Sadie's Game (Ashby Crime Family)

Andrew sighed on the other end of the phone. “The same processing shit the old-timers love to pull,” he growled.

Sadie would hate that, being at the mercy of a little bitch like Addison Beck, playing games by fucking with the paperwork to ensure Sadie stayed locked up for a little longer than she otherwise would.

“I’ll come down,” I said.

Jasper glared at me, shaking his head to get my attention. “I’ll call Ellison,” he mouthed.

I nodded, knowing there was no point arguing with the man when his mind was made up. He was twice as stubborn as his mother.

“Fine.” I mouthed to Jasper. “But I’m still going down there. She won’t want any of you to see her after spending thirty hours in a cell.” Sadie, for all her strength and power, was as self-conscious as the next woman of a certain age. She preferred to keep up appearances, to always look the part when she was out in public.

“Fine.” He turned back to the call. “Stay there until Thomas arrives.” He hung up the phone and stared at me. “Get her out of there.”

I smiled. “I will. I have a plan, Jasper.” No one ever bothered to ask, so I kept my thoughts, my advice, and my plans to myself. Except when it came to Sadie.

Sadie stood the moment the heavy steel door opened and wrapped her fingers around the bars. “Thomas. What are you doing here?”

I flashed a smile. “Springing you from this joint, unless you’ve developed a fondness for beige and plastic trays?”

She rolled her eyes, and her delicate shoulders sagged in relief. “Fuck no, get me out of here.” A moment later came the questions. “Where are Andrew and Jasper?”

“Step back, ma’am.”

Sadie blinked once and then twice as recognition dawned on just who was freeing her from her jail cell before she took three steps back. “Lieutenant North?”

The man flashed a smile. “Am I famous?”

Sadie laughed. “Famous for being a good cop.” That much was true. She’d tried at least five different times to entice him to join the payroll, but he couldn’t be bought.

“Thank you. Right this way.” I kept a steadying hand on Sadie’s back as we followed Lieutenant North through the dark corridor to the processing area. “Here’s your receipt, Tom. You parked in back, like I said?”

I nodded and gave Sadie a gentle shove toward the emergency exit that stood just a few feet away.

The door burst open, and the ginger bitch appeared. “What is going on?”

“Bail,” North growled. “You haven’t filed charges yet, and Castro is already crying to the media.”

Beck sucked in an angry breath. “I still have twelve hours!”

“And you’re hoping to find a judge who’ll do what eight others haven’t? I’m trying to buy you a little goodwill, Agent Beck. Take it.”

She grunted and rushed off like the immature child she was, and I took advantage of the moment to get Sadie the hell out of there. “Thank you, Tom.”

“Don’t mention it. See you soon.”

Sadie waited until we were in the car, safely hidden behind tinted windows before she began her questions. “Where’s Oliver?”

“At the mansion with the swarm of media.”

“You never drive,” she shot back, her words almost accusatory.

“When I’m with you, I never drive. But I go everywhere else by myself, Sadie.” I had a whole life she knew nothing about.

“How did you get me out, Thomas?”

“I paid the bond on ten million dollars.” It was a high bail, but not high enough to keep Sadie locked up, despite Beck’s best efforts.

“Shit. That high?” A laugh bubbled up out of her, and she sank down as we rounded the squat brick building where at least three dozen camera and microphone-wielding members of the press waited. “How did you know Lieutenant North?”

“I taught his twin daughters how to protect themselves. Krav Maga and Jiu-jitsu.”

“No shit?”

“No shit. There are other ways to make allies, Sadie.” Surprise flashed in her eyes as if she was impressed, maybe even a little aroused.

“I suppose there are. Thank you for getting me out.”

“Always,” I told her honestly. “Apparently, Beck couldn’t get a judge to sign off on her evidence and jump the gun on your arrest.”

“Bitch,” she growled, more to herself than to me. Sadie kept her gaze focused on the world outside, deep in thought. “Where are we going?”

“The house is overrun with journalists, reporters, bloggers, true crime fans, and onlookers just hoping to get a glance of the infamous lady gangster, Sadie Rose.” He chuckled. “We need to lie low for a while.”

“What? Fuck that, I’m not going to run and hide.”

“Exactly what I expected you to say.”

“Then turn the car around and take me home.”

“Can’t do that. The house is all over the news, and your arrest means that every limp-dick asshole with dreams of taking you out will use this to take their shot. Jasper’s orders.”