by Rebel Hart
I reveled in the taste of her tongue before Miss Hall cleared her throat.
“Someone’s coming,” she murmured.
I reluctantly pulled away. “You’ve got this, gorgeous. Okay?”
I wiped a tear away from her cheek as her eyes met mine.
“I love you, Max.”
I cupped her cheek. “I love you too, Dani.”
Miss Hall butted in. “Sorry, guys. Pow-wow’s over.”
Feeling Dani slip away from my grasp caused me an anxiety I’d never felt before. Miss Hall kept guiding her down the hallway as Dani’s sniffles grew more and more fervent. She kept peering over her shoulder with more tears streaking her face. And the sadness was enough to shatter my soul.
I’m sorry, Dani.
I turned my back to her as weakness took over. I wasn’t physically able to watch her break down and be okay with it. Especially since I couldn't comfort her. The idea of Dani falling apart because of me didn’t sit right. I felt bile creeping up the back of my throat again, threatening to show me just how weak I really was in this entire situation. I heard Dani calling out after me and my lawyer trying to talk her down from her furious high. And as a door slammed at the other end of the hallway, I felt tears percolating behind my own eyes.
I promise I’ll make this up to you, gorgeous.
I took a seat on the bench in the middle of the holding cell. I had no idea how the fuck Miss Hall was going to get me out of this situation. Twenty-four hours my ass. These police would find some way to make sure I stayed here and rotted the rest of my days away. I pressed the heels of my aching hands into my eyes, trying to push the tears back. Because the last thing I needed was to be crying like a hopeless little bitch in this damn holding cell.
But fuck me, did my heart ever hurt.
14
Dani
The paint is peeling.
The concrete beneath my ass was hard. The curve of the curb as doors slammed open and closed behind me were nothing, though, compared to how weird the paint looked. On the asphalt of the parking lot outside the police station, the paint was peeling right up from the road. Flaking off. Blowing in the wind. Brushing over my feet, as if to paint my shoes.
I’d never felt so numb inside before.
I didn’t feel anything. The world passed by me like I didn’t exist. Part of me didn’t want to exist, either.
Not without Max.
How am I going to get him out of jail?
I wasn't an idiot. With his father alive, who knew when he was actually going to be free? Or if he’d ever be free again. I felt myself mourning for something I hadn’t lost yet. I felt my heart mourning the loss of Max, even though he was still in my life. It killed me to feel that pain. To feel the tears burning as they rushed down my cheeks. I didn’t have my car. I was running out of cash to have a taxi haul me around. I couldn't call my parents. I refused to call Hannah and listen to her rant of ‘I told you so’ the entire way back to campus.
Where is my car, anyway?
I looked back over my shoulder and watched as a man stormed out of the police station’s doors. He looked about as angry as I felt. Well, as angry as I had been feeling. I wanted to go inside and ask someone what had happened to my car. But I didn’t want to chance another encounter with that front desk officer. I knew he was in on all of this. I knew he had something to do with this bullshit that had transpired.
Maybe my car is still at the bar.
The more I wracked my brain for answers, the less I came up with. How had things gone so wrong? How had we ended up here, with Max in a holding cell they wouldn't release him from? There was an incessant buzzing sound in my ear that wouldn't go away. Like a damn mosquito flying around my head. I wanted to squash the invisible mosquito. I wanted the buzzing noise to go away.
How do I quiet the storm raging inside me?
I felt darkness falling over me. I hung my head and closed my eyes as I let it wash over me. And as I sat there, with tears falling to the chipping paint beneath me, I wondered if I should let it swallow me whole. I drew in ragged breaths. My hands began to tremble. I felt my heart breaking into millions of tiny pieces, threatening to be swept away by the storm raging through my body. I didn’t know what to think. Or where to go. Or who to trust. Or who to call.
Until I felt someone sit down beside me.
“Hey there, Dani.”
I turned my head. “John?”
He gave me a tight-lipped smile that seemed as weak as I felt.
“Wondered if I’d find you here.”
My voice broke. “I’m so sorry I ruined everything.”
He furrowed his brow. “What? No. Dani, you could never do that.”
I sniffled. “I feel like I have.”
His hand on my back was reassuring. Tears flowed down my neck in rivers as I struggled to catch my breath. John scooted closer and rubbed my back softly, trying with all of his might to console me. He even went so far as to wrap his arm around me and pull me in for a soft hug.
One I accepted with great pride.
“Benji ruined everything for us, Dani. My father, too. But not you. You were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Okay?”
I closed my eyes. “I don’t know what to do now.”
He patted my back. “Come on. Getting you out of here is the first task.”
I raised my head. “I can’t leave Max.”
“Well, you can’t sit here, either. And I think if there’s anyone he’d want you to be with right now, it’s me.”
He had a point. “Are the guys okay?”
“Let’s get in my car first. Then we can talk.”
He stood, with the help of his cane, then offered me a hand. I took it gladly, trying not to put too much pressure on him. I didn’t want him to topple over, or break in two, or shatter. Like I felt my own body was doing. And as I stood to my feet, the two of us headed for his car.
“John?”
“Mm-hmm?”
“What does this mean for the crew?”
He unlocked his car. “Well, at this stage, I’m not really sure.”
I opened my door. “What do you mean?”
He sighed. “I mean, I was arrested last night. Most of us were. But, the police don’t have anything to hold me on. So I was released pretty soon after that. I’m sure they’ll do their damndest to find something to pin on me, but in the meantime, I’ll be working hard to get Max out of there. He’s going to need all the help we can get, especially if we’re going to piece the Red Thorns back together.”
I blinked. “Were all of you arrested last night?”
He dipped down into the car. “Come on. We’re burning daylight.”
I didn’t like the way he evaded my question. And I certainly didn’t like the way he was fumbling with the keys to his car. His hand shook terribly, and when I gazed into his eyes I saw nothing but pain.
“John?”
He grunted. “Yep.”
“Are you okay?”
He finally got the key into the ignition. “Yep. I just gotta--mmph.”
I furrowed my brow. “What was that?”
I watched his back jump a bit before he groaned again.
“John, I think I should drive.”
He shook his head. “I’ve got it.”
I placed my hand over his wrist. “Please, John.”
He sighed. “How the hell did things get so fucked up, Dani?”
I shook my head. “I don’t know. I really don’t.”
I wasn’t sure how long we sat there with John groaning and grunting in pain. It almost seemed like his back was spasming. His eyes grew unfocused. I saw the same kind of storm I felt inside of me rip-roaring behind his eyes. I smoothed my hand up and down his arm, hoping to coax him into letting me drive.
Then, finally, he looked over at me. “You drive standard?”
I nodded. “I can, yes. My father taught me when I was in high school.”
“Good. You’re driving. Come over here and he
lp me out.”
I scrambled out of the car and helped John to his feet. He was in obvious pain, and I wanted to get him home as quickly as possible. I walked him around the car and helped him sit down in the passenger’s seat. Then, I rushed back around and practically threw myself into the seat.
“Ready?” I asked.
John eased himself back. “Whenever you are.”
“I’ll try to make this drive as smooth as possible.”
“Just get us home. I need my--rah!--pain meds.”
I cranked up the engine and sniffled for the last time. I eased us out of the parking space, but fucked things up trying to shift into first. The car jerked, causing John to yell out in pain. And as tears flooded my eyes again, I cranked the engine once more.
“I’m so sorry,” I whispered.
John gritted his teeth. “Just get us out of here. Don’t worry about me. I’ve got your car at my house.”
“Wait, what?”
“Just go, Dani.”
I took things slowly, but it made for smoother driving. I had practically memorized how to get to their place, so it required very little input from John in terms of getting us back. He lay back with his eyes closed, but I saw his legs jumping. The pain must be working its way down his body, and it broke my heart.
How could this possibly get any worse?
“You know, you’re more than welcome to stay at the house. If you want.”
John’s voice caught my ear. “That might be a good idea. Especially with Benji still out there and all.”
“Do you need anything from your dorm?”
I paused. “Honestly? I’m not sure. I packed everything up and tossed it into my car, but for all I know it might not be there any longer.”
“We should go back and get you a few things, then. Just in case.”
I peered over at him. “I’m going to have to pull a U-turn, and it’ll keep you away from your meds longer.”
“You staying at the house?”
I paused. “I think it’s best, yeah.”
“Then get this over with and let’s get to campus first. I’ll accompany you upstairs just in case something happens.”
I didn’t like the plan, but I wasn’t in a position to fight with him. So I eased the car around as softly as I could, growing more comfortable with the stick shift and the gears, and soon we were smoothly sailing toward my dorm room. Part of me just wanted to go back to the house. Even if my stuff had been stolen and this was the only outfit I had, it was better than what faced me on campus. Missed classes. Dropping grades. Possibly running into Benji.
Hannah.
“Oh second thought, maybe we should--”
John interrupted me. “You need clothes. I guarantee you that you’ve missed something you’ll need in the heat of the moment when it came to packing up your stuff. Let’s go back and give your room a good once over. Because once you’re at the house, you’re staying there until this is all settled. Understood?”
I nodded. “Fine by me.”
I pulled the car up to the curb just outside my dorm room. I gazed up toward the window, watching the curtain already fluttering. Great. Hannah had already spotted me. Absolutely wonderful. I heard John’s car door open before he gathered his cane, so I cut the engine of the car.
And together, we started toward the building.
I was glad for John’s company, though it made me feel guilty to hear him stifling his grunts beside me. I kept stealing glances at him, and it seemed that every time I looked at him his limp got worse. I wanted to tell him to go back and wait for me in the car, but I knew he wouldn't listen. So as we rose up the elevator, I drew in deep breaths to settle my nerves.
“You good?” he asked.
I sighed. “Just nervous about seeing my roommate again.”
“You two have a blowout or something?”
I snickered. “Or something.”
The doors eased open at the top floor and I saw Hannah at the end of the hallway, standing by our front door. She gasped before she took off running toward me as I stepped off the elevator. John placed his hand against my back and I felt him gird me with his arm. As Hannah leapt at me, her arms wrapping around my neck, I felt her sobbing against my shoulder.
“My gosh, I was so worried about you, Dani.”
And it took all I had not to push her away and brush past.
15
Max
The walls of this damn holding cell were beginning to close in on me. I felt like I was going crazy. I felt like weeks had passed since I’d seen the outside world. When, in reality, Dani had only left me a few hours ago. I stretched my arms over my head and felt my back pop into place. I cracked my neck, feeling people staring me down in their drunken, stumbling states. Most of the people that came and went from the holding cell were nothing more than drunkards from the side of the road. There had been a couple of questionable-looking women in a profession I could only proclaim as ‘salacious’ that got locked in the holding cell next to us. And as their eyes raked over my body, their cat-calling started.
“Why don’tcha come over here and give me a nice look at those eyes?”
“How much you bench anyway, huh?”
“I like that leather jacket. You mind if I feel it?”
A cop slammed his fist against the bars. “Patricia! Diamond! Leave the man alone.”
The two girls snickered as they went to sit down, but I didn’t pay them any mind. They weren’t bothering me because I sure as hell wasn’t a stranger to things like that. I simply didn’t indulge them anymore. I had the woman I wanted, and it was so damn frustrating that I wasn’t out there taking care of her. Protecting her. Making sure she was staying out of trouble.
Fucking hell, I need out of this cage.
I got up and started pacing. It was all I could think to do. My holding cell quickly became the drunk tank on a random Monday morning. What these guys had been doing or where they had been found, only God knew. But I hoped my lawyer pulled a miracle out of her ass.
Or at least that these twenty-four hours go by quickly.
“Maxwell Ryddle?”
I slowly turned around as I watched a cop unlock the cell door.
“With me,” he said.
All eyes were on me as he pulled my arms behind my back and cuffed me. He led me down the hallway before I heard one of the girls whistle at me again.
“Look at that ass!”
The cop snickered. “Shut it, Patricia!”
“Yeah, yeah, you and the rest of ‘em, Bailey!”
I kept my mouth shut as the cop led me into the room I had been in previously with my own lawyer. I looked around for her, but she was nowhere to be found. The cop shoved me down into my seat before uncuffing my hands, only to cuff them to the table with that fucking metal ring attached to it. It forced me to hunch into a submissive position I would have rather died than actually do myself. But I didn’t have a choice.
Just play nice until tonight.
Instead of the officer leaving, though, he clasped his hands behind his back and leaned over me, as if to cover me in his shadow. I furrowed my brow. I didn’t know what the hell this man was doing, but I was over it. And as he started pacing the room, I sighed heavily.
I knew when to keep my mouth shut. But he wasn’t making it easy on me.
“Maxwell Ryddle,” he finally said.
I licked my lips. “I prefer Max.”
He snickered. “I’m sure you do, Maxwell.”
I chewed on the inside of my cheek. “Should I be expecting my lawyer soon?”
He snickered. “You know, we’ve been waiting a long time to get something big enough to bury you for.”
I watched a vicious smirk play against his lips. “I’m sure.”
“You and your father. You're like two peas in a pod.”
“I’m nothing like my father.”
“You sure about that? Because the resemblance from where I’m standing is uncanny.”
I sucked
air through my teeth. “Why am I really here?”
He narrowed his eyes. “You’re here because I brought you here, and that’s all anyone needs to know.”
Wonderful. “Off the books, huh?”
“Not necessarily.”
I didn’t know what the hell this guy was playing at, but I knew it wasn’t good. I already knew he was bad news. In my father’s fucking pocket. I’d still be back in that holding cell waiting for my time to be up if he wasn’t being fed by my father. I wondered how much Ashton was paying him. Five grand a month? Seven? I’d known my father to pay someone as much as ten grand a month to do his bidding whenever he called.
I wondered what kind of deal this cop had with him.
“If you’re going to interrogate me, I need my lawyer present,” I said.
The man stopped pacing. “You see this uniform?”
“From a mile away.”
His eye twitched. “This uniform should tell you I’m well-versed in what the law says.”
And your countenance tells me you’re well-versed in what my father says.
I nodded. “Right.”
“Good. Glad we’re on the same page. Don’t feel the need to run me down on the law. You’ll need your energy for other things.”
I nodded. “Other things. Got it. Sounds totally legit.”
The man slammed his hands down onto the table. “You want to mock me, Ryddle?”
“No, sir.”
“You want to try to intimidate me? Threaten me? Make me play your little game?”
I shook my head. “No, sir.”
He narrowed his eyes. “What kind of game are you playing right now?”
“There’s no game. Just sitting here, waiting for my lawyer to be present before I start answering any questions you might have.”
He chuckled. “Playing it safe, tough guy? I can appreciate that. But we need to know what happened at the estate. And time is of the essence.”
I shrugged. “Get my lawyer here, and we can talk all you want.”
