Knox's Stand (The Last Riders #3)

Diamond stood against the wall as Knox grabbed his jeans from the floor before pulling them on. She then averted her eyes as he flung the sheet away. Bliss grabbed the sheet, going to her knees on the bed and wrapping it around herself before climbing off the bed. When her eyes met Diamond’s, she saw only anger, no embarrassment.

Evie took the blanket once the other woman, Bliss, was wrapped in the sheet, wrapping the blanket around herself. Her eyes met Diamond without any embarrassment evident on her face, either. Each of them strolled out of the bedroom without a care while the troopers’ eyes followed them out before they began searching through Knox’s things. Diamond cleared her throat and both men got back to work.

“You couldn’t stop this?” Knox’s harsh voice drew her attention.

“No, someone called in an anonymous tip,” Diamond answered without looking at him. “Go downstairs.” Her cold voice dripped ice. Knox’s eyes narrowed and he hesitated, opening his mouth. “I need to pay attention to what they’re doing and you’re blocking my view.”

Diamond took a step sideways, watching the troopers search through Knox’s things.

“Let’s go.” As Rider took Knox’s arm, he shrugged it off, turning on his heel and leaving. Diamond released her breath. The stench of sex still hung heavy in the air that had surrounded them as they left.

Revolted at herself for letting her body react to his last night brought her attention back to the men tossing Knox’s things casually throughout the room. His bedside table drawer was pulled open and spilled onto his bed. The men laughed at the sex toys and large number of condoms displayed.

“Gentlemen.” Diamond’s voice held professional reproof. The men threw her dirty looks. Thurman walked to the bed, glancing down at the mess.

“You’ve got yourself a hell of a pervert for a client, Di.” His sarcastic voice angered her.

“I wonder what I would find in your drawers if I went through them with no notice.” Thurman turned red, but didn’t say anything else.

“Look at this.” One of the troopers had pulled out Knox’s chest of drawers. There was a bag taped to the back. The trooper opened the bag, pulling out dozens of pictures.

Caleb took the pictures, going through them one by one before throwing them on the bed. “She has her clothes on and is over age; those are useless.”

Diamond could see the pictures from the doorway. There were a least a dozen pictures of a pretty, young woman with blond hair. Knox had obviously not wanted anyone to see them.

“I’ve got it.” One of the troopers had pulled open a bottom draw, holding the jewelry that Mrs. Langley had described to her.

“Take pictures of each one and bag it,” Thurman said, smiling smugly. Diamond raised a brow at his unprofessional behavior.

“Don’t you think it’s strange he takes more trouble to hide innocent pictures than jewelry he took off a murder victim?” Diamond questioned the Commonwealth’s Attorney.

“So, he’s a dumb fuck; we already knew that.” Thurman shrugged at her comment.

“We’ve found what we’re looking for, we can go.” He motioned the troopers out of the room. “Take him back into custody.” He told the last trooper as he came out of the room.

“Why?” Diamond argued. “He didn’t resist.”

“With this, the chances of his taking flight increase.”

“He’s not going to run,” Diamond tried to reason with him.

“I’m sure his ass won’t be in their long, Di, but he’s going back to jail,” he said, walking off and leaving her no alternative other than to follow. Hesitating, she went back into Knox’s room, opening the drawers she found him a shirt and socks. Picking up his large boots, she hurried down the steps where he was already in handcuffs, being lead down the steps.

“Diamond? Why are they arresting Knox again?” Viper yelled angrily.

“Someone called in a tip last night. They found what they were looking for, that’s why they’re taking him back in. Don’t worry; the court is just going to raise his bail. The quicker you let me get out of here, the sooner I can get him out.”

“Go,” Viper answered begrudgingly. “When you’re done, I expect to see you.”

Diamond nodded before going down the steps. All The Last Riders were standing on the porch with Evie and Bliss among them, still wearing their coverings. Diamond avoided eye contact as she carried Knox’s clothes down the steps, getting into her car then followed the procession of cars down the mountain.

Holly wouldn’t be in the office; she had called last night and told Diamond that she was still ill. She was going to have to wait until she got to town to make the phone calls she needed. The twenty-minute drive was frustrating, but Diamond used the time to organize her thoughts, formulating a plan of action.

As soon as she pulled into the sheriff’s office’s parking lot, she watched as the troopers pulled Knox from the back of the squad car. Calling in what few favors she had earned in the short time she had been practicing in Treepoint, she managed to get a hearing later that afternoon.