“Shut up.” He pushes me toward the back with a hard shove. “If you value your life, you’ll just stay quiet and mind your own business.”
He flips around and urges on his guards who carry the first round of the drug stash. The sirens grow closer. Right outside the van.
“That’s it. The rest will have to wait.”
The door slams shut, the dark engulfing me. Their muffled voices argue outside. I strain to hear any bit of evidence but it’s impossible to make out anything clearly. I lean my head against the wall of the van, my hope lying in the sirens that sound like they just whipped into the driveway.
I try to keep my breaths steady, but I can’t pretend that my life hangs in the balance. I hear yelling and the ping of shots. A thud against the outside of the van creates a slight rocking motion. Then it’s silent and I fear the worst—that Kingston and his men took out the cops.
Seconds later, the back door flies open.
Officers peer inside. One steps into the van, hunched over. He looks into my eyes, and his soften before they turn to steel. “Holy shit.” He shouts, “Cuff ’em.”
The morning sun peeks through the window, highlighting the light layer of dust that formed overnight, and gleaming off the metal of my bed. I close my eyes and try to grasp onto some of that warmth. It needs to soak through my skin and warm my insides. I still get chills thinking about last night.
I didn’t want to stay in the hospital. I wanted to go home, but they made me undergo an examination. I’d like to say it was mostly out of concern for me, but I think they wanted as much evidence as possible to nail this guy. The doctor will be in soon and if he signs off I’m out of here.
A voice clears at the door. I perk up. Maybe? It’s an older guy. Probably another cop to take my statement, but as I study his clothes I realize that’s not possible. This guy’s wearing a suit, the tie loosened around his neck. He’s older, silver peppering his hair. Quietly, my hand reaches over to the call button.
His eyes flick to my motion. He holds up his hands. “I’m not going to hurt you. I’ll stay at the door.”
“Why are you here?”
“I had a couple questions, if you don’t mind hearing me out.” Dark circles rim his eyes and a misery lays over his features and transfers over into the way he holds himself. Like at some point he was some big to-do that recently got knocked down.
“I wanted to apologize on behalf of my son…and me.”
I stiffen. Is this the maniac’s father? I never curse but the words fly out of my mouth. “What the hell? Go talk to your son who will probably be in jail a long, long time. I hope he rots there.” My voice shakes. My face heats and I have to rest it against the pillow.
“I never thought Chad would get into this kind of trouble.”
Chad? Oh, my God. My body sags into the bed. “I didn’t realize you meant Chad.”
“Who else?” His face pales. “Sorry about that. I should have made that clear from the start.
Now I’m curious. Chad’s father? One look at him and I understand why Chad rebels. There’s a confident reserve in his eyes. This guy must not take crap from anyone. I have a feeling he’s used to getting what he wants, except maybe when it comes to his son.
“I wanted to check in on you. I feel partly responsible. Chad was working for me, tailing that creep. And that got you involved. I’m sorry.”
My theory was right. But why is he apologizing for Chad? “I’m sorry, but I think you have it wrong.” All my feelings for Chad rush through at once, ones I’d been ignoring since Kingston nabbed me. Someone needs to stick up for him. Whether it’s my place or not doesn’t matter right now. “Chad’s been nothing but a gentleman. Yet he does everything to prove himself to you. You were the one to get him involved in this. Your own son.” His eyes shift. “That’s right. You should feel guilty. If he’s made wrong choices it’s in response to you. You should be apologizing to him. Not me.”
He doesn’t say anything but the words must affect him as if he’s seeing the truth for the first time. His role in everything. I recognize the flicker of remorse on his face.
I continue. “I don’t know if Chad wants to be a lawyer or not, but you need to let him go.”
He sighs and messes his hair. Then he speaks, his voice a bit lower. “Why didn’t you take the money?”
Money? This one’s easy. “I don’t want your money. I never wanted it. But that guy walked away so fast I didn’t know what to do with it. I don’t know the kind of world you live in, but in mine people and loyalty can’t be bought.” I turn away, the blush rising in my cheeks. “I liked Chad without your money. I didn’t need to be paid to spend time with him.”