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I sprang up, dislodging the anchor at my waist, stumbling and squinting as I made it to my feet. Cold air wrapped around me, a far different kind of hug than the warmth I’d been wrapped in all night. Spinning around, I blinked at the cot and at the shirtless man lying on top of it.
Stunned, I realized I’d actually slept last night instead of spiraling until my body gave out. I fell asleep in his arms with his whisper in my ear.
I wasn’t sure how that made me feel other than it was definitely some type of way. Trying to decide which way was cut short when the door down the hall opened.
For some reason, nerves hijacked my insides, serving up a jittery feeling that was usually reserved for too many espressos. Honestly, coffee sounded hella good right now.
I was pretty sure they turned off the heat with the lights last night because this cell was frigid AF. Maybe that’s why I made it through the night. My brain froze and couldn’t continue its disorderly conduct.
As if the thought were somehow a betrayal, I glanced back to Arsen, the actual reason I slept and didn’t freeze to death last night. He was no longer on the cot, instead standing in front of it, tugging on the black T-shirt he’d taken off for me to lie on.
I caught a flash of black ink, but it was gone before I could look the way I wanted.
He’s got tattoos.
Footfalls echoed down the concrete hall, causing my back muscles to lock up as if they were readying for battle.
Arsen stepped into my line of sight, pushing at his inky hair while sweeping a stare over me. “I’ll do all the talking.”
I started to tell him he could get bent when he jabbed a finger in the air between us. “And do not punch anyone,” he warned me quietly.
“I’m about to punch you,” I muttered.
The asshole laughed.
“Well, well,” a uniformed officer I didn’t recognize mused as he stepped up to the cell. “Look at these two little jailbirds. You gonna sing for your freedom?”
“We aren’t saying anything until my lawyer gets here,” Arsen replied, tone even.
His lawyer?
“You rich types are all the same.” The officer sounded disappointed, as if he’d been hoping for more of a reaction. Drawing a set of keys from his belt, he made a show of trying to find the right one for our cell.
The longer he stalled, the more the keys clanked together and the tighter I locked my jaw. I was much better than last night, but my nerves were still raw, patience worn near see-through. I was also beginning to worry he wasn’t actually going to unlock this door, just taunting us to give us hope.
Arsen stepped closer to me, his arm briefly brushing mine. He was so much warmer than me, and it caused goose bumps to scatter across my skin.
The door to the cell screeched open, the noise like nails on a chalkboard. “Let’s go,” the officer ordered.
I started forward, more than willing to get the hell out of here, but Arsen caught the back of my shirt and pulled me back so he could step around me. He went forward, the grip on my shirt lightening to just his palm resting against my lower back as he guided me along with him.
We exited the cell at the same time, with Arsen angling his body to the side. It was not lost on me that he kept himself between me and the cop, and I gave him an annoyed look.
He winked like my annoyance was somehow charming, and damn, if my stomach didn’t flutter.
I need to get the hell out of here.
The officer led us out into the front of the station where people milled about, phones rang, and the scent of coffee overpowered literally everything.
The second the heavy door shut behind us, a familiar voice filled the room. “There he is,” Kruger half shouted. I looked up just as he shoved out of a metal chair against the wall. “Bro, I’ve been sweatier than a snowman in July,” he swore, rushing forward.
His shoes squeaked against the linoleum when someone grabbed him by his hoodie and yanked him back.
“What’d I tell you, Kruger? Take a seat.”
Surprise widened my eyes. “Coach?”
He pushed Kruger toward the chairs and came forward, his stubbled jaw set, eyes hard, and his beloved whistle bouncing between his pecs with every step he took.
