He laughed. “I didn’t watch it in a way that would be considered strictly legal.”
“Of course not,” I said drolly.
“You were a genius in that court. How you twisted the jury around your finger? How you got the DA so tied into knots and pushed so deeply into a corner that he was fucked?” He chuckled. “Sheer poetry of the courtroom kind.”
I grinned at nothing. “Thanks, Hunter. You’re always good for my ego.”
“You gonna ask me to be kiddo’s godfather?”
Laughing, I told him, “You really want that?”
“Of course!”
I wondered if Rex would want one of the brothers to be a godfather, and then I thought, ‘Fuck it.’ Why shouldn’t one of my best friends be there for our kid?
Hell, why shouldn’t both of them, the people who’d gotten me through school, who’d helped me get out of bed every goddamn day after I gave up Wynter, be the ones who were there for me now?
“Okay then. You’re sure?”
“Wouldn’t have said I was if I wasn’t.” He barked out another laugh and I could hear his chair squeak in the background. “You better make Rory the godmother too. I have plans this year.”
I arched a brow. “What kind of plans?”
“To make her mine, of course.”
He said it so pleasantly that I had to smile. “Just like that, huh?”
“Well, it’s been long enough, wouldn’t you say?”
“Definitely.” Still, I pursed my lips. “She’s going to be difficult to win over.”
"I’m sick of settling for second best, Rach. I want her.”
I didn’t know what to tell him.
I appreciated his Golden Retriever nature more than anyone could possibly understand, but I, more than anyone, knew this Golden Retriever wasn’t afraid to go for the throat.
I didn’t want to hurt him, neither did I want to discourage him.
He and Rory had been dancing around each other for far too long.
“You might want her, Hunter, but I don’t know if she wants you.”
“Like I said, I have a plan.”
I smiled. “You do?”
“I do. Will you be my best man, Rach?”
I had to laugh. “How can I be that when I’ll be Aurora’s maid of honor?”
“You can be both. We’re non-traditional.”
I thought about Rory’s very traditional background and cleared my throat. “I guess if anyone would make waves, it’s her.”
He hummed. “Exactly. Wish me luck?”
Sighing, I told him, “Always.”
And I meant it too.
I wanted my best friends to be happy, and if I could also have some of that, I wouldn’t say no.
“Got a question for you.”
“Ask away,” was my instant reply. “I’ll do anything for you, you know that.”
“Apart from adjudicate between Rory and me.”
My lips curved. “She’s more frightening than a serial killer.”
He pshawed but questioned, “You heard of a hacker called Lodestar.”
Whatever the fuck I’d expected him to ask me, it wasn’t that.
Loyalties warring, I queried, “Why?”
“I’ll take that as a yes.”
I didn’t answer.
“It’s okay. I mean her no harm.” I heard his chair squeaking. “The Valentinis have been sending a lot of work my way recently, and it’s starting to clash with my duties here.”
“You want to hire her?” I thought about Lodestar, who was already strung out from a heavy workload, and found myself at a loss.
“Well, not me. I was going to recommend her to them. What do you think?”
“Do you know she’s working with the Sinners?” I queried, my tone cautious.
“I know all, see all—”
“Shut up,” I grumbled, which made him snicker.
Rubbing my temple, I contemplated our conversation.
The Valentinis were on my client list. Luciu Valentini had just ascended to the head of the Italian collective—the Famiglia.
If Lodestar worked for them too, I could call on her for information when I needed it… It would be easier than now.
I loved speaking with Hunter, but his work process was a lot more manic than I could handle.
Lodestar was like me—cold as ice, ruthless, analytical, and unafraid to do what needed to be done to achieve whatever result she was seeking.
“Rach?” Hunter prompted.
“Yeah,” I said eventually. “I can recommend her.”
“You wanna tell Custanzu—”
“He’s the one who approaches you?” I queried, curious as to the inner workings of the Sicilians.
Though Luciu would probably have told me, I found it wasn’t in my best interests to be overly curious about my clients’ working habits.
Hunter hummed. “Stan’s on the front, you know that. Luc only gets his hands dirty at the end.”
‘The end.’
I rolled my eyes.
Luciu had a passion for the dramatic. How he went around slicing up men and women’s faces like his knife was a paintbrush was all the more disturbing for his intelligence.
Luciu did nothing without a purpose.
Not unlike some people I knew…
“You tell them. I don’t like getting involved.”
“I know. I wouldn’t have asked, but I didn’t want to pass along a name that you wouldn’t want to liaise with.”
Warmth unfurled inside me. “You’re a sweetheart, Hunter.”
He laughed. “You keep on telling Rory that.”
“I’ll put in a good word for you.” My lips twitched. “Not sure if it’ll be much use. You know what she’s like.”
A sigh came down the line. “Perfection?”
I snorted. “Yeah, you keep on telling yourself that.”
TWENTY-FOUR
REX
“The weather today is an unseasonably warm seventy-two degrees—”
Switching off the TV set in my motel room, I tossed the remote onto the nightstand and stared up at the ceiling.
I’d decided to stick around New Mexico. A part of me had thought it might be a good idea to head into Texas, catch up with the Hell’s Rebels'—we were allies, not exactly friends—but I was curious about what Drew would do.
School had started two days ago, so I hung around my motel, waiting for Maverick to keep me in the loop while monitoring the news obsessively.
Only Mav knew where I was, and he was the only brother I checked in with.
I didn’t need, nor want, to speak to anyone else in the MC.
I needed to get away.
I needed some space from every-fucking-thing.
It was just too much right now. Much too fucking much.
My cell buzzed at that exact moment, but recognizing the tone, I scanned the text.
Emile: Busy couple days.
*picture sent*
She looked stressed. Dressed in a three-piece skirt suit, her head was bowed over her phone as she walked down some stairs toward her car.
My thumb stroked over the screen.
Rex: Keep me updated.