Order (Tattoos and Ties Duet #2)(110)

Alec guessed this was the reason Twiford had been oddly absent from the office, giving Betty the chance to do what she had done with Key’s case—Twiford must have known this was coming. Key sounded so happy. How long would that last?

Alec’s phone went crazy in his hand, vibrating with alerts, most likely texts, and he opened his phone to see several messages. The first several were from Janice, but he bypassed those and opened the one from Marc.

“Got your email. I’m sorry we couldn’t get this through the way you wanted. The silver lining, no jail time and no other stipulations other than avoiding club members.”

Alec left that message and went to Janice’s where she didn’t mince words. “Donald Cummings died in a head-on collision tonight—initial reports say weather was at fault. I just got an alert.”

The next text message from Janice read, “Did you see Twiford dated the biker? WTH, Alec? So that was true?”

The next text read, “Betty just told me about the change to the plea. I’m sorry. frowny face”

Key leaned over his shoulder, and Alec didn’t try to shield his view from reading Janice’s message. “What’s goin’ on? Why’s she sorry?”

Alec had to tell him. It was now or never. He lifted his eyes, turning to better face Key while tucking his arms over his chest. How was he going to say these awful words to Key? For the first time since they’d met, Alec couldn’t bear the weight of Key’s stare and dropped his eyes to about Key’s chin, taking a small step backward.

“First, Donald Cummings apparently died this evening. He was in a motor vehicle—”

Key nodded, turning away, his fingers steadily petting Nash.

“What does that nod mean?”

Key opened his mouth, and Alec lifted a hand, stopping him from speaking, knowing Key planned to say something like “club business” as a response.

“Don’t tell me. If the police come to talk to you, don’t nod or agree or offer any good riddance. You only say you want your attorney present, do you understand?”

“I was with my attorney all afternoon because of the weather,” Key said cheekily, giving Alec his sexy smirk.

There was a clear tease in the words, but he didn’t truly understand the joke, nor did he try. Key went around the sofa, dropping down on one of the cushions, completely missing the anxiety Alec was operating under—damn, he should be playing poker right now with as balanced and even as his face must seem.

“So the DA bitch is out, right? They aren’t gonna keep her around like that, right? We’re gonna be free of that bitch. She deserves what she’s gettin’.” Key kicked his legs up on the coffee table, looking smug as hell when he turned back to Alec who was moving closer to his lover—the least Alec could do was to deliver the news while looking Key in the eyes.

“I can build business back up—it’s already gettin’ better—and then I’ll make some money again. If you can keep me out of prison, that’ll give me a chance to save even more.” Key nodded to the large amount of money still stacked on his living room rug. Key’s gaze swung up to Alec as he settled Nash on his lap. Whatever he saw made Alec doubt his poker face. Key sat up, dropping his feet to the floor, setting Nash on the floor beside his boots. “What’s wrong?”

“I…” Alec couldn’t say the words.

“Just say it. I’m goin’ to prison, aren’t I?” Key was up on his feet, moving around the coffee table toward Alec. Damn, it was hard to stay in his spot and not take a step backward.

“No.” Alec shook his head as Key stopped less than a foot away. “No prison. Judge Jenkins has made a slight change. They do this all the time, Key. I had hoped my working relationship with the parties involved would be enough…” Alec stopped speaking again and shook his head. He finally took that step backward, averting his gaze down to his trembling hands. God, he didn’t want to say the words.

“What is it?” Key asked and followed his retreat. Alec crossed his arms over his chest and forced himself to look Key in the eyes as he ruined his life.

“You can’t have any contact with the club for the length of your probation.”

“For three fuckin’ years?” Key asked incredulously.

“Judge Jenkins is upping probation to five years. I’m sorry.” Alec could see the anger building quickly in Key. He was helpless to know how to help.

“For five fuckin’ years, I can’t have contact with my brothers? That shit only happens after prison,” Key roared, stepping into Alec. Anguish washed over Alec at the suffering he saw on Key’s pained face.

“I didn’t expect this, Key. I hoped me vouching for you and the agreement of the prosecutor would be enough for the judge to sign off.”

Key threw his hands in the air, wheeling around and away from Alec.

“Are you fuckin’ kidding me?” Key spun back, his face turning fierce as Key’s finger pointed in his face. “Did you do this to get me out of my club?”

“Of course not. I just got the message. It was completely unexpected,” he said, defensive at the heated accusation.

“What if I don’t do accept the deal?” Key asked, leaving him standing there as he stalked past the kitchen toward his Carhartt slung over a kitchen chair. In one fluid motion, Key swung it over his shoulders, driving his arms inside each sleeve.