Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 62783 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 314(@200wpm)___ 251(@250wpm)___ 209(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62783 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 314(@200wpm)___ 251(@250wpm)___ 209(@300wpm)
“Don’t be such a pretentious bitch,” he said, his friends laughing and clapping behind him. “I just wanted us to have some fun.”
“No, you wanted to get your way and now that you aren’t you’re being an asshole about it. Leave. Now.”
“Or what?” he snapped, stalking after me. “You’re going to go tell your boss? What is she, five-five? She’s not going to do a thing about us.” His voice was lowered as he motioned to the dark, empty area around us with nothing but him and his friends around.
“Take one more step toward me and I’ll claw your goddamn throat open,” I said, my entire body shaking. I was six feet away from the door, but instinct screamed if I ran, he’d tackle me. I wasn’t about to let that happen.
He took the step, and I lashed out, slapping him so hard his head snapped to the left.
“Oh,” he said, a warning to his tone. “You’re going to regret that.”
“No, I won’t,” I said, defiant. He was like so many of my exes—arrogant, selfish, violent, and entitled. So many men like him prided themselves on being masculine and dominant when they were the furthest thing from it. Insecure and self-absorbed and controlling was more like it.
I drew my hand back in a warning as he crept toward me—
Red and blue lights flashed brightly, illuminating the scene. Relief barreled through me so forcefully my knees almost buckled.
“Step away from her,” Jim’s voice rang out with perfect authority as he got out of his patrol car. He shined a flashlight on the scene, stopping on Kent’s face.
Kent raised a hand to block the light, taking a couple steps away. “We’re just catching up, officer,” he said. “We’re good.”
“No, we’re not,” I said, tears welling in my eyes. “He wouldn’t let me get to my car. He wouldn’t let me leave.”
Jim said something into his radio, then headed toward me. All business, he stood next to me and kept his focus on the group of men across from me when all I wanted to do was fall into his arms. Dramatic? Sure, but damn it I was exhausted.
“You were holding her against her will?” Jim asked, then raised his hand toward the group of approaching friends. “I need you three to stand in a line on the sidewalk.”
“Or what?” one of them snapped. “We’re not doing anything wrong.”
“Or I arrest you for interfering with an investigation,” Jim snapped. “And keep your hands where I can see them.”
They stood on the sidewalk, arms hanging by their sides.
“I wasn’t holding her against her will,” Kent said, lying through his damn teeth. “We were catching up—”
“How much have you had to drink tonight?” Jim asked, placing himself between Kent and me.
“A few,” Kent said, all confidence as he raised his arms. “That’s not a crime. And you don’t see me driving. You’ve got nothing to hold me on.”
Another patrol car pulled up, and Tanner stepped out. Jim filled him in, and Tanner headed to question and keep an eye on the three on the sidewalk.
Jim glanced at me, reading something on my face that made his eyes narrow. “He wouldn’t let you get in your car?”
“No,” I said. “He kept me from getting into it twice. Then he grabbed my arm when I tried to go back inside to Lyla’s.”
Anger flashed in Jim’s eyes as he turned back toward Kent.
“I didn’t! She’s lying. Look, just let us go. We don’t have time for this—”
“You should’ve thought of that before,” Jim cut him off. “Place your hands behind your back.”
“You’re fucking joking,” Kent said, shaking his head while Jim put him in cuffs. “You can’t arrest me!”
“You’re being detained for drunk and disorderly conduct,” Jim said, continuing with his rights as he walked him to the back of his patrol car. Tanner let the other three go with a warning, and they practically bolted without a second glance for their friend.
Jim headed back to me after he got him secured in the car. “Are you okay?” he asked, none of the stern police officer to be found in his expression, just Jim.
“Yeah,” I said, rubbing my arms. “I mean…physically,” I admitted.
He reached between us, interlacing our fingers for a few precious seconds before Tanner called to him from his car.
“I have to go book him,” he said, eyes curious and concerned as he looked me over. “Do you want to come down to the station and make an official statement?”
“I…” My throat clogged, panic and fear strangling the words I wanted to say. “I can’t.” Making an official official statement would dredge up the past, leading to a trial that would no doubt drag the VanDoren name through the mud. I was doing everything I could to get back in my family’s good graces, and this wouldn’t be the way to do that.