Page 38 of Cash
“That’s what I thought,” Knuckles said with a growl.“She set you up.”
Ash raised his head, his eyes red-rimmed and hollow.“I played right into her hands.”
“We all did,” I admitted, still holding Eliza as her sobs gradually quieted to shuddering breaths.“She knew exactly which buttons to push.”
Knuckles nodded, his expression thoughtful.“Winters has been gunning for Eliza from the beginning.This isn’t about Lily’s safety.It’s about covering her own ass.”
Eliza stirred against my chest, her tear-streaked face turning toward Knuckles.“What do you mean?”
“Think about it,” Knuckles said, moving closer to kneel at our level.“She dislocated Lily’s shoulder when she took her from the hospital.Then doctors confirm a medical condition explaining all the injuries she accused you of causing.I don’t know if she truly believes she’s doing the right thing or if she doesn’t like to lose.Either way, I’ll fix this.”
The security door buzzed, and Lana burst through, her usually immaculate appearance slightly disheveled as she clutched her briefcase.She took in the scene with one sweeping glance, her expression hardening when she spotted Eliza in my arms.
“I missed her,” she stated flatly.“By how much?”
“About ten minutes,” Hannah replied, moving to intercept her.“She had papers signed by Judge Harmon.”
Lana swore under her breath.“Harmon doesn’t know the case, and I’ll bet my thong Ms.Winters only told him the minimum.Any judge will err on the side of caution.”She knelt beside Eliza, her professional demeanor softening slightly.“Eliza, I’m so sorry.I was in court when Hannah called.”
“Can you get Lily back?”Eliza asked, her voice small but steadier now.
“Oh, I will,” Lana promised, the steel returning to her tone.
“No.”Knuckles said, straightening to his considerable height.“You do what you have to with Ms.Winters, but I’m getting Tonio involved.I absolutely will not have Lily away from her mother and her home one fuckin’ second longer than she has to be.”
Lana’s gaze widened.“You want Tonio Miles to get involved in this?”
“I want him to call Judge Harmon and tell him to send Officer Martinez back with Lily immediately.”
Lana stared at Knuckles for several seconds.I could practically see her weighing the options.Finally, she gave an annoyed sigh.“Fine.But you tell him to leave Ms.Winters to me.”
“What’s happening?”Eliza looked up at me, then to Knuckles and Lana.“What’s going on?”
I helped Eliza to her feet when she moved from my arms.She swayed slightly, exhaustion evident in every line of her body.“You should rest,” I murmured, keeping one arm around her waist for support.
She shook her head firmly.“No.I need to hear this.I need to know how we’re going to get my daughter back.”
Lana gave Eliza a small but kind and sincere smile.“Honey, Cash is right.Why don’t you go lie down?Give us a couple of hours and I’ll have an update for you.”
“Cash,” Eliza said suddenly, her hand finding mine on the couch between us.“What she said about you… about us…” Her voice faltered, unable to finish the thought with so many people around.
I squeezed her fingers gently.“Don’t worry about it now.Nothing matters except getting Lily home.”
“But I dragged you into this,” she insisted.“All of you.”Her gaze flickered around the room.“Now she’s using you as reasons to keep Lily away.And how is this going to affect Haven?I’m so sorry.”
“This isn’t on you, Eliza.”Lana shook her head.“And don’t worry about Haven.I guarantee you Winters didn’t tell Judge Harmon you guys were staying here; otherwise, he’d have known better.She likely only said motorcycle club and let him draw his own conclusions.I’ll take care of her, and no one will ever touch this place.”
“Maybe you and Cash need to keep your distance.”Ash, the motherfucker, was about to get an ass whoopin’.
“Did you not learn your lesson?”Knuckles glared at the other man.
Ash winced, raising his hands and stepping back.“I’m just thinking of Lily.The harder we make it for Ms.Winters to object, the faster we get Lily back.”
The suggestion hit like a punch to the gut.Distance myself from Eliza when she needed support the most?The idea felt wrong on every level.
“No,” Eliza said firmly before I could respond.“I’m not pretending every single person here isn’t part of my support system just to appease Winters.And I’m not pushing Cash away either, Asher.”She glared at him.
“Eliza, honey --”
