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Once outside the visiting room, I nod at Ace and go to the locker to get my purse. I turn and watch Tank fist bump his Prez with a feeling he’s not going to tell Ace about the baby.
CHAPTERSIXTEEN
Tank
The last thing I want to do is to say goodbye to Sophie after she’s just dropped a life-altering bomb on me. But I see Ace pacing in the background, and I can’t leave my Prez waiting.
Ace approaches the table so fast, Sophie’s scent still lingers. “What’s up, brother?” he says, flashing a smile.
I extend my hand to him “Same shit, different day.”
He nods, his gaze looking around before he settles that all-knowing look squarely on me. “Why was Nurse Sophie here?”
It’s a good question, one I’d probably ask in his situation, too. But the truth is I just found out I’m going to be a dad, and I don’t want to tell him yet. So I shove away all the emotions I’m feeling and put on my game face. I stretch my arms out and say, “People love me.”
Then I motion for him to sit down as if I’m hosting a party. “What’s up?”
Ace’s brows knit into a frown, and he takes a seat. “You talked to Noelle about the video?”
I nod. “She’s confident she can get me out of here, and I really want to believe her, but I’m not so sure.” It would be different if I was new to the justice system, but I know how this works. “When the government wants you guilty, they’ll do everything they can to make sure you’re guilty.”
Ace sighs, shaking his head. “Jesus, man. What the fuck are we even doing if you don’t want to fight this shit?”
I shrug. “Didn’t say I didn’t want to fight it. Just said it’s a losing battle.”
Ace laughs. “You’re a fucking SEAL. Isn’t a losing battle where you shine?”
He has a point. “Damn right.”
“Then stop acting like a pussy and believe that shit. Noelle is damn good. She’s seen the evidence, and she’s convinced, so I’m convinced. Get your head out of your ass andgetconvinced too. Feel me?”
I nod, still absorbing my Prez’s certainty. The only shit I can be certain about in life is the shit I can control. But I took an oath to support and trust the MC, and if he believes in Noelle, then I do too.
“Yeah, yeah, I feel you. Did you get my message about the homies I heard talking in the hole?”
Ace’s smile disappears. “I got your message, yeah.” He leans forward, looking around to make sure no one is listening. “You figure out yet who the fuck it was talking shit?”
“No, but I’ve been thinking. They specifically talked about retaliation, so I figure it means it’s likely someone we fucked over, beat the fuck out of, or someone who’s just fucking jealous of how awesome we are.”
Ace scrunches his brows together as he does when he’s thinking. “That could still be a lot of fucking people. Ask around and keep your ear to the ground to see if you can gather more intel.”
His order is clear, and there’s nothing I can argue with, even if I am the kind of fucker who argues with a direct order.
“What?” he asks when he sees me hesitating.
I shrug. “Nothing.”
“Tank,” he growls. “What the fuck is up? You got that look on your face like you’re trying to squeeze out a shit.”
I sigh and shake my head. “Nothing I can’t handle,” I assure him. “Just that shit is getting hot in here, and if Noelle can get me out of this fucking place, sooner would be better.”
“Yeah, I know, but the wheels of justice move slow as fuck. You know that better than most.”
I nod because, yeah, I know that. The government takes its sweet fucking time unless it’s one of their own on the chopping block. And there isn’t a damn thing I can do about that. “Yeah.”
“You’ve been here before, Tank. This ain’t shit, and you know it. Play nice until we get you the fuck out of here. You remember how to do that, don’t you?”
I smile, resisting the urge to flip him off. “Yeah, I remember.”
