Finding Room 2, Reaper saw a state trooper guarding the door. Another state trooper was stationed outside another door farther down the hall. The trooper checked their IDs before opening the door. “Make sure you keep several feet apart.” Motioning them inside, he then shut the door behind them.
Knox and Diamond were waiting inside.
“Thank God you two finally showed up. They were threatening to issue warrants for your arrests if you didn’t show in the next ten minutes.”
“Time got away from me.” Reaper took the hit for being late. “If they’re so anxious for our arrival, where are they?”
“The commonwealth attorney is speaking with the special agents. They’ll call us in when they’re ready.”
Diamond stared at Knox worriedly as time passed and no one came for them.
Cognizant of possibly being recorded, they didn’t discuss any of the variety of reasons they could have been pulled in for questioning. Assuming they were there to discuss Slate, everyone was wary to mention his name. The longer it took, the harder it was to keep silent, which Reaper took for a stalling tactic.
“Is this even fucking legal? Keeping us waiting this long?” Viper asked.
Diamond, just as frustrated as everyone else in the room, went to the door to pull it open.
The officer broke off from speaking into the radio on his shoulder, telling Diamond, “I was just informed to bring you to a larger room upstairs. If you all will follow me.”
The four of them filed out of the room.
Reaper’s gut clenched as they went up the steps, preparing himself to be arrested. Weeks ago, he couldn’t have cared less, still having felt as if he belonged in jail, but Ginny changed him—even before he realized it was her voice that had strengthened his will to survive while in captivity.
She had kept him so busy falling for her, he had lost the desire to end his life—she’d made it worth living again.
They entered a courtroom, but there was no judge sitting on the bench, only four suited men waiting for them in the front of the judge’s bench.
“Please, take a seat and keep a safe distance apart,” an older agent directed them to the seats in the front row.
“I made my clients available at the FBI’s request, despite no advance warning. Since you’re now playing games, we’re leaving.” Diamond firmly stood in front and blocked the men from going down the aisle.
The older man, who must have been the lead agent, spoke up. “I’m sorry for the wait. Unfortunately, it was unavoidable. We were waiting for two more people to arrive. I was just notified they arrived at the airport and will be with us within the next five minutes. The FBI appreciates your cooperation.”
As he finished speaking, the doors behind them opened again.
Reaper turned to see Sex Piston, T.A., and Dalton step inside, looking just as surprised to see them.
“What are you doing here? You get lost paying a ticket? This is a private meeting,” Diamond snapped at Sex Piston as they came farther into the room.
“I don’t know why the fuck I’m here, and neither does T.A. nor Dalton. We were dragged here an hour ago,” Sex Piston argued back.
“Why didn’t you call me?” Diamond asked, her eyes on the group of men waiting for them at the front of the courtroom.
“I fucking tried!” Sex Piston yelled at her sister.
“Ladies, if you take your seats, we will be ready to get started as soon as the other two we’ve been waiting for arrive.”
Ignoring the agent’s directive to keep a distance, Knox and Diamond sat together, as well as Sex Piston, T.A., and Dalton.
When the agent asked them to move apart, Sex Piston opened her mouth. “Mind your own fucking business, and I’ll mind mine. I’ve had my temperature taken by three people today—I’m good. How many fucking times has yours been checked today?”
The agent was saved by the opening of the door.
Turning around, Reaper was shocked.
Shade, Jonas, and Shade’s father, Will. This shit went deeper and deeper.
Reaper didn’t know why they were there, and from Viper and Knox’s expressions, they didn’t know either.
“Gentlemen, if you will have a seat, we can begin.”
The new arrivals sat down in the row behind them and seeing their faces, it was obvious Will and Jonas knew what was going on.
“Do you know what this is about?” Reaper heard Viper ask Shade.
Shade shook his head. “Dad called me five minutes ago and told me to get here quickly.”
The lead agent held his hand up. “I’m sorry about the delay. Now that everyone’s here, I can explain.”
Out of the corner his eye, Reaper saw T.A.’s color had paled and she was shaking. Dalton placed an arm around his wife’s shoulders. Sex Piston looked shaken too.
The lead agent came forward. “I haven’t introduced myself. I’m Special Agent Corey. I want to explain why the FBI is here and—”