Candy looked pleased. “No worries. He’s a cute little kid. Smart too.”
“You can’t get him back,” Lizard said. “Not without doing what Bridges wants you to do. You have to find them.”
“They aren’t out there,” Breezy objected. She took a deep breath. “I came to talk to you, Candy. I know you love your father. He’s a decent man.” He wasn’t. He was just as involved with trafficking as the others in the club. “I can help you get out of club life. I can find you a job and a good place to live …”
Candy frowned. “What are you talking about? The Swords are my life. I love what I do for them. I’m proud of it.”
“You’re proud of them whoring you out?”
“If I can bring in money for the club, then yes.”
“And carrying drugs for them? Accepting all the risks while they get all the profits?”
“Of course. We all do that for them. That’s our contribution. You always did whatever was needed, and you did it gladly.”
Breezy shook her head. “Candy, I didn’t do it gladly. Some things are wrong. The way they treat women is wrong.”
Candy looked horrified. “What’s happened to you? What’s wrong with you, Breezy? I used to look up to you. The Swords are my life. I would never leave, and whatever they want me to do, I’m doing for them. I think you’ve been brainwashed.”
Breezy became aware of Lizard standing between her and the door. He moved closer to it and then rested his back against it.
“I think Breezy’s upset that Bridges took her kid, Candy,” Lizard said, his tone reasonable. Understanding. “Is that it, girl? You’re upset that your daddy took your baby from you and gave you an impossible task?”
She was in a bad position. Candy wasn’t saying those things because her father was in the room, she was saying them because she believed them. In a way, Breezy understood. She’d been terrified to leave the only community she’d ever known. She knew club rules and how to behave. It had been safe there. She’d had to do things she thought were wrong, things she hadn’t liked, but she’d still known how to behave and feel comfortable in the environment. Sometimes, even after three years, she still struggled with how to behave outside the club. So, yeah, she could understand Candy’s reaction.
“Wouldn’t you feel that way, Lizard? He won’t give him back to me. He’s threatening to kill him.” She let her voice waver. Tears for Candy were close. She couldn’t take her out of there, because Candy didn’t want to go.
“He’s not going to kill him, especially if it proves that Czar and Steele died in that place with everyone else.”
“Why does Bridges think they’re alive?” It was another chance to try to convince Lizard that Czar and Steele were dead.
“That fuckin’ Deveau is alive. Jackson Deveau. His daddy was sergeant at arms years ago. I remember him. A good brother. That was before we’d gotten so big. Before Evan took us international. Evan hated that kid. Wanted him dead. He got so that was all he could think about.”
“But Deveau doesn’t have anything to do with Czar or Steele, does he?” Breezy asked.
She felt like she was treading on thin ground. At least Lizard had given her an acceptable out for being upset and wanting out of the club. He still hadn’t moved away from the door.
Lizard shook his head. “The connection is through Czar, from what I understand. Turns out Czar has a brother married to some famous singer. They live in that area. That singer has a sister married to Jackson Deveau.”
Breezy allowed the silence to stretch out for as long as she could. “That’s it, Lizard? Bridges is threatening my son because Czar is or was related in a vague, convoluted way to Deveau?” She turned back to Candy. “Does that even make sense to you?”
“Damn it, Bree, you’re doing it again. Stop trying to protect me. Just get out of there. You can’t save Candy if she doesn’t want to be saved. Get out now.”
Breezy didn’t wince at the brutal command in Steele’s voice, but she wanted to. He was angry with her for even engaging with Lizard. He didn’t care if the man knew he was alive. He wouldn’t care if every Swords member knew. He wanted her safe. That was his first priority. Breezy hadn’t known any club could be like that. Steele continually assured her that the majority of the clubs were