Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 53361 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 267(@200wpm)___ 213(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53361 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 267(@200wpm)___ 213(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
Cora froze just inside the doorway, her hand tightening painfully around mine. I gave her fingers a gentle squeeze, urging her forward. Knuckles rose as we approached, his movement slow and deliberate. I felt Cora tense beside me, bracing for confrontation. But when Knuckles spoke, his voice held none of the harshness she clearly expected.
“Got Hannah to make some coffee,” he said, gesturing to a carafe on the table. “Figured you could use something to warm you up.”
Confusion flickered across Cora’s face, followed by wary suspicion. She glanced up at me, searching for guidance. I nodded slightly, encouraging her to take a seat on one side of the couch. I sat next to her, draping an arm casually over the back of the couch. I brushed her shoulder reassuringly in silent encouragement.
“We’ve been at this game a long time, honey,” Knuckles continued once Cora was settled. “Cops trying to get to us through people outside our compound ain’t exactly a new play. You likely got caught in the middle because you kept picking up grocery orders for us and the shelter.”
“I’m sorry,” Cora whispered, her voice cracking. “I didn’t want to --”
Knuckles waved a dismissive hand. “Ain’t your fault Reeves is a vindictive bastard with a badge.” He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “The man threatened to arrest you with fabricated evidence. That ain’t coercion. That’s fucking terrorism.”
Knight stepped closer, gesturing to the dismantled device on the table. “Found the one under the fridge in the kitchen yesterday after you left,” he explained, his voice softer than usual. “Swept the compound twice since then. We’re clean.”
“They’re police-grade,” Knuckles added. “Illegal as fuck for Reeves to place without a warrant, which may be why Reeves needed someone else to plant them.” His eyes, normally hard as flint, held an unexpected gentleness as he looked at Cora. “You ain’t the first person he’s backed into a corner, sweetheart. And you won’t be the last.”
Cora stared at the dismantled device, then at Knuckles, then at me. The confusion in her eyes slowly gave way to disbelief, then to something like hope.
“You’re not… you don’t blame me?” Her voice was small, vulnerable in a way that made my chest tighten. Two tears tracked from her lovely eyes. They felt like daggers straight to my heart.
“For what?” Knuckles shrugged. “Doing what you had to when a cop with a grudge threatened to destroy your life? Hell, most people would’ve done worse, especially to a bunch of ex-cons. No. I wish you knew you could have gone to Hannah, Pippa, or any of the other women, or Rancor. But I understand you don’t really know any of us. Not knowing if anyone here would give a good Goddamn about you if he arrested you, you had to protect yourself.”
It was Knight who broke the final thread of her composure. He moved closer, crouched down to her eye level. “The fact that you’re here right now,” he said quietly, “telling us the truth even though you’re terrified? That says everything we need to know about you.” He gave her a kind smile, which, with his tattooed eyes and face, was slightly creepy.
The dam broke. Cora’s face crumpled, her shoulders hunching as she folded in on herself. At first, her crying was silent -- just tremors shaking her small frame, tears streaming down her face. Then a ragged sob tore from her throat, followed by another, until she was gasping for breath between them.
I dropped my arm from the couch to her shoulders and, without thinking about it, pulled her onto my lap and urged her to bury her face against my chest. She came willingly, collapsing into me, as the weight of her fear and guilt poured out. I cradled the back of her head, threading my fingers through her hair as I held her, letting her fall apart against me.
“It’s okay,” I murmured. Comfort wasn’t something I’d offered anyone in a very long time. “You’re safe now.” Over her head, I met Knuckles’ gaze. He nodded at me, a confirmation he had my back because he knew I’d kill to protect this small woman, even if it meant going back to prison. Knight stood, moving behind Knuckles, his expression solemn. Reeves had made this personal long ago. Now he’d crossed a line that couldn’t be uncrossed.
As Cora’s sobs quieted to shuddering breaths, I shifted, slipping one arm beneath her knees. She made a small, startled sound as I lifted her, but didn’t resist, her arms looping around my neck, face still pressed to my shoulder.
“Taking her to my place,” I said simply. Knuckles nodded, the gesture conveying both permission and understanding. She needed to know she was safe with me and that I’d be her protector. I knew Knuckles and Knight wanted information from her, but I didn’t think now was the time. They had the bugs. They knew Cora wasn’t the bad guy. Interrogating her, though necessary, could wait.