“He’s still breathing. I see you two made up,” I said to Knox, who had Naomi caged between the counter and his chest. His hands were tucked into the back pockets of her jeans, an expression of wolfish anticipation on his handsome face.
“I’m impossible to stay mad at,” Knox said.
“All it takes is for him to load the dishwasher the right way and I’m a puddle of forgiveness,” Naomi said. Her engagement ring and wedding band winked in the light.
“Do you two have a minute to talk about something?” I asked Naomi and Lina.
Both women extracted themselves from their men and followed me into the living room on the other side of the kitchen.
“I don’t like the sound of this,” Knox grumbled as we left.
“They’re absolutely going to eavesdrop on us,” Lina warned, dropping into a chair and swinging her legs over the arm.
Naomi perched on the couch and patted the cushion next to her. “Is this about the mercurial pain in your ass?”
Lina choked on her wine.
I shook my head. “We’ve called a truce, and no, before you ask, I don’t wish to discuss the terms of said truce.” I heard the back door open and close, followed by the low rumble of male conversation. “This is about what we were talking about regarding legal aid. I wanted to run something by you two.”
I gave them the bare bones of the Mary Louise case.
“I think Allen did something stupid or got caught up in the wrong crowd and his mom protected him. And no one deserves twenty years for protecting their kid. Obviously, I wouldn’t just go and commit your money to anything without discussing it with you first. It might not be the right fit for what we want to do, but I’d at least like to go talk to her and get some more details about her case and her sentencing.” I took a breath and scrubbed my hands over my knees. “So what do you think?”
“I think this is an amazing idea and your dad would be so proud,” Naomi said, squeezing my hand.
“Agreed,” Lina said.
“It could cost a lot. Like more than we have. There wouldn’t be anything leftover for anyone else,” I warned.
“It’s a woman’s life,” Naomi said. “Of course it’s worth it.”
“If you’re sure, then I’d like to meet with her and hear her side of the story if she’s willing to share it.”
“Where is she incarcerated? I’ll go with you,” Lina volunteered.
“Me too,” Naomi agreed. “I’d like to meet her.”
“The fuck you three are.” Knox stomped into the room followed by Nash. Lucian lingered in the doorway.
“Now, Viking—” Naomi began.
“Don’t you, ‘now, Viking’ me, Daze,” her husband shot back. “You’re not going to prison, even if it is just to have a chat.”
Nash had his arms crossed over his chest and his gaze locked on Lina. She shook a finger at him. “Don’t you even try the bossy-pants, alpha-male routine, hotshot. I’ve interviewed prisoners before.”
“Oh, I’m not siding with my dumbass brother. But if you’re goin’， I’m goin’， Angel,” Nash said amicably.
“How about I save everyone a whole lot of marital strife? I’ll go by myself and—”
There was a resounding “No!” From everyone. Everyone including Lucian.
A flare of temper winked into existence. “To be fair, none of you have any right to tell me what I can and can’t do. I understand the intricacies of relationships, and you all can deal with that yourselves. But I don’t owe that consideration to any of you.”
“You’re not going,” Lucian said as if he had any right whatsoever to make such a decree.
“Can I speak to you outside?” I said through clenched teeth.
“I’ll go with you,” Nash interrupted.
“Well, if you two are going, I’m definitely going,” Lina argued.
“Ahem! This is our money for our initiative,” Naomi reminded the men. “Ergo, we are the ones who get to make the decisions.”
Knox held up a finger like he was about to start yelling and then left the room instead.
His booted footsteps echoed through the house as he stomped away and then back again.
He returned with a checkbook and a pen in hand, Waylon and Piper dancing at his heels.
Knox scrawled ink violently across a check, then ripped it free. “Here. Now I get a say, and you’re not going.”
“You can’t just throw money at everything, Knox,” Naomi pointed out, getting to her feet. “This woman deserves a real second chance.”