“Sadie…”
“Mom taught me truth matters. That you have to stand up for what’s right even when it’s hard.”
“She told me that over and over, even when she was sick, even at the end.”
Sadie’s breath hitched.
“If I say you’re bad just to make things easier, then I’m lying. And Mom would be so disappointed in me.”
Garrett felt his own eyes burning.
“Your mother would be proud of you no matter what.”
“She’d be proud of me for being brave. For standing up for my friend.”
Sadie’s voice steadied.
“I’m scared, Mr. Garrett. I’m really scared, but I’m not going to let them make me lie.”
“You’re good. You’ve always been good, and I’m going to make them see that even if it’s hard.”
An eight-year-old girl ready to fight the system for him.
Ready to risk everything she had for the truth.
“You’re the bravest person I know,” Garrett said softly.
“I learned it from you,” Sadie sniffled. “And from Uncle Danny. And from Mom.”
“All the brave people who looked at hard things and didn’t run away.”
“We’re going to get through this. Promise.”
“I promise.”
There was a pause.
Then Sadie’s voice came back smaller.
“Will you come to Sunday dinner still? Even with everything happening?”
“Nothing could keep me away.”
“Okay.”
She sounded relieved.
“Okay. I’ll see you Sunday, then.”
Another pause.
“And Mr. Garrett?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m glad you’re my friend, even if it makes everything complicated. I’m glad you came into Rosy’s Diner that day.”
“I’m glad I gave you my dollar.”
Garrett looked at the crumpled bill in his wallet, visible through the worn leather.
“Me, too, Sadie. More than you know.”
After they hung up, Garrett sat alone in the clubhouse, staring at the wall.
The weight of what was coming pressed down on him like a physical force.
A CPS investigation, character assassination, a powerful man with resources and motivation arrayed against a little girl and her struggling aunt because of him.
Because he had bought a hungry kid some pancakes and dared to care about what happened to her.
The door opened and Hawk walked in, reading Garrett’s expression instantly.
“I heard,” the president said. “Shadow told me.”
“What do we do?”
Hawk sat down across from him.
“We fight. Same as always. We protect our own.”
“She’s not club. Neither of them are.”
“They’re yours. That makes them ours.”
Hawk’s voice was firm.
“I told you when this started the club would back you. I meant it. Whatever you need, whatever it takes, we’re in this together.”
“Even if it brings heat?”
“We’ve faced heat before.”
Hawk shrugged.
“At least this time we’re fighting for something worth fighting for.”
Garrett thought about Sadie’s voice on the phone, scared but fierce, ready to stand in front of the world and defend him.
He couldn’t let her down.
“Call Rebecca Torres,” he said. “Get everyone together.”