Chapter 22
Briana
I can’t believe it. Me? Kill Brett?
Glancing at my ink-stained fingertips, I pace the tiny cell. Four cold, cinderblock walls contain a cot and a toilet. The metal bench bolted to the floor doubles as a shelf for my folded blanket. Of course, there’s no window.
When tears well, I swallow hard, forcing negative emotions down. This bad-ass pilot never gives up, never surrenders.
Thank God for Ito. If he hadn’t livestreamed the parking lot incident, I might be tagged, bagged, lying in a morgue. No doubt, they would’ve planted a gun on me to make it all legit.
‘Crazed Killer Thwarted by Heroic Cops.’ Yeah, the local news would’ve eaten that up in one gulp.
Ten steps, turn… Ten steps, turn.
Kade. Jeez, he didn’t have the balls to arrest me. Instead, he sent Smokey the Bear and his minions. Why then, turn around and risk his life to save me? I presume he didn’t want my death on his conscience, or worse, didn’t need more paperwork.
Footsteps echo down the corridor, breaking my concentration. It’s Mrs. Bitchface, one of the guards. Oddly enough, she stops in front of my cell door.
“Let’s go. Down the hall. You first.”
After my lock clicks and my bars squeak, I shuffle in front of her. My hiking boots scuff against the linoleum, heavy with dried mud from a life I no longer recognize. As I tug down on the wrinkled hem of my new shirt, I picture officers rifling through the rest of my stuff.
Hopeless faces, young and old, stare back. Some sleep while others shake from withdrawal. Most wear cheap clothing. There’ll be no expensive lawyers coming to their rescue anytime soon. When I reach the end of the hall, automatic gates swing open. Seconds later they clunk shut.
Now, under bright fluorescent lights, I’m led into a drab courtroom. My freshly showered lawyer nods by a table, dressed in creased, designer threads.
He shoots me a smile. “When asked, simply say innocent.”
I’m about to nod when the judge pounds his gavel. From his high perch, he glowers at me, his phone, then addresses the two suits across the aisle.
“Have you seen the video?” His booming bass voice makes the two red-faced prosecutors jump.
“We have, Your Honor.” Tweedle Dee tugs at his tie.
Above, judicial sleeves flutter as a small screen is shoved forth. “It says here I authorized twelve police officers to shoot one unarmed woman.”
Tweedle Dum opens his mouth. “But—”
“I said you could arrest her. Legally. Bail is approved.” After his gavel smacks the wood the magistrate glowers at Ito. “Arraignment will be on the twenty-first.”
My nonplused attorney stares back. “I would like to request a little more time, Your Honor. Based on extreme bias, we will need to hire a private firm to go over all the evidence.”
The man on the bench shakes his jowls before sighing. “Granted. But, counselor, I warn you. If this goes to trial, the jury will decide, not the number of TikTok hits.”
“Understood. Thank—”
“Next case.”
It happens so fast, I can hardly believe I’m free. Outside the Burlington courthouse, everything seems normal—from cars and people to the clear blue sky. It’s a surreal version of The Twilight Zone meets Judge Judy.
Shaking off the thought, I grab the handle of my lawyer’s BMW.
“Hold up.” Kade races across the lot. Although desperate to fall into his arms, his betrayal still stings.
“Don’t.” I pedal backward when he tries to place a gentle hand on my shoulder.
Undaunted, he twists me to face him, then cups my cheeks. “Listen, honey. The Troopers didn’t tell me or the FBI they had a warrant. I never would’ve dropped you off if I had known.”
“I want to believe you.” God help me, I do. But what if my feelings for him are messing up my judgement?
When my eyes lower to the pavement, he shoves a video in front of my nose. In the clip, my angry warrior steps in front of a dozen armed cops to stop them from shooting me.
His voice softens. “Do you think I faked this? I’m falling, babe. Not sure where it will lead, but I sure as hell would never betray you, especially after what we shared.”
“I thought…” Oh crap, how could I be so wrong?
Heart racing at what I’m about to do, I open the car door, and duck in. “Thanks for springing me, John, but I’m going with the sheriff.”
“If I call, you answer.” He throws me a burner phone which I catch mid-air.
“I will. Promise.” Walking away, I remember something important, and race back. “I almost forgot to tell you. Andrea called. Phone her. Push hard enough, she’ll put what really happened in writing.”
My attorney frowns. “On it. Keep your nose clean or you’ll end up behind bars again. Next time, the judge won’t grant bail.”
Doesn’t matter. Unless the real killer is found, a jury is going to find me guilty. I know it.
Hopping in Kade’s Ford, I’m not sure what to say. On one hand, he saved my life, but he also ruined my best chance at capturing Mr. Mumbles.
Keys in the ignition, Kade keeps his face neutral as he follows signs to the interstate.
Recalling how I misjudged him, my face heats. “I’m sorry for running off… and thank you, for saving me.”
“You’ve kind of grown on me.” His hand covers my knee, sending sparks to all my intimate places.
I tug lightly on his beard. “Like mold?”
A grin spreads across his face. “More like a fungus… or perhaps a barnacle—stuck for good.”
When his chuckle rumbles low in his chest, I snort. Soon, we both lose it, laughing until I’m wiping away tears. No heart-to-heart, no awkward unpacking. Just like that, we’re good again.
Take that Herman.
Relaxed, I recline the seat, and sleep.
We’re almost back at Kade’s place when the burner phone wakes me.
Good God, what now? “Hey John, what’s up?”
“No, it’s Aphrodite. Remember? Your sister? Where are you?”
So much for a moment of calm. “Safe. Ito got me released.”
“Give me your address. We’re coming.” Her bossiness hasn’t worked on me in years, but that has never stopped her.
“Who’s we?” Fists clenched, I try to hold back my temper.
Her silence says it all.
“Everyone?” Are you fucking kidding me?
“You think we’d leave after you got arrested for murder?” Her voice lowers — but not nearly enough. “Did you do it? Did you kill Brett?”
Across the console, Kade’s eyes cut sideways. He heard. Awesome. Now he knows how one—probably all—of them think I’m capable of murder.
Where is Doctor Herman when I need him? “No, Didee. I didn’t. Please go away. Take the hordes. Nothing’s going to happen for weeks. If you don’t believe me, ask the fancy mouthpiece Dad hired.”
“We’re not leaving Vermont without you.”
“Suit yourself.” Lips pursed, staring at the cows, I hang up.
Before the phone hits my lap, it rings again. “Hello, Persephone. Yes, I’m fine. Out on bail. No, I’m not going back home. Ever. Buh-bye.”
While my fingers hover, the damn thing buzzes again.
“Let me guess.” The patient man behind the wheel raises his brows.
“No need. It’s my father.”
“Of course it is.” He glances over. “Don’t have to answer it.”
“Yeah, I do.” Otherwise, he’ll just keep calling.
Breathe in. Breathe out.
“Hi, Da—”
“Put that two-bit sheriff on. I assume he’s there.”
Jaw ticking, eyes steadfast, Kade studies the road. I can almost hear his thoughts as his expression becomes more detached. “I’m here, Mr. Gainsborough. How can I help you?”
“Bring my daughter to my hotel. Immediately.”
“She doesn’t want to go, sir.” Brows raised, his gaze flicks to mine.
I’d rather have a wisdom tooth pulled. Hell, all four at once without anesthesia.
While I nod at the driver, the burner’s cheap speaker distorts.
“That’s irrelevant. I’m paying for her attorney.
If she wants to avoid jail, she needs to stay here with us so we can protect her.
We’ve got a shrink on-site. This isn’t your area of expertise, son.
One minute she’ll be fine, the next she’ll be bleeding on your couch or passed out from too many sleeping pills. ”
Boom! Much like a flashbang, his words explode in my lap.
Cheeks burning, chest tight, I hold my stomach. No doubt Dad wanted to humiliate me by sharing my dirty secret, but he’s too late. I already shared my past and my lover was fine with it.
Once my father finishes maligning my emotional health, cool Kade saunters in. “Did you know Briana rescued me in Afghanistan?”
“What does—”
“I heard you out. Give me the courtesy of doing the same.” His curt, dry command leaves no room for argument.
“She not only saved my life, but hundreds of troops during her time as a Navy pilot. Until recently, she’s been drop-shipping food to places trucks can’t reach — including some of the most dangerous zones on the planet.
She is one of the bravest women I have ever met. ”
His praise hits me dead center, but he doesn’t stop there.
“She’s got balls of steel, sir. You couldn’t be more wrong about her.
If you can’t understand who your daughter is, you’re not doing her any favors by being here.
Go home. Take your counselor with you, if you must. However, if you — or any member of your family — tie up my work phone again, I will have you arrested. Am I clear?”
After a long, stunning lack of sound, my dad grumbles something rude, but it couldn’t matter less. Sheriff O'Malley, already my hero, just captured more of my heart. When was the last time anyone stood up for me? The tears I’ve been holding back slip free.
Facing the window, I swipe at them before they turn into sobs. Once I have the unwanted emotions zipped back in place, I risk a glance at him.
“Did you mean what you said?”
“Why else would I say it?” Typical Kade, he lets a soft laugh escape.
“No reason.” It’s just so foreign, I can’t quite accept it.
Tilting his head, he glances at me. “Has your father always been like this?”
“Yeah, especially after I was diagnosed with depression, but I had good reasons. I was being bullied.”
My rescuer shifts in his seat. “He’s just so damn…”
“Adamant?”
“Obsessive was the word I was going for.”
I nod. “Yeah, you nailed it. My grandmother, my dad’s mom… committed suicide when he was still a teenager. He never dealt with it. Instead, he made me the problem. My siblings? They simply go along with it from habit.”
Exhaling, I try to explain my enigmatic family dynamics. “Don’t take this the wrong way — I love them. All of them. But whenever they get too close, they’re toxic. Does this make any sense?”
“It didn’t before.” His softened countenance flicks off the road. “Now, I’m beginning to understand.”
“Thank you.” A warm feeling grows inside my chest, radiating outward.
“For what?” Of course, he’s clueless.
“Standing up for me. Taking me home…” Making me fall in love with you.
The conversation subsides into the kind of quiet no one would want to ruin — where you don’t have to talk solely to be heard. Sometimes, the space between words says everything.
When he pulls off the highway onto a narrow two-lane street, I rest my hand on his knee. “This FBI guy Hunt. Is he trustworthy?”
The sheriff grunts. “He’s married to my sister who works for Homeland at the border. A while back, she got targeted by a nasty group of terrorists. During that time, they grew close, got hitched, and he adopted my niece. I trust him with my life. You should, too.”
“He was going to arrest me.” I hate how petulant my voice sounds, but if Kade notices, he doesn’t show it.
“Better the Feds take you into custody than the State Police. You saw their tactics. If your case goes to court, he’ll make damn sure it’s fair and legal.”
Not wanting to think so far ahead, I shift gears. “Do you have any other family besides them?”
He snorts. “My lame parents. Sold the dairy farm they promised me right before moving to Florida.”
The tight line of his mouth says, “Don’t ask”, so I won’t even think about it.
He’s usually so even-keeled, the bitterness surprises me. “My sister inherited my grandmother’s house. I got jack-shit.”
“Why?”
“Being a divorcee with a child trumped promises they made to me, I guess.”
“So why not leave?”
He shrugs. “My sister and her kid needed me.”
He rolls into a gravel driveway, our tires crunching the silence. “Here we are. Mi shack, su shack.”
This time I’m more aware of the weathered front porch, peeling trim, the flicker of a naked bulb overhead. “Well, it’s not that bad.”
He scrunches his face. “Riiight.”
Moths flutter around his porch light, drawn to its quiet glow. I know how they feel. Despite everything - or because of it, charged, combustible air particles crackle between us.
We know it only takes the spark of a kiss to start the fire.
As I exit his truck, my whole body shakes in anticipation.