Chapter 46
You’re a Murderer
SHADOW
Seven Years Ago
We sit in silence until the dawn of a new day begins. She let me hold her. She doesn’t protest or push me away as I plant kisses on her head, her neck, her face. It is a good sign. We have time for us to build on our relationship.
She shifts her gaze to study me. I run my hand down her face, hating the man who gave her a black eye and a split lip.
But I saw him and the other men in the bar when I tracked her down.
They looked a hell of a lot worse than she does.
I am so proud of her—she handled herself, just like I knew she could.
I bury my face in her neck, missing her long hair.
I hate to take her back, break our moment together. But I need to.
“Is he gone?” she asks.
I hum into her neck. “No. He is me, and I am him,” I answer, hoping she understands.
She caresses my face. “I don’t think you’re a monster.” She smiles. “Thank you for showing me.” She rubs her thumb along my cheek.
I close my eyes, relishing her touch. I love her.
She turns, facing me completely, and kisses me. “Can you forgive me for being so selfish and only thinking of myself?”
“Were you only thinking of yourself?” Why does she punish herself for situations out of her control?
“I could blame Anders and the bylaws for pushing you away, for making excuses that I was doing the right thing for you—”
“But…”
“The truth is, on top of all that, I was also protecting myself.” She looks down as her cheeks turn red.
Her ice-blue eyes swim in unshed tears. “I know it’s only been a short time, but I’ve fallen in love with you.
I thought about it, and I knew that you were going to say that it wouldn’t change things.
I could see it on your face that day. If you change your mind, I don’t think my heart can take it if you reject me. ..”
My heart rate accelerates. This warm feeling spread from my chest to my entire body.
I kiss her before she can say any more. We’ve been down this road, and there is no use reopening old wounds.
“Say no more,” I tell her against her lips.
“Let me worry about Anders and the bylaws. I already had a plan in place. Just tell me that you love me still, love me as I am.” I trail my nose along hers.
“I love you more,” she whispers.
That is all I need to hear.
We walk together in the hall. I adopt an irritated expression. I don’t really want to be here. I want to take her back to my place and make up for lost time. The closer we are to Anders’s office, the energy in the air crackles with tension.
Jessica pulls her cap low. Guilt is plastered all over her face.
I reach out to stop her. “Whatever we’re walking into, just know that I got you. Okay?”
She nods. I gently squeeze her arm, wishing I could kiss her instead.
She squeezes my hand. We turn to find all the recruits lined up in the hall.
Anders, Chris, and Elias speak to the town’s head guard.
Ean stands near the twins. Odyssey and Skunk talk to two of the town guards.
Jessica’s head snaps up, worry crossing her features.
I didn’t do it, she says, using her mind link.
A town guard sees us and immediately shouts, “Stop right there!” He raises his hand and reaches for his taser with the other.
What the fuck?
“Jessie G. Whitemore, please remove your hat and put your hands above your head.”
She obeys the guard’s commands. Four more town guards surround us, each of them holding a hand just above their tasers.
“What the hell is going on?” I snap. I look at Anders, who tries to push his way toward Jessica, but the head town’s guard holds him back.
“Jessie G. Whitemore, you were identified by several witnesses that you were involved in a bar fight last night.”
She nods, confirming his claim.
“What the hell is going on? Is he being charged with something?” I prompt before he can ask her any more questions.
I step in front of her and growl in warning, “Answer my question. Is he being charged?” I use my commanding voice.
These guards are older, but I still outrank them.
My skin starts to prickle from their fear.
Who are they afraid of? Me or Jessica? I fist my hands at my sides.
Why the hell is this asshole not answering me?
“We need to take him in. We have reason to believe that he is involved with the murder of Alfred Marks, one of the men he fought last night.”
“That’s not possible. I was there and saw all five men alive before I left,” I explain.
The guard shrugs, dismissing my response. He looks down his nose at Jessica as if she is already guilty of the crime.
I’ll fix this, I tell her through our mind link.
She doesn’t reply, her attention fixating on the twins.
“There are witnesses that saw him in the alley, the same alley the victim was found in, with a cue sticking out of his chest.” Other guards handcuff Odyssey and Skunk.
“What the hell are you doing with them?” I demand, diverting my attention for a moment. A guard from behind me bounds forward, grabbing Jessica and slamming her against the wall.
“What the fuck!” Anders yells. The twins rush down the hall.
Jessica yelps in pain, and I twist around to clutch the guard by his neck. “Touch him like that again and you can kiss your fucking career goodbye.”
He squeaks, face turning blue from my death grip. He slaps at my hand for me to let him go.
I release him and pull Jessica back toward me, quickly checking her for injuries. “Don’t answer their questions. Don’t talk to them unless your parents, Anders, or myself are present. Do you understand?”
She nods, unshed tears filling her eyes.
I turn to my recruits. “The same goes for you two.”
“I hope he has a good lawyer,” one guard mutters under his breath.
“I’m his lawyer,” I proclaim and turn to the guard who manhandled Jessica. “I’m warning you. Touch him again and I will sue your ass for assault.”