“Yep. Oh, and that hit and run that happened back in LA? It was your boyfriend’s car on those traffic cams. I’m pretty sure they confirmed you were the driver, though, which means there might be an active warrant out for your arrest. It’s my duty to call this in,” I told her, watching as she squirmed.
We hadn’t actually confirmed Lindsey was even in the car, but the guilty expression she wore and the way her breathing sped up was answer enough. A panicked expression broke out on her face before she turned to me, pleading.
“Look, I didn’t do anything illegal! Max just wanted me to ask Sophie to talk to him alone. They’re in one of the back gardens,” she muttered, but I knew that wasn’t the whole truth. The way she was looking at everything but me had my whole body goingon alert.
Pulling out my phone, I texted Linc, Dad, and Walt. I considered leaving Linc out, worried what he would do if he thought Sophie was in trouble, but knew he would figure it out anyway.
Max took Sophie to the back gardens. I have Lindsey.
We needed to move quickly, but I didn’t want her to escape. Using my grip on her arm, I dragged her behind me as she asked inane questions.
“Where are you taking me? I didn’t do anything!” Finally spotting a security guard, I yelled for him.
“I’m a cop. Hold her until my partner gets here. Send whoever else you have on staff to the back gardens. Someone might be injured,” I told him as the portly man looked at me in stunned silence. Flashing my badge, I watched as he grabbed Lindsey.
“Use your fucking radio! Don’t let her leave,” I yelled as shouting reached my ears, Linc running full speed past me.
By the time I made it to the garden, it was a fucking shit show. Sophie was slumped on her side, gasping for breath, as Linc was pummeling Max into the ground. As my parents burst into the yard behind me, in unspoken harmony, we started moving. Dad and I pulled Linc off Max’s prone form, not wanting him to go to prison.
Those twits came next, squawking over the piece of shit who had attacked Sophie. When Sophie told us that Lindsey had set her up, I was already a step ahead. My partner was there by the time I got back, and switched from detaining Lindsey to arresting her. We had enough probable cause to charge her with conspiracy and attempted assault in connection with her role in luring Sophie.
More officers headed to the crime scene, but the paramedics came first. Both Sophie and Max were taken to the hospital. Max was cuffed to his bed while they examined him. Unsure of the full extent of his injuries. It was clear he at least had a busted nose and bruised ribs, if the constant whining meant anything.
The bruises appearing under his eyes and the winces Max made with each move also pointed to the fact that Linc hadlanded more than one punch. As much as I tried to get an update, I wasn’t really allowed anywhere near the investigation. Out of courtesy, the department was keeping me updated. Just outside Max’s room, I hesitated as Walt walked toward me.
“You need anything?” I asked, taking in his haggard expression. As much as we all knew or prepared for shit to go sideways, I don’t think any of us imagined that was where we would wind up.
“No. I just have to get this done with.” He was radiating with fury. I knew he blamed himself for Sophie getting hurt. We all blamed ourselves.
“You did everything you could, Walt. Go say what you need to, then come find us. We’ll figure out next steps together. You’re not alone in this.” I squeezed the man’s shoulder. He was a proud man who loved his family dearly, so this wasn’t an easy pill to swallow.
“Thank you. And Linc… For protecting my Sophie when I couldn’t.”
“Enough of that. You’re about to have company, so buck up, buttercup. Time to show them why you’re in charge. I’ll let Sophie know you’re coming by soon.”
The two women came to a stop behind Walt, eyeing the both of us with fear and anger. Walt turned to look at them before facing me. He closed his eyes for a beat as if willing himself to find strength. His eyes opened, and with renewed purpose, he looked at me, ignoring the burdens waiting behind him.
“I’ll see you soon.” He patted me on the back and headed for Max’s hospital room without so much as acknowledging either woman. The mother rushed in after him, her movements comical in her too-tight dress and too-tall heels.
Natalia was a bit slower, her eyes watching me warily before widening in fear as she realized the police were both inside and outside the hospital room Max was in. Brooks, my friend and one of the cops stationed outside the room, gave me a look.
“$20 says she slipped him something. Girl looks guiltier than sin.” I snorted but didn’t disagree.
Walking away quickly, I didn’t want to do anything to jeopardize the interrogation. When I got back to Sophie’s room, it was just her and Linc. Unsure what lies they had to tell Mom to get her out of there, I hesitated outside the door long enough to realize I was about to interrupt a personal moment.
“I was so afraid. I don’t know what I would do without you or without Lou. I’m sorry I wasn’t there sooner. One day soon, when we’re not in a hospital, I’m gonna ask you to marry me. I’m gonna ask if I can be that little girl’s daddy. I already am in all the ways that matter, but if she’ll have me, I want to adopt her. If I had my way, neither of you would leave my sight again. I know that’s a lot, but I just need you to know how I feel. Need you to understand why I’m such a mess, and what I need to not be.”
Sophie gave a watery laugh at that, and I smiled.
“So to save your sanity, I have to marry you, and you want to adopt Lou. Is that all?”
“No. That’s everything.” I wanted to be embarrassed, but the emotion in my brother’s voice stopped that.
I stepped away, giving the couple privacy—just in time, it appeared, as Mom came rushing around the corner. Racing up to her, I put a finger to my lips to shush her.
Sophie was feeling smothered enough with both Linc and my mom hovering over her. She was an amazing woman—tougher than anyone I had known.
Max had attacked and assaulted her. She fought back hard, and managed to protect herself long enough for Linc to come. She was bruised and scared, but nothing was majorly injured.
