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My body aches with desire as Hunter's powerful arms envelop me, pulling me closer to him. I never thought I would find such intense love with someone so complex and enigmatic — a man with a past shrouded in darkness, a present filled with obstacles, but a future that I am determined to be a part of.
But even in our closeness, there is still a shadow between us: Jay.
As we stand under the warm water of the shower, Hunter senses my unease and gently lifts my chin to meet his piercing gaze. "What is it, Em? Something is troubling you."
I try to hide my fear behind a smile and shake my head. "It's nothing.”
"Nothing?" Hunter's voice vibrates with concern.
"I was just thinking about how much I love you," I say, trying to distract him. "Let's not waste any more hot water; let's finish our shower."
But deep down, I know my words are only masking the fear that threatens to consume me — because no matter how much I love Hunter, I can't shake off the feeling that something dark looks just beyond the horizon.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Emily
Maggie is waiting for me outside the pharmacy the next day before work, her arms crossed in front of her chest. Her lawyer — our lawyer — stands beside her. His arms are crossed, too, and there’s a look on his face that doesn’t make me optimistic. The store itself looks cleaned up, the glass repaired, the graffiti removed, the shelves and all the stock back in order. It’s as if the destruction never happened. The manager, Mr. Dunkhauser, must’ve really paid a lot to get everything fixed so fast. I’d been looking forward to getting back to work, but what I see on the faces of Maggie and Mr. Doberman tells me that work is going to be the least of my concerns today.
“Emily, we need to talk,” Maggie says as soon as I exit my car.
I’d had a smile on my face until I pulled into the parking lot. Spending the night with Hunter, finally telling him how I feel, and then getting some great time with both him and Charlie this morning had my heart feeling full, but now…
“Good morning, Maggie. What’s wrong?”
Doberman clears his throat. “There have been some developments that you need to be aware of.”
“What developments?” I say. And, after looking at him for a second, I add, “And is your last name really Doberman?”
It’s been bugging me. I need to know.
“Yes. It was Daubermann, which is German, but I changed it once I became a lawyer. I wanted my clients to know I’d always fight my hardest for them. Which is going to come in handy in this case.”
“Why?”
“Emily, the DA is threatening to file aggravated battery changes against the both of us for slapping Officer Abrams.”
“Aggravated battery? Are you serious?” I say. It’s hard to breathe. The words come out as little more than a strained whisper.
“Absolutely serious,” Doberman says. “Slapping a police officer, even one like Abrams, is never a good idea. In the state of Oregon, if convicted, you can face up to several years in jail, along with a fine of up to ten thousand dollars.”
My knees go weak, and I lean against my car for support. "Years in jail? For a slap?" The world seems to spin around me, and I feel like I might be sick.
Maggie steps forward, placing a comforting hand on my arm. "Don't panic, Emily. That's why we have Mr. Doberman here. He's going to help us fight this."
Doberman nods, his expression grim but determined. "Indeed. We have several angles we can work with. First, we'll argue self-defense. Officer Abrams was clearly overstepping his authority and acting in a threatening manner. Second, we'll bring up his history of misconduct and abuse of power. And third, we'll emphasize the minimal nature of the alleged assault — a slap hardly constitutes aggravated battery."
I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself. "Okay. Okay. So what do we do now?"
"For now, you both need to lie low," Doberman advises. "No public statements, no social media posts about the incident. And absolutely no contact with Officer Abrams or anyone else involved in the case."
Maggie frowns. "What about our complaints against Officer Asshole?”
“For one, I would advise you to no longer use that term where anyone can hear it.”
“It’s accurate, though,” Maggie says.
“Regardless, as your lawyer, I’m telling you to can it unless you really want to see Officer Abrams smirking at you as you’re convicted.”
