“I hate saying it, but Sway pushed him pretty far and who knows what he’s fucked up since then. He wouldn’t have had any confidence in Shadow after that arrest.”

“Even before that he hinted at us taking over down there.”

“Fuck, I’m surprised they’re not more suspicious of me.”

“Why do you think I sent Murphy and Teller with you? Fuck, I’d be right there with you if I could, brother.”

“Thanks, Rock.”

He takes a more serious look at me. “Everything okay?”

I run my hand through my hair while I think about where to start. “Did Hope talk to you about the subpoena Lilly got?”

“A little. She didn’t have a lot of details.”

“Yeah, neither do I.”

Rock’s one of the smartest people I know, so it doesn’t surprise me terribly when he asks, “You think it’s connected to why she left?”

“Sort of. I can’t put my finger on it exactly.” I hesitate, unsure about sharing this. If what Lilly suggested, that she hurt herself, is true, trying to take the easy way out isn’t exactly a decision that’s respected in our world. A brother trying to take his own life better pray he succeeds, otherwise his club might finish the job.

But Rock’s never been one to judge and won’t run his mouth to anyone else about it. “She has these marks down her arms.” I trace a line down to my wrist, but I have to force the words out. “Like she might have hurt herself.”

“Jesus. What’d she tell you?”

“Says that’s how she found out about Chance. That he saved her.”

His expression softens. “Did you ask why?”

“Some other stuff came up.” I don’t want to tell Rock about Ted’s visit. I can only imagine what he already thinks of Lilly. No need to make it worse. In my mind, Ted’s already a non-issue. I’m not nearly as pissed about it as I was last night. “She’s a goddamn fortress.”

He snorts. “Why do you think that is?”

“She’s embarrassed?”

“Maybe.”

“She thinks I’ll get mad?”

“At her or someone else?”

“Fuck. I don’t know. I feel in my gut that the two things are related.”

“You think she left to protect you or herself?”

I frown at the question. “Why me?”

His expression hardens and he crosses his arms over his chest. “What would you have done if you found out someone hurt or threatened her?”

That’s easy. “Kill the motherfucker.”

“Right. We both know that corruption investigation didn’t happen overnight.”

“You think one of those senators hurt her to keep her quiet?”

He shrugs. “You’ll have to ask her.”

“It’s not a conversation she wants to have with Chance around.”