Delayed Penalty (The Dartmouth Cobras #5)

by Bianca Sommerland

  “Yeah.” Laura shook her head, gesturing for Ford to sit across from her. “Why insist I be here, though? The fact that we’ve hung out at the club won’t have me treating you any differently.”

  “Maybe not.” Ford planted his boots flat on the floor, trying to get comfortable on the metal chair. Sitting back seemed impossible, so he ended up hunched forward near the table, facing Laura as she settled on the large, red padded chair. Officer Hayes sat in the other, closer to Ford. Both staring at him like they were waiting for a confession. He ran his tongue over his teeth. “Laura, you know Jami. You know my sisters. I figured you’d be a bit more careful to keep them safe than just any cop.”

  “This careful enough for you?” Laura held her hands out, palms up, to indicate the room. “I’m not sure why you wanted the arrest to be so public, but you don’t have to worry about anyone hearing anything you say in here besides me and Hayes.”

  “Good.” Ford shifted his shoulders, trying to get the tight ache between them to let up. “So how do you want to do this?”

  Smoothing her hands over the front of her dark blue uniform as she stood, Laura came around the table, then lifted one eyebrow at the other officer. “You didn’t uncuff him?” She sighed at Hayes’ shrug, bending down to unlock the cuffs herself. “Sorry about this, Ford. This isn’t my usual gig, but the detective will be here any minute. Hayes will stay on as your handler and make things as publicly difficult for you as possible. It’s pretty much the norm for him.”

  “Thought he looked like a real asshole.” Ford rubbed his wrists, biting back a wince at the burn of broken skin.

  Hayes grinned and threw his feet up on the table. “You’re just lucky you aren’t a ‘real’ criminal.” He glanced over at Laura. “Or isn’t one anymore? Not clear on that.”

  A man in a dark suit who’d been coming in as Hayes spoke gave the officer a hard look. “I hope you’re not giving my new informant a hard time.” He held his hand out as Ford stood. “I’m Detective Sargeant Hamilton.” Once they’d shaken hands, the detective motioned for Ford to take Hayes’s chair. “Hayes, go out and stall his lawyers.”

  “Lawyers?” Ford leaned forward as Hayes strode from the interrogation room. Just a few steps away from the door he spotted his father’s lawyer—who he’d expected to show up—and . . . he blinked. Asher? He bit into the side of his tongue to keep from laughing out loud. The last person he’d want representing him was Silver’s ex-boyfriend, no matter how good of a lawyer he was.

  And Silver knew that, but she hadn’t liked not being able to help him with “Whatever messed up plans he had” when he’d warned her he’d be getting arrested today. She’d offered to post bail, but he told her to let Kingsley do it. That he needed whatever time he could get in here.

  Which apparently was something she could help with. He could hear Asher putting up a fuss even as Hayes started barking at them to keep it down. “He’s a Delgado! Do you have any idea what that means?”

  Detective Hamilton shook his head as he went to firmly close the door. “This has turned into quite the production. I hope you know what you’re doing, Mr. Delgado.”

  “Call me Ford. And if you know who my ‘father’ is, it ain’t hard to figure out why I needed to get arrested to talk to you guys.” Ford cracked his neck, his gaze on the detective as the man sat in his abandoned chair. Then he glanced over at Laura who was taking notes. He was glad she was here, but it seemed like she was just going to sit back and let him deal with the detective. Ford swallowed hard. “Look, I’m willing to testify in court or whatever you want, but I need some assurances first.”

  The detective rested his elbows on the table and steepled his fingers. “Such as?”

  “Cortland Nash was arrested yesterday. I get you Roy Kingsley . . .” This had to work. He’d take all the risks if it would set Cort free. “You drop all charges.”

  Eyes narrowing, expression dark, Detective Hamilton straightened and shook his head. “No deal. Nash will take care of his own shit.”

  Ford pushed out of his chair. “That’s it?”

  “Sit the fuck down.” Detective Hamilton looked more likely to rip Ford’s throat out than make him any kind of offer. Ford had seen Cort switch from calm to growling rage just as quickly.

  So he didn’t say another word until he was sitting. And tried to keep his tone level. “You’re telling me you’d rather take down a man who stopped that disgusting bastard from raping a young woman than a criminal who’s hurt so many people?”

  “Speculation is useless. Do you have any proof?”

  “I told you I was willing to get it.” Ford brought his head to his hands, tugging at his hair with his fist. This couldn’t be happening. “Tell me what you want me to do.”

  Shoes making a clipped sound on the white-tiled floor, Detective Hamilton walked over to the door, opened it briefly to listen to Asher arguing—loudly—with Kingsley’s lawyer, then closed it and returned to stand over Ford, thumbs hooked to his belt. His jaw worked as he studied Ford.

  “Why are you doing this? We never charged you because your story checked out. Jami confirmed that Lee was dead when you arrived at the scene. From this point on, your involvement in Cort’s case is over. You understand?”

  Fuck that. If Cort needed Ford’s testimony, he’d give it. “That’s up to Cort’s lawyer.”

  “This is a waste of my fucking time. And Laura’s. I don’t know what problems you have with your father—or the man who isn’t really your father.” The detective shook his head and let out a rough laugh. “Whatever. The family drama is your problem. We’re not starting an investigation because you want your muscle back.”

  “He’s my best friend.” And I can’t do anything for him.

  “Good for you. If that’s all—”

  “No.” A stone fist grabbed hold of Ford’s windpipe. His eyes burned as he glared at the detective. “Tim is dead. Because of my father. I’m sure you’ve all written it off as an accident, but—”

  Detective Hamilton met his gaze with a hard one of his own. “We know it wasn’t.”

  “My fath—Kingsley did this! He wants control of the team, and he couldn’t get it through Tim! He won’t stop until he gets what he wants!”

  “Tell me why you’re doing this! You can accuse your father of anything under the sun, but I need to know why!”

  For Cort. For Jami. For . . . for Tim. But none of those answers really explained his reasons. It was for all of them. And more. He’d stood by and watched the man he’d called “Daddy” hurt so many people. He couldn’t do it anymore.

  Staring down at the floor, Ford spoke softly, closing his eyes when the threat of tears scalded them. “Jami was almost raped because I didn’t stand up to my father. One of my waitresses was raped. Cort tried to get out of all this bullshit, but I brought him back in. And now, Tim is dead. That’s on me. This keeps going, and I’ll be no better than him. I wanted to be out of his shadow, but I’m still walking through the blood he leaves behind.”

  The detective stood there, silent for a few moments. His tone was direct when he finally continued. “All right, here’s the deal. I’ll keep you as a confidential informant. We know very little about the Kingsleys, but they have been investigated in the past. Your uncles more than your father. They’ll kill you if they find out you’re doing this.”

  “I don’t care.”

  “Then, again, you’re wasting my time. You can’t stop your father from doing anything if you’re dead.”

  Ford almost stood again, but recalling the detective’s reaction last time, he stayed put, gritting his teeth. “I don’t want to die. I want to stop him from hurting anyone else. And I want him to pay.”

  The detective nodded. “And this conversation would be over if I didn’t believe you. How much do you think you can get from him? Do you know what he’s involved in? Do you have access to computer files, anything solid?”

  A tiny glimmer of hope sparkled through the murkiness within. Ford in
clined his head. “I can get that. Once I can get him to trust me again, I can get pretty much anything.”

  “Good. I’ll let Laura work out the details with you. There’s not much more to discuss, but the two of you can meet at your bar—or that club you both go to.” Detective Hamilton’s lips quirked. “She’ll get you hooked up with a wire. Might be best if she shows you how to use it there. No one will question her touching you.”

  For the first time in a while, Laura spoke up, after rolling her eyes. “Hamilton, you don’t know what you’re talking about. I don’t play with Ford.”

  “But you can, can’t you? Your . . . Mistress? Isn’t she the one that got Ford’s message to you?” The detective’s cheeks reddened a little. Fuck, the man was human after all. “She’ll let you play with him if it’s important?”

  Laura snorted and took a few last notes on her pad. “If he’s willing to submit to her? Maybe.”

  “I see. Well, good luck with that. The woman is pretty . . . impressive.” Detective Hamilton chuckled. “Now, if there’s nothing else—”

  “Just one thing, if you don’t mind.” Ford got it. The detective didn’t trust him yet. But he could work on that. So he put all the respect he could into his tone as he started to rise, waiting until Hamilton nodded before pushing completely off his chair. “I’d like my phone call.”

  * * * *

  The bar should be closed. After the scene that had played out on the big screen showing Ford’s arrest, Akira couldn’t really explain why it wasn’t. The team was meeting in an hour, but a good half of the Cobras were in here. Some drinking hard. Some staring at the walls. All shattered men.

  And yet she wasn’t feeling much of anything. It was like the pain had reached the point where her body had to shut it out. All she could do was observe all those around her, her core hollow, emotions like a distant echo.

  Neither Dean nor Landon were present, but Silver had come with her sister. Sloan and Max were sitting with them. Akira was at the bar with Sahara after deciding that noon was close enough to five for a couple of shots. And by the nod Dominik gave Reggie, the bartender, he agreed. The glasses were filled.

  The music changed. Silver stood and joined the band. Akira’s brow creased. She’d never heard Silver sing, but the woman seemed so comfortable up there on the stage, it was hard not to believe she belonged there.

  Silver cleared her throat before speaking into the mike. “For my big sister. Fuck, I’m not sure I should be here. Maybe none of us should be. But looking at all of you, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be. I can’t imagine how you feel, but he was there when I . . . when I wasn’t, sweetie. I just know it hurts. Bad.”

  Tears glistened beneath Silver’s long, black lashes as the band started playing. Her smile was tight, but big and real as she began to sing “Here’s to Us” by Halestorm.

  Dominik swallowed hard at Akira’s side. He shook his head, squeezed Akira’s shoulder, then went over to Oriana’s table. He hugged Max, then Sloan, speaking softly to both before holding out his hand to Oriana. Akira’s throat locked as she saw the sheen of moisture on Dominik’s cheeks. He kissed the top of Oriana’s head.

  And held her as she whispered to him, nodding slowly. Akira could hear him over the emotional lull of Silver’s song.

  “It will get better.”

  Akira had to look away from them. Not because she was jealous. She knew it was over between Oriana and Dominik. Akira could hang on to Dominik for as long as she needed to. He’d allow it.

  But she shouldn’t need to. She hadn’t fucked up. And she wasn’t sure either Cort or Ford had either. But they weren’t here. She caught something special pass between Sahara and Dominik as he released Oriana and gave her hand one last squeeze. He returned to the bar, standing a little closer to Sahara than to Akira, nodding at something Sahara said. Almost smiling when Sahara dried his tears with her fingertips.

  She didn’t want to be in Sahara’s place. Didn’t want to dry Dominik’s tears. She wished her friend all the best, but part of her wanted . . . Her chest tightened even more as she saw Sebastian in the shadows, his arms crossed over Luke’s chest. Tyler near the back of the room with Chicklet, his forehead rested on the cushion of her breasts. The Cobras with wives sat with them, accepting their comfort.

  And no matter what anyone said, Akira was alone. Both her men were behind bars. The one thing she’d told Cort she couldn’t deal with, having him picked up by the cops one day . . .

  Now it was him and Ford. And she wasn’t sure which was worse. She suspected part of the reason Cort had let Ford in was so she’d never feel like this. She’d always have someone.

  But she didn’t.

  Her phone buzzed in her purse. She ignored it at first, but it started again. It could be anyone. One of her girls, calling like others had, to tell her they couldn’t come today because it was too hard. She glanced at the number. Didn’t recognize it.

  The phone kept ringing.

  She couldn’t face the people around her anymore. Heading to the back of the bar, she ducked into the small hall with a single door for the bathroom. She pulled the phone out of her purse and answered, abruptly numb. “Hello?”

  “Damn it, I’m sorry. Just hearing your voice . . . I really messed up. Again.”

  Ford. Her bottom lip quivered. “Ford?”

  “It’s me, shorty.”

  “Why? Why did you—I mean, what happened?” She wasn’t even sure what she was asking. Only that she needed him here. Now. “You didn’t do anything. Why did they arrest you?”

  “Babe, I’m only telling you this because I’m on Laura’s phone. So it’s safe. But don’t say anything people can hear. Both me and Cort are doing everything we can to keep you safe.”

  “I know.” Cort wouldn’t have hesitated in leaving her with Dominik. But Ford might have. Ford was so afraid to lose her. So afraid he didn’t have her. “Ford . . . I don’t care. Being safe means I’m all by myself.”

  “You have Dominik.”

  “But I don’t have you.”

  “You will. I hate that you’ve had to deal with all this, but it won’t take long. I only went in because . . . Akira, I’m ending this. Kingsley is involved in a lot of the things that have gone bad.”

  Her blood ran cold. “Tim and Madeline . . . ?”

  “Yes. It wasn’t an accident.”

  “Oh God.” She pressed her fist to her lips, leaning against the wall when just standing became difficult. “But . . . Ford, King—”

  “Shh, please, baby, don’t say his name. Or mine. I don’t know how secure the bar is anymore. Kingsley thinks I’m on his side now. I’m going to work on getting him put away for a long time.” He inhaled sharply. “And before you ask, Cort had to turn himself in to stop Kingsley from using the threat of prison against him anymore.”

  “Anymore?” She didn’t understand. Kingsley had threatened Cort, but for what? She needed to know, but she couldn’t voice her questions. Not if doing so could put Ford in more danger. She held the phone closer, whispering. “When will I see you?”

  “Soon. I don’t know how yet, but I’ll figure something out that won’t put you at risk. I know it must have been scary to see me on the news, being hauled in, but it was staged. I should be out in a few hours.”

  “Good. That’s good.” She scraped her bottom lip with her teeth. “And then you’ll come to me?”

  “I will.” He went quiet, spoke to someone else, then sighed. “I have to go, but I promise you, this will be over before too long.”

  “I miss you.” Her voice sounded small, but she didn’t care. She was scared. For Ford, for Cort, for anyone else Kingsley could hurt. And it didn’t make her feel any better that her men had made sure she wasn’t one of them. The pain of losing Tim and Madeline was still so raw, she knew she couldn’t take losing anyone else.

  Hearing Ford’s voice helped, though. No matter how afraid she was, she knew he’d find a way to come back to her. And find a way to bring Cort ho
me.

  “I miss you too, shorty. And I love you.”

  Her lips quirked a little as she thought of all her past replies to him saying those three words. Tears clung to her lashes, blinding her. “I love you, too.”

  “Do me a favor. Go back to Dominik and tell him something for me.”

  “Okay.”

  “Tell him, thank you,” Ford said quietly. “Thank you for taking care of someone who means more to me than my own life.”

  “Don’t say that.” She wasn’t sure what scared her more. The implication of what he’d said, or the fact that he might take foolish chances to prove it. “You have to—you have to be careful.”

  “I will be.”

  “And I’ll be waiting for you. So hurry and get out of there.”

  “But you’ll tell him?”

  Such a simple request, but she understood why it was important to him. He needed Dominik to know, true, but she had a feeling her acknowledging how precious she was to him mattered more. So she nodded. Smiled a little. “I’ll tell him.”

  Back in the main area of the bar, Akira watched the men gathering near the entrance, where Dean was coming in with Landon. She hadn’t expected Dean to be here today, but he was hugging the men and the women, nodding as everyone gave their condolences. Landon went over and spoke to the waitresses standing near the bar. They all nodded and began to move the tables to the center of the room in a close cluster.

  After everyone was seated, Dean rose from his chair at his table with Landon and Silver. He bowed his head for a moment, hands on the table. Then he straightened and squared his shoulders. “I know you all expected to meet at the Forum, but . . . I thought it would be better here. I’m sure I’m not alone in feeling that the place won’t be the same without Tim. Going there for the game tomorrow will be soon enough.”

  The players nodded, some with their heads down, some never taking their eyes off Dean. A few of the women stifled sobs behind their hands. Tyler’s shoulders stiffened, and it looked like Chicklet’s grip on his hand was the only thing that kept him from getting up and walking out. He rubbed his face with one hand, clearly trying to hide his tears.