Page 104 of Ozzie

“Why did you have to find them? Didn’t they give their statement the night we were arrested?” I ask.

Reed shrugs. “According to the public defender you two originally had, there was no statement on file for them. Axel was the one who found them, and they said they ran that night before they were questioned. Now, they’ve agreed to give their statement in exchange for our protection.”

“And their statement was enough to get us released?” Lightning asks.

Reed shifts in his seat. “Apparently so.”

I glance back at Lightning, who arches a brow. I turn back to Reed. “What aren’t you telling us?” I ask.

“The prosecutor refused to pursue charges against you two.”

“Why?” I should be grateful and let it go, but I have to know why.

“Because she owed my dad a favor. He called it in. End of case.”

Reed shifts his body away. It’s his way of saying the conversation is done. Part of me wants to ask Jerry about it, but it’s best to leave it alone.

“Thank you,” I say.

“Don’t thank me, thank him.”

“We will,” Lightning says.

We drive in silence as I process everything he’s said. Axel found JB and his mother.

“Is Axel watching them?”

“Yes, he, Thunder, and Durango are rotating shifts. It’s lucky for them we have all hands on deck right now.”

Durango? “Wait, where’s Piper? Isn’t John still a threat?”

Reed nods as he turns onto another road. “Durango asked Moose to keep an eye on Piper. He’s staying at Durango’s for the time being.”

Did I hear that right? Durango asked the new guy to watch his cousin instead of keeping an eye on her himself? And of all the guys, this guy was flirting with her the moment he first saw her.

“None of that makes sense. Durango wouldn’t want anyone else keeping Piper safe,” I say.

We pull into the drive-through and place our order. As we pull up behind another car to wait, Reed turns to me.

“He didn’t have much of a choice. I needed him on this assignment. Moose is new, so it made more sense for him to take on the easier situation.”

“Easier? How the hell is that easier? John was able to take Durango down last time. Has this guy been briefed on this?” I send a text to Piper.

Ozzie:Just got out. Are you safe?

She responds right away.

Piper:That’s great! Yes, I’m safe.

I stare at my phone, waiting for more, but it doesn’t come.

“Are you questioning my orders?” Reed asks.

I play back what I said in my head. “Sorry, I don’t mean to. It’s just when it comes to Piper—”

“Your head is not on straight. Yeah, we’re all aware of that,” Lightning says.

I turn and glare at him as Reed pulls up to the window and is given our food. He hands the bag to me as he pulls out onto the road. I grab mine and hand the bag to Lightning.

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