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She’d wrecked my walls with her tongue lashings and strawberry ice cream and ugly sweatshirts and hellos.
But these two weren’t privy to that. It was ours. Private.
Lexie’s gaze dimmed. My response was unsatisfactory.
She straightened her shoulders. “In the event of my absence, Beau Hollingsworth is responsible for the care of my brother.” She was firmly in control while I was spiraling out of it.
Wait. What?
Was Beau aware of this? And why hadn’t she mentioned it?
Lexie was the definition of collected. Of course she’d have made arrangements for Eric in case something happened. She took her responsibility for him beyond seriously.
I went rigid. Eric was already in the best care possible. I’d be damned if I allowed that to change.
“Is this a written agreement?” the woman asked. “And if so, have you filed it with the state?”
“Yes, the agreement is written. We had it notarized, and I gave the document to Mrs. Kipling. She worked for the department eighteen years ago. It should be in our file.” Lexie didn’t flinch as she rattled off the facts. Because she was stronger than I’d ever be.
“I’ll need to see it before we can allow her to take Eric.”
“Who’s taking me?”
My chest tightened to the point I thought it would crack. He was innocent. Lexie was innocent. These people had no regard for that.
“No one.” The two words were a quiet thunder when they escaped me, impossible to doubt.
“That’s not up to you,” the woman said.
“Ms.—”
“Mrs. Shepherd,” she finished.
“Mrs. Shepherd.” The pleasant yet firm expression on my face, the tone of my voice, and the words in my head jolted me. I sounded and thought just like my father. I’d been half a breath away from threatening this woman in the same way he’d done to the agent who’d attempted to arrest me. I didn’t want to be him . . . but I’d do it in a heartbeat if it kept Lexie from being separated from Eric.I’m just like him. The shocking realization stuttered my brain. Somehow, I kicked the thought out and focused on the situation. “Beau is my sister. If you’ll allow me a few minutes to contact her, I’m certain we can resolve this.”
“I’m taking Miss Logan in regardless.” The man who appeared to be an officer in street clothing stared me down.
I glared.How dare he speak that way in front of Lexie and Eric?Had he no sense of decency?
“Taking her in where?” Eric asked, panicked.
“Inside, right?” Lexie smiled brightly, though it was all for show. “Will you get started on the batch of dog food for tomorrow while I talk to them?”
I marveled at her. While I was barely keeping it together . . . Was this how Beau and Teague felt when I was in cuffs?
“Okay,” he said hesitantly. “Is Beau coming?”
“We’ll see.” She kept up that positivity.
“Shall we go into the kitchen?” I gestured in that direction, though it wasn’t a suggestion.
They all shuffled toward the building, except Lexie, who moved with the grace and elegance of royalty.
Muffy’s face appeared in the window of the van. It wasn’t hot, so they’d be okay until we could get this sorted.
Discreetly, I tilted my head at the officer in ahang backmotion. He slowed his steps, and we let the others get some distance ahead.
“My family hosts the NYPD Picnic In The Park every year. Do you ever go?” I hated flaunting my status, but the situation called for me to use every means necessary to help Lexie.
