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CHAPTER THIRTY

Declan

We left the hospital in different vehicles and were sent to different parts of the precinct for booking. Pres and the guys followed on their bikes and have been working on getting our lawyer down here to get me bailed out.

Mike Bowman, a deputy here in Oakridge, and a friend to the club, has been in to update me periodically on what’s going on. He’s close friends with Jinx’s dad, who’s a retired sheriff. He was sheriff when Caleb was the president of the club. Their families go way back.

I’m sitting in lock-up, staring up at the ceiling, wondering what they’re doing to Violet and what we can do to help get her out, when I hear Mike’s voice call my name.

“Hey, O’Malley.”

I stand up and walk to the bars to talk to him with a little more privacy. As much privacy as one can get in a drunk tank with three other men awaiting their own fate with a judge.

“What did you find out?” I ask.

“The kid’s been taken to a transitional foster care home. It’s where they place them on a 24-72 hour hold until they can reach next of kin or find a more permanent foster care facility for him. Violet is being held under various charges of child neglect, fraud, and kidnapping.”

“Kidnapping? How the fuck do they figure that? She’s his mother, for shit’s sake.” I’m pissed, and a little panicked. Those are some serious fucking charges, and I don’t know how the club will go about helping get them dropped.

“Apparently, she faked her and the kid’s death, claimed this insurance money, and then left with the kid. The husband thought they were both dead, so the charges have escalated. He’s on his way into town now to see about getting the kid since he’s next of kin,” Mike explains.

“Listen to me, Mike.” I grab his shirt through the bars. “You can’t let him get to Carter. He’s the one who’s been abusing them all this time. If he finds him, he will hurt Carter, maybe even kill him. He’s a sick fuck. I can’t tell you everything, not here, but I need you to get word to my brothers. They need to get to Carter!” I whisper-shout. I’m not one to fear most things, but the idea of that fucker getting ahold of our boy, with all the sick, twisted things I now know about his sexual preferences and what he does to women and children, terrifies me. “I need another favor.”

“I can try.”

“I need you to get ahold of Kayce Eaton. Hawk will know how to reach him. Tell him what’s happened. About Violet and Carter. He can help.”

At least I hope he can.