I walkinto the small visitation room of the local jail with a grin. I have Eagle and Spider at my side. Spider’s growing into his role with the club, but King, Skull, Torch, and I all agreed we want him to start seeing the harder side of this life. He’s a good man, but he needs some seasoning—a reminder to always keep his eyes open. So, I’m taking him with me and King has asked Pez to take him under his wing. It’s a move I think will be good for both men. Pez is a damn good man. He’s perfect for my girls. Still, after the way he was done from his former brother, he needs to learn he can trust all the men of this club. He also needs to understand that if he doesn’t think he can, he needs to talk to King and tell him why. Still, it’s a good sign he let us come today without him. We figured if Pez was here, there’s no way Dane would agree either way. Pez didn’t like it, but he backed away because getting the divorce and custody agreement signed were the most important things.
Dane is sitting at a metal table in front of me. He has shackles and cuffs on his feet and arms. Not because that’s the norm for this facility. Nah, that will come later. This is because Dane got his pretty boy face messed up by a couple of inmates last night—by my command. He’s looking pretty rough, thoughbecause he messed up and started fighting back—even going so far as to give the other guy a concussion by slamming his head repeated into the metal bunk bed in his cell. Dane is doomed a risk to other inmates. It’s a move that will get him a rep and maybe let him survive in prison, but right now it’s breaking his spirit, and I have to say, I like that.
After discovering from Daphne that Dane had never used his fists on her but had left bruises and slapped her around when he was upset—then seeing the marks on Cammie left from him and his whore, I am more than happy with being the bastard that flushes this asshole’s life down the toilet.
“What are you doing here?” Dane asks at once. I know he’s trying to be a tough guy, but anyone can hear the panic in his voice.
“Woah, Dane, you’re looking pretty rough there,” I chuckle.
“Just leave,” he mumbles. “I’ll be out of here before long. I’ll reclaim my life.”
Spider laughs, and Dane shoots him a look that is supposed to scare him, but just makes him laugh harder.
“Here’s the thing, Dane. We’re here to help you.”
“Like I believe that shit. You never liked me, Sabre. I didn’t like you. We got along because I spoiled that bitch of a daughter of yours. That’s not going to happen any longer. When I get out of here, I’m taking my daughter, and I will spend my time laughing at how miserable Daphne is.”
“Now? See, Spider? I tried to tell you and Eagle that there was no dealing with this asshole. I mean so we could keep him from spending ten or more years in a federal pen.”
“What are you spouting off about? I’ll pay these bitches off. My firm will help me bury this, and my charges will be dismissed. No one is going to believe a bunch of whores over a well-known, attorney.”
“You have it all figured out, don’t you?” I reply with a smirk.
“Yeah, so get the fuck out of here and use your intimidation game somewhere else. I may be down, but I’m far from out. You’d be smart to remember that,” he snarls.
I let the smile expand on my face as Eagle hands me two files. I put the first one down on the cold table in front of us, using two fingers to push it toward him. “Look at that, then we’ll talk.”
“What’s this?” he questions, staring at the file like it’s a snake about to bite him. It’s doubtful, but maybe the boy has more brain cells than I gave him credit for.
“Open it up and look at it,” I dare him.
He stares at me for a minute, but eventually curiosity gets the better of him, and he opens it. It doesn’t take long, but while he’s reading, I find myself taking great pleasure in the flickering of different emotions that crosses his face. Sure, reading how there’s evidence that exists showing he blackmailed a formal federal judge to get a not guilty plea for his client, that he also tampered with a circuit court jury numerous times to secure million-dollar verdicts for his firm, and finally that he was biting the hand that fed him by embezzling from his own firm can be challenging.
He looks back up at me and his eyes look a little bright. Damn, is he going to break so easily that he's going to all down and cry in front of us? “How …” he starts, and then has to break off. “How did you get this?”
“That’s not the question you should be asking, shithead. The question is what do I want in exchange fornotusing these against you.”
Dane clears his throat. “What do you want?”
“There’s the slimy lawyer. Always willing to sell-out and broker the deal,” I laugh shaking my head. Then I take the second folder in my hand, opening it and placing it on top. “There are two sets of papers that require your signature. Thefirst is a Property and Settlement Agreement for your divorce. Sign it so that Eagle can file it with the court and my girl can be shed of you.”
“Let me guess, I’ll be agreeing to everything she asked for in the divorce,” he splutters, sounding disgusted.
“Well, no,” I reply as if I don’t have a care in the world. “Basically, you are giving Daphne twenty-two thousand, which was the market value of her van when you took it from her.”
“I sold the damn for seven grand. I’ll give her seven, but why would I pay her more than I made off of it?”
“Because I have a file which would mean you could very well die in prison. It’s not the safest place, but hey, even if you got the minimum, you’d be much older and gray if you survived and eventually got out. Plus, new charges will only bring the ones you just got arrested for, back up. Things wouldn’t be good for you in any of those scenarios. So, she gets physical custody, I get visitation, we sell the house, and I give her twenty-two grand for her piece of shit van? Do I have that right?”
“Not quite. Custody is not addressed in this agreement. We’ll get to that. Here, you’ll pay her twenty-two grand, you’ll also agree that the two of you will keep what is yours and in your possession at the moment. You will get to keep your retirement account, because my daughter said she didn’t want it, since you’ve been together a while, but only legally married for four. It’s not like she’d get a lot. However, there is a property evaluation of the home, and you will pay her exactly half of that.”
I get to enjoy the way his eyes almost pop out of his head. “She wants me to pay her three hundred thousand? The place is falling down around her!”
“It’s in a great neighborhood. Has over thirty-eight-hundred square foot, and other than needing a roof, is in terrific shape.If you think about it, since we have proof that you’ve embezzledmuchmore than that, Daphne is being gracious.”
“This is highway robbery,” he growls, as I hand him a pen.
“You should know all about that. Oh, there’s also a clause in there that you will not contest this agreement or the divorce. That your signature is binding and a bunch of other legal crap.”
