NAOMI #2
“Because in my head, it is. I want this over, Ink. I want to live my life. I want to be normal again. Have a normal life. I want to go out and walk the streets, shop, take Asher to the park, all of it. And we can’t do that now.
” She gave him a teasing smile. “How else are you going to take me to your shop and try to convince me to let you tattoo me? Which still isn’t going to happen, by the way. ”
“I’ve got my ways to convince you, baby,” he said, but his serious expression didn’t lessen. “I don’t want to lose you, Naomi. And knowing you’ll have to pretend to be dead and I can’t help you, I don’t know that I can do that.”
“You won’t be allowed within ten feet of that courtroom,” Simba stated.
He held up his hand when Ink shot him a scathing look.
“Look, I’m not saying you can’t be there, but they’re going to do her testimony behind closed doors with no cameras to protect her.
It’s one of the ways they’re trying to ensure this goes off smoothly.
Witness tampering, including threats, can occur right up to the moment.
She’s going to be brought in covered and hidden, she’ll give her testimony, deal with the cross-examination from his people, and that’ll be it.
Then we get her out of there, fake her death, and she’s free. ”
Naomi shivered. She was dreading that cross-examination, but she’d do it. She had to. Besides, Diego would use one of his own lawyers, one she knew about and had been around.
“She’s going into that room unprotected?” Ink hissed.
“Never said that,” Jag interjected. “We’re her security.
We’ve already made that clear with the DA and Feds.
They put her in our care, and we see it to the end.
That includes that room. She’s going in with myself, Warg, Vulture, and Simba.
She’s going to be more protected than any of those Feds will be.
We’ll be in the room with her, and we’ll ensure she’s out.
But we need to get her separated so it looks legit. ”
“That’s where Karissa is going to come in,” Glitch explained.
“She’s going to go as well, and she’s going to get Naomi away from them as if she’s going to take her out another door, and from there, one of our guys will shoot Naomi.
” She held up her hand when Ink bit out a curse.
“I know it sounds bad, but we have to make it real. And that includes talking about it like it is.”
Naomi looked around. “And this is the only way?”
They all nodded.
“When this is all over, we’re going to bring you back here,” Savage said.
“We’ll work it out with Simba and his team, but we’ll put you in one of our SUVs and bring you back to the clubhouse.
You’re going to need to lie low for another month or so until the trial is fully finished, and then you’ll be able to decide what you do from there. ”
“I’m going to be the one getting her back here,” Ink bit out.
“No exceptions,” he snapped when Jag opened his mouth to speak.
“You want me to stand by and watch you shoot her, then I’m going to be there to take her home.
” He looked at Rogue. “Would you and Scarlett be willing to keep Asher during all this? He’s comfortable with you guys and the girls, and that’s the only way that Naomi is going to be able to do this without distraction. ”
Rogue nodded. “I’ve talked to Scarlett already and she’s fine. She’s going to need the twins’ help because she’s so damn tired all the time.” The worry in his eyes was clear, and Naomi found herself smiling.
“Thank you, Rogue,” she murmured. “I would feel better if he were with you, but I know it’s a lot to ask someone to keep him all the time.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“The other women can step in too and watch him while Scarlett and the twins are at work and school,” Savage added. “I’ll talk to Royal, and she can set up a schedule.”
A lump formed in her throat. “Thank you. I don’t know what I would do if I hadn’t been brought here. I know we had a rocky start, but I’ve really grown to appreciate having everyone here and their willingness to help out. Especially with Asher.”
“Don’t worry, it’s going to be your turn soon enough to help with all the new babies showing up,” Ice warned, grinning. He glanced around and chuckled. “You and Ink are going to need more room too once this place is overrun. Assuming you’re going to stay, of course.”
He said it so casually, but she didn’t miss the pointed look he gave her. Ink stiffened beneath her but didn’t reply. That was something they were going to have to talk through when the guys left.
“Naomi, I need your agreement before we start planning,” Simba said, drawing the conversation back around. “It’s going to be terrifying, there will be screaming and people checking on you, but we’re going to set this up to work so smoothly you’ll never know it was fake.”
She looked back at Ink. “I need to do this, Ink,” she said as calmly as she could. “And I need you to trust me and them that everything will be all right.”
Ink stared at her, but she saw the war waging inside him. The need to protect her and the need to let her do this, knowing it would be for the better in the end.
Finally, there was acceptance, but he looked past her to Ice. “You need to be the one to take the shot. You’re the only one that I trust to keep my woman safe when doing this.”
Ice arched a brow. “Me?”
“Look, I know that you guys have your own snipers,” Ink continued, looking at Simba, “but Ice is my brother and one of my best friends. If anyone is going to ensure that my woman is safe and get it done right, I want him to do it.” He looked back at Ice.
“I’m being an asshole asking you to do this, but you are the best sniper around, and you were the fucking best. I need to know that if I can’t be there to protect her, that you will, even if it means doing it this way. ”
Ice held his gaze then looked at her. Finally, he looked at Savage. “Prez?”
Savage held his stare. “It’s up to you. You’ve got my go ahead to do this if you think you can. If not, then you can tell Ink to fuck off, and we’ll go with the Predators’ plan.”
Ice contemplated for another moment, then looked at Simba. “I’ll do it.”
Simba glanced at Glitch, who gave a barely perceptible nod, and Jag, who also agreed. “Alright, then we’ll do that. We’re going to need to work with you to make sure this is flawless.” He looked at Savage. “I’m going to need you to send him to us for a couple of weeks.”
“Done. We’ll figure things out here while he’s gone.”
Ice nodded.
Naomi sank into Ink. They were almost finished. She had to die first, but then she would be free.
The question was, what was she going to do with her freedom when it was all done?