Page 8 of Cross’s Reckoning

Judge moves closer to Kane. “Is that Cyrus’s daughter?”

“Yeah,” I say.

His attention snaps to me. “Is the whole of fucking Perdition behind you? Did you know she was coming?”

“No, I didn't.”

Lola hears that through the gate. “Nice to see you too.”

Every part of me wants her back in that car, but there’s nowhere useful to send her. If Cyrus knows she helped me, Perdition isn’t safe. If he doesn’t, turning up here will make sure he does.

Kane steps toward the gate. “Why are you here?”

Lola looks at him rather than me. “Because my father sent men after Cross to bring him back.”

“We assumed that.”

“I sent them the wrong way.”

I stare at her. “You did what?”

She finally looks at me. “You heard me the first time.”

“You should’ve stayed home.”

Her face changes immediately. “You don’t get to tell me what I should’ve done after detonating my life and riding away.”

“I didn’t make you lie.”

“No, you just made sure the choice was between helping you and watching my father have you dragged back to die. Anyway, Raze heard me, and now I'm fresh out of choices.”

Kane cuts in before I can answer. “Save it. Both of you.”

Lola folds her arms. I shut my mouth because Kane’s right and because somebody here is going to start enjoying this if we keep going.

Judge looks at Lola. “Why should we believe any of this isn’t Cyrus sending both of you in?”

“You shouldn’t.”

She continues, “Raze took four men north because I told him Cross went toward the county line. He knew I was lying, but he went with it anyway. The others won’t stay north once Cyrus realizes. They’ll cover Route Thirty-Two and the main road into Ransom first.”

Kane glances toward the brother on the radio. “Check it.”

The man turns away and speaks quietly. Lola keeps her eyes on Kane. She looks tired now that she’s standing still and angry, though that part isn’t new. The fear underneath is, and I don’t like it.

The radio cracks a minute later. The brother at the gate listens, then looks at Kane. “Two Perdition bikes just passed the west junction heading for Thirty-Two. Another pair went north ten minutes ago.”

Kane’s gaze returns to Lola.

“Open it,” he says.

Lola walks through, and the gate closes behind her with a heavy metallic sound. She glances back once, and I know exactly what she’s thinking because I thought the same thing when it shut behind me. There’s a difference between being allowed in and knowing you can leave.

Kane makes that clear before either of us can ask. “You came here on your own. You’re a guest, not a prisoner. But until I know what Cyrus is doing, nobody leaves without telling me first. That’s for your protection and mine.”

Lola nods once. “Fine.”

Her eyes move over the compound. She doesn’t gape. She grew up in an MC; gates, bikes and armed men aren’t new to her. What catches her attention is the way Judge leans toward Kane and says something low enough that I don’t hear it.