The Road Beasts Saga: Fox Preview

Chapter One

"Guardians of the Asphalt Jungle"

Inside a sprawling conference room above Mike’s Gym, the echo of low murmurs was drowned by the imposing figure that held center stage. Sitting at the head of the large mahogany table Cougar, the leader of The Road Beasts, who embodied the unique blend of sternness and compassion that was the heart of the motorcycle club. With her gaze set like steel and an aura of command, she ran the gathering with a tempered yet firm hand.

Victor "Fox" Cosby was there too, his tall and lean silhouette leaning back in his chair. In his tailored suit, he seemed a stark contrast to the others dressed in their worn leathers, their attire telling tales of the open road. But his blue eyes held the same fire, the same sense of belonging to the brotherhood. Fox was not just any member of The Road Beasts; he was a high-powered criminal attorney in the heart of Texas, his name known far and wide in legal circles for his ruthless defense and uncanny ability to turn around even the most hopeless of cases.

The balance between his professional life and his devotion to the biker club had always been a dance on the edge. He had high-stakes cases, ones that came with a fair share of media attention and intrigue. Yet, when he rode with The Road Beasts, the thrill of the open road, the camaraderie, and the tangible sense of purpose the club offered, everything else seemed to fade away.

On Cougar's right sat Mike, a former marine and now a security specialist who had taken on the role of the club's public face. Mike was the one who sifted through requests for help that the community sent to the club, prioritizing them and allocating resources. His lethal reputation and muscular build were a testament to a life spent in service and protection, a role he continued to honor within the confines of the club.

Cougar outlined their upcoming mission—a risky one— as they intended to intervene in a local dispute between a woman’s group and a bunch of hostile men that had escalated into threats of violence. There was gravity in her voice, a clear understanding of the dangers they were about to confront. The room listened in quiet attentiveness, each member conscious of the weight their decision carried.

Victor watched her as she spoke, her fiery determination mirrored in his eyes. The legal world he thrived in was a battlefield of its own, but these missions were a different kind of fight, one that had a more immediate, tangible impact. Being part of The Road Beasts was not just about the thrill of the ride; it was about stepping in where the law couldn't or wouldn't, offering aid, protection, and justice in their own unique way.

As the meeting wound down, Cougar asked Fox to stay behind. He nodded in affirmation, curious about her request. As members departed, a tall, rugged man with jet-black hair, Puma, Cougar's boyfriend, leaned over to plant a soft kiss on her lips. There was a warmth in his farewell, a silent promise of his safe return. He then left to join the rest, leaving Fox and Cougar alone in the room.

Fox noticed a shift in Cougar's demeanor once they were alone. Her face held a stressed look, and she seemed deep in thought. Concern etched on his face, he broke the silence, "What's going on, Cougar?"

She took a deep breath, clearly gathering her thoughts. "A good man, Dr. Leonard Archer, is in serious trouble," she began, her voice weighing heavy with concern. "And he needs the best lawyer."

Fox's interest piqued, he leaned forward, folding his hands on the table. "What kind of trouble?" he queried.

"He's been accused of espionage. But I know he's innocent," she confided, her conviction unshakeable.

The words hung in the air for a moment. Accusations of espionage – a high-profile case, a notorious charge, an innocent man. It was right up Fox's alley. He didn't hesitate. "Consider it done, Cougar."

She gave him a grateful nod, relief washing over her features. They exchanged Dr. Archer's contact information, their conversation ending with a firm handshake and a new mission for Fox – one that would take him back into the courtroom, fighting another battle in the pursuit of justice. As he left the room, the prospect of the upcoming challenge fueled a familiar fire in his veins.

 "Course Corrected"

The once vibrant spirit of Kelly Lewis was now shrouded in melancholy. It had been a few months since her removal from the position of D.A. of Dallas, a tenure that had been marked with a brilliant track record. She had been ambitious and driven, her eyes set on the esteemed position of the Attorney General of Texas. But all that ambition had come crashing down around her when it was revealed that she had ties with a notorious drug dealer, Juan Garza, who was none other than her father.

The scandal had sent shockwaves throughout the city, tainting Kelly's reputation and dissolving her dreams in its wake. She found herself lost, unsure of what her life held for her now that her professional aspirations had been crushed. The fallout had left her isolated and in a state of despair. The thought of her entanglement with The Road Beasts, the motorcycle club that had once been her source of strength, now only added to her distress. Their connection was supposed to help them both, but all it did was complicate her life further.

She sat alone in her upscale Dallas apartment, cradling a glass of wine as she stared blankly out of her window. The city lights twinkled in the distance, a cruel reminder of the life she had once been a part of. Kelly sipped her wine, letting the bitter taste seep into her thoughts. Every decision, every misstep, felt magnified in the loneliness of her apartment.

A knock at the door jolted her from her reverie. Her heart raced. Had a reporter gotten past security on the first floor. They had been trying to get a statement from her. An unexpected visitor, given the hour. Wiping away the stray tear that had managed to escape, she walked over to answer it. She looked through the peephole. The sight that met her was as surprising as it was unwelcome - it was her father, Juan Garza. Kelly debated whether to let him in. Curiosity got the best of her. She unlocked it and opened the door.

His presence, a stark reminder of the life she was trying to leave behind, unnerved her. Kelly crossed her arms, her once welcoming demeanor replaced with one of cold dismissal. She had lost everything because of her connection to this man, and the sight of him brought forth a wave of resentment.

Yet, she didn't close the door on him. Perhaps it was a residual sense of family or the need for human contact in her solitude. "What do you want?" she asked, her voice as icy as her gaze.

Juan cleared his throat, looking every bit as uncomfortable as Kelly felt. "I need a favor," he admitted, and as she listened to what he had to say, Kelly could feel the weight of her past mistakes pressing down on her even harder.

Juan looked at Kelly, the seriousness in his eyes almost overwhelming. He began to weave the tale of Dr. Leonard Archer, a renowned scientist whose groundbreaking research in nanotechnology made him a figure of interest in global circles. Archer had enjoyed a reputation for brilliance, but his life took a devastating turn when he was accused of espionage. Overnight, he was transformed from a celebrated scholar to a high-profile defendant, his reputation in tatters.

"He needs a lawyer, Kelly," Juan finished, his voice edged with urgency.

Kelly shook her head, the corners of her mouth pulled into a bitter smile. "I was a prosecutor, not a defense attorney. I know nothing about defense."

"That's exactly why Dr. Archer needs you," Juan retorted. "He needs someone who knows exactly what the new D.A. is going to throw at him."

"And why should I do this for you?" Kelly snapped, a flare of resentment igniting in her gaze.

Juan held up his hands, defensive. "You wouldn't be doing it for me. You'd be doing it for Archer and his family. He was there for me when I needed proof of my own innocence back in the day. I know he didn't do what he's accused of."

“I’ll pay you,” he offered.

Kelly stiffened, her resolve hardening. "I won't take a dime of your dirty money," she declared, the contempt in her voice clear.

Juan nodded, not surprised. "Okay," he said simply. "But will you at least meet with Dr. Archer?"

Kelly was silent for a moment, her mind whirring. Eventually, she nodded. "Alright, I'll meet with him. But that's all I'm promising."

Gratitude flickered across Juan's face. He handed Kelly a scrap of paper, Dr. Archer's address and phone number hastily scribbled on it. "Thank you, Kelly."

Once he had gone, Kelly was again left alone in her apartment. She stared at the piece of paper in her hand, her mind filled with thoughts of espionage, high-stakes trials, and a path she had never considered before. A wry smile crept onto her face as she shook her head. "Have I truly lost my mind?" she mused aloud, her voice echoing in the empty room.

Chapter Two

"Pathways Converge"

Kelly pulled up to the driveway of Dr. Archer's residence, her eyes immediately drawn to the sleek shape of a Tesla parked nearby. It was an expensive car, something a little out of place in the middle-class neighborhood and seemingly out of reach for a researcher's salary. A pang of doubt hit her. Could Dr. Archer really be as innocent as her father had insisted?

With a deep breath, she stepped out of her car, her heels clicking against the paved driveway. She hadn't done much research on Dr. Archer yet, merely a cursory look at his public profile and the charges against him. Her thoughts spun as she walked to the front door, the shiny Tesla a constant reminder of the mystery she was stepping into.

She rang the doorbell, steeling herself for the meeting. The door swung open, revealing a mature woman with worry lines etching her face. Kelly extended her hand, introducing herself. The woman, Alice Archer, shook it with a weak smile. "I'm so glad to see you," she said, leading Kelly inside.

The house was nice but modest, filled with traces of a family's happy life now overshadowed by the scandal. They wound their way to the dining room, Alice's nervous energy filling the silence.

As they entered the room, Kelly stopped in her tracks. Sitting at the dining table was none other than Victor Cosby, his commanding presence impossible to miss. Beside him sat a man that Kelly instantly recognized from her brief research – Dr. Leonard Archer. Her heart sank a little, and she couldn't help but wonder: Had Dr. Archer hired him? His presence explained the Telsa out front. What was the renowned criminal attorney doing here?

Kelly swallowed her surprise, squaring her shoulders and smiling professionally. As she moved to introduce herself, her mind raced to piece together the unexpected turn of events. Paths were converging in ways she hadn't anticipated, and it was clear that her involvement in Dr. Archer's case was about to become much more complex.

Victor's surprise mirrored Kelly's as he asked, "Why are you here, Kelly?" His question was direct, as was his gaze.

Kelly's heart pounded in her chest, but she kept her voice steady. "A friend of Dr. Archer's asked me to represent him." She paused before asking her own question. "And why are you here?"

Victor smirked, resting his arms on the back of his chair. "Well, a friend of Dr. Archer asked me to take on the case. So, it seems you aren't needed here." He shouldn’t have said it, but he was still hurt by her immediate dismissal when he tried to comfort her after losing her job.

The room fell silent. Dr. Archer and Alice watched from the sidelines, their eyes darting between Kelly and Victor like spectators at a tennis match. The tension in the room was palpable.

Victor continued an almost teasing edge to his voice. "You're not a defense lawyer, Kelly. This case is way out of your depth."

Kelly bristled, crossing her arms defensively. "My knowledge of how the prosecution will attack Dr. Archer makes me the better choice," she countered.

Their argument was cut short by Dr. Archer, who had been quietly observing their exchange. "I want you both," he declared, his voice clear and firm. "It would give me the best advantage."

Kelly and Victor shared a glance, both taken aback. Working together wasn't something they'd considered. They asked Dr. Archer and Alice if they could discuss his request privately.

"Roads Crossed"

Dr. Archer agreed, allowing them the space they needed. As they left the room, Victor and Kelly shared another glance, uncertainty flickering in their eyes. This unexpected twist was a challenge they hadn't anticipated, forcing them to reconsider their initial approach to the case.

As the tension lingered between them, Victor couldn't help but let his gaze wander over Kelly. There was weariness in her eyes, and a hint of exhaustion softened her features. Yet, even in her tired state, she exuded a captivating beauty that he couldn't deny. He found himself drawn to her, his thoughts wandering into dangerous territory.

Admitting it to himself, Victor acknowledged that teamwork wouldn't be a problem if they were to work together. No, it would be his own overwhelming desire, a desire that threatened to overshadow any professional collaboration they could attempt. He silently chastised himself, knowing that succumbing to such thoughts would only complicate an already complex situation.

Shaking his head, Victor refocused his thoughts, reminding himself of the task at hand. This was about justice, about defending an innocent man. He couldn't let personal desires cloud his judgment or interfere with their shared objective.

Taking a deep breath, he pushed the illicit thoughts to the back of his mind, determined to approach this partnership with professionalism and restraint. Whatever challenges lay ahead, he needed to set aside his personal desires for the sake of their client and the pursuit of truth.

Regaining his composure, Victor met Kelly's eyes and spoke with a firm tone. "Let's put our differences aside, Kelly," he said, his voice devoid of any hint of the thoughts that had momentarily distracted him. "We have a job to do, and it's our duty to defend Dr. Archer. Whether we like each other or not is irrelevant. Are we clear on that?"

Kelly nodded, her gaze steady. "Absolutely," she replied, her voice holding a determination that mirrored his own.

Their agreement was sealed with a shared understanding, a commitment to set aside personal differences and work together towards a common goal. It was a fragile truce, born out of necessity, but one they hoped would lead them to the truth and justice.