Page 112 of Static

He laughed. "Figured." We weren't fooling him for one minute. "Did you know he was indirectly responsible for Trent going after Gwen?"

My fingers tightened on the file. "We had a feeling." We'd spent weeks discussing what might have happened. Our theory was all the shit with Fremont pushed Trent into using cocaine, whether to keep up, or to deal with all the shit that was happening, we weren't sure which. And his 'prestigious' job had him wanting his family back, for appearances. It went downhill from there. It wasn't completely Fremont's fault, but he was a piece of the puzzle.

"You want a beer?" Hush asked.

Rainer's brows rose. "It's ten in the morning."

"We're fucking celebrating," Smoke told him. "Doesn't matter what time it is."

I looked over at him and winced. He looked like shit. Dani was past her due date and Smoke wasn't sleeping well. It was easy to see that he was exhausted, but he was here with us and that was what mattered.

"Sure, why not?"

Everyone moved over toward the field where the kids were playing and the women were sitting nearby, watching over their children.

Scarlett came over, carrying some beers. She gave Rainer a wide smile. I wasn't surprised in the least. The older man usually had a flock of women surrounding him, trying to lock him down. He never took any of them up on their offers.

Rainer took his beer with a thank you for the bunny, then looked away. His gaze froze on Sylvia.

"See something you like?" I asked, keeping my voice neutral.

"The women here all belong to someone...right?"

"No," Rip told him with a grin. "Scarlett there is single."

"So's Sylvia," Hellfire added, pointing toward the gorgeous older woman who was chasing Dex in a game of tag.

Warrant came out, carrying a cooler, filled with ice and beers. "Plenty of free ass around here when these guys throw a party."

"Free ass?" Rainer asked with a wry grin.

"Not locked down," Cynic clarified.

"How old are you?" Rainer asked.

Cynic rolled his eyes, but Rotor was the one to speak up. "Old enough to get some pussy, though I'm pretty sure he's a virgin."

"Your mother took care of that," Cynic said, flipping Rotor off.

Rainer gave him a look of mocking disbelief.

"You can hit up our club's parties, too," Kilo offered, changing the subject and giving his friend a break. "Since you're based out of Phoenix. That's where we are, too."

"Thanks," Rainer replied.

"You're one of our clubs' allies now," Cypher told him with a cunning smile. "And it'll be very helpful to me to know a US Attorney."

Rainer frowned and looked over at me. "Do I want to know why?"

"You'll find out soon enough," I promised with a laugh. Cypher would take full advantage of anything that would help his security company out. I wasn't about to mention to Rainer that I might have just dragged him into shit he wanted nothing to do with. "Want me to introduce you?" I asked, flicking my eyes toward Syl.

Rainer's gaze had returned to her. "No. Thanks. In fact, I better get going. Some of us have cases to start." He gave me a dark look. "You can come in in a few days and give us a hand."

"Sure. Be happy to," I replied.

"Stay," he said when most of us started to follow him back out to the parking lot. "I can find my way." He pointed at me. "I'll be sending you that bill."

I waved him off and smiled when Gwen came over and pressed against my side.