“Didn’t think you’d be here.” Sherman says to me.
We haven’t spoken since the incident in the parking lot at McGuire’s, and all I want to do is tell him to fuck off, but I have a better idea.
“That was some riveting testimony today, don’t you think?” I pause in the hall, baiting him.
He doesn’t answer me, just cuts his eyes.
“The real question is, did you know she was in love with him the entire time? And is that why you purposefully knocked her up? You needed to finally beat him at something.”
He walks in front of me down the stairs.
“How embarrassing is it knowing that everyone knows you married a woman who was in love with your rival? And even after everything you tried. He still won in the end.”
“He didn’t fucking win. He’s in prison.”
“For now. Based on that testimony, it definitely makes me question the arrest.”
He turns, looking at me wide-eyed before I watch his eyes turn almost black. The rage coursing through him.
* * *
Collins and I arrive at the diner shortly after getting on shift.
“So, what’s this plan?” He asks me, glancing over.
“He’s already pissed.”
“Why?”
“She just told everyone that she’s been in love with Z the entire time they were together. His ego’s bruised. I’ll let Zeke know when she gets here. We come out right before she does. Turn your body camera on. He’ll attack.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Cause I may have egged it on a little when I saw him.”
“What’d you say?”
“How embarrassing it is for him to know he married a woman who was in love with someone else, and in the end, Z still won.”
“How long has she been in?” Zeke’s voice starts as the seat moves next to me.
“Walked in when I called you.”
Collins looks confused as he looks over at Zeke. “He’s waiting in the car.”
“Cool, I’m gonna call her and tell her we’re ready. When you guys see us pull up, go outside.” He tells us.
We nod in response.
“Thanks.” He starts to walk back out of the diner, but stops, looking back at the table. “Oh yeah, guys, you fuck me over on this, and I’ll fucking kill you, okay?” There’s not an ounce of humor behind his face, as if he’s enjoying this.
“You can —”
“Zeke,” deciding it’s probably the best thing to cut Collins off. “This isn’t about you or Z or the club.” Shaking my head. “Doing this for Tate. She deserves better than how he treated her. She deserves someone to treat her the way Z does. And Z doesn’t deserve to be set up for this just because of who he’s in love with.”
“Really?” Collins laughs as he looks back across the table at me.
Glaring back and telling him to keep his goddamn mouth shut.
