44. Chapter Forty-five
Chapter Forty-five
Alec
I hold Summer’s hand firmly the whole ride back to my apartment. Originally, we were going to tackle my aunt’s after court, but that was before the panic attack.
Had I known she was going to break? No, but I figured as much.
She keeps her eyes closed, resting her head against the door with her free hand, keeping the seat belt from rubbing against her neck. When I pull off to the side of the road, I kill the engine and look at her, but she doesn’t move a muscle as her tears start to slow.
She finally opens her eyes after a few long minutes. Red rims her puffy, unfiltered eyelids, and my heart aches seeing her like this.
“Warm bath and a movie?” I offer to help her get her mind back on the right path.
She stares at me, her lip tilts up just enough to notice. “What about your aunt?”
“That can wait. You on the other hand…”
She moves, sitting up and letting go of my hand. Going by the tightness on the corners of her lips, she’s upset with me.
“I’m fine. I may not appear that way, but who would be? Everything that has happened this summer has slowly destroyed a small piece of my heart. It fucking sucks. I wouldn’t wish this feeling on my worst enemy, and I don’t know if you realize it, but I don’t give up easily. If I don’t do something to fix this screwed up mess my father has created for you… I will break. I will crumple into tiny bits and pieces until there is nothing fucking left to put back together.”
She takes a second to suck in a deep breath, and I wait because it’s clear that she’s not finished. “You have helped me with more than enough. You’ve risked your life on top of it, so please, Alec, let me help you with this while I have my head attached.”
I drag my palm down my face and blow out a breath. “So fucking stubborn.”
“Yeah, thanks. I think I got the hint on that,” she fights back.
My lip moves on its own accord. “Once we get there, there’s no backing down.”
She side-eyes me. “Speak for yourself.”
I smile, the smirk on my face not wavering, and flick the ignition back on. I drive across town to my aunt’s house, not bothering to hide where I’m parked this time. I pull up right in front of the house. Jules’s car is parked in the driveway and all I can think about is whether or not Callie is home.
I tug out a cigarette and light it up, needing a minute to myself to gather my own thoughts. Summer cleans up the runny mascara under her eye in the meantime. She makes a small glance in my direction through the mirror before flipping the visor back up.
“OK, who’s winning?”
I blink, my eyes pulling together. “What?”
One shoulder moves up a tad. “Is it your mind or your conscience that’s winning? To me, they are two entirely different things.”
I smirk, bringing my cigarette back to my mouth. “I think you’re winning.”
She rolls her eyes at me with a smile on her face, and I immediately want to drive back to my apartment and make love to her again. It’s a weird feeling I’ve started to grow accustomed to.
“Today hasn’t been easy, but we should get this show on the road before I lose my confidence. If that restraining order isn’t lifted, my father will win. In some way or another, he will win, and that doesn’t sit right with me.”
“Ah, I thought there was no backing down.” She makes a strangled noise, not bothering to give another remark. I pinned her in a corner. “Your father winning is the last fucking thing I want, and if it makes me the worst boyfriend for saying this, so be it, but he deserves to rot in that cell.”
I watch the roll of her throat right before she looks down at her hands in her lap. “It doesn’t make you the worst boyfriend. You’re being honest, which I, too, agree with,” she breathes.
This goddamn woman is fucking incredible.
I stuff out the end of my cigarette in the ashtray. “Well, let’s go before I change my damn mind.”
Summer’s mouth parts. It’s cute she thought I wouldn’t go through with this. After everything, I’m in it for the kill. Nothing is going to stop me from fighting for the one thing I’ve longed for.
Having Callie back into my life.
Pushing the door open, I get out and stride around the car to open the door for Summer. She steps out flawlessly and takes in a deep breath. I pull her by her waist into me and press a kiss to her lips. “I’m so head over heels in love with you.”
The hum that fell out of her mouth vibrates my lips, and that doesn’t make my need to take her back to my apartment any easier. I shove the desperation away, palming my dick behind my jeans and groan. “You’re going to be the death of me, pretty girl.”
“Let’s go, pretty boy.” She tugs my arm up the front steps of my aunt’s house.
I take the lead, reaching for the doorbell, and wait a few minutes before pressing it again. The door creaks open, and I’m met with my aunt’s narrowed eyes. She looks between both Summer and me. My body stiffens. I haven’t seen her this close in a couple of years. She’s aged well, that’s for sure. From the looks of her clean, light brown hair and perfectly plucked eyebrows, she keeps herself looking sharp. Except, I know the way she broadcasts herself to the world is only a show she puts on.
The mood I was in is replaced with raging confidence, and it’s taking everything in me not to cuss her out.
“You’re not supposed to be here,” she spits, keeping her tone stern. Jules adjusts the door so there’s only a sliver of a crack, which leads me to believe she’s hiding me from my baby sister.
“I came by so we could talk.”
Jules shakes her head. “We can talk with my lawyer present, and he sure isn’t going to be happy when I tell him you are now breaking the order in place.”
“I’m not leaving until we have a civil conversation,” I shrug.
A laugh barks out of her. “We will never have a civil conversation. That’s not something you’re capable of.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Summer look at me, but I ignore her. My jaw cocks to the side while my body heats with anger. The intense shift causes Summer to place her hand on my arm and step forward.
“Ms.,” Summer begins, lifting her hand for my aunt to give her last name. My aunt doesn’t, rather glaring at me with hate blasted all across her face. It’s amusing, nonetheless.
“OK,” Summer says, dragging out the last syllable. “Let me introduce myself. I’m Summer Raleigh. I’m sure you heard of me. Officer Charles Raleigh’s daughter.”
My aunt blinks, keeping her expression solid. “I’m not sure that I have.”
“No? Well, I’m sure you know the officer who was responsible for Alec’s cases, right? Considering you were his guardian at one point. Yeah, that’s my father.”
Summer waits for my aunt to give her something to go on. It takes a little longer than I’d like.
“I’m sorry, I’m not sure what you’re trying to get at here, but if you don’t leave now, I will call the police,” Jules threatens.
Summer chuckles a little, sarcasm mixed. “You see, my father arrested Alec under faulty indications. He recently lost his badge for tampering with evidence in Alec’s cases. All of his cases. On top of that, he was charged with murder. The drugs that were found in Alec’s possession were planted there by my father.”
Summer hasn’t wasted a single second. She’s tossing everything on the table for my aunt to indulge in.
I watch as Jules’s eyes widen. She adjusts her posture so that she stands taller, wanting to look like this isn’t affecting her any. A smirk pulls up on my mouth, satisfied that Summer is getting to her.
“You need to leave now.”
My teeth grit. “We’re not going anywhere. If you want to call the police, by all means, do so.”
“Jules,” Summer says, catching her attention. “You see, we know you wanted the restraining order to ‘protect Callie.’ However, the restraining order is faulty because no legal proof exists to prove that Alec is a threat. We’re asking you nicely to lift the restraining order, so Callie can be reunited with her brother.”
The crease between her eyebrows deepens, and she gives a stank look. “He is not coming near Callie.”
I chuckle. “Except you can’t stop me once I drag you to court and show them the proof of my tampered case.”
Jules’s arms cross at her chest, and she pops her hip. “I’d love to see you try.”
I take a step forward with clenched fists, but luckily, the touch of Summer’s hand stops me in my tracks.
“Listen. You must know that my father had been in this town long before I was born. That’s…” She taps her chin with her index finger, calculating how many years her father has been here. “Over twenty years ago. Now, because my father was here that long, that means I grew up here. I know every person my father was connected with. I’ve seen and been to every office in this town… I know every lawyer. And ma’am, I have not only my mother’s death benefits… but I have my father’s investments, and now that he’s, well, you know, in prison.” She shrugs, ending it there.
The color from Aunt Jules’s face drains, and her eyes grow worried. Summer’s head tilts as she studies her carefully for long beats.
“Holy shit…” Her fingers press against her lips. “You knew.”
My head shoots in the direction of Summer, confusion rising. “She knew what?”
Summer ignores me, pointing at Jules. “You knew my father set Alec up, didn’t you?”
My stomach drops, anger prodding inside of me. She fucking knew? I watch Jules carefully with disbelief; her expression is tight, filled with guilt, only proving that Summer is right.
“You fucking knew!” I shout. “What? Were you in on it the entire time to get rid of me? Couldn’t stand the thought of looking at the only other male in this family that reminds you of your brother, I bet.”
I grip the back of my head. I can’t believe my aunt had a hand in my charges.
“Oh, please. You were going down the same path your father was whether wanted to admit it or not.”
My eyebrows shoot to my hairline, and it’s taking everything inside of me not to do what I’ve dreamed of… punch her in the face. But that isn’t me. I’m not a man who ever puts a hand on a woman, no matter the circumstances.
“Wow. OK. I’m glad that you think so little of me to believe that I’m my father. News-flash, Jules, I’m nothing like my fucking father.”
Little footsteps sound behind the door. Callie’s voice pierces through my ears as my heart dips low. “Auntie. I did it. I tied my shoe!” Her little hand pulls the door, her eyes falling on me. Her mouth opens with a wide smile. “Alec!” she shouts, pushing my aunt out of the way, her slightly wavy hair pulled into pigtails swaying as she runs toward me.
I crouch down to her level as she leaps into my arms, holding on tight.
“Honey,” Jules speaks worriedly. “Come back inside. This isn’t a safe matter.”
Callie rests her head on my shoulder. “How is it not safe? I’m always safe with Alec.”
My heart sinks further, and I smile proudly, holding onto my baby sister tight. All this time, I worried that Callie would think less of me because of Jules, but that didn’t change how she felt about me. Callie knows she’s protected and that I’ll never do anything to put her in harm’s way.
My aunt steps onto the porch, reaching to take Callie from my arms. Summer moves in front of us, so Jules can’t get to her. “Admit it, Jules.”
Jules shakes her head, looking over Summer’s shoulder. “Look, I didn’t do anything wrong. You can’t prove a single thing.”
“What’s going on?” Callie questions.
I lift her a bit higher, adjusting her in my arms. Callie’s grip around my neck tightens as if she doesn’t want me to let her go. “We’re just here to talk to Aunt Jules about being able to visit you more.”
Callie’s eyes brighten, and she looks at Jules, excitedly kicking her legs. “Is it true? Is it true?”
Jules is left speechless, slowly moving her head from side to side. “That’s not possible, Callie. I’m sorry.”
“It is possible, Callie,” Summer prods, looking at Callie before turning back to my aunt. “Jules, my father is in prison. The judge has my testimony and Alec’s testimony. Officer Allen Brentley also knows the ins and outs of this entire case. We have a physical recording of what my father has done, and going by how you’re ultimately shutting down is enough proof that you were in on the entire thing. Now, do I need to remind you what happens when that is brought up before a judge? You are at just as much fault as my father is, and well,” she shrugs, “look where that got him. One last thing…” She pulls her phone out of her back pocket. “I’m going to stop this recording now.”
“What is she talking about, Alec?” Callie asks me.
“Shh. It’ll be OK, I promise,” I say. Meanwhile, I watch as the color from Jules’s face drains even more.
“What is it that you want from me?” Jules worries.
“Drop the restraining order, or this gets leaked, and you join my father in jail.” Summer waves her phone around.
It takes a long while for Jules to register the threat. Her mouth opens but closes multiple times. Her eyes are unable to remain on us. They shift between us all as panic clouds over her. She’s never been good at hiding her feelings.
Finally, Jules sighs and throws off a dramatic eye roll. “Fine. I will file a motion tomorrow morning.”
The tension in my body releases. Relief whooshes through me, and I glance at Callie with a warm smile.
“Does that mean you fixed us?” Her little eyes light up again.
I laugh. My eyes become watery as I pull her head back against me and kiss the top of her little head. “It sure does, Pumpkin. It sure does.”