Move the Sun (Signal Bend #1)(58)

Isaac was thoughtful, too, and he worked hard to lead with his head and not his fists, but his temper was much hotter than Show’s, and when provoked, he did things like shove scissors into the hand of a shithead realtor. Said realtor was playing nice now, seemed like, after Show had talked him down and brought him Candy. Distract him with shiny things, indeed.

Now Show sat quietly and listened, never interrupting Lilli as she told the story all the way through to how she knew what Ray had done. Isaac saw his face change, from a look of curious interest, to much more rapt interest, to sympathy and shock, and finally to something Isaac couldn’t quite identify—or, rather, something Isaac had never found the apt word for. Show was running the scenarios.

Finally he focused on Lilli and said, “Pardon me for this, darlin’.” He turned to Isaac. “You believe it all, then? That’s heavy shit to throw down, not much evidence. I’m going to speak plainly and say it needs to be your brain doing the believing, and not some other part.”

Isaac would pulp any other man who suggested such a thing, but Show was doing his job. “No doubt, Show. At all.”

Showdown nodded. “Good enough for me. Won’t be good enough for the club, though. I don’t see it.

Lilli’s new in town and doesn’t even know the whole club. Her word against a brother’s—won’t be enough.” He leaned toward Isaac. “Brother, you know that’s true. If she was with any other of us and brought this story here, you would need more.”

Lilli nodded and started to stand up. Isaac’s arm shot out almost without his realizing it, and he pinned her where she sat. He knew what she was thinking. “Easy, baby. We’re not done yet. Wyatt and Ray are gone for two more weeks at least. Can’t do anything until then. We have time to work this.” To Show he said, “Her word and my faith in it is enough for you. Between you and me, it’ll be enough for Bart and Len, too.

Don’t need a unanimous vote. Just need one more.”

Show sat back in the chair. “You’re talking about moving to kill a brother’s blood on a split vote. That could tear the club apart, right in the face of this Ellis shit. You ready to take that risk?”

“Ray is dead anyway, vote or not. I’m ready to take that risk to save retaliation on Lilli, yes. Right now.”

Show’s eyes went wide at that, and he turned to Lilli. “You think you could give us a couple minutes, Lilli?”

Isaac was having none of that. “No. She stays. Say it.”

“Alright then. You’ve known this girl what, three weeks? A month? And you’re ready to risk the club— the whole damn town—for her? Isaac, that’s your dick thinking.”

Suddenly, Isaac forgot that Show’s job was plain speaking, saying the hard shit and keeping Isaac level.

He flipped straight into rage and started to stand, his whole body tense. But Lilli held the arm he still had on her thigh, keeping him in place, and she spoke, her focus intent on Show.

“Look. I understand. You don’t know me. What I’m going to do will affect your club, and cause a member pain. Ray is dead, that’s not negotiable. An entire squad was gunned down. Their bodies were mutilated, they were burned, and then they were hung from a wall to taunt us. All that happened because Hobson didn’t want a woman—me—as his superior. That son of a bitch is dead. I’m sorry if that hurts the club, and I understand you’ll do what you have to do. Hell, I won’t even fight retaliation, if that’s the way it goes.”

Isaac jumped at that and grabbed her arm—what the f*ck did she think she was saying?!—but she ignored him and went on. “There’s no way I can get you proof. I have only the word of an ally I won’t pull farther into this. But here’s this: get Hobson drunk. He confessed directly to my friend when he was drunk.

See if he’ll do it again. From what Isaac says, he’s a screwy mess, anyway. And I can wait a bit to try to do this as cleanly as I can.”

Show considered her; Lilli held his eyes steadily. “You’re a badass little beauty, aren’t you? You’ve got sense, too.” He turned to Isaac. “I think she’s right, Isaac. We wait. We see if we can get Ray to talk. Then we take it to the club. It’s CJ and Victor we can get on board, I think. Either or both of them. They’re vets.

This thing Ray did? They’ll want him dead, too. With Ray fessin’ up, though, we might get everybody but Wyatt. That’s my advice.”

Isaac had another idea, too. But he was angry now and done with advice. He needed to calm down. He nodded tersely to Show, who got the message, patted Lilli’s knee, and left without another word.

When Show was gone, Isaac got up from the couch and paced the room. He was livid, and he needed to get control. Why was he so angry? Because Lilli had basically said once Ray was dead she didn’t care if she lived or died? Yes. Because Show had insulted the f*ck out of her and him? Yes. Because he was right—to keep Lilli safe, Isaac was ready to blow his club up if he had to?

Yes. No. Goddammit. He couldn’t f*cking do that. Too many people were counting on him. He clutched the tall back of his leather desk chair and sent it wheeling hard across the room to crash into the metal filing cabinet.

“Isaac.”

He turned to Lilli, who was still sitting on the couch, looking calm. “Baby, I’m sorry. It’s not as bad as it looks. We’ll work it, I promise.”