“The good news is they’ve both been vetted thoroughly, soI’m pretty sure neither of them is on the run from an abusive ex and hidingtheir real names.”Though it worried her that Keane might have covered up a bitof his past.Or Lucas would look past something because heruncle/brother-in-law believed in second chances.“It’s going to be fine.Garrett and Keane are wonderful, and the good news is their truck is back atLexi’s place so Dad can’t cube it.”
Then the door opened and her papa walked in, a grim look sherarely saw on his face.“Olivia, we have a problem.”
And she knew whatever he said next would change everything.
ChapterThirteen
Garrett stared at the sheriff, putting all his willinto the glare.“I would like to see my client.”
The sheriff sat back in his chair.“Your client is beingbooked, and once that process is finished, you can talk to him.I’ve heard he’sbeing…difficult.”
“You hauled him out in handcuffs.You didn’t ask him to comein for questioning.You didn’t ask him anything at all and yet you cuffed him,and don’t think I didn’t miss how rough you were.”
The sheriff shrugged.“He was resisting arrest.”
Garrett wanted to explode.“He was trying to walk and yourdeputies dragged him.He wasn’t resisting.He was trying to stay on his feet.”
“Well, he didn’t do a good job of it.You know he lost it inthe patrol car.We had to tase him to calm him down.Is there something wrongwith him?”
There was so much wrong.Bile threatened to rise at thethought of what Keane had gone through.He’d tried to talk to them, tried toreason, but the sheriff had explained that he could be brought in, too.
“I want to see the evidence against him.”He wasn’t about toexplain to the sheriff that Keane’s greatest fear was getting shoved into thesystem again.He always said if he went back in, he wasn’t coming out.
“Take that up with the DA.”The sheriff gave him a lazysmile.“Who is on a fishing trip.Won’t be back until Monday at least.You knowwe can hold him until his bail hearing.”
“And when will that take place?”
Sheriff shrugged as though it didn’t bother him at all.“Hopefully Monday, since the judge is off with the DA.Real good friends thosetwo.They go a long way back.”
He bet they did.He was walking into a corrupt system onceagain.“I want to talk to him.”
“He ain’t asked for a lawyer.”
“Because you hit him with a Taser before he could,” Garrettshot back.“I don’t understand this.Why would he try to kidnap Olivia?”
“I’ve been a sheriff for years and still don’t understandthe criminal mind.They do what they want.I suspect he has feelings for herthat aren’t returned.Ain’t you the one dating her?”
They’d been seen out more than she had with Keane.Keane’swork kept him on the ranch most of the time, so all the business lunches werehim and Olivia.“We’re both dating her.He doesn’t need to kidnap a woman healready has.”
The sheriff’s eyes narrowed.“Well, that’s interesting.Maybe he had an accomplice.”
“I’m the one who saved her.”He didn’t add the word hewanted to.Moron.The sheriff was looking for the easiest arrest possible, andit happened to be Keane.
“Sometimes things get twisty,” the sheriff replied.“Itprobably comes down to money.You trying to see if she’ll pay you to be herbodyguard?Or maybe you’re trying to scare her so she’ll marry you without aprenup.You’re going to want to do that quickly before Jack Barnes finds out.That man might be older, but there’s still a devil inside him.”
“Jack Barnes is a good man, and I’m sick of how you alltreat him.”
A low laugh came out from the sheriff’s throat.“Well, he’sa good man who I just updated, and he wants to make sure that friend of yoursstays right where he is.You two boys made a big mistake when you messed withthat man’s daughter.”
Jack knew about the arrest?“We didn’t mess with her.Welove her.”
“Tell it to a judge, son.”The sheriff looked up as the dooropened.
Deputy Morgan stood in the doorway looking far sterner thanthe last time he’d seen her.Her eyes were flinty as she looked at the sheriff.“Mr.Rollins is asking for his lawyer.”
“You get anything out of him?”the sheriff asked.
“Well, it was hard to interrogate the man when his teethwere still chattering,” Deputy Morgan said.“You should check the voltage onthose Tasers.I don’t think they’re in compliance with state laws.The onlything I’ve gotten out of him is the fact that he wants a lawyer.”
