Page 52 of Rascal

“It doesn’t matter what you want,” King retorted.

“I never claimed it did; stop being so damn defensive. Jane is out there planning and plotting,” Shane sniped.

“And can you read Jane’s mind? Can you see into the future? None of us has any idea what’s coming. We can’t pre-empt Jane. She has the upper hand. The APB will cause issues, too. Every time I leave the house, I’ll be harassed,” I sighed.

“Yeah, that’s bad on the captain’s part. They didn’t think that through,” King agreed.

“No. Still, it doesn’t surprise me.” I replied.

“This sucks,” Shane stated.

“Yeah, well, I’m back in prison again. Once more, my freedom’s been taken by Jane. Every time I step foot outside this door, I’ll be arrested until it’s proved who I am. You’ve got your freedom, so stop bitching and grow up!” I snapped.

“Hey, tone it down. I didn’t mean it sucked for me, but for you. You said what I was thinking!” Shane replied, leaning forward to hold my eyes.

“How about if we inform the police where you’re going?” King suggested.

“And if Jane follows us? Or happens to be there? Not worth the risk,” I said.

“I don’t understand why you have to be locked down. Fuck them, go out. If they pull you in, sue for harassment,” King complained, and I laughed.

“There’re enough lawsuits at the moment,” I teased.

Shane squirmed in his chair.

“What?” I asked.

“The ones against Hellfire. Would you drop them? They were protecting me, and they’re my brothers. They’re good guys.”

King snorted as I held Shane’s gaze impassively. I was expecting this.

Chapter Eleven.

Rascal

I’d dithered between asking and not asking. But the arrests were on my mind, and I needed to try. Hallie’s eyes narrowed.

“Is that what this is about? Making nice to get those six thugs off?”

“Hallie, they’re not thugs. They possibly overstepped...”

“Oh, they might have? There’s no doubt about overstepping. Shane, I could barely move, was unable to defend myself, and that asshole VP grabbed me from bed and threw me about like a rag doll. Before proceeding to choke me out. Yeah, I’ve a problem with that, even if you don’t.” I retorted.

“Hellfire thought I was in danger.”

“You are, just not from me! No, I’m not pulling the complaints. How many innocent victims have those assholes frightened?”

“None.”

“Bull, you don’t know that. And I won’t crawl away quietly. That gang assaulted me, simple as fuck,” Hallie hissed.

“Club, not gang,” I ground out. “Hallie, you’ve no idea of Hellfire’s full story.” Hallie stared, and there was something nasty behind her eyes, but I couldn’t decipher what.

“Go on then, tell me,” she ordered. Hallie’s tone was ugly, and King had turned to ice. But I grabbed the chance and began explaining how Fanatic got injured, the war, and what had been happening since. Hallie listened, but I seemed to be losing her.

“Please, Hallie, can’t you see the club was only protecting me?” I said, winding down.

“Know what I heard?” King said, and my heart seized.