AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“She does that.” Ms. Pierce’s voice brings me back to the present, and I turn to meet the woman’s scrutinizing gaze. She gives a twist of her lips that is maybe a grimace, maybe a reluctant smile. “I would have preferred to meet you in other circumstances, but I’m glad you were there for my daughter when she needed you.”
I nod just as a woman in a black pantsuit enters the room. “Hello, Pierce. What have I missed?”
The new arrival turns out to be a lawyer, who Ms. Pierce called when she realized Summer’s situation involves the police. Yet again, Summer runs through the events of the night, and I can tell from the dip in her shoulders that she’s tired of repeating the uncomfortable situation.
Unfortunately, she has to do it again for the police officer.
The lawyer leaves us, off to talk with law enforcement. Soon after she’s gone, we’re given permission to clean the blood from our hands. Finally.
Summer is nodding off against her mother’s shoulder when the lawyer breezes back into the room, a triumphant smile on her face.
“They have security footage from the jewelry shop across the street,” she announces.
“What?” Ms. Pierce rises from her perch on the hospital bed.
“Maybe the guard, Daniel, thought he was clear to assault you because the library doesn’t have any outer cameras. But he didn’t count on other storefronts. They have clear footage of him grabbing you repeatedly, you trying to fend him off, then the stabbing, then Cole showing up after he’s already on the ground bleeding.”
“If they have that footage, why didn’t they tell us?” I can’t keep the annoyed growl out of my voice.
The woman grimaces. “Probably just waiting to see if you admit to something else incriminating. Still, we have proof of self-defense. And I wouldn’t be surprised if the police are able to get a search warrant to find proof of him sending you those stalking messages.”
Summer shudders, and all I want to do is hold her. But her mother is in my way so I keep back.
“I’ll be in touch tomorrow to discuss anything that needs to be done moving forward. Contact me with any questions you have.” The lawyer holds out a card, which Summer accepts. I’m glad to see her hands are steady. The shaking has worn off.
“Cole? Cole, are you alright?” The familiar voice has me turning toward the door just as my dad bursts in, his face white as he steps up to me, cupping my face.
“I’m fine, Dad. All the action happened before I got there. Calm down. Breathe.” He may be worried about me, but I’m just as anxious for him. Last time he got a shocking phone call about me, he had a heart attack.
Taking my advice, he sucks in a deep breath through his nose, but he keeps scanning me, looking for injuries.
“I’m serious, Dad. Summer is the one who got hurt.”
My father’s eyes flick to the side and land on my girlfriend, his gaze going soft as he looks at her. His hands fall from my face, and he steps toward her.
“Hi, Mr. Allemand.” Summer gives a weak wave, and I notice now that her voice is hoarse. Probably from the bruising. The thought makes me want to storm through the halls of the hospital, find wherever they’re keeping that piece of human waste, and finish the job Summer started.
Only, that would land me in jail, the stress of which would probably then kill my dad. With effort, I suppress my murderous impulses.
Instead, I steady my voice and make introductions.
“Dad, this is Summer’s mom, Ms. Pierce. And their lawyer, Bethany Rothchild.”
“And I was just leaving.” The lawyer gives the room a nod as she departs.
“Ms. Pierce, this is my dad, Malcolm Allemand.”
SUMMER
My mom, thank the universe, has an expert-level poker face. The only indication I get that she recognizes Cole’s father’s name is the slight twitch at the corner of her eye. I guess you run into a lot of odd situations while selling houses. Need to be able to roll with the awkwardness.
So much for my promise that she’d never meet the owner of the medical bills I asked her to organize. If I’d been thinking straight, I should have blacked out Mr. Allemand’s name on all the documents before giving them to her. But I’d been desperate to help Cole and didn’t bother to think things through. If I had, I might have realized I was already in love with him.
Which meant our families mingling was inevitable.
“Nice to meet you, Malcolm. It seems our children have gotten themselves into some trouble,” Mom says, her voice calm, her eyes still holding an edge of concern.
“Igot us into trouble,” I correct before Mr. Allemand gets the wrong idea.
