Chapter 37
THIRTY-SEVEN
CRANE
If anyone goes into Sierra’s home while we’re gone, I’m going to hunt them down and kill them.
The thought of Sierra being alone while someone uses her spare key makes me feel sick with rage.
It has to be Declan because he’s a spiteful prick with an obsession with my girl.
Gripping the steering wheel with one hand, I move my other to Sierra’s, focusing on the road ahead.
We’ve been driving for a few hours now, and Sierra’s anxiety is radiating off of her.
"Are you okay?" I ask, lifting her hand to my lips.
"Yeah, a little nervous, but I'm good," Sierra replies, staring out of the window.
The flour footprints we'd found at her house before leaving still burn in my mind. Size eleven boots, expensive hiking boot tread—exactly what Declan wears. The white powder had been scattered where I'd left the bag hanging, like someone had grabbed it hastily and knocked it to the floor.
"He really did it," Sierra had whispered when we saw the evidence. "He came into my house and took them."
I'm still raging about Declan when I pull up to my mom's.
It’s more important that I focus on Sierra, but I’ve got a sickening feeling that I’m right about Declan.
I don’t trust him at all; never have.
“Firstly, you look stunning,” I tell Sierra as I cut the engine. “Secondly, I love you, and thirdly, I promise you my mom already thinks the world of you.”
Sierra flushes and nods, and our lips meet again. This time it gets a little heated, and I consider driving somewhere a little quieter until Sierra breaks it off.
“I think your mom is at the door.” Sierra nods over my shoulder with a giggle, and I groan, knowing I’ve been busted making out with my girl by my mom.
I turn to see Mom beaming at us from the doorway, her cheeks flushing with excitement.
Her hair is long and lustrous, and she doesn’t look a day over thirty.
I hope I’ve got her genes.
The alternative doesn’t bear thinking about.
“She’s so pretty!” Sierra gasps from beside me as we stroll up the path.
I nod in agreement as I hold our entwined hands up to my mom.
“Got her, Mom.”
Sierra laughs, her eyes twinkling as Mom strides toward her, pulling her into a bear hug.
“Sierra! It’s so good to see you again!” Mom gushes, smoothing down Sierra’s hair. “You’re even more beautiful than I remember.”
Sierra smiles at us both, and my heart aches with love for her.
“Isn’t she?” I grin, dropping a kiss to Mom’s cheek.
She smells of apples and vanilla, and I pull her in for a hug.
“You good?” I mumble, as Mom nods, holding me away.
“I am! And look at you,” Mom breathes, pinching my cheek. “You look like the cat that got the cream.”
Sliding my arm around Sierra’s waist, I savour the joy that’s running through my body like a river.
Happiness isn’t anything without Sierra.
“I feel like it.”
We make our way inside, and I let the smell of home comfort me.
Mom’s always cooking or baking, and is constantly talking about opening a little cake store in town.
“Something smells amazing,” Sierra comments, exchanging a glance with me.
“Well, I’ve been baking all morning.” Mom laughs, leading us into the kitchen.
Mom seems brighter than usual, which is a relief.
I worried about leaving her for Kai’s wedding, seeing as she still has her ups and downs.
“Lemon cheesecake, raspberry pie, and carrot cake,” Mom declares proudly, waving her hand toward the table where the three cakes sit.
My stomach rumbles, and Mom rolls her eyes, dragging four plates out.
“I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve asked my friend to come along.”
My eyebrows shoot up, and Sierra shrugs from beside me, taking a plate from my mom.
“A friend?” I ask, noting how Mom avoids looking at me. “Who?”
Mom blushes, and Sierra smiles knowingly, clearing her throat.
“Could I get a slice of the lemon cheesecake, please?”
Surely not.
My mom has invited a man over?
“His name is Ray. He’s a lovely guy, and I don’t want you to scare him away, Crane.”
Sierra licks her lips at the sight of the cheesecake and sinks her fork into it greedily.
“Oh, God, this is so good, Mrs. Michaels!”
Mom's smile freezes, and we exchange an awkward look as Sierra claps her hand to her mouth.
“I’m sorry!”
“It’s okay, sweetheart,” Mom reassures her, pushing another slice of cheesecake onto Sierra’s half empty plate. “You can call me Laura.”
Sierra stares down at the plate in her hands, and I rub her back, kissing her forehead as she looks up at me gratefully.
“I’m so sorry, I didn’t think…” Her words trail off when the sound of the front door opening fills the room.
“Sorry I’m late, Laura, the damn roads have been closed again. I swear, every year it gets worse.”
The sound of heavy footsteps in the hallway makes me stiffen, preparing to see someone exactly like my father when the door opens.
Instead, I’m pleasantly surprised.
A man with wild dark hair and a friendly smile fills the doorway, and his eyes widen in surprise at the sight of me and Sierra.
“I’m late, aren’t I?” he groans, holding his hand out to me. “Hey, I’m Raymond, but everyone calls me Ray. You must be the man of the house.”
His eyes twinkle as he glances at Sierra, giving her a wave.
“Hello, Miss.”
I like him immediately, but when I see the look in Mom's eyes I know it doesn’t matter.
This guy is much more than a friend.
“Nice to meet you, Ray.” I smile, sliding an arm around Sierra. “This is my…” I stare down at Sierra, who bites her lip and flushes scarlet. “Fiancée.”
There’s a clatter of plates crashing together, and Mom cries out.
“What?!”
“Yeah, it just kind of happened…” I rub the back of my neck as Ray claps his hands together.
“Well, that’s great news. Congratulations to the both of you.”
Mom's eyes fill with tears as she rushes around the table, sweeping the two of us into a group hug.
“You too, Ray,” I say with a chuckle, offering a hand out for him to join the hug.
Mom buries her head in his chest, and he kisses her forehead, exactly how I do with Sierra.
“This calls for a celebration!” Mom declares, wringing her hands together. “I’ll check if we have any champagne. We may have some left…”
Sierra's phone buzzes, and her smile fades when she stares down at it, motioning to me that she is taking the call outside.
“Excuse me, guys, I’ve got to get this.”
Mom is searching through the kitchen like a woman possessed, and Ray chuckles.
“It’s all go in here, isn’t it?”
I watch Sierra walk outside, her hair whipping around her as she covers her free ear to hear the caller better. Her brow furrows, and she stops suddenly, turning to face me.
Something is wrong.
“Is she okay, honey?” Mom asks, placing her hand on my arm gently.
I shake my head, trying to ignore the twisting in my stomach that tells me something is definitely off.
“I tell you what, why don’t I go to the store and pick up some champagne to go with these delicious cakes?” Ray suggests.
Mom agrees.
“Good idea. I’ll come with you; is that alright, Crane?”
“Huh?” I ask, wondering why she’s asking me for my permission.
“Will you guys be okay?” Mom questions, nodding toward Sierra.
“Yeah, fine. No worries,” I mumble, sinking onto a stool by the counter.
Sierra is trudging back to the house, her expression grim.
“We won’t be long.” Mom smiles, grabbing her purse as she passes me. “I hope she’s okay.”
Mom gives me a pointed look, and I force a smile, not wanting to give away how worried I am.
Sierra enters the house as they leave, and she exhales loudly, dropping her phone to the counter with a clatter.
“You okay?” I enquire, knowing she isn’t.
She’s pale and gnawing at her nails, her eyes barely registering me.
“That was the cops.” Her voice, barely a whisper, cracks with the weight of her words. “They want to speak to me formally about the diamonds.”
My blood runs cold, and I shake my head with a snarl.
“Tell me you’re kidding.”
“No, Crane, I’m not. They’ve asked me to be at the station tomorrow before noon.”
Sierra bursts into tears, and I jump up, wrapping my arms around her like it’s going to help matters.
“Listen to me,” I command, forcing her to look at me. “Declan is desperate. He’s trying to pin these missing diamonds on you, but the chances are he took them! We know this; we can prove it too.”
What with, flour?
Sierra blinks through her tears, her hands gripping mine.
“They’re interviewing me because they think you stole the diamonds, Crane.”
As her words die on her lips, my phone vibrates in my pocket.
I frown, reaching down to answer the call.
Unknown number.
“Hello?”
“Is that Crane Michaels?” the deep voice on the other end asks, so formally I know it’s the cops calling.
Fuck.
“Yes.”
My eyes meet Sierra’s, and she watches me with bated breath, her shoulders shaking occasionally from her sobs.
“We need to speak to you regarding the theft of jewellery, Mr. Michaels. Are you in the area?”
My mouth is too dry to respond, but the voice presses on regardless.
“It’s serious enough to put out a warrant for your arrest, if it’s a trouble for you to come down to the station today.”
“No. I’m not in the area. Can I go to my local station?”
I know my rights.
I also know with my prior record, this isn’t looking good.
The voice hesitates, and I know the answer before they say it.
“Yes, but it would be better if you came here. Where are you?”
I close my eyes, knowing this is all Declan fucking Hale’s fault.
“Sir?”
“Uh, sure. I’ll come.”
Sierra stares down at the floor, shaking her head.
“Is tomorrow morning going to work? I’m three to four hours away.” I sigh, knowing my mom will flip her fucking lid if I have to leave today.
“I'm afraid not.”
“Would it help if I told you that my fiancée’s ex-boyfriend is trying to frame me for stealing her diamonds?” I snap into the phone, not missing the guilt that crosses Sierra's face.
“Would it help if I sent officers out to collect you?” the voice snaps back.
“No, ma’am.”
“Good. We’ll see you in four hours then, Mr. Michaels. Oh, and if I were you, I’d get the best damn lawyer you can afford.”
The line goes dead, and I stare at the phone with a mixture of anger and shock.
“I’m so sorry, Crane. I’ll call him right now—” Sierra breathes, clutching her chest.
“No.” I grab her hand, pulling her toward me.
Her breath hitches in her throat as I take her phone, staring down at the number for Declan Hale.
“I’m going to go and see him. Do you want to stay here, or—”
“Fuck no. I’m coming with you,” Sierra says, her eyes glittering with anger. “I want to take that fucker down. I can afford a good lawyer, Crane—”
My mouth moves into a crooked smile as I press my lips against hers.
“Baby, thank you, but I can afford the best.”
Declan Hale is going down.