Page 145 of The Best Shot

The deputy waited.

Finally, Shaun wiped his mouth and muttered, “I don’t want to file anything.”

“Fine.” He turned to Annie. “You?”

Her gaze went to Shaun, then to me. “No.”

She had the marks to prove it, and the deputy had all but put the pen in her hand. Instead, she’d said no because yes would have meant somebody looking harder at me. I liked that less than I’d liked the fight.

The deputy nodded once. “Everybody is making thoughtful decisions tonight. I’m proud of us.”

Shaun gestured toward the truck. “What about my truck?”

“Call a tow.”

“It’s the middle of nowhere.”

“You found your way here.”

“I came in a rideshare.”

“Then you already have the app.”

A few of the men near the bikes laughed under their breath.

Shaun’s face darkened. “My phone’s almost dead.”

He pointed toward the bar. “I’m sure somebody inside owns a charger. Ask politely.”

Shaun looked toward Sal.

Sal did not move.

“Or don’t,” he added. “Your choice.”

Shaun’s eyes cut toward me.

The deputy stepped into his line of sight.

“You’re going to wait by your truck. You’re going to keep your hands to yourself. When the tow gets here, you’re going to leave.”

Shaun held there another second, pride fighting common sense. Fortunately, common sense won, and he walked back toward the truck.

The moment he was out of earshot, the deputy turned to Annie.

“You cannot keep doing this, Annaleigh.”

She sighed. “How did you even know I was here?”

“Sal recognized you. Called Pop Pop, and Pop Pop called me before dispatch finished giving me the address,” Darryl said.

Annie rubbed both hands over her face. “Jesus Christ.”

“Aunt Maggie called too.”

Her hands dropped. “Fuck me.”

“Pop Pop got to her first. Told her you were having supper with him and that everybody needed to stop harassing his granddaughter.”