Page 71 of Hades

“Innocent people don’t need an attorney,” the cop spits at her.

“Or innocent people who are unfairly judged do need attorneys. So are you taking us in, or will you be issuing the ticket for his helmet?” She crosses her arms.

“I’m searching the bike.”

She laughs. “With what probable cause? You have a body cam, and I’ve been filming since we got off the bike. You were so worried about him that you didn’t think to keep an eye on me. So what’s it going to be? A ticket and send us on our way, or you can arrest us and my friend will send this video to the news outlets.”

I can’t see Evelyn, but I can see the look on the cop’s face from my place on his hood. He is angry. He wishes he could hurt her. Another man like Dansworth. Not that I’m surprised. Birds of a feather and all of that.

Finally, he uncuffs me and pulls me from the hood before pushing me. “I’ll let you off with a warning this time. Get the fuck out of here.”

I grab Evelyn’s hand, keeping my body between her and the cop as I push her toward my bike. The cop speeds off, leaving us.

“You were recording?” I ask her.

“No, but he doesn’t know that. Let’s get to the clubhouse. I think we will be in a cage for a while.”

I nod, understanding her concern.

I don’t like it, but I want her to feel safe.

Even if it means not riding for a while.

Evelyn

I’ve been at work an hour, but I am questioning why I’m here. I should have called in.

Hades assured me everything was fine and that we would all be okay, but my mind isn’t in the building with me today. It’s firmly on Hades and what I witnessed this afternoon.

I always knew that some cops were bad. Just like I also knew there were good cops. Still, seeing how Hades was treated firsthand was scary. I didn’t like how the cop threw him on the hood and cuffed him. He didn’t even give Hades a chance to be civil. He saw his leather jacket and bike and assumed he was a bad person.

It made me angry. I wanted to punch the guy.

Instead of my fists, I used my brain. I texted Trigger and told him to get our attorney ready while I pretended to be recording the whole thing. It worked, but what if it hadn’t?

“Where is your brain tonight?” Travis hisses at me as he charts next to me.

“Not here. I should really go home,” I tell him.

He sighs. “Then go. I’ll call someone in. With the way your head is right now, you are going to hurt someone.”

He keeps his voice low, but I notice Jackie paying closer attention to us.

“You’re right. I’ll go grab my things.” I turn to leave, but before I can, Marie calls out for me.

“Dr. Kingston, you need to come to Trauma Two.”

“Dr. Hemlock can take it. I need to leave. I’m sorry,” I tell her, nodding to Travis.

“No. You need to come. It’s Melanie.”

My heart starts to race as I take off toward the room. When I step inside, I halt. She’s not alone. A large, looming man is next to her.

“Melanie, you came back. Are you okay?”

She looks up at me, and I barely withhold my gasp. She’s hurt worse than last time. Her face is swollen and several different shades of blue, gray, and purple. Her arms have marks up and down them that appear to be cigarette burns. She looks barely coherent.

Travis is right behind me and jumps into motion.