I feel shock first, then anger. I remember the unmarked white car I saw outside of my mother's place. They were watching me this entire time? Holy shit. They saw me being taken, and they did nothing!
“We need you to answer a few questions for us, and then we’ll be able to give you a way out of this, Elle.” I look at the man as he speaks. That’s why. Bastards.
As I stare between the three of them, all I can think is that I wish Vince was here.
Rule two: I don’t remember a damn thing, and I don't know what anyone is talking about. “I want a lawyer.”
Chapter 30: Vince
“We got you, Vince. You want to give us your story now? You got anything you wanna work with?” Detective Anderson sits back in his seat with a smug look on his face. I’ve been sitting here for a good half hour, just biding my time while they make me sweat it out.
I stare back at him with my mouth closed. I’m not saying a damn thing until my lawyer gets here. And then I’ll be thanking them for their time and walking the hell out of here.
“Miss Hawthorne’s already given her statement. You’re going away for a long time Vince. The only way to ease up on your sentencing is to give us something. Something worth my while.”
“Not saying a word.” Cops will lie, cheat, and steal to get a statement. It hurts that she sold me out. But she’s only got shit on me and no one else in the familia. And what do I care if I go away anyway? It’s not gonna be the same, not after her. Not with her leaving me. My jaw tics and my fists clench. I wonder what she told them. I wanna know what my sweetheart really thought about me. About everything we went through together.
“She told us how you forced her into the trunk of your car and took her against her will.” Fuck! I feel a sharp pain in my chest, like he fucking stabbed me. I can’t believe she’d talk. Not my girl.
Even knowing she sold me out, I don’t regret it. I love the way she made me feel. Even if everything that was real between us was only on my end. I can’t stand the hurt in my chest. I fucking loved her. I still do. Tears prick at my eyes. I really thought she loved me. What a fucking idiot I was. I push down my emotions. They still aren’t getting shit from me.
He’s been babbling on with threats, but then he says something that rings clear in my ears. “She told us how you smacked her around and threatened her mother.”
The tightness in my chest fades as his words sink in.
I smirk at them. Fucking liars. They were doing real good, too. I thought they had me. My girl wouldn’t lie. I know she wouldn’t. And I never said a word about her mother.
“You charging me with anything, officers?” I cock an eyebrow.
“We’ll keep you in holding--” he starts threatening me, but I cut him off.
“And piss off my Pops as a result? How’s that restraining order faring on your record, Detective Anderson?” He'd better not have upset Elle, either. She hasn’t been through this shit before, so I can’t imagine what she’s feeling. “You better being treating my sweetheart good too. If you threaten her with anything, I’ll make sure you lose your fucking badge.”
Detective Anderson’s nostrils flare with anger, and he slams his fist on the table. He takes off and slams the door on his way out. I know they’ll keep me here for a bit longer. That’s fine. So long as she’s alright. My chest tightens with pain. The family knows she’s here, but they don’t know shit about her. A cold sweat breaks out on my forehead. I need to get to a phone. I need to get out of here. I start feeling fidgety, sitting in this chair. I’ve been at the station before, but I’ve never felt like this. Never felt the need to get the fuck out immediately. But knowing Elle will be out soon? Knowing they’ll be waiting for her? I need to get out.
Chapter 31: Elle
I walk down the driveway with my arms crossed and my hands gripping onto my shoulders. I didn’t have an address to tell them to drop me off at. I can’t go back to my mother’s, even if my name’s on the mortgage, I don’t want to be there. And I don’t know Vince’s address, even though I’ve been living there for the last two weeks. So I gave them the only address I had, which was Vince’s parents' house.
I could run, I know that. I could go to a shelter and wait for the familia to eventually take me out. I could go into witness protection and give them everything I have on Vince. But I won’t. I don’t want to.
The blonde officer looked at me with pity, while the brunette one like I was a fucking idiot. And maybe I am. I know I could go to a women's shelter. They tried to convince me that’s where I should be while I get back on my feet. But that’s not where I want to be. I want to be with Vince.