Chapter 14 #3
“How much has he had to drink?” Caden asked instantly, my brain catching up on the conversation. I was still stuck on the fact that Slash’s car was in the yard and a stupid part of me was expecting him to climb out of it.
“Not enough to be drunk. We had a couple of glasses of whiskey with dinner, and we had dessert and a wander in the garden too,” I replied, relief taking over his face.
“Good. He shouldn’t get a DUI for driving earlier, or any drunken disorderly charges. You feel okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. What the fuck was all of that?”
“Welcome to the life of the rich and famous,” Lukas muttered, kneeling in front of me and lifting the dress enough to check my legs. “They didn’t hurt you?”
“No. We need to get Ty out,” I answered, and Caden winced.
“He’s been hauled in a few times for driving drunk or high, and there have been a few assault cases before.
The fact there’s live footage of him punching the paps though?
They’ll have to charge him. Can’t sweep something that public under the rug unless they cut a deal with the person he hit,” he explained, my chest aching.
“He was protecting me. Can’t they see that?”
“Those parasites never get in trouble for breaching privacy, but we do when we react. They don’t usually bother us, but we’re a different type of famous.
We’re just rich and people are nosy, but Ty’s family are celebrities who just dropped a scandal.
They won’t give a shit about his feelings or privacy.
They’d be pushing him to react because if he beats one of them half to death and they get photos of him crashing out, they’d make bank off it. ”
“Fucking vermin,” Skeeter muttered, raking a hand through his hair.
“Were you really going to beat up the cop for arresting me?” I asked dryly, his eyes narrowing.
“Absolutely. If they’re that desperate to do some paperwork, I’ll make a pile for them.”
“You’re not rich enough to bail yourself out, idiot.”
“I might not be, but my ball rubbing bestie is,” he deadpanned, motioning to Caden as Josie and some of her security appeared. “You’d bail me out. Right, Holloway?”
“I might leave you there,” Caden joked, but Josie scoffed.
“Of course we’d get you out for protecting Rory, honey,” Josie said seriously, patting his arm. “Can you guys all stay here while I take Rory to the station? They want to talk. We’ll be back soon with Tyler.”
“I’d rather—”
“Skeeter,” she huffed, putting her hands on her hips.
“I know you’re not used to following anyone’s rules, but I need you to listen to me about this.
My lawyer will have them both sorted within minutes, and you being there will likely just get you in trouble and add to my lawyer bill.
I have a security team that will escort us, so you stay here and keep the house safe. ”
I expected him to argue, but he nodded, despite looking annoyed.
“Fine, but if you’re not back in an hour, I’m coming.”
“You’ll stay put,” she warned. “Rory, let’s go.”
I gave Skeeter a quick kiss and mumbled for him to behave before giving the other three a kiss too and patting Diesel’s arm on the way past.
I followed Josie out to the garage through the internal access to avoid the cameras, climbing into a blacked-out SUV. Security joined us in the back as one drove, another car following as we made our way onto the road.
A lot of people had already left, most likely following the cops to get footage of Tyler being dragged into the station.
“Where have you been hiding these guys?” I asked Josie as I studied the men in suits.
“They weren’t hiding. The security team is ready to roll within seconds. I called them here when the first report went up about you and Tyler having dinner together,” Josie explained, typing rapidly on her phone. “Hit me with it. What happened so I can update the lawyer?”
I detailed as much as I could, knowing it would help, and by the time we arrived at the Ashburn Valley Police Department, her lawyer was already there.
A crowd of reporters and flashing cameras tried hard to get our attention as we exited the car, but security barricaded us all the way to the door and blocked it so they couldn’t follow.
“You wait here,” Josie murmured as we entered the office, pointing to a chair in the waiting area. “Hopefully this will be quick.”
“You don’t need me?”
“I’ll grab you if we do, but your details to the lawyer should be enough to get this snuffed out,” she smiled, heading into a room with a cop and the lawyer.
I texted back and forth with Skeeter to ensure he knew I was fine and that he stayed put, and I jerked in surprise when I felt a hand on my shoulder.
“Sorry,” Hunter murmured, dropping into the seat beside mine. “You getting charged?”
“No idea. What are you doing here?” I asked as I glanced around, finding the cop at the desk eyeing us nervously.
They knew I was with Skeeter at this point, so sitting here with the enemy was probably not the best idea.
“Just checking on you. Your security is doing a shit fucking job if I could walk in wearing my crew jacket and sit down without being interrogated. Good thing I showed up to keep an eye out,” he scoffed, leaning back in his seat and crossing his ankles. “Have a nice date?”
He wasn’t wrong about the security. I knew that they couldn’t stop people from entering a police station, but someone should have followed him in to ensure my safety.
Especially since they knew it was a rival crew to the guys we’d left at the house.
“It was nice until the paparazzi showed up. I was looking forward to being fucked like a whore as promised, but they ruined the mood,” I sighed.
“I can help with that,” he grinned, looking over at the door as it opened and one of the security guys stepped in. “Oh, look. Someone decided to check on you. How nice.”
“You’re fired,” I said flatly as the guy approached, but he ignored me and glared at Hunter.
“I need you to move. Show me some identification.”
“Eat shit, glorified mall cop,” Hunter snorted, pushing the guy's hand away as he tried pulling him to his feet. “Hey, if you think you’re safe just because we’re sitting in the pig pen, you’ve got another thing coming. Touch me and I’ll kill you.”
“I need backup,” the guy said into a radio, the cop behind the desk standing to walk closer.
“Is there a problem?” he asked, already seeming to make up his mind that Hunter was the problem here.
“No problem, officer,” Hunter grinned, sliding an arm along the back of my chair.
“I can smell your arrogance,” I muttered to him before looking at the cop. “He’s with me. He’s fine.”
“Identification,” the security guy asked again, making me huff.
“Shut up and go away. I’m making sure Josie fires you assholes for not paying attention in the first place.”
“Hunter Rivera,” Hunter practically purred, holding his hand out to shake. “Nice to meet you.”
“You shut up too,” I scoffed, ignoring him as he chuckled. Security seemed to know exactly who he was because when his buddies joined us, they all looked ready to throw down.
“What are you doing in town?” the cop asked suspiciously, expecting an addition to the crew wars.
“Just checking in on Aurora after one of your guys threw her on the ground tonight. Hopefully having that on camera gets the fucker fired. You’re nothing but a bunch of corrupt pigs,” he answered, the cop scruffing him and hauling him to his feet, only making him smirk.
“Listen, scum,” the cop warned in a low voice.
“Hey!” I snapped, pushing between them to try and make the asshole let go of Hunter. The cop shoved me out of the way and security tried to pull me to safety, ignoring me as I struggled against their hold.
Hunter was spitting curses as the cop and another security guy got him to the ground, and I swung at the guy holding me, smacking him in the mouth.
“Aurora, you need—” the guy started as he rubbed his lip, but I ignored him and pulled his buddy off Hunter, glaring at the cop.
“I don’t care if you’re a cop. I’ll punch you and make you deal with Josie all night,” I warned, seeing them hesitate before scowling and stepping back.
“Thanks, Hot Shot,” Hunter said sweetly as I took his hand to help him up, his hand lingering in mine for a little too long as I pulled back with a huff.
“Don’t worry about it. Sit and stay out of trouble if you’re waiting around.” He surprisingly sat back on his seat, so I did the same, eyeing security. “I mean it, assholes. You’re fucking fired. I’ll make sure of it.”
“What’s going on out here?” Josie demanded as she appeared with Tyler in tow, not hiding her nerves when she noticed Hunter beside me.
“Your security team needs to be fired. They had no idea if Hunter was safe and let him walk in and sit beside me. Then they manhandled me,” I grumbled, jerking a thumb at the smug prick beside me. “Josie, Hunter. Hunter, Josie.”
“Hunter Rivera?” she asked lightly, her eyes flicking to the logo on his jacket and back to his face.
“Yes, ma’am,” Hunter smiled politely, getting to his feet to stretch. “You’re lucky I like Rory. Usually, this would have been a great opportunity to get some payback on the Psychos.”
“He’s joking,” I replied, elbowing him as I stood. “And leaving.”
“I know Skeet’s been lenient with you lately, but you’re pushing it, dude,” Tyler stated, pulling me against his chest. “You heard her. Leave.”
“Only because she asked so nicely,” Hunter snickered, giving me a wink. “See you soon, Hot Shot.”
“I’d rather you didn’t. Can you avoid pissing Skeet off this week? A little Thanksgiving gift to me?” I asked jokingly, amusement crossing his face.
“What do I get in return?”
“I won’t stab you.”
“Rory, that’s not funny,” Josie scolded, only making Hunter laugh.
“She’s not trying to be. She stabbed my friend once, you know?” He ignored the glare Tyler gave him as he patted my shoulder. “Marco sends his regards. He would have loved to stop by too but he’s busy handling something for me.”
“Such a shame,” I deadpanned, motioning to the door. “Hope it hits you on the way out.”
“Sure you do. You look beautiful in that dress, by the way,” he murmured before leaving, the sound of his bike starting soon after.
My cheeks heated a fraction, his compliment completely throwing me.
“Aren’t the Devils at war with the Psychos?” Josie asked me hesitantly as if Hunter was still listening.
“They’re not at war, they just hate each other,” I shrugged, turning my attention to Tyler. “What happened? Are you okay?”
His jacket was crumpled and his tie was undone around his neck, but he looked fine from what I could see.
“Lawyer got hold of the guy I punched. He agreed not to press charges,” Tyler answered, nuzzling into my neck as he pulled me closer. “Can we go home now? All this bullshit’s made me tired.”
Josie rolled her eyes and told us to wait while she signed a few things, then we all headed out to the cars.
Since security admitted to smoking outside instead of watching me inside, Josie fired them, so at least there was that.