Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 97557 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 488(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97557 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 488(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
"What do you want, Sheriff? Be clear."
He tilts his head, grinning now, knowing he has the upper hand for the first time since he sat. "Well, since we are negotiating. As I mentioned before, I want my property. Additionally, I'd take a donation to my reelection campaign. If you’re feeling generous.”
"How much?"
He tilts his shoulder and shakes his head. "Oh, I don't know. Half a million would mean I get to reach the ears of a lot of folks around here. I'd love to be able to spread the word more thoroughly."
Five hundred thousand dollars can buy you a lot of drugs and guns.
"What about a million and we forget about your property?"
He scoffs. "We both know my property is priceless."
"Could have fooled me by how you passed it around to assholes like Yanov."
He resettles at the mention of his dead friend. "Well, we all have debts to pay, of course. Everything was supposed to be returned to me unharmed. Yanov never followed my directions very well."
"I think we're at an impasse if the money doesn't interest you."
He studies me carefully, assessingly, and for all his faults, he's picked something up. Maybe he's finally understanding I won't walk away from Ely. Not for anything.
"Well, I guess we better go downtown then."
And that's it. I slide my phone from my pocket, hit a button, and raise it to my ear. Ely picks up almost immediately.
"Hey. You with Drew?"
She sounds breathless. "Yes, I'm at home, waiting for you."
"Good, stay put. Drew, Aries, and Lee, and Bel will be over shortly to keep you company.” It’s a lie, but I can’t let this dick know she might be vulnerable right now.
"What? Why? What’s going on?”
I sigh and meet the sheriff's eyes. "Do me a favor, though, tell Aries I need him to find me the best lawyer in the tri-state area. It seems the Sheriff wants me to accompany him downtown to discuss a couple of things, and I don't talk to cops without legal counsel."
There's a scuffle. "What the hell, Sebastian? What do you mean he’s taking you to jail?"
She's almost screeching in my ear now, but I don't dare let the man sitting across from me see even a lick of the fear I know Ely is feeling right now. “Unfortunately, yes. But stay with them. I'll see you soon, babe. Love you."
She sputters, and I hang up before she can respond, even though I really wanted to hear her say the words back to me.
I lock the screen and slide it into my pocket. "I'll follow you there."
He stands and shoves the chair hard under the table, sending it into my gut. It burns but I don't respond with anger. It’s what he expects, anticipates.
Unhooking his cuffs, he waves them at me. "No, I don't think so. You'll be accompanying me. Just to make sure you get there all right."
Two more uniformed officers walk into the cafe, and I shrug. "Sure, if that's what you want, Sheriff. I'm sure my lawyer will be there before we arrive."
He leans in, and he’s so close I can smell the bourbon on his acrid breath. "Unless you'd like to reconsider where you stand on things?"
"No, I'm good."
Angrily he grabs my wrists, and I resist the urge to slug him in the face. Fucking asshole.
Pain flares up my limbs when he wrenches my arms behind my back, but all I do is flash a grin at the two other officers, who look way more uncomfortable than their boss. Across the cafe a girl stands, her phone in her hand. She’s filming it, I bet. I give her a wink, because in an hour this will be all around campus, and the Sheriff won't have a leg to stand on.
Golden Boy Gets Arrested. Star Oakmount Player Dragged Away in Handcuffs. I can see it in the Oakmount Tribune.
In this town, the Oakmount Legacy is supreme, and the Sheriff is about to piss off his own donor base. Good. Better he makes himself look like an asshole than have me do it. With a hand to my back, he shoves me forward, and I stumble, going down to one knee as hard as I can. It's nothing, but I grimace and groan, making it look like it hurts. Image is everything.
Hauling me up by the arms, he drags me out of the cafe, and I let him, limping along the entire way to the car. If he’s going to try and pin something on me I didn’t do, then you can bet your fucking ass I will be returning the favor. Two can play this game.
CHAPTER 15
ELYSE
Idon't know if it's Bel's soothing presence or the fact we are shadowed by Drew's imposing one, but by the time we arrive back at the house, I’m already feeling better. I lead Drew and Bel inside, scanning the foyer and then ducking my head into Seb's study to see if he’s there, but the place is empty.