Page 17 of Cash’s Trouble

CHAPTER 6

CASH

Red and blue light moves through the trees beyond the compound fence, growing brighter as three sheriff’s department vehicles turn onto the gravel road. Lilly-Rose stands beside me beneath the garage lights. One hand is hooked beneath the back of my cut, her fingers resting against my spine as though she means to make certain I don’t create the distance her father would prefer. I cover her other hand with mine and watch the vehicles stop outside our gates.

Gray waits beside the gate. Judge stands at Kane’s right shoulder with Tank and the other brothers spread behind them, cuts visible, weapons holstered and hands clear. Nobody has hidden what we are or made the compound look harmless. Kane’s only order was that Corbin gets no gunfight to justify the story he has already sold. The gates open on Kane’s signal. The first cruiser enters slowly, followed by the other two. Tires grind across wet gravel, engines die and six deputies climb out with the careful movements of men who have been told they’re walking into an armed outlaw compound to recover a kidnapped woman.

Wade Corbin gets out last. His uniform is pressed, his badge catches the light and the folded warrant in his hand gives him all the confidence of a man who has spent years deciding which version of the truth becomes official. He looks at Kane first, then past him to Lilly-Rose and me.

“President Kane.” He holds out the paperwork. “I have a warrant authorizing a search of these premises, the recovery of Lilly-Rose Miller and the arrest of the man known as Cash for assault, abduction and unlawful restraint.”

Judge takes the papers and begins reading. Kane doesn’t move aside. “You found Lilly-Rose. She’s standing in front of you.”

Corbin turns toward her, his voice becoming patient and reassuring. “Miss Miller, come away from him and join Deputy Harris. Nobody here can prevent you from leaving now.”

Lilly-Rose keeps her hand inside my cut. “Nobody has prevented me from leaving at all.”

Deputy Harris glances at her, then back at Corbin.

Corbin smiles as if she’s a frightened witness who needs more time. “You’ve been isolated inside this compound for almost three days. We understand that men like this can make captivity feel voluntary.”

“I wasn’t abducted by Cash. Mick Doran and another man tried to force me into an SUV outside the bank. Cash stopped them, and I came here because Doran used your name to try and lure me in.”

Her voice is steady. She doesn’t look at me for confirmation or wait for permission to continue.

“I stayed because my father couldn’t trust the protection arrangements while his department was compromised,” she says. “I’m here voluntarily, and I’m not leaving with you.”

Corbin barely lets her finish. “That belief is consistent with coercive control. Once you’re away from the club, you can give a proper statement without these armed men listening.”

“She just gave you one,” I say.

His gaze shifts to me, and he points. “You’ll remain silent.”

“That isn’t going to happen while you’re standing in front of her pretending she didn’t speak.”

“You don’t speak for Miss Miller.”

“I don’t have to. She’s spoken for herself twice. You’re the man refusing to hear her because the truth doesn’t fit the affidavit you brought through our gates.”

The patient expression tightens around Corbin’s eyes. He turns to the deputies as though addressing me is beneath him. “Cash is named in the warrant. Place him under arrest and separate Miss Miller from these men.”

One of the deputies moves forward. He’s younger than Corbin, tense but not aggressive, and he keeps his hand away from his weapon as he approaches me.

Lilly-Rose steps closer. “You heard what I said.”

“I did, ma’am.” His discomfort is visible. “But there’s an arrest warrant carrying a judge’s signature.”

I bring my hands away from my body. Kane has already made the call: we don’t turn a corrupt chief deputy’s lie into a shootout with honest men carrying paper. If cuffs buy the time needed to break Corbin’s story in front of them, I’ll wear them, but I won’t step away from Lilly-Rose.

Corbin notices. “Move her clear.”

The deputy hesitates. “Miss Miller, would you stand beside the other vehicle while I execute the warrant?”

“No. I’m staying here.”

Corbin’s composure thins. “She is not capable of making an unpressured decision while he has physical control of her.”

Lilly-Rose pulls her hand from my cut, but only so she can step fully into the open. “He isn’t holding me.”