Chapter 13 Knox
KNOX
I spent four fucking days in the infirmary before I was released, and in that time Monroe had been busy.
Instead of returning to gen-pop like I thought I was gonna, I was escorted by two guards I didn’t recognize to another part of the jail.
I passed by a bunch of inmates barking at me like they were crazy as hell, then we went down a small corridor and walked a block outside.
People were out in the courtyard enjoying the sunshine and shit, but as I scanned the crowd I noticed some people were missing.
Mainly, the three Black Saddles.
We walked into a separate part of the jail that housed only a few cells. And there was one in the middle that was opened and waiting for me. But instead of heading for the cell, we walked past it and headed for a small room in the back.
I felt my entire body brace until I saw there was a phone with a chair sitting inside the room.
“Take your time. We’ll be out here when you’re done,” the guard said.
Take my time? What fucking twilight zone shit had I stepped into?
I picked up the phone and dialed Diesel’s number. I sat back into the chair, my body aching as it relaxed. I closed my eyes as the door shut to my side, and I could see the guards’ shadows underneath the door.
Were they guarding the room I was in while I made some sort of phone call?
“Hey there, Knox. How are you feeling?”
“I take it you know about all the changes I’m currently going through, Diesel?” I asked.
“I do. A lot happened during your stay in the infirmary,” he said. “Ready for it?”
“I’m all ears.”
“Monroe is a hell of a woman. She worked tirelessly to get you out of gen-pop and into a safer place until your hearing. That’s going to be in the next couple of days.”
“I’ll have to give her my thanks,” I said.
“I also got things solidified with Diego. The Latin Cobras are on your side for protection if you need it, so long as the club helps them clean up whatever messes are made in the name of protection.”
“Sounds fair enough.”
“You don’t have yard time with the other guys until your hearing because it puts you at too much of a risk. But I figured you wouldn't give a damn about that with how you’re feeling anyway,” he said. “Have they transferred you to your new cell yet?”
“I haven’t been in it, but I’ve walked past it,” I said.
“Good. It’s a wing that isn’t flooded with gen-pop. You’ll be much safer in there. Monroe told me she’s coming to see you today, so be ready for that meeting.”
“I will be. There anything else?”
“Yep. We got a rat in the damn club, Knox.”
I felt my blood run cold as I gripped the phone in my hand.
“You sure about that, Diesel?”
“As a fucking heart attack. There’s no way Blaze knew about your sister unless someone from this damn club opened their mouth.”
“We have a fucking rat,” I said.
“And we’re gonna smoke them out. Don’t worry.”
“Smoke them out. I’m gonna kill them, Diesel. That rat bastard isn’t gonna see the light of day ever again once I’m out of this hellhole.”
“Let’s not say that too loud. You’re still in jail, Knox. I wanted you to know that I’ve all but confirmed it at this point.”
“Why the hell would someone rat on one of their brothers? Who the fuck would do something like that?” I asked.
“That’s what I’m trying to figure out now. In the meantime, the Anderson P.D. are still checking in on your mom and Canyon. They’re still okay. I even took a night drive by there a couple nights ago. They’re good. Promise.”
“Thanks,” I said with a groan. “What the fuck’s going on, Diesel?”
“I don’t know, but we can’t let anyone know we have a rat. Not the Latin Cobras. Not our own club. Not anyone. The less people know, the easier it’s gonna be to track them down.”
“When I get out of here, I’m helping you get to the bottom of this. You aren’t doing anything with that asshole until I can help you do it.”
“Fine by me. The more the merrier. But right now, focus on your meeting with Monroe.”
“I have to tell her everything, don’t I?” I asked.
“It’s gonna be better if you do,” Diesel said. “I know you wanna keep things from her, especially with having a snitch in our midst. But she needs to know. You’ve got two days until your hearing and she’s gonna need all the ammo she can muster to get you outta there.”
“Fuck.”
“I know it’s a lot, Knox. But you gotta trust me on this.
You’re in a safer part of the prison, you won’t have yard time so you won’t be exposed.
You’re about to have a meeting with Monroe to talk about where you go from here, and the only thing you need to focus on is filling the holes she still has with your story.
Because I know you, and I know you left holes. ”
“What about the rat?” I asked.
“You gotta let me handle that until you can get out of there. Then, we’ll team up and scorch the nasty little rat out of our ranks.”
“How are the guys doing?”
“Missing us already?” he asked.
“Cut the shit. How is everyone?”
“We’re good. Trying to get you out of there. Brewer’s doing his thing and so is Rock. Grave’s ready to bust down doors and spill blood to get you out of there. You know how he is.”
“How’s Mick?”
“Worried. He always worries. You know him. But he’s running your position well until you get back.”
“Making ya good money?” I asked.
“Not as much as you do, but he’s holding his own. He’s ready to get you out of there, though. Your job plus his job is swallowing him a bit.”
“He’ll get used to it. Took me three years before I really got the hang of things. He’s only been at it for a little over a year.”
“You got enough chit chat to feel normal again?” he asked.
“Fuck you. I gotta go. The guards are shifting outside so it’s probably time with my meeting.”
“Fill her in, Knox. Give her what she needs to fight for you. She’s the one who got you out of gen-pop so quickly. Trust her. I know I do.”
“I do,” I said as the door beside me opened. “I trust her.”
“Good. Talk to you soon.”
“Yeah. Talk soon,” I said.
I hung up the phone before the guards helped me from my chair.
My body was starting to ache more, but the guards were being surprisingly gentle.
The door down the hallway opened and I saw a bunch of men pouring in front yard time.
But the moment their faces came into view, a shit-eating grin spread across my face.
The Latin Cobras.
I was in a separate wing surrounded by Jesus and his godsent goons.
My eyes connected with his as the guards ushered me past him.
He shot me a wink and I shook my head, relief flooding my veins.
Better late than never, but at least I could sleep comfortably at night now.
Being out of gen-pop and surrounded by protection meant it would be hard for anyone to get the sneak on me again.
And now that I had numbers over The Black Saddles, it was gonna be hard for them to turn the guards of this wing against us.
Especially since I had a feeling Diego and his crew had these specific guards in their pockets.
They led me back down the hallway and out into the courtyard. There was no one out there but me and the guards, and I felt an ominous cloud hanging over me again. I looked over to the building and saw Jesus and his guys looking out from beyond the small window they were afforded in their rooms.
I braced myself for another fight even as my body throbbed with pain.
“Sit,” the guard said.
I looked at the table to my left. A table in the middle of the courtyard with the beautiful sun beating down on my back.
“Knox!”
I heard Monroe’s voice and I whipped my head around.
The guard let go of my arm as my eyes connected with hers.
She was walking down the sidewalk, her pencil skirt clinging to her body.
Her heels clicked and her hair was piled high on her head.
She was back to being a professional except for her smile.
There was a massive smile on her face as she greeted me.
“You can leave us,” Monroe said. “We’ll be fine.”
“We’re over in the corner if you need us, ma’am,” the guard said.
“Take a seat, Knox. This’ll be the last time we talk before your hearing,” she said.