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Cole turned to Angel and said, “I’ll be right back, darlin’.” Then he led the cop a few yards away, out of her earshot and began explaining. “I didn’t put the cuffs on her. I was visiting another club. Saw her up there. Got her away from the guy that had her.”
“This is kidnapping, Cole. She was obviously held against her will. I gotta take her in. Get her home.”
“No.”
“No?” He raised his eyebrows in disbelief.
“I’ll get her home. And I’ll handle the retaliation for what this guy did.”
“So I’m supposed to just walk away? Leave her here?”
Cole nodded. “Yeah.”
“Look, I turn my head on a lot of shit, but this—”
“Will be taken care of,” Cole finished the sentence for him.
“Not without me talking to her first.”
Cole stared at him. “You’re only gonna make the situation worse.”
The officer folded his arms. “Take it or leave it.”
Cole blew out a breath and shook his head. His eyes slid to Angel. Time to find out which way she was gonna roll. “Okay. Fine.”
They walked back over to her.
“Angel, this is Sheriff Starks. He wants to ask you a few questions,” Cole explained. He knew she saw the look he was giving her, making it clear she better not say the wrong thing.
She nodded. “Okay.” Then she tipped her head to Sheriff Starks. “Officer.”
“Ma’am.” He tipped his head in return. “You want to tell me what happened?”
Angel’s eyes darted to Cole.
Starks didn’t miss the exchange.
“I, uh, I met this guy. Turns out he was kind of an asshole. Cole, he, uh, persuaded him that our relationship was over. Got me away from him. I owe him for that.”
Starks looked from her to Cole. He asked her, “That’s it? That’s all you’re gonna tell me?”
She shrugged. “That’s all there was to it. Thanks for getting the cuffs off me. It’s kind of embarrassing. The asshole lost the keys. I guess that was a stupid idea. You know how these sex games are. Sometimes you don’t think it through.”
Cole fought back a laugh, and Starks glared at him.
“Everything’s fine now. Really,” she insisted.
“You’re sure you don’t want me to see you get home?”
Cole stepped in. “I’ll get her home.” He held up his hand as if taking a pledge. “Scout’s honor.”
Starks scoffed. “You were never a Boy Scout.”
Cole smiled.
“I’ll be fine,” Angel assured him.
Starks threw his hands up, turning to walk away. But before he did, he leaned in close to Cole’s ear, and Angel heard him whisper, “I hope to God one day you come across a woman that ain’t gonna cover for your ass.” Then he glared Cole in the eyes, turned, and walked away.
Cole watched him get in his cruiser and pull out, and then he turned to Angel, his eyes studying her face. “You did real good, babe.”
Angel was watching Starks drive away. “He looks kind of like a weasel, doesn’t he?”
Cole tried to hide his grin. “Yeah, but he’s our weasel, so it’s all good, darlin’.”
The corner of her mouth pulled up in the barest of smiles.
“Sex games, huh? Sounds like fun,” he teased with a wink.
She raised her eyebrows, giving him a look.
“I’m kidding,” he smiled. “Come on.” He put his arm around her neck and led her across the lot toward the entrance to the building. Some of the guys called to him. He raised his arm in greeting, but kept on walking. He held the door for Angel and followed her inside.
***
