Page 113 of Tank’s Weakness

Mr. Finnegan speaks up. “He’s being held in jail. We will have a hearing in the morning for bail. He’s looking at involuntary manslaughter. The maximum time is fifteen years, but we are going to work on a plea deal. With Delaney’s statement, it is clear that Blaine was a danger. We could go to trial for self-defense, but the amount of force used will make that hard. A deal would be better. I am aiming for under five years with probation.”

“Do you think he can get that?” Delaney asks.

“I’ll do everything in my power to make it so. Don’t you worry. I have to go check in with him. Make sure they aren’t trying to interview him without me present. I’ll check in later.”

Smoke nods. “I’ll walk you out.”

Then I’m alone with Delaney.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper.

She smiles. “Don’t be. You saved me. I’ll never regret what you did for me.”

The relief is instant.

“He didn’t rape you?”

She shakes her head. “No evidence of it. He roughed me up a bit, but that’s it. I’m okay.”

I take a much-needed breath.

“Thank you.” She pulls my hand to her lips.

I stand, leaning down to press my lips to hers. “I will always protect you.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Delaney

Two days after my abduction, the lawyer came to talk with us again. The judge denied bail for Acid due to his association with the club and the high profile of the law firm Blaine had worked for. Even though they had been set to fire him for the way he let his work slip, Blaine was still known as an employee there, and they decided to make an example of the club. Tank says they just want the free publicity that will come with pushing hard on this case.

I hate that Blaine is still fucking with us from the grave. I feel guilty that I wished he had disappeared and was never heard of again. Instead, the motel manager called the police and put us here. What’s even worse is that Acid didn’t do the crime. He can’t defend himself, though. Not without outing Tank.

The lawyer is still pushing for the low end of the punishment for involuntary manslaughter. It will be up to the judge, though. All I know is I feel really guilty that Acid is still in jail and won’t be out anytime soon. They plan to hold him until the case can be heard by a judge. The lawyer is pushing for a speedy trial, as is Acid’s right. I just wish this whole nightmare would end.

They are still talking over the whole case in the other room, but I excused myself. I couldn’t sit there and listen to how they plan to handle this when I know that this entire thing is my fault. If I had never walked up to Tank that first night, Blaine would still be alive and they wouldn’t be in all of this trouble.

Then again, Blaine also might have killed me, and I would no longer be here.

I can’t regret the decisions I made, but I can feel bad for what consequences others are paying for them.

I sigh, rubbing my hand down my face.

“Hey.”

Turning, I look over my shoulder and see Erica leaning against the doorframe.

“What are you doing here?” I ask.

We’ve talked on the phone several times, but I haven’t seen her since the incident. Not until now, at least. I know she wanted to visit me in the hospital, but the guys thought it would be best that she stay away.

She walks in, leaving the door open, and crawls into Tank’s bed with me. She wraps her arms around me, and I lay my head on her shoulder.

“I fought my way in. I knew you needed me,” she says simply.

“Did Tank call you?”

“Yeah, he said he thought you needed me. That you were being quiet and he was worried.”