Is Jovie going to turn and spot me?
Taking a deep breath, I slide into the seat opposite Zero, and he gives me a head bob. “It’s good to have your ass back here, brother. Even if you do look hungover as shit.”
“Not sure it’s the hangover making me look shit,” I murmur.
Zero places his fork down, studying me. “Something I should know?”
“Nah, brother. Made a dick of myself with Jovie last night.”
He glances over at her, then back to me. “She seems okay this morning. You’re being too hard on yourself, whatever the fuck it is.”
“Is there anything I can do for the club? I’m fucking restless.”
Zero scoffs. “You just had a warrant out for your arrest. Keeping your fucking head down is what you can do for the club.” He picks his fork back up, then continues to eat his eggs.
“Is anything happening with the Slavers?”
Zero’s annoyed now. “I have Neon working on it… what’s this really about?”
“Nothing… I’ve just been holed up and on the run for days. I need something to do.”
Zero rolls his shoulders. “Then go see Finley and talk to her. Thank her for saving your freaked-out ass.”
Jovie’s voice rings in my head about her going back to law. “I mean, it’s all I ever saw myself doing. It all kind of vanished when Mom got sick.”
My eyes widen as I sit taller. “Actually, I need to talk to Fin. Thanks, pres, you’re a genius.”
He shovels more eggs into his mouth, bobbing his head once as I stand. I walk past Jovie on my way out to my ride, she spots me, and I weakly smile at her.
She returns the gesture.
No hesitation.
No concern over last night, just a bright spark shining back at me.
Yeah, I need to let the world see her shine as bright as she can.
And I think I know the way to do it.
Pulling up my ride at Finley’s office block, I make quick work of parking and head inside up to the fourth floor. The receptionist’s eyes widen when she notices me approaching. She hastily picks up her telephone, talking into it. She’s probably calling security—it’s not every day a biker walks into a law firm.
I step up to the desk, and she places the receiver down. Her face turning paler by the second. “Ms. Knight will be out shortly, sir.”
Tilting my head to the side, I’m a little shocked. “Is that who was on the phone?” She nods her head emphatically. “You scared of me…” I glance at her name badge, “… Dani?”
Dani gnaws on her bottom lip but says nothing, so I smirk at her. “If it helps the situation we find ourselves in, Dani, I used to be a cop. I’m not a bad guy.”
Her eyes widen as she leans closer. “Used to be?”
“Being bad is so much better than always being good—”
“Kevlar, stop harassing my staff. Dani, ignore him and get back to work.”
“Yes, Ms. Knight!” Dani jumps back, frantically cleaning her desk like she’s been caught doing something naughty. I chuckle as Finley strides over to me.
“You certainly know how to cause trouble, don’t you, Mr. Rudd?” Finley chimes with a great big smirk. “Shall we move this into my office?”
“Yeah, let’s.”
Finley waves her hand through the air, gesturing for me to lead the way down the hall.
I put up my hand. “Please, ladies first.”
Finley scoffs. “When did I ever give you the impression I was a lady? Now move your ass, Kevlar.”
I chuckle to myself while walking down the hall. “Anyone tell you you’re a hardass?”
“You have to be in my line of work, especially when I have to defend assholes like you lot, all the time.”
“Touché.”
We make our way into the corner office overlooking the McKinney Street Children’s Playground. The lush greenery is really fucking nice for a place in downtown Houston. It’s somewhere I should bring Sadie and Lucas when I have a spare second.
“You thinking about your kids?” Finley asks, stepping up to the window beside me.
Nodding, I exhale. “They’re all I think about.”
“Mmm… you’re a good father, Kevlar. Handing them over to the lieutenant to take care of them, it’s a bold step, though one I’m not sure I fully understand, given how much you care about them.”
I grit my teeth. “I didn’t hand them over… he threatened social services if I didn’t.”
Finley hums under her breath. “That old chestnut, hey? He can threaten all he wants, but if he doesn’t have anything on you, you’d probably win custody. You are their father.”
My head snaps around to face her. “Even though I live at the clubhouse?”
“Kevlar, with me on your side, I’ll get those kids back with you so easily Ethan wouldn’t know what hit him.”
“Would it be a fight? Would it be lengthy and difficult on the kids?”
She cranes her neck to the side. “Depends how hard Ethan chooses to dig his heels in. If he wants to roll over or play dirty, it would be up to him.”
I snort out a laugh. “He would play dirty.”
“Then, yeah, it will be long and drawn out. But I’m sure, in the end, I’d get those kids back to you, Kevlar.”
Do I want to put my kids through that?
I want them back with me more than any-fucking-thing, more than life itself. But if dragging them through the system is going to damage them for my benefit, then I really need to think this through.
“Let me mull it over. Decide what’s best for my kids.”
“Of course. The offer is always here. It’s not time-stamped.”
“Thanks, Fin… for everything you’ve done for me. For getting the warrant dropped. You’ve been a fucking godsend.”
“I know. Honestly, though, I’d do anything to fuck up the Baron at this point.”
“Actually… there’s one more thing you might be able to help me with.”
She raises her brow. “Go on.”
“If someone was studying to become an attorney but had to quit due to extenuating circumstances, what can be done to get them re-enrolled somewhere different?”
“Hmm… guess it depends on how long they’ve taken their sabbatical. Some universities will let a student enroll and give credits for the subjects already completed, then let the student continue on with their degree, but it can be hard for them to get back in if they’ve already left. If they really want to show their enthusiasm, they could get a job as a paralegal while they study.”
I widen my eyes, an idea striking me full force. “Do you have any positions at your firm for a paralegal?”
Finley assesses me. “Who are we talking about here, Kevlar?”
“Jovie Hannon, I met her in NOLA.”
“Why did she quit?”
“Her mother was sick. She had to stay home to care for her, then she passed away.”
“That’s a good enough excuse. I can try to pull some strings, see if I can get her re-enrolled if she hasn’t been too long away. Find out if she’s interested and wants to work hard, then bring her in. I’ll chat with her. But Kevlar… I make no promises.”