Page 94 of This Reckless Home

I open the door to find a white guy in a suit, with a fuck ton of officers in uniform behind him.

“Is a Miss. Blossom Devonshire in?” the suit asks, and before I can say anything, Blossom is beside me.

“I am Blossom Devonshire, what’s this all about?” Her voice is steady, but I can feel the fine tremor in her body as it presses against the side of mine.

“Miss, I'm Officer Grady with the Augusta Police Department. We have a warrant to search this property and any outbuildings. I need you to step aside and allow us access.”

He hands her a piece of paper, and her eyes race across the page but I can see she’s not really taking it all in. I’m not fucking surprised, It’s all legal shit and I’d struggle to make sense of it too.

“Can I call my lawyer?” she questions, looking up at the suit, Grady, and he nods.

“Yes Miss, but we are under no obligation to wait for them to arrive. Please stand aside.”

Blossom looks to me, and I give her a nod. She swallows, and we move to one side to let the suit and his officers in.

“You boys need to step outside,” Grady tells us as some of the officers pour inside and head straight for the back, where the kitchen is and the door that leads to the pool house. My gut swirls.

“Why do they need to step outside?” Blossom demands, taking hold of my hand like the wonderful woman she is.

“It’s okay, Bloom,” I assure her, bringing her hand to my lips and pressing a kiss to the back of it. “We’ll be just on the porch.”

Tears fill her eyes, making them sparkle but she nods, giving my hand a squeeze before she releases it. Such a brave woman. I wish I could tell her, but the looks these pigs are giving us keeps me silent. They don’t get any part of what’s between us.

“What’s happening, Blossom?” I hear Tina ask, looking through the window to see her next to Blossom, hand on our woman’s trembling shoulder.

“Take the children into the dining room maybe? Somewhere away from this, then call Rupert please,” Blossom answers, and Tina gives the cops a disgusted look before she heads back to the kitchen, presumably to do what Bloom asks.

Three officers stand in front of us, all white guys, all with a nasty glint in their eyes. I look back to see Grady and his pigs striding back through the house, ignoring Blossom and coming up to us. He stands there, legs open wider than no doubt he needs them to be.

“Who’s got access to the pool house?” HIs words are clipped, short, and unease rolls through me.

“We’ve been living there,” I reply, a chill racing up my spine. Nox and Steele let me take the lead, keeping quiet.

“Who exactly has been living in the pool house?”

“I just told you, we have,” I answer, my scalp prickling.

“So everything that’s in the pool house is yours?”

I go silent, because something tells me that any answer I give will incriminate either us, or Blossom. My lips form a firm line.

He gives a huff through his nose. Then lifts a clear bag.

Suddenly I’m staring at an evidence bag with a massive brick of what looks like cocaine inside, wrapped in cellophane and tape.

My pulse races, my jaw clenching because I know what happens next.

“Anatole Reed, Steele Vaughn, Nox Kane — I'm placing you under arrest for possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you.”

“What?” Blossom’s shocked voice filters in, but it’s background noise as the officers who were watching us, the ones with meanness in their eyes, step forward.

“Turn around! Face the wall! Hands behind your back!” They all yell at once, like they’re not standing right in fucking front of us, and we comply, knowing that if we do anything else, things will go to shit.

“Fucking thugs,” Nox’s officer whispers into Nox’s ear as he jerks his hands sharply behind his back.

Nox says nothing, his jaw feathering. I know that costs him, he’s always got a blade of something to throw back. But here, now, he doesn’t say a word.

Whatever we say will be used against us. They literally told us that.