Chapter 39
THIRTY-NINE
SIERRA
The police station is crammed when we arrive, and we’re promptly escorted to different rooms. Crane sends me a reassuring wink, but even that does nothing to calm my nerves.
The officer is a man, and he’s a harassed one at that. He’s in his early fifties, and he looks like he lives on a diet of fried food and soda. He squeezes behind the desk in front of me, giving me an awkward smile when his stomach pushes the table toward me.
“Sorry.” He clears his throat. “Officer Pembroke, good to meet you.”
I nod, unable to say anything. My fingers won’t stop moving, and I force them under my butt so I can focus.
Officer Pembroke drawls on about how Mr. Hale reported the diamonds missing after leaving them in my safekeeping.
White hot rage ripples through me, and I snap without thinking.
“Declan Hale bought me those diamonds as a gift.”
The officer gives me a wary look.
“He said you’d say that.”
My mouth drops open.
“Excuse me? I have proof!” I declare triumphantly, dragging my phone from my back pocket. My fingers tremble as I swipe through my Instagram, finding the photo I’d shared of him holding the diamonds like an engagement ring. The memory stings. We looked so happy.
I thrust the phone toward Officer Pembroke, and he sighs.
“He’s got the receipt. These aren’t cheap, Miss Carson. Are you seriously saying he bought you these as a gift?” He cocks his eyebrow at me, and my nostrils flare.
He thinks I’m lying.
“He’s got photos of me lying in his bed wearing nothing but those,” I counter, enjoying seeing the officer squirm. “I've been wearing them in every photo since the one I showed you. Look!”
I’m swiping like a crazy woman, my eyes bulging out of my sockets as he purses his lips.
“Why would he say you’ve stolen them?”
A noise of frustration chokes my throat, and I glare back at him.
“Because I left him for Crane Michaels, who, by the way, is entirely innocent!”
The officer lifts my phone from the table and waves towards the door.
“Can I take this so I can have the photos as evidence?”
“Sure, go ahead.” I throw my hands up with exasperation. “But I’m telling you now, this is bullshit. We didn’t steal any fucking diamonds.”
“Calm down, Miss Carson.”
But I won’t.
I can’t.
Fuck this.
“No, I won’t,” I insist, my eyes widening so much they ache. “This isn’t fair. He’s got money and power, and clearly, he’s got someone here in his pocket.”
I’m trembling with rage.
How fucking dare Declan do this to me? To us?
“If anything, he stole them from me!”
The officer frowns, rising to his feet.
“What are you insinuating?”
I jump to my feet, my temper throwing me into action.
“Declan went into my house and took the diamonds. I was in Miami.”
The officer sighs, scrubbing his face with what looks like exhaustion.
“Did you file a police report?”
I bunch my fists, ready to swing for this blubbering idiot.
“No! I didn’t care about the diamonds.”
My chest heaves with emotion, my voice breaking.
“I still don’t. I only care about Crane. He’s innocent in all of this.”
The officer regards me for a moment before gesturing back to the door.
“I’ll be right back.”
“I’ve got back-ups of those images too,” I call after him, just in case he gets any ideas about deleting them. “Dates, times, everything.”
“I hear you, Miss Carson.”
He better.
It feels like the officer has been gone for hours, but in reality it’s probably only been twenty minutes.
When the door opens, I glare at him expectantly.
“Well?”
“You can go.” Officer Pembroke waves his hand, sliding my phone across the desk.
“Oh? And Crane?”
Officer Pembroke eyes me warily.
“He’s free too. Sorry about all of this, Miss Carson.”
I snatch up my phone, pushing past him to enter the dank corridor.
I’m trembling with rage, and I need to get out of here.
I feel like I can’t breathe.
“I want to murder Declan fucking Hale,” I mutter as I round the corner.
Two large hands grip my waist, and I turn to see Crane gazing down at me with concern. His gray eyes sparkle with amusement as he glances around us.
“It’s probably best you don’t say shit like that here.”
“Crane,” I whisper as he pulls me into his arms, burying his head into my neck. He’s so tall he drags me onto my tiptoes, but I don’t care. I love how he makes me feel small and dainty, even though I’m not.
“I’m going to see him.”
Crane pulls away, his eyes steely as he glares at me.
“Um, no you’re not.”
I jab my finger into his hard chest, meeting his stern gaze head on.
God, he’s beautiful.
“I am, and you can either come with me or stay here.” I throw my hair over my shoulder, striding toward the exit as he chases after me.
“Sierra…”
I match his tone. “Crane…”
His fingers circle my upper arm as we leave the station, pulling me to him.
His scent washes over me as he cages me in between his hands, his nostrils flaring as he stares at me.
“You’re not going to his fucking house.”
I jut my chin out as I speak.
“I’m going. You can’t stop me.”
Crane looks like he’s going to burst. His veins throb in his throat, his teeth gritting together as he pushes his face closer to mine. I’m giddy from the proximity, and my hand sweeps against his cheek.
“Why?”
Is he serious? He’s not stupid, so why is he asking me why?
“Because he dragged us away from your mother and tried to get us both arrested! I swear, Crane, don’t cross me. Not now.”
Crane clenches his jaw, exhaling heavily.
“Fine. Fuck it.”
My heart leaps in my chest.
“Fine. I’m going now.”
“No, Sierra,” Crane drawls, ruffling my hair. “We’re going now.”