Shade(62)

“I’m sorry.”

The stuck-up bitch doesn’t look sorry, Shade thought.

“I’ll pay whatever fee you want,” Viper stated, looking around her inexpensive office.

“If money is no object, then you can afford any lawyer you want,” Diamond protested.

“Money didn’t prevent Harris from walking out on us,” Viper said in disgust.

“How much money are we talking about?” Diamond asked, a gleam she couldn’t hide appearing in her eyes.

They had her. Money always made The Last Riders more palatable.

“Let’s cut to the chase. You prove Knox is innocent, I’ll give you five hundred thousand dollars.”

Shade cocked a brow at Viper offering such an exorbitant price yet then reminded himself it was Knox she would be defending. The woman would be demanding more before it was over.

“I take it you believe Knox is innocent?” Diamond queried.

“I know he is,” Viper stated without pausing.

“You can’t be so sure. Everyone has a breaking point, and from what you’re telling me, Knox isn’t the sweetest man in the county. Perhaps they got in an argument—”

“If he had killed her, Ms. Richards, no one would have found the body.”

Diamond’s eyes widened at Viper’s calm reply while Winter winced.

Shade saw Diamond studying them, watching for their reactions. All the brothers believed in Knox’s innocence, not because he wasn’t capable of killing her, but because he would have told them and the mess would never have happened.#p#分页标题#e#

Viper stated, “Of course, if you quit on us, I won’t pay you one fucking dime.”

Her mouth turned down in disappointment.

“All right, you have a deal.” Her eyes went to the front lobby.

Shade watched Rider get up from his chair and go to the secretary’s desk, leaning against it as he tried to sweet-talk the curvy woman. The whole club knew Rider was a man who could appreciate good tits, and the secretary had a set which would make any man’s dick stand up.

The sound of a chair hitting the wall sounded from the outside room right before the flustered woman came rushing into Ms. Richards’s office to stand behind her boss’s chair with her face flaming red.

Rider came to stand in the doorway, watching with a predatory gleam in his eyes.

“Ms. Richards, your next appointment is due in ten minutes.”

“Stop it, Rider. Go on outside,” Winter snapped at the man who then turned and walked away with a final wink at Holly.

The rest of the brothers laughed at Rider’s failed attempt. Not many women turned Rider down.

“Thanks, Holly.” Ms. Richards stared hard at Viper. “After I’m finished with my next client, I’ll go down to the sheriff’s office and see what they have on him. I’ll keep in touch. Get a bail bondsman ready for a call. I’ll see what I can do about getting him out. Is he going to be a flight risk?”

“Knox wouldn’t run if you pointed a gun at him. It’s not in him; he’s a soldier. He stands and fights.”

“Good to know because, if he takes off, I’ll still expect my money, and you can find yourself another lawyer.”

“Deal,” Viper said, leaving the office with Winter, Shade, Rider, and Train trailing behind.

”That was a fail,” Rider complained, giving the secretary a wink, which she ignored as they closed the door.

“You came on too strong,” Shade enlightened.

“It’s the only way I know,” Rider bragged. “It always worked before.”

Shade agreed; not many women refused to at least flirt with Rider. He was easily the best-looking in the group, the easiest going, and the most liked. The only thing that grated on the brothers’ nerves was his arrogant attitude toward women. He believed no woman could resist him, and up until then, he had been right.

Holly was young and obviously shy. She should’ve been ripe for Rider’s plucking; instead, she had rushed from him as if he was about to have her for lunch. Something about the woman didn’t add up, but as long as it didn’t affect The Last Riders, Shade didn’t give a shit.

* * *

The Last Riders were waiting for Knox’s release when he came out of the courthouse with his lawyer. Bliss was the first one to greet him, throwing herself into his arms.

“Keep him out of sight and whatever you do, don’t let him get into any trouble. The Commonwealth’s Attorney won’t hesitate to throw him back in jail,” she told Viper and Winter.

Her caustic comment grated on Shade.

“I’ll make him stay at the clubhouse,” Viper promised.