Page 32 of Shade (The Last Riders 6)

Rider came to stand in the doorway, watching with a predatory gleam in his eyes.

“Ms. Richards, your next appointment is due in ten minutes.”

“Stop it, Rider. Go on outside,” Winter snapped at the man who then turned and walked away with a final wink at Holly.

The rest of the brothers laughed at Rider’s failed attempt. Not many women turned Rider down.

“Thanks, Holly.” Ms. Richards stared hard at Viper. “After I’m finished with my next client, I’ll go down to the sheriff’s office and see what they have on him. I’ll keep in touch. Get a bail bondsman ready for a call. I’ll see what I can do about getting him out. Is he going to be a flight risk?”

“Knox wouldn’t run if you pointed a gun at him. It’s not in him; he’s a soldier. He stands and fights.”

“Good to know because, if he takes off, I’ll still expect my money, and you can find yourself another lawyer.”

“Deal,” Viper said, leaving the office with Winter, Shade, Rider, and Train trailing behind.

”That was a fail,” Rider complained, giving the secretary a wink, which she ignored as they closed the door.

“You came on too strong,” Shade enlightened.

“It’s the only way I know,” Rider bragged. “It always worked before.”

Shade agreed; not many women refused to at least flirt with Rider. He was easily the best-looking in the group, the easiest going, and the most liked. The only thing that grated on the brothers’ nerves was his arrogant attitude toward women. He believed no woman could resist him, and up until then, he had been right.

Holly was young and obviously shy. She should’ve been ripe for Rider’s plucking; instead, she had rushed from him as if he was about to have her for lunch. Something about the woman didn’t add up, but as long as it didn’t affect The Last Riders, Shade didn’t give a shit.

* * *

The Last Riders were waiting for Knox’s release when he came out of the courthouse with his lawyer. Bliss was the first one to greet him, throwing herself into his arms.

“Keep him out of sight and whatever you do, don’t let him get into any trouble. The Commonwealth’s Attorney won’t hesitate to throw him back in jail,” she told Viper and Winter.

Her caustic comment grated on Shade.

“I’ll make him stay at the clubhouse,” Viper promised.

“What’s next?” Winter asked Ms. Richards.

“A trial date will be set. I’m going to look into the case and hopefully find something to prove his innocence before then. It’s our best hope.”

“Is that safe?” Winter asked.

“Yes. If Knox didn’t kill her, then we have to cast some doubt. The best way to do that is to prove someone else had a motive. I’m mainly going to be talking to Sam’s friends.”

“Good luck with that; she didn’t have any,” Evie spoke out. She and Sam had hated each other on sight.

“There has to be someone in town who knew Sam well. I’ll find them. I need to get back to my office. Like I said, keep him out of sight.” She cast a last look at Knox, who had Jewell locked to his side.

“No problem.”

Diamond threw Viper a doubtful glance, and then turned on her heel, leaving.

“She didn’t seem too happy, did she?” Winter commented in a speculative voice.

“She’s a stuck-up bitch,” Shade said as the lawyer walked huffily down the sidewalk.

Winter laughed. “I won’t disagree with the bitch assessment, but how can someone with the name Diamond be stuck-up?”

“That her first name?” Knox asked in surprise.

“Yes.”

Shade agreed her name didn’t seem to fit. It sounded like a stripper name.

He slapped Knox on his back as they got on their bikes. “So am I right or wrong; is she a stuck-up bitch?”

Evie climbed on behind Knox.

“Brother, she is so stuck-up you can see the stick hanging out her ass.”

As the brothers all laughed, riding out onto the road and forcing cars to wait their turn, Train flipped off one driver who dared to blow their horn.

As they passed Diamond, Knox turned his head in her direction. Shade caught a flash of interest and was surprised. The lawyer was the opposite of the women Knox liked to fuck. Maybe Winter was right, though; a stuck-up bitch wouldn’t care that Knox had a woman on his bike. Diamond cared.

Chapter 28

When Knox came down the steps the next day, dressed to ride, Shade was playing pool with Rider yet laid down the pool stick.

“Going somewhere?”

“Been cooped up long enough. I want to go for a ride.”

Shade could understand. Even though it had only been a day since he had been released, Knox hadn’t been on a ride since he had been arrested.

“We’ll keep you company.”

“Suit yourselves. Let’s get something to eat at the diner first.”

“Sounds good to me. I’m hungry,” Rider said, laying down his pool stick.

The others all stood, going outside to get on their bikes. It was a pretty day. The sun was hot, but it wasn’t humid.

The diner’s parking lot was almost filled with several motorcycles lined up in front when they got there.

“The Blue Horsemen are here,” Viper said to Shade as they entered the door.

Shade stayed in the rear of the group to watch everyone’s back, making sure no one snuck up on them and caught them unaware.

They came to stand behind Diamond.

“You having problems?” Viper asked Diamond.

Before she could answer, the leader of the other club spoke. “She doesn’t have a problem; we do. We’ve asked her twice to leave, and she’s ignored us both times.”

“That true?” Viper turned to Diamond.

She stared back at Viper. “I need to find the men who were with Sam that day outside in the parking lot. They belong to The Blue Horsemen. You want me to clear Knox?” Diamond stared pointedly at Knox.

Stud leaned toward Diamond, losing his casual appearance. “I don’t know where the fuck they are, and I don’t know a damn thing about their families. They aren’t Horsemen anymore, and they weren’t when they pulled that stunt with Sam.”

“Stud, I think she got your message,” Knox said, taking a step forward.

“Good. Then maybe she’ll get her ass away from our table,” Stud snapped.

“Ms. Richards. Let’s go,” Viper ordered.

“Ms. Richards? When the hell did you become so polite?”

The Blue Horsemen around the table laughed.

“You laughing at Viper being polite, Bear?” Knox came back with his own smart-ass remark. Tension filled the restaurant that time as the tempers of the men from the rival bike clubs began to escalate.

Diamond rose to her feet.

Ash looked at Knox. “No.”

Bear’s lips tightened at his brother, most likely because he had backed down for Bear. “I’m finished. Sorry for the interruption.” Diamond broke the heightening tension, leaving the diner without looking back. However, she was brought to a stop outside when Knox grabbed her by the arm.

“What in the hell were you thinking?” Knox angrily asked her while Shade and Viper chased after him, not wanting him to get arrested again before he could go to trial.

“I thought I might try to find out who killed Samantha. It’s what Viper hired me to do,” Diamond answered, jerking her arm out of his grasp.

“I didn’t tell you to take on a motorcycle club. You should have called me or the sheriff who could have found out the information you needed,” Viper said.

“I didn’t need your help. I was safe. What were they going to do in a restaurant across from the sheriff’s office?”

“Were you planning on staying in there? They would have followed you home.” Knox stared at her like she was stupid.

“It doesn’t matter; it’s over.” Turning on her heels, she strode to her car.

; “It isn’t fucking over. You’re on their radar now. They’re going to watch and make sure you don’t drag their club into being investigated,” Knox said, striding after her with the rest of them following.

“How do you know that?” Diamond snapped.

“Because it’s what we would do,” Knox answered, slamming his hand on her car door when she tried to jerk it open.

“Back off, Knox,” Viper stated calmly.

Knox stepped away, removing his hand from her car door.

Diamond swung around to face the brothers. “If you want me to find out who killed Samantha, I’m going to have to step on some toes. Are you going to give me shit every time?”

“We’re not giving you shit. The men Samantha associated with were dangerous, and those are the ones we know about. Obviously someone killed her, so eventually, you’re going to come into contact with the person who did. The best way to handle this situation is to keep someone with you who can keep an eye on the situation so you won’t get hurt,” Viper cautioned her.

“I don’t need someone to watch my back. I can take care of myself.”

“I’m sure you can. We’ll merely provide you with back-up if you need our help,” Viper reasoned.