Roman's Vow (Riley's Pride #4) - Sandra R Neeley Page 0,52
and his little girl.”
Lazarus nodded slowly, seeming to consider her words. “Why then, are you so hell bent on showing me how wonderful he is? Why’s it matter so much to you what I think? You’re so happy, go with it, I still don’t give a damn. And for the record, your little boyfriend is not in a crime syndicate. He’s a fucking small-time thief, breaks into people’s houses. That’s not a syndicate. That’s a pussy.”
“You don’t know!” Candy yelled.
Lazarus tapped his ear. “All you have to do is listen. You should try it sometime. Shut your never closed mouth, and listen to people. You’ll hear it for yourself.”
Candy glared at him and stomped her foot, before throwing her middle finger up at him, spinning on her heel and leaving the kitchen.
Lazarus chuckled when he heard her cursing him with every step she took on her way back to the front door. She slammed her way out of the bar and presumably away from the building and him.
Lazarus reached in his back pocket and took out his phone. He unlocked it and pressed Riley’s number.
“Yo!” Riley said by way of greeting.
“’Sup?” Lazarus asked, as he walked around the first floor of the bar, making sure he was still alone. He walked over to the front door and locked it so nobody could come in and surprise him while he was talking.
“Laying down some shingles,” Riley said. “It’s cold as fuck here, so we all up here trying to get ‘er done quickly.”
“Ain’t half as cold as it is up here. I’d pay you to be roofing at the moment instead of freezing my ass off and waiting for lunchtime to serve the day drinkers,” Lazarus said.
“Aren’t you inside?” Riley asked.
“Yeah, but that don’t mean shit. This freaking snow gets in your damn bones. I’m so tired of fucking being here.”
“You making any progress?” Riley asked.
“Yep. That’s what I’m calling about. Found out the one I been eyeing is the one we looking for. Got confirmation only a few minutes ago. Found out he’s telling people his ex-wife is in jail for murdering a man and she gave his daughter to somebody he don’t even know. His mom is gonna get her back so he can marry this new one and they can be one big happy family,” Laz explained.
“The fuck he is,” Roman snarled from somewhere in the background.
“That’s Roman. I put you on speaker so he and Lucas could hear,” Riley said.
“Figured as much.”
“I’m coming,” Roman said.
“No, no you’re not. I got this, Roman. You take care of your daughter, and your woman.”
“I have a right to…” Roman started.
“You have a right to keep your ass right where you are. What the hell is going to happen to them if something happens to you? They ain’t nothing but a bunch of small time wannabes, any of us could handle. But what if there’s a witness? What if you end up in jail just like your woman? Who’s going to look after your little one?” Lazarus asked, interrupting Roman. “Yeah, see? I know what the hell I’m talking about.”
“Yeah, but Laz,” Roman said.
“But nothing. When’s the next court date?” Lazarus asked.
“About five weeks,” Riley answered as Roman paced in a small circle beside him on the highest part of the roof.
“Ya’ll trust me. I’ve got this. Roman, you stay where the hell you are. I’ll see ya’ll at court. Then a few weeks later once I’m sure there won’t be any blowback, I’ll follow ya’ll home,” Lazarus said.
“We do this as a Pride,” Riley said firmly.
“No, we do not. With all due respect, Alpha, we do not. The whole reason for this is in jail, accused of a murder she didn’t commit. I have to find a way to get the real killer to confess, or his friends to give testimony, and see her free. If I cross the line, it could be brought to light a lot more readily than usual because she’s already in jail. I got nothing to lose, Riley. Nothing. Nobody waiting on me, like you and Roman and Richie got. If the worst happens and I end up getting popped and having to spend some time away, I won’t be letting anybody down, leaving anybody unprotected. All ya’ll, ya’ll need to be where you are. Leave this on me.”
“I don’t like this, Lazarus. You’re one of us. We are a Pride, we support each other,” Riley insisted.