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“I heard enough,” one of the cops said. The officer took out his handcuffs and approached Theresa. “You’re under arrest. You have the right to remain silent, and for my fucking sake, I hope you do.”
“I’m being arrested? For fuckingwhat?” she screeched.
“Human trafficking of a minor, accessory to aggravated sexual assault of a minor, defrauding the state, hiding evidence, blackmail, intentional infliction of emotional distress…” He cuffed her tightly, then looked at his partner. “What else?”
“Being a disgusting human being?” he offered.
“That, and filing a false police report.” The officer roughly pushed Theresa past us toward the door.
“I know my rights,” she hollered, “and you are gonna be in so much trouble. This is police brutality!”
“Is it?” The cop jerked her handcuffs again, causing her to yelp. “’Cause I thought I was just making sure these were on right.”
Theresa gave me the evil eye as she passed. “You’re gonna pay for this, girl.”
I lifted my chin. I felt sick that Cole had heard what I’d said and sick that the officers had heard it, but I also felt… lighter. “I already paid, Auntie. It’s your turn.”
But once she’d left, I turned back to Cole.
And promptly burst into tears again.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
cole
“Babe.”I wrapped my arms around her and kissed her forehead. “I’m so sorry, Jenny. I’m so sorry about everything.”
“Nah.” She pulled back, violently wiping her eyes. “I’msorry you heard all that. I know you won’t feel the same about me, but it’s okay. I guess I already burned that bridge, huh?”
“Of course not.” I brushed the fresh tears from her cheeks. “Jenny, I?—”
“I was gonna tell you the truth,” she said, her voice wobbling. “I even told Audrey I needed to tell you because you are my person. But then I figured it might be better to leave you alone. You never needed a whore in your life, Cole. You deserve better than someone like me.”
“Jenny.” Tears brimmed in my eyes. My heart hurt for her. “You’re the best person I know. What your aunt did to you… What she put you through… That’s terrible, babe. No one should have to go through that.”
“Yeah, that’s true. But I still did a bad thing, Cole.”
“No, you didn’t.” I reached for her. “It wasn’t your fault.”
“Then why am I still being punished, huh?” she asked. “I tried to hurt one of the guys. He was real bad, you know? So I hida knife under the mattress, and I slashed him. There was blood everywhere.”
Jenny shuddered violently. “I thought he was dead. And then I ran away.”
“Oh my God. I’m so sorry.” I tried to hug her again, but she stepped back.
“I never told anybody what happened. I tried not to think about it. I pretended it was like a movie like it happened to somebody else.” Jenny composed herself. She stopped crying. She blew her nose again, loudly. She wiped her face.
“And I been alone my whole life until I met Audrey, and then I met you,” she said. “You two were the first people I thought I could trust. I almost thought I might end up having a real life, you know? I thought I might actually have a chance.”
“You do have a real life,” I said softly. “It’sourchance.”
“No, don’t try to make it better.” She shook her head. “I know what I’ve done. It’s not just my past—I ruined everything because of what I did for your dad.”
She blew her nose again. “I messed up the best thing I ever had in my life. And you didn’t want to hear my excuses, and I don’t blame you. I lied to you. I hid things from you. You’ll be better off without me.”
“Jenny, that’s not true.” My voice was firm but gentle. “When you love someone, you’re never better off without them. I’m the one who’s sorry. I was so angry, I didn’t even give you a chance to explain.”
She blew her nose again. “Wait a minute—how did you even find out I was here?”
