I walk her into the common room while Tank gets the bikes ready. She catches my wrist before I reach the door.

“Don’t do something stupid because of me.”

“I don’t do stupid.”

“You are riding into town to threaten a man who tried to kidnap me.”

“I’m going to ask him questions, that’s all.”

Her gaze moves over my cut, the gun at my waist and the brothers gathering near the garage. “Your questions look armed.”

“They usually get answered that way.”

I touch the side of her neck, just below the mark my mouth left there. Her hair covers most of it, but I know exactly where it is. “Stay inside the gates.”

“That sounded like an order.”