Total pages in book: 120
Estimated words: 113944 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 570(@200wpm)___ 456(@250wpm)___ 380(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113944 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 570(@200wpm)___ 456(@250wpm)___ 380(@300wpm)
“Clumsy. Right.”
“Let him go, Sheriff. Please.”
Gwen’s stomach plummeted. The scene was too close to home—or to the home she’d had during her childhood, anyway. How many times had her stepdad’s ass ended up in the drunk tank? How many times had Hanna pleaded with the police to let him go, always equipped with inventive excuses to explain the bruises? She’d even taken Gwen along for sympathy, encouraged Gwen to back up her lies. And Gwen had.
“He assaulted a police officer while in custody,” said Colt. “That means he isn’t leaving for a little while. You go on home, Sandra.”
“No. I want to speak to Jim!”
A muscle in Colt’s cheek ticked. “If you insist on sticking around, that’s fine. Maybe we could do a little drug test while you’re here.”
Sandra instantly drew back, paling. “Fine. I’ll go home.”
“Thought you might.”
Spinning on her heel, Sandra made a dramatic exit—much like Hanna used to do.
Colt cleared his throat. “Well, Gwen, what kind of complaint do you have now?”
Gwen balled up her hands. She wasn’t sure she could do this. Wasn’t sure she could again lie to protect an abusive son of a bitch . . . she’d done enough of that as a kid.
But this time it would be different, she reminded herself. This time, the son of a bitch wouldn’t go unpunished. He’d eventually get what he deserved. Still, a part of her felt shamed by what she was about to do. It didn’t make much sense, but that shame was there all the same.
She lifted her chin. “We should talk alone.”
Whatever he saw in her expression made his confrontational stance ease. “Come to my office.”
She followed him into what was essentially a box room, but he’d made the most of the small space. At his gesture, she took the seat opposite him. “I’m here to alter my statement,” she said through her teeth.
Colt stiffened, surprised. “Really?”
“I’m not doing it for Brandt or any of the Moores—let’s just be clear on that. I owe someone a favor, and they’ve called it in. I repay my debts.”
He leaned forward, bracing his elbows on the table, looking rather satisfied. “All right. Why don’t you tell me what you really saw that night?”
Gwen narrowed her eyes. He knew her version had been the truth—the issue was that the truth simply didn’t suit him. “Don’t push it. Before we get started, I have a condition. I’ll do this, but I don’t want the news to make its way around town. The shifters can’t know.”
He abruptly straightened. “They’re still here?”
“My family needs protection right now. I was attacked by a flock of avian shifters the other night. There’s no way I’ll believe that the Moores weren’t behind it—there’s no one else who’d mean me the kind of harm that the shifters caused.”
“They could have been enemies of the wolves you’ve got hanging around you.”
“If that was the case, they wouldn’t have attacked me.”
“Maybe the extremists got hold of the story and sent someone to hurt you.”
She rolled her eyes. “Believe what you want. The point is that I want to keep the shifters around for protection. I’ll give the Moores what they want and alter my statement, but they need to keep it to themselves.”
Colt twisted his mouth. “The shifters will find out at the hearing.”
“But by then, the Moores will be happy and willing to leave me alone.”
“And what about the shifters? I don’t think they’ll like that you’ve used them.”
“I know.” She sighed, as if troubled. “I’m thinking it might be best if I act like I’m having second thoughts the night before the hearing. I could act afraid and stuff. Then they’ll just think I fell at the last hurdle. They’ll be upset and pissed, but not as much as they’d be if they found out how long it had been my intention to back down.”
He lifted his brows. “Sounds like a good plan.”
“It’s not a plan I intend to put into action until the Moores confirm they’ll keep my cooperation quiet.”
“They’ll be willing to do that.”
“Call them. Ask. I’m not saying a word until I have their agreement.”
He picked up his cell phone. “You’ll trust their word? They might not stick to their end of this bargain.”
“If they don’t, I can always change my mind again at the hearing. This is their one and only chance to gain my cooperation. They can take it or leave it.”
Colt swiped his thumb over the screen of his cell and then sank into his chair. “Hey, Ezra. I think you’ll be rather interested to hear who’s sitting opposite me right now. Gwen Miller.” Colt told him about her offer, advised him to take the deal. Then he held out the phone. “He’d like to speak with you, Gwen.”
She took the phone and, not bothering to greet the asshole on the other end of the line, simply said, “What?”