The hand immediately dropped at Lincoln’s lethal tone.
“I have to go,” I whispered against Eric’s hair.
“I don’t want you to.” He held me tighter.
“The sooner I go, the sooner I can get back.”
“Promise?”
I kissed the top of his head. “Promise.”
He let me go for a second time. “Love you, sis.”
A lump formed in my throat. “Love you too.”
On shaky legs, I walked to the door with my head held high. And Lincoln’s hand was on my back the entire way to the squad car.
Chapter Five
Lincoln
“You could’ve let me know what station she was booked in.”
Zegas strode into the lobby of the fifth precinct, leather briefcase in hand.
“There’s been a lot happening,” I said through my teeth.
Namely, I hadn’t been able to stop Lexie from being taken into custody. Had barely kept that asshole from manhandling her as if she were some sort of hardened criminal.
I’d paced to the reception counter a half a dozen times to demand to speak to the chief of police about that man’s job, but had refrained. Lashing out in anger wouldn’t help Lexie.
And what a fool I was for thinking my father would help her. In my desperation, I’d made a stupid move and was now more at his mercy than ever. I’d happily be there if Lexie were free.
Zegas waved a hand in front of my face. “Are you listening to me?”
Why was everyone asking me that lately?
He groaned and rolled his eyes. “I’ve called a judge friend to see if she can help us speed up the court setting bond. At minimum, it will be a few hours.”
“Then I’m surprised you’re here.” I shoved a hand in my pocket. “Except you can bill me.”
“Damn straight I can.” He set his case on an empty chair. “But as Miss Logan’s legal counsel, I can see her. And we can have a long chat.”
Which would keep her out of a cell.
I’d gone from wanting to smack him with that briefcase to wanting to hug him . . . which I didn’t.
“Why are you still standing here?” I glared. “And I’m coming with you.” If I could see her, I’d be able to relax . . . a little.
“To tell you Elliott is working his angles too. He should be here . . . now.” He glanced toward the entrance where my friend had just pushed through. “And you can’t come with me. Let me do what I do.”
That was the reason I’d retained him as council and he scared the daylights out of me. Zegas was a wild card. But he’d shown up, knew how to navigate the legal system, and was the best.
“How is she?” Daniel asked, and I appreciated his understanding to get to the point.
Lexie would chastise me for the lack of a proper greeting.
“I’m about to find out. Excuse me, gentlemen.” Zegas zoomed off and disappeared into the bowels of the station within thirty seconds.
“I couldn’t stop this.” Frustration poured from me. I didn’t know how Lexie was because I couldn’t see her. When she’d gotten into the car, her face was tearstained and she was trembling even though she had her chin up. If I hadn’t been touching her, I wouldn’t have known she was anything less than confident. I still couldn’t understand how a police officer would listen to the claims of a convicted felon against a woman caring for her sibling with special needs. On what planet would they believe Lexie’s dad? How did he find her?
“Zegas can stall like it’s his profession.”
The words were meant to be a comfort, and they were, but nothing could ease the turmoil except Lexie in my arms.
“Don’t you think you should call me when our friend is in jail?” Teague barreled toward us, his nostrils flared.
“You and Pepper have enough to worry over.” And Beau was already involved. I hated that either of my siblings were alarmed. I should’ve been able to keep all of them from this.
“Lexie and Eric are friends.” He shoved my shoulder. “You can be such a stubborn ass.”
That reminded me of Lexie all over. She’d agree wholeheartedly with Teague.
“They need your support.”
“Which we can’t give them if we don’t know what’s going on.” Teague lifted his hands in a what gives? motion. He and Pepper had been friends with Lexie first. I probably should’ve called him, but wasn’t thinking clearly. Beau must have.
“What about their business? Can it sustain in Lexie’s absence?” Daniel asked, attempting to steer the conversation in a more productive direction.
“Beau is with Eric finishing up the food for tomorrow’s deliveries,” I said.
“Is that safe for dogs to eat?” Teague looked worried. “Beau can make smoothies, but I think that’s about the limit to her repertoire.”
I snorted. “Lexie was there to supervise through most of the process. Eric can see to the rest.” He was more than capable of making sure the dog food was properly packaged and sorted.
“But he can’t drive to the deliveries,” Teague argued. “And I wouldn’t let him in a car with Beau behind the wheel.”
Our sister was . . . not the best of drivers. I hadn’t considered she might add a few dents and dings to Lexie’s van.
“Eric and I will make the deliveries.” I didn’t know how we’d manage. It was rare I missed work. I had my own mountain of responsibilities. None of that mattered. I would see to it that their business didn’t suffer.
Though I hoped it didn’t come to the two of us running things without Lexie. Because she had to be out of jail by tomorrow. Or I’d lose my mind.
Teague nodded and tossed me his keys. “I’ll go meet them at the kitchen. It’s best if I drive the van instead of Beau.”
I gave him the instructions Lexie had expressed regarding Eric’s belongings. “Is it better for him to stay at their home? So as not to disrupt his routine?”
Teague and Daniel stared at me. I didn’t ask opinions very often. But if it was better for Eric, then I’d move to their apartment for the time being.
My brother lifted a shoulder and lowered it. “Maybe? But what about Muffy and Millie? I’ve tried to get Lexie to take a dog, even for the weekend, but she said they can’t have pets in their building.”
“Then the decision is made. Take them to my apartment.”
Eric needed Millie. The dog would ease his mind in a way nothing else could until Lexie was home. And he’d liked that his painting hung in my office. He’d seemed comfortable the last time he’d stayed.
“I’ll tell Beau I’m on my way. If you do it, she’ll take off just to spite you.”
That was the complete and total truth. Teague had a way of getting what he wanted without coming across as demanding. I didn’t have the time or inclination for such finesse.
“Update me.”
He lifted a brow. “Will you do the same?”
Reluctantly, I nodded. Somehow I felt better and worse now that he was involved in the evening’s events.
“I’ll see you in a—what the hell is he doing here?” Teague stiffened as he stared at the figure looming in the doorway.
I clenched my fist at the sight of our father.
“I called him.”
Chapter Six
Lexie
Jail was worse than I imagined.
It had a weird smell. And I was locked up with an array of women ranging from various degrees of drunk or high to quiet ones, who quite frankly scared me.
I wouldn’t judge any of them. I shouldn’t be here, and maybe some of them were innocent too. Or at least justified in what they’d done.
Is Eric okay?
Beau could take care of him. In that, I could rest assured. But it was his mental state. He’d seen me arrested. That was traumatic for anyone. I didn’t want to lie to him, but I’d have rather spared him the truth of the scene.
Although, if I’d proposed a surprise adventure with Beau for a few days, one where I wouldn’t be, h
e’d have had his suspicions. He knew my moods, sensed my stress, and carried them like his own.
Thank goodness Beau had agreed to take custody of him all those years ago in case something happened to me. She hadn’t hesitated, and I hadn’t given it much thought since we’d finalized the documents. I’d had to make sure Eric never ended up in our parents’ hands again.
I didn’t want to stay in a cell any longer than I had to, but I was relieved to know my brother was safe.
Is Lincoln still with them?
He’d been unreadable, though supportive. He’d been present, yet withdrawn.
When he’d been the one in cuffs, I’d helped him despite not even liking him. At that moment, I would’ve sworn it was because of Beau. Upon reflection, I wondered if something in me had wanted to help him.
Had I rebelled against him so vehemently because I recognized he was risky? Not only for me but for Eric.
I leaned my head against the concrete block wall. Did people who spent a lot of time locked up contemplate everything in their life? I’d never known such true isolation. I felt so cut off from the world, even though I’d only been here such a small time. I could well imagine that people cycled through thoughts like I was. Thoughts I usually was too busy to think about refused to be pushed back.
Shit for brains.
If my dad had done any thinking, he clearly didn’t have regrets. But he had changed . . . he’d gotten worse.
Would you forgive him if he had changed for the better?
I honestly didn’t know.
Our parents had chosen drugs and crime over their children. If they’d found us and apologized a million times, I wouldn’t have believed them. There was too much broken trust between us. Maybe there’d never been any trust at all.
And those thoughts were just wishful thinking.
My parents were not good people. Eric and I took the brunt of the consequences of that. It was a simple fact I’d come to accept a long time ago.
I darted my eyes around the bars, the walls, the women.
At least it’s not dark.
That was little consolation. I shouldn’t be here. I swore I’d never be locked in anywhere again.
It’s not the closet. It’s not the closet.
This was just a bigger version of it. And just like then, I wasn’t sure I’d get out.
“Go find your brother.”
My mother’s annoyed snarl was scary.
“Where is he?” Sometimes she hid him. She didn’t like us.
She lit a cigarette and tossed the lighter on the table. “If I told you, you wouldn’t be finding him, would you, brat?”
I wadded my worn Rainbow Brite T-shirt up in my fist. She’s mean.
“Eric!” I yelled as loud as I could as I ran from the kitchen. “Eric! Where are you?”
“Shut up, you stupid little girl.”
My legs moved but I didn’t. “Owwww!” My scalp burned. “That hurts!”
She yanked harder on my ponytail. “If you’d have just done what I told you, it wouldn’t.”
“Stopppp!” I screamed as she dragged me down the hall.
“You want that retard of a brother, you’re gonna get him.”
“He’s not a retard!” I hated her. Hated. Hated. Hated.
My big brother was the best. I hope he hadn’t heard her.
She threw open the closet at the end of the hall. Eric was crouched in the back. He peered up at me, eyes blinking in the dim light.
“Get in there.”
I fell to my knees. The carpet stung as it scraped my knees raw.
Slam.
“If I hear one peep out of either of you, I’m never letting you out.”
I held my breath so the whimper of pain wouldn’t come out.
“It’s not so bad in here, sis,” Eric whispered. “Come sit by me.”
I crawled toward him as silent tears flooded my cheeks. In the dark, I felt his foot. We’re okay. We’re okay.
He scooted over, and I settled next to him. Eric put his arm around my shoulders, which shook as I tried not to make a sound.
“Don’t cry. We’re together. That makes it better.”
It had made it better. But we weren’t okay. She left us in there for two days. I’d been seven and Eric was nine. We’d soiled our pants, been starving, and thirsty, and terrified.
I’d hated the dark and any kind of confinement ever since.
But that wasn’t the last time we were locked in that closet. Not even close.
I hugged myself, the fringes of the memory threatening to take me under. I need out. Out. Out.
My breath came in short spurts. I tried to catch it. The more I tried to take in a deep inhale of air, the harder my heart pounded. Spots blurred my vision.
Air. I need air.
Let. Me. Out.
No one was coming. I was stuck.
Help. Me.
Please.
Don’t.
Leave.
Me.
My legs gave way. Pain radiated from my head. And then there was blissful nothingness.
Chapter Seven
Lincoln
“I don’t like you being seen at the police station.”
My father pulled me aside, completely ignoring Teague and barely acknowledging Daniel.
You don’t like anything except screwing with people.
How could he pretend as if his own son weren’t mere feet away? Teague was the son he should be most proud of. He was a hero. A good man. And our father treated him like filth.
I lifted my chin at my brother, whose face was hard. Reluctantly, he left, but there was a promise in his eyes that we would discuss this later. Not if I could put it off.
And he had to understand.
If Samuel Hollingsworth had been the only one who could help Pepper, Teague wouldn’t have hesitated to ask.
He would’ve been smart enough to know that our father didn’t help anyone but himself.
“Can you get Lexie out?” I asked, trying to contain my temper and pretend to have some semblance of respect.
The makings of a cocky sneer shaped his lips. Damn it. This was going to cost us. I refused to allow her to pay.
“You’ve failed to inspire me to do so.”
A desperate phone call wasn’t enough? I never asked him for anything. And by the triumph on his face, he’d been waiting for this day.
“She shouldn’t be here.”
“Neither should you. I understand slumming is a temptation, but it isn’t a long-term strategy.”
Everything in me wound up so tightly, I reached the explosion point at lightning speed. How dare he speak of her that way. Lexie was perfect.
I struggled to contain the rage just under my surface. But I couldn’t stop myself from stepping closer, right into his space.
“Do not disrespect her.”
“Or what?” He was enjoying this far too much. “Lest you forget, I can free her or keep her exactly where she is.”
My stomach pitched. He’d do it. Just to spite me.
The police commissioner, the mayor, any ranking official in government . . . my father had power over them. How I didn’t know. But that didn’t make it less true.
“I wouldn’t dare.” I managed to refrain from allowing the sarcasm I wished to let loose emerge.
“I didn’t think you would.”
“What needs to be done?” It was a lethal question. One I wasn’t sure I truly desired to have answered. But he was here, which was a feat within itself. I had to take advantage of that, especially if it meant Lexie’s freedom.
“Are you going to rectify your situation?”
“I’m working on it,” I said through my teeth.
“It appears you’re more concerned with Miss Logan. She’s taking too much of your time.”
I wasn’t surprised he knew that, but I was stunned it only now occurred to me that I never told him which police station she was being held at.
“And she’s been detai
ned too long.”
Daniel stood a few feet behind my father with his phone pressed to his ear. From what I could gather, he was attempting to find Lexie’s father and the man who gave the statement in his defense. Daniel wielded a lot of clout and influence, and always seemed to know someone who could make things happen. If anyone could find them, it was him. Maybe he could work a miracle, and I could forget I’d ever asked the bastard, my godawful father, to help me.
“Are you pressuring me?” Father’s tone threatened, one I recognized far too well.
And it occurred to me, I wouldn’t personally pay for this favor. Beau or Teague or Lexie would because he knew that would affect me the most deeply.
“I’d prefer—”
“We need an ambulance. Prisoner down!”
At the shout, I rushed toward the reception window. A frenzy of movement ensued behind the partition.
“Who is it? What happened?”
The receptionist cradled a phone between her shoulder and ear. “I don’t know, sir.”
“Find out.”
She pulled the phone away from her mouth. “I can’t release information on prisoners.”
I pointed to a painting across the lobby. “That man funded most of the police stations in New York City. He’s my grandfather and I’m due answers.”
I rarely used my last name so brazenly, but if something had happened to Lexie, I needed to know.
She’d tell me my grandfather was the one who forked out the money, not me, and if anyone was due answers, it was him. She’d probably point out he’d been dead for thirty years too.
I’d bristle and inwardly stomp around, but eventually relent and agree she was right.
“I’ll see what I can find out.” The woman scurried off.
“You’ve finally learned how to wield your name.”
I cringed at the sound of my father’s voice. “If she’s hurt—”
“Careful, son.”
I’d blame him until I went to my grave.
Zegas burst out of the back. “Lexie hit her head. They’re taking her to Mercy General.”
Fall: Rise & Fall Duet Book 2 (Shaken 4) Page 3
