Page 83 of Born to Scar

“On what charges?” I snap.

“Theft.”

“Of?”

“None of your concern, Mr. Beck.”

“As her attorney, it is all of my concern.”

“Cam.” Ken’s voice came from behind me. I spin to look, and he motions for me to move. “I’m representing Ms. Rhodes. Now, please do tell me what she’s being charged with.”

CHAPTER 35

INDY

I can’t help but laugh. This motherfucker is going to arrest me. Bik and Ray stare at me in my delirium. “What the fuck do you want me to do? Is this not the most comical shit you’ve ever seen?” Jared’s pacing, silently fuming. I step in front of him. He looks down, gripping my face, gently pressing his lips to mine.

“We will get you out of this,” he whispers.

I nod. “I’ll be fine.”

At the door, Cam immediately pushes me behind him.

“You can’t stop him,” I say, giving in. If looks could kill, the one Cam just shot me with would do it.

“Indy Halloway, you are⁠—”

“Rhodes. My name is Indy Rhodes.” My eyes drift to Bik, and he nods with tears in his eyes. There’s something else on his face. Is he scared?

“That’s right, kiddo. Rhodes.”

“Read them to her, now,” Cam demands through gritted teeth.

“You have the right to remain silent…”

“Indy…” My eyes meet Cam’s as I’m being cuffed by my father. “Do not say a word. Absolutely nothing. We’re right behind you.”

I nod as my father walks me to the car and shoves me, much harder than necessary, into the back seat. I stare out the window.

While Asher is still recording, Ken and Cam rush out the door to the Lambo parked in the driveway, the only car that can get out right now. I need to remember not to open my mouth. Don’t say anything. I’ve got to keep repeating it to myself. Do not open your stupid fucking mouth. Stay silent.

“Finally. We can talk without that oaf in the way.”

I want to murder him. Cam would fall over laughing if he heard what he said, but fuck this guy. I hate him. I hate him more than I hate myself. And that’s saying something. For once, I’m going to listen and not entertain him. All I can hope is that they are behind us, but he is flying down the road, really fucking fast.

“All I wanted was to talk. None of this had to happen if you had listened to me.”

Swallowing down my retort, I focus on the world out the window, all buildings that pass, all the trees.

“Why won’t you just talk to me?” he roars from the front, bringing my attention back, but not for long.

I look to the front, but then I go back to that place in my head, away from this. I thought it would be harder than this to slip back into myself. But maybe I’m tired, and this is where I’m safest, so this is where I go. I guess I’ve always come here, to the depths of my mind, to preserve the little of myself I have left.

“I’m going to keep you safe.” His words fling me back into my hellish reality.

That’s when I realize we’ve been driving for a long time, much longer than it takes to get to the police station.

“I don’t know what they were doing to you in that house, but I’ll make sure they can never hurt you again.”