Chapter 2 #3
Coming to my senses as the sirens drew nearer, I bolted across the room, grabbing her arm. “Bella! We have to go. Now!”
She twisted, grinning at me, but her smile dropped when tires skidded outside. Releasing her, I crossed to the window, trepidation coursing through me as three cop cars came to a stop outside the house.
“Fuck.” I closed my eyes, regret swimming in my veins before I spun back around. “It’s too late, the cops are here.”
The color drained from Bella’s face, her eyes widening in alarm as if she had just realized that her actions had consequences. “Oh, shit, T. I can’t get caught. My friend won’t help me if I get into trouble.”
Her chest started rising and falling in quick succession, her breath coming out in quick pants. Fuck, the last thing we needed now was for her to have a panic attack. I squeezed my eyes closed, pinching the bridge of my nose, only for them to snap open at the voice of a cop shouting, “Police!”
Not hesitating for a beat, I grabbed Bella again. “Go. Find a way out of here. I’ll distract the cops-”
“No, T! You’ll get caught,” Bella hissed, tears welling in her eyes.
I pulled her into my arms, kissing her forehead. “I’ll sort it,” I replied, pulling back. “Now, go find a way out without getting caught, and ring me when you arrive at your friends.”
Before she could object, I released her and jogged out of the room, heading to the stairs where two cops were coming up. “I’m here,” I said, holding my hands up, resigned to my fate.
I’d never been in a prison cell before, and truthfully, I wasn’t in a rush to be in one again. God only knew how many hours had passed since the cops pounced on me, cuffing my hands behind my back and dragging me out of the house to shove me in a cop car.
I waited with my heart in my mouth as four cops searched the rest of the house, but when they came out to tell their colleagues the place was clear, I breathed a sigh of relief. Bella had gotten away.
But now, I was left to face the music. Honestly, I couldn’t find it in me to care.
After everything she’d been through with her dad, Bella deserved an opportunity to start afresh.
I could only hope that my punishment didn’t ruin my life.
However, knowing what I did about McScroodge, I suspected he wouldn’t be happy until I was sentenced to life in prison.
Keys jangling indicated my cell door being opened, and the guard who’d taken my fingerprints earlier appeared. “Come on, Crutchens, let’s go.”
I stood, confused about what would happen next. I had asked for a lawyer, so maybe he was taking me to see one. Convinced that was where we were headed, I was somewhat surprised when he opened a door to an interview room, and my dad sat in a chair, his brows furrowed in worry.
“Tristan,” he said, getting to his feet and pulling me into a hug. “Are you okay?”
I patted him on the back. “Yeah, Dad. What are you doing here?”
He pulled back, his concerned features disappearing, replaced by disappointment. “What the hell do you think you were doing? Breaking into Mr. McScroodge’s house?”
I glanced away, hating that I’d disappointed him. It was something I’d never experienced before. Shrugging, I sheepishly met his glare. “I dunno, I just…I wasn’t really thinking.”
Dad’s shoulders slumped. “The cops think you were with someone. Was it Bella?”
My lips pursed into a thin line. The cops had asked several times if someone was with me, but I’d maintained I’d gone to the house alone, and I wasn’t going to snitch on Bella now, not even to my dad. “No. It was only me.”
“Tris-”
“You should have told me. I came to you to ask for your help to keep McScroodge off her back. You should have told me he’d evicted her,” I interrupted, my own disappointment seeping in.
I’d asked him a few months ago if there was any way he could buy Bella some more time to get the money for her rent, and he’d agreed to help. I knew I was being unfair, though. He had helped her several times, yet it hadn’t been enough.
He sighed. “I did what I could, Tris. I thought she’d manage to find the money.” He slumped in his seat, rubbing a hand over his forehead. “I’m sorry I couldn’t help her anymore, but you have to understand. If I lose my job, then we risk losing our home.”
It was my turn to sigh as I collapsed into the chair opposite him. “I know, Dad.” I closed my eyes, regret flowing through me. “I’m sorry. I let you and Mom down. I…I got so angry, he evicted Bella, and now she’s got no choice but to leave town.”
Dad’s head lifted, and he met my stare across the table. “Does that mean she’s going back to her Dad?” I shook my head, and he visibly relaxed. “Thank God.”
I’d confided in him after Bella told me about the abuse she suffered, needing guidance on how I could help her through. In my eyes, my dad was the wisest man I knew, and he hadn’t let me down when I asked for his support then.
He never let me down.
“Her friend has offered her a job and a place to stay, but it’s in Lincoln Vale.”
“That’s what? Six hours away?”
“Yeah.”
Silence filled the room, and I wondered how long it would be until the officer came to take me back to my cell, when my dad surprised me. “I’ve spoken to Ben.”
“McScroodge?”
Dad grimaced. “Yeah. The cops told him it was my son they arrested. He wasn’t best pleased and wanted to press charges.
But I’ve managed to talk him out of it.” Stunned, I could only stare at my dad.
I may not have known McScroodge, but his reputation preceded him.
“He won’t press charges, but in exchange, you have to clean up the mess you made. ”
It took every effort not to react. It wasn’t my fucking mess, and the thought of going anywhere near that house or that man infuriated me more than I’d ever been in my life. But there was no way I was going to stitch Bella up.
“That’s not all,” Dad continued, not quite able to meet my gaze. “He wants you to decorate the whole of his house at your expense.”
“You’re kidding me-”
“Tris, you broke into the man’s house, smashed his windows, and sprayed paint everywhere.
You branded him a murderer. Whatever you think of him, he isn’t that.
You’re lucky he agreed to the deal I offered.
You know you could go to jail for what you’ve done.
What would your sisters have done without you if that had happened?
What would I have done without you, Tristan?
” Dad bellowed, and despite me being an adult, I couldn’t help but recoil under his furious tone.
I couldn’t ever remember a time when my dad was angry at me.
Thoughts churned in my head. Was it better to face jail and a criminal record than spend my hard-earned cash fixing damage I hadn’t caused? The other option was giving Bella’s name up to the cops and letting her deal with the consequences of her actions.
But there was only one answer. With a heavy heart, I met my father’s gaze across the table. “When do I start?”
“Tomorrow.”