I turned quickly when I heard the keys again. The door opened and my heart moved to my throat. “Oh my God,” I whispered.
A guard, paraded Knight inside, wearing a gray jumpsuit. It was pale and washed out. He was shackled at the ankles and wrists. It was like watching something out of a horror movie. He was positioned at the other side of the table, and cuffed to metal hooks with no other purpose but to keep prisoners from having any range of motion.
“Ten minutes,” the guard snarled and then left the room.
I sat across from Knight. I had to blink back every damn tear that tried to surface. I wasn’t the one in cuffs. I wasn’t the one going through the nightmare he was.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
He nodded. “I’m fine. I was so fucking worried about you.”
“Me? I’m fine.”
“But, the cabin,” he whispered.
“I took matters in my own hands when you didn’t come back,” I explained. I didn’t want to waste the only ten minutes we had going over the details of how I hiked out of the bayou.
“The bail hearing is in the morning. I have new counsel.”
“Who is it?” I asked.
“Inherited,” he answered. “Apparently, Raphael had a fixer I didn’t know about. I met him today. Paul sent him.”
“And? Why are you still here?” I demanded answers. What kind of fixer left Knight in here like this?
“I think he’s got a handle on it.”
“What can I do? I’ll bring Renee in. Her firm has all the best.”
He tried to reach forward, but the chains caught on the ring. We both winced. I moved my hands closer to clasp them over his.
“I think Baxter Barnes has a handle on it.” He stared at my knuckles and the rough bandage wrapped around my finger from the radiator cut. “You don’t need to be there. I think you should stay away from this.”
My eyes widened. “Are you kidding me?”
“No. One of us has to stay clean.”
“Not be there for the bail hearing?” I withdrew my hands and glared at him. “I need to talk to the investigators. I can clear your name. There shouldn’t even be a hearing. You were with me. I was almost taken. They need to know I was attacked too. It changes everything.”
He shook his head. “Stay out of it,” his voice was quiet. “Don’t come near this. Keep Martin Global out of it.”
“Crew was my assistant. Martin Global is already in it.” I was angry that he was trying to push me away. He didn’t want me near this? It was bullshit.
“You know what I mean.” He crooked his head to one of the corners. “The families don’t know about our renewed friendship.” I could read between the lines. He was worried the announcement of our partnership would rub some of the patriarchs the wrong way without the right timing. I hadn’t even said yes, yet to the merger. There was no strategy in place.
“At this point, I don’t give a damn about the other families. We need to find Crew. We need you out of this jumpsuit,” I pledged.
“I’ll be out tomorrow. We’ll have time,” he replied. “Now, go.” His voice rumbled across the table.
I was hesitant to move. Why had any of this happened?
“Go,” he urged. “And stick with Kimble.”
“He’s waiting outside the station for me.” I knew the ten minutes were over. I heard footsteps behind me. The man with the limp and the keys had returned. I wanted to jump across the table and kiss him. Hold him. Tell him everything that was swirling beneath the surface. But there wasn’t time, and that kind of intimacy couldn’t be on display.
I stood, cleared my throat, and took a step back from the table.
“I’ll see you tomorrow.” I smiled. The guard took a position next to Knight and I knew I had to get out of this room. His chains felt like mine.