Chapter 54
“ O n your feet, Jackson,” Douglas barks at me.
“Why? What do you want now?” I narrow my eyes at him but stay put on my back on the steel bench. Adjusting my arm that I’m using as a pillow, my mind drifts to Peace again. I’m still reeling after her visit and keep replaying that incredible kiss.
“You can stay if you want, but you’re free to go.” He drops that news as if it’s not earth-shattering while casually unlocking the door.
“What? How?” Sitting up, I abandon the bench that’s uncomfortable as fuck and that I hope never to see again.
“Don’t know. Just doing what I’m told.” He props open the door. I exit the cell quickly, not wanting him to change his mind. “C’mon.” He gestures, and I follow him.
Taking me down the long hall, we exit one door, then enter a small room where I had to surrender my belongings and don the jumpsuit. The clothes I was wearing when they brought me in are on a bench and neatly folded alongside a plastic bag that contains my wallet, necklace, and chain. “Get changed,” he orders briskly and turns to leave.
“Are you sure you don’t want to stay and watch me like a hawk again?” I can’t resist. It seems like an opportune moment for sarcasm.
“Make it fast, Mr. Comedian.” He gives me a narrow-eyed glance over his shoulder. “Before I change my mind and rebook you for being a pain in my ass.”
“Right.” Grinning, I walk to the bench and put on my clothes. When I’m dressed, I exit. Douglas is waiting for me out in the hall.
“Move it.” He points at the registration desk with his baton. Seems he’s as sick of me as I am of him. “Let’s get the rest of your belongings to you so you can clear out.”
I nod and fall into step beside him. My mind spins over the change in events. Mark must have dropped the charges. That’s the only explanation that would allow me to walk out without a hearing. But why would he drop the charges?
At the desk, I take the clear plastic bag from the clerk that has my cell phone. It’s dead after going so long without a charge.
“Stay out of trouble.” Douglas shakes his finger in my face as I tuck everything away.
I’m about to pop off when I see her.
“Peace.” Her name falls from my lips as I watch her exit the chief’s office. Seeing me, she stops, her footsteps stuttering. I leap over the hip height wooden rail surrounding the bullpen and dodge the other cops, making a beeline straight to her.
“What did you do?” I ask, stopping in front of her.
“Not here.” She doesn’t deny anything, just shakes her head, and I have my answer. She was the one who orchestrated my release.
“Okay.” I throw my arm around her and we exit the building together. Outside, the sun is shining, and I blink rapidly. Adjusting my eyes, I take in grateful gulps of freedom. “Talk to me.” I move in front of her, placing my hands on her shoulders. “Tell me what you were doing in the chief’s office.”
Her chin comes up to a defiant angle. “I told him I’d file sexual assault charges against his son if he didn’t drop his allegations against you.”
My eyes widen in surprise as that sinks in. “You blackmailed a police chief?”
“I guess I did,” she confirms.
“And it worked.” I shake my head in disbelief. “That must have been intense. Fucking hell, Peace. You were a badass twice today.”
She nods and those tempting petal soft lips of hers curve upward.
Knowing how amazing her mouth feels melded to mine and how sweet she tastes, my cock lengthens behind the fly of my jeans.
“Thank you.” My voice is gruff, matching the fierceness of my emotions about her. “I’m so incredibly grateful. A thank you is far from adequate, but I don’t think there’s anything I can properly do or say to repay you.”
“You got into this situation because you beat up Mark for what he did to me.”
“Is that the reason you went out on a limb for me?” I capture a lock of her golden hair. It outshines the setting sun behind her. She outshines it.
“You saved my sister’s life.” She tilts her head and her silky hair slips through my fingers. “You performed CPR at the scene. That part of your story was true, right?”
“Yes.” I nod.
“I owe you a debt.” Her gaze turns shiny behind her glasses. “One I can never repay.”
I don’t want her indebted to me. I want her to want me. To be mine. And not just as a friend.
“You don’t owe me jack. Harmony is your sister.” I shrug, my muscles flexing. “I care about her too.”
“Right.” With her gaze on my chest, she licks her lips before her eyes rise to meet mine again. I notice they’re darker from whatever she was thinking. “I’m glad I could do something. That you’re out now, but I better get back to the hospital.”
“You ditching me just like that?” I should let her walk away. But I can’t. Even if I’m no good for her. Even if I can’t have her the way I want, I just want to be near her. “I’ll go with you. I’d like to check on Harmony too.”
“But your dad is there. The media, too. I?—”
“You trying to talk me out of it?” I cut through those excuses.
“No, I—” She stops mid-sentence as her cell rings. Glancing at the display, her eyes widen. “It’s my dad.”
She’s scared it’s bad news.
“It’ll be okay.” I draw her into me, getting my arm around her shoulders. “Answer it. I got you.”
She nods.
“Hello,” she says, and I squeeze her tighter. I feel the tension in her loosen as she listens to whatever War tells her. “Great. I’m so glad. I’m headed over. I’ll get there as soon as I can.”
“What happened?” I ask after she ends the call. Tilting her chin up, I search her eyes. They’re glistening like dew from the dawn.
“Harmony is awake.” She smiles, and my world shifts on its axis. “And she wants to see me.”
“I’m coming with you.” I place my finger over her tantalizing lips. “It’s decided.” Peace might not need me anymore. She’s been a queen badass all on her own today. But I need her. And because I’m a selfish asshole, I’m going to indulge that need a little longer.