Perfect. There are plenty of other members of Empire PD who I might know, but it sounds more like they’ll be patrolling the surrounding area, not necessarily the courthouse itself. I’ll verify that with one or two other contacts before deciding what course to take. “Excellent. Thank you, Heidi.”

She shrugs. “Sure, no big deal. I had a coupon to Michaels to share with her anyway. I think she’s bought out all the iridescent white ribbon in every craft store from here to New Jersey for these wedding favors she’s making.”

In some alternate universe, maybe I’d feel bad about asking Heidi to exploit a friendship. But that’s not how club life works. For a truly dedicated old lady like Heidi, the club will always come before any relationship with an outsider. Even someone she’s known since she was a kid, like Bree.

Being a cop, Liam’s smart enough to know the risk of Heidi and Bree’s friendship. Had Heidi asked direct questions about the trial and Bree even casually mentioned Heidi’s interest to him, he would’ve suspected we were up to something. Then a few weeks from now, when the poor, disgraced ex-senator comes to a violent and bloody end, someone would’ve been knocking on the clubhouse door.

Bree’s newly-rekindled friendship with a biker’s old lady probably annoys the shit out of Liam. Then again, I’ve met the guy, and while Teller’s right, he’s a straight shooter—the kind of cop I’d never offer a bribe. When Charlotte was attacked by her uncle, Liam bent the rules and allowed us to straighten things out beforehand instead of tossing Charlotte in jail. Even accepted the phony excuse about why we had video cameras in Charlotte’s apartment at face value. So, while the guy’s honest, he’s also smart and practical.

Believe it or not, I have respect for honest cops. They willingly risk their lives every day for shitty pay and even less appreciation. It’s that whole shit pay versus risk of life thing that usually turns them dishonest.

Still, since I plan to murder the ex-senator soon, I don’t want even a whiff of a connection between my club and him.

Chapter Sixteen

Z

“I don’t think I would’ve volunteered for this if I’d known I would end up in a suit,” Murphy grumbles, tugging at his sleeves.

“Aren’t you going to wear one at your wedding? It’ll be good practice.”

He growls out a few curse words. “I’m not sure what you’re going for, but we look more like mafia hitmen than politicians or lawyers.” He flashes his hands, covered in lots of ink, just like mine.

“We’ll blend in a lot better than we will in jeans and cuts. Quit your bitchin’.”

Outside, we run into Hope.