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I raise my hands to shoulder height at the side of my body. The feel of cold steel closing over my wrist doesn’t cause nearly as much panic as the hands that grab at me.
“I’ll escort her to your parents’ cabin,” Dr. Moore offers.
“To Daniel or Kaleb,” I manage to squeeze out.
My girl stands there, unable to move, watching as I’m cuffed.
A part of me prays she’s horrified and upset, not hopeful and ecstatic.
“I’m FBI Agent Collins, you’re under arrest for the murder of Darrell Cooper . . .”
Anything she says after that doesn’t register because I’m too busy reminding myself to stay calm. Even Cooper’s taunting words go unnoticed . . . almost.
Lara’s hand covers her mouth as I’m led away. Dr. Moore and Shelby whisper words of comfort to her.
My girl visibly shakes, her whole body trembling as Dr. Moore leads her away from the coffee shop. The hands holding my arm cause pain, but nowhere near as much as seeing Lara’s scared and panicked face.
“Your daddy can’t save you this time.” Cooper gives a fake laugh. “I forget, he’s not your real dad, is he? You’re the kid of some loser junkie.”
Thankfully, we’re far enough away that Lara doesn’t hear. I’d rather her learn about my past from me . . . when I’m ready.
I keep my eyes on Lara until I’m in the back of the squad car.
Closing my eyes, I try to remember the feel of her body, the way it felt to have her skin against mine, but that’s not enough. My shoulders, arms, and hands hurt where they touched me. My chest rises quickly, my knee bouncing uncontrollably.
“Awfully nervous back there,” Agent Collins quips.
I don’t respond.
“You touched him. I told you. I’m just grateful the big guy wasn’t there.”
Daniel.Lara will be safe with him. They don’t haveanything. It’s Cooper. A final power play to scare me into showing my hand.
That’s not happening.
But next time one of my brothers asks if they can kill Cooper, I might just let them.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Lara
Dr. Moore glances at me again from the driver’s seat.
The whole drive to Michael’s parents’ cabin has been made in tense silence.
I don’t know what to say. Could this be over?Is he going to jail . . . am I?
By the time we pull up to the house, I give up trying to quiet my tears.
“Well, at least they’re still here.” He smiles, commenting on the cars out front. “Stay, I’ll go and fetch a Cromwell.” His tone his soft, but his words are forceful.
This town’s men are a different breed.
I do as I’m told, watching from the passenger seat of his Jag. He knocks once on the front door.
I wait with bated breath. What happens now? Do I tell them what happened? I don’t want Michael to get into trouble, not because of me and not for Darrell.
That man deserved it.Maybe the others did, too.
