Calm. Cold. Precise.
“I’ll take it from here.”
Sergeant Erin Voss stepped into the center of the chaos like she was walking a goddamn runway. No helmet. No vest. Just a badge clipped to her hip and that smug, lipsticked smile.
“Sinclair,” she said, eyeing me like I was a stain. “Congratulations. You’ve officially become a criminal liability.”
My stomach turned.
“I want a lawyer.”
“You’re not under arrest.Yet.”
“Cut the shit, Erin, if you aren't here to arrest me, then get the fuck out of my clinic.”
She waved a search warrant in the air like a trophy. “Legally sanctioned. We have probable cause, financial misconduct, grant fraud, and trafficking ties. You’ve been operating as a shadow transit hub for undocumented victims. Falsified paperwork. Laundered donations. Even fabricated client logs to pad your numbers.”
Every word sliced deeper than the last.
I couldn’t speak.
Because I couldn’t breathe.
And then I stepped forward. Hands still raised. “If you think I’m going to let you destroy this place, you better cuff me now and drag me out.”
Remi’s voice came from behind me.
Calm. Final. Unshakable.
“No.”
I turned, already shaking. “Remi…”
She stepped forward, placing herself between me and the nearest officer like she was made of steel.
“It was me,” she said. “I filed the reports. I handled the books. The patient logs. The money. Take me.”
“Remi, don’t...” My voice cracked. The first tear slid free, and Ihated it. Hated that I was falling apart while she stood there like a warrior.
“She had nothing to do with this,” she said, locking eyes with Erin. “You want someone to pin this on? Pin it on me.”
Erin’s brow lifted. “Now that’s interesting. You’re admitting guilt?”
“I’m admitting responsibility,” Remi shot back. “There’s a difference.”
The officers looked to Erin.
She nodded. “Take her.”
“No.” I lunged. “Don’t you fucking touch her...”
A gun was aimed in my direction.
Remi held up a hand. “It’s okay, Ava.”
“No, it’snot!” My voice was hitting a pitch I didn’t recognize. “You didn’t do this! We didn’t... this isn’t...!”
“No,” she said, eyes locked on mine. “But I can survive it.”
