Chapter 75
Nash
Morrison and I arrived at the same time, pulling into the police station parking lot. He parked beside me and climbed out of his car, looking panicked.
“What the hell happened?”
“It’s a misunderstanding. Let me handle it,” I said, marching for the front doors.
We walked inside, and an officer came over after he spotted us. He was definitely new. I didn’t recognize him, and he didn’t seem to know Morrison.
“Hey, I’m here to see Sheriff Ellis,” I said.
“Uh-huh. And you are?”
“Tell him Nash is here to see him, deputy,” I said, just barely managing to leave off the dickhead.
He stood there staring at us.
“Deputy, I used to be Sheriff here. Get fucking Ellis, now. He has my daughter in custody,” Morrison snapped, and that seemed to get the guy going.
“Next time, I’ll just let you do the talking,” I teased, but he didn’t crack a smile.
“There damn well better not be a next time,” he grumbled.
The deputy sauntered to the counter and opened the door for us. He led the way to Ellis’s office and then left.
“Yeah, I’ll send over the paperwork first thing in the morning,” Ellis said, and then hung up the phone.
Good to know that he did that to everyone.
“Come in and close the door.”
We did as he asked.
“I assume you’re here about Ivy-Rose Morrison?”
“Who the fuck else would I be here for,” Morrison asked.
Ellis looked at me.
“How much is her bail? And there better not be any charges coming,” I said.
He stayed tight-lipped long enough that I thought he was going to fuck me over.
“No charges, and no bail for Ms. Morrison. But she really should be more careful where she leaves her things.”
I narrowed my eyes into a glare, and he smirked. Fucker.
“Morrison, go see Deputy Franks. The paperwork is ready. You just need to sign and take your daughter home.”
Morrison blew out a breath and then looked at me.
“I’m fine. I have something else to discuss with the Sheriff,” I told him.
He didn’t ask any questions. For someone whose entire job had been questioning people, he’d gotten really good at not.
Once he was gone, I locked eyes with Ellis.
“You sold that really well,” I said.
“You did, too. Love how you were advocating for your customers all over social media. I almost believed your act,” Ellis said, with a smirk.
He leaned forward, putting his hands on his desk.
“Was there enough?”
“Pfft, shit. More than enough. You really don’t like this guy, do you?”
“Let’s just say that his family has a history of being a real pain in the ass. If you haven’t met his father yet, you’ll see what I mean. He’s a real peach.”
“Thanks for the heads up. So, what did you want to talk to me about?”
“I want to see him,” I said.
He shook his head.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea. He’s done nothing but yell about how you set him up since he arrived.”
“Give me ten minutes. I promise I’m not here to kill him or anything,” I said.
“Well, that wasn’t disturbing at all. Was that really where you thought my mind went about you?”
“I like to keep you on your toes,” I said with a shrug.
“Whatever, if you want to see him, I’ll take you to see him,” he said and stood from his desk.
“I don’t want it recorded.”
“Now you really are making me think you’re going to kill him. I do need someone to prosecute to get your friend Michael’s sentence reduced.”
I shook my head. “Zigzag is not my friend. But I’m not here to kill Sabastian. At least, not physically.”
“I don’t want to know,” Ellis said and marched out his door.
I smiled. “See, you’re starting to understand how this works.”
“Fuck you, Collier,” Ellis drawled, and I snickered as I followed him out.
I was happy not to run into Ivy and Morrison as Ellis opened the door to the holding area and walked me down to the only cell occupied.
“You have ten minutes,” Ellis said and left.
The little red light on the camera in the corner turned off.
Sabastian looked up from the bench he was sitting on and burst to his feet as soon as he realized it was me.
“You son of a bitch. You did this to me,” he said, charging the bars.
His arms shot out to try to grab me, but I just stared at him as the tips of his fingers brushed my jacket.
“You look ridiculous,” I said.
He stopped trying to reach for me and gripped the bars instead.
“When I get out of here, I’m going to kill you,” he said, and I laughed. “What? What’s so funny?”
“You? Ever killed anyone before?” He didn’t answer. “Yeah, I didn’t think so. But it’s okay because you’re not getting out for a really long time.”
“The charges won’t hold up. Those drugs aren’t mine,” Sabastian growled.
I crossed my arms and smiled.
“I know that, and you know that, but they don’t know that,” I said, nodding toward the closed door.
“My father will get me out of here,” he said.
“No. No, I don’t think he will. You see, those drugs belong to your father.”
Sabastian’s face fell.
“I’m not sure about you, but I doubt he loves you enough to throw himself under the bus for you. It would be so beautiful for him to try, but I just have a feeling he is more about self-preservation. Like a rat or a cockroach in a flood.”
He shook his head. “Why? Why are you doing this?”
“We both know why,” I said.
“Is this because of what happened with Yuliana?” He banged his forehead on the bars. “Did she put you up to this?”
“Um…no.” I snorted. “She actually wanted to talk to you. And Ren, for some stupid reason, loves you. But here is the thing, Sabastian—I see you,” I said and let the weight of my words sit with him.
“I see you because you are me three years ago. Filled with so much rage and mistrust, blaming all the wrong people, and willing to do anything to get even. You want to take back the power you feel you’ve lost. Not just now, in your entire life, and you don’t care who you hurt to make it happen. ”
“That’s not true,” he said, but his words didn’t hold any conviction.
“It is, which is why I had to do this. I can’t take the chance that you’re going to stupidly decide that Ren or Yuliana, or anyone else I care about, is the reason for the skid you’re on and act out.”
“I wouldn’t do that. I was angry, but I wouldn’t have hurt Ren,” he said.
“Maybe. Maybe not. But your father told you that Yuliana was your mother, then switched the story. Now he has you all fired up that she killed your real mother and abandoned you. I mean, really? How fucking gullible are you? If he told you she was really a vampire, would you try to stake her through the heart? You gonna drive off a cliff if he tells you to? Wake the fuck up, man.”
He looked down, his hands tightening around the bars.
“Please don’t do this to me,” he pleaded.
“It’s already done. I can’t take it back. But look on the bright side, you’ll know someone in the local prison since you and your father put Zigzag there.” I shook my head. “Karma is a real bitch.”
“Fuck you, Nash. I’m going to get out of here. And when I do, I’ll find you and kill you.”
“Well, I’ll be sure to watch out for you in twenty years.” I turned away but looked back. “Don’t worry, I’ll let Coach Richards know you can’t make practice and will have to drop from the team.” I smiled, and Sabastian roared, shaking the bars.
“Let me out of here!”
I knocked once.
“I’m going to make you pay for this! I swear to you, Nash. You will fucking pay,” Sabastian yelled.
Franks opened the door, and I followed him to the exit.
I stepped outside and stopped on the walkway, taking a deep breath of the fresh spring air. A fancy Mercedes flew into the parking lot, and I smirked when Christov climbed out. He marched toward me, scowl set firmly in place. I put my hands in my pockets and calmly waited for him to reach me.
“What the hell are you doing here?”
Looking up at the sparkling, clear night sky, I let out a self-satisfied sigh.
“Just visiting your son. He has himself in a right jam. I have no idea how you will get him out of this one.”
Christov narrowed his eyes at me. I could see him wondering what I meant and if I had anything to do with this. I gave him nothing. Sabastian could fill him in.
“Well, I’d better be going,” I said, and walked to my truck.
When I got in, I looked at the front of the building. Christov was still standing outside staring at me, like that would somehow produce the answers he wanted. I waved at him as I left.
Now, it was time to get rid of the father for good. It was only beneficial to remove Sabastian if Christov was no longer a threat.
An hour later, I was pulling down the driveway to the cabin and realizing how much I missed this place. It still needed some work, but it was the perfect quiet getaway. Not that I was using it for that tonight.
Liam’s vehicle was already here, along with some others belonging to guys he had tapped to pull into our underground business after we graduated.
Getting out, I followed the path to the large tree that had seen enough death to be considered a sacrificial alter. They stood quietly, waiting for me with a gun in hand, faces somber, eyes on the man and his son tied to the tree.
I entered the clearing and stopped. Mark’s face had seen better days. There was dried blood from his nose on his fat lip and bruising around his eye. He’d resisted. Too bad it wasn’t going to help him get out of this situation.
Trent, on the other hand, had tape over his mouth, but otherwise didn’t look like he put up any kind of a fight.
“I don’t understand what’s going on. I already did what you asked, and Christov will kill me when he finds out,” Mark said.
“Not if you’re both already dead,” I said, and Mark trembled.
“No…please.” He looked at Trent, tied up with him. “My son has nothing to do with this.”
Stepping forward, I let him see my smile.
“You see, Mr. Miller, that’s where you’re wrong. I think it’s time that you and I had a chat face-to-face. Unless, of course, you’d prefer I just skip to the shooting Trent in the head and framing you, part.”
He shook his head. “Tell me what you want. I’ll do anything.”
I held out my hand, and Liam placed a wooden box in my palm. It was Rory’s box. The one he marked with his handprint on the night of his initiation. It had been wiped down thoroughly, since he’d proven his loyalty.
I opened the lid to show Mark the gun nestled in the satin.
“Untie Mr. Miller, but make sure his son remains secure,” I ordered.
The guys gathered and quickly set Mark free. Trent’s eyes were wide with terror.
Mark rubbed at his wrists.
“What is the gun for?”
“You are full of questions. How about I talk, and you shut the fuck up.”
He pressed his lips together.
“Much better,” I said with a smirk. “Now, pick up the gun? And don’t you fucking dare ask why.”
He swallowed hard, his hand shaking as he reached into the box. It was easy to tell he’d never held a firearm in his life, but that didn’t matter.
“Excellent, now point it at me.”
“What?”
“Just do what I fucking say,” I growled, irritated.
He raised the gun, his arm shaking worse than his hand had been.
“Good, now cock the hammer and pull the trigger.”
Mark looked like he was going to vomit and winced when the gun made a loud click sound, but nothing came out.
“Good, now put it back in the box.”
“I don’t understand,” he said, dropping the gun inside.
Mark jumped as the box snapped closed, and I handed it back to Liam.
“So, here is what will happen, Mr. Miller, listen very carefully. That gun is linked to a murder.” He covered his mouth. “An open investigation involving an athlete from Hawking Shores. It’s a real tragic case. Do you understand?” He nodded. “Good. Now…you’re going to do exactly as I tell you.”
Some days I wished I’d never been born into this world and then other days…I fucking loved it.