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“Ms. Morelli,” the woman says. “Can you describe what happened to you after you left your apartment? We understand you were being held at…” She rattles off Emerson’s address. “For the last two weeks. How did you get there?”
My face goes hot. It must be red. Leo’s watching me, brow furrowed, dark eyes alive with a worried anticipation. I look from him to the cops and take a deep breath.
“I’m sorry.” Leo narrows his eyes. “I’m so sorry. All this fuss—you didn’t need to do this. I was irresponsible. I was—I was upset that my brother was being protective. I felt a little trapped, and I wanted to get away for a while. So I ran away.”
“By yourself or with Mr. Leblanc?”
Leo’s eyes snap to the cops. He might have won the argument about his presence on the rescue team, but he didn’t have this information.
“I ran away with Emerson, yes. I’m so sorry that all of you had to waste your time trying to find me. It was my choice. I did it.”
The detectives exchange a look. The woman opens her mouth to speak.
Leo gets there first. “What the fuck, Daphne?”
His eyes bore into mine. He was soft before, gentle, but now tension sings in the room.
The male detective holds up a hand. “Mr. Morelli, we don’t want to ask questions that would disturb the victim. She’s just been released from captivity.”
“Get out,” Leo snaps. “Both of you.”
Both detectives puff up, getting ready to argue. “Sir, if you’re not able to—”
“If you’re not able to get the fuck out of this room, then you have five minutes left in your current positions and you’ll never work in the state of New York again.”
I want to hide under the blankets. That’s what I want. That’ll show them how independent I am.
“You want to keep your jobs? Your reputations? Would you like your families to be safe?” Leo’s attention is on them now, and they hate it. He’s being an asshole. Cruel and demanding.
“Sir—”
“If you want any of those things, then you’ll get out of my sight and let me speak to my sister.”
The two detectives share a long, weary glance.
“We’ll finish our questioning at a later time,” the man says finally. “Please let us know when you’re ready.”
They leave without a backward glance. I don’t blame them. It’s not safe to argue with a Morelli. It’s the least safe to argue with Leo.
The door closes.
“Daphne Valeria Morelli, what the hell do you think you’re doing?”
His anger is less stinging now, and if I really look, I can see that it’s a thin layer over a deep well of fear. This has cost him. I can’t stand the pain in his eyes. I close mine. Just for a minute.
“It’s the truth,” I say into the darkness. I’m not going to break down. Not in here. I open my eyes again and meet Leo’s. “I’m sorry, Leo. That’s the only thing I’m going to tell the cops.”
He stares back at me, disbelieving, like he doesn’t know me. And maybe that’s true, as painful as it is. Maybe he doesn’t. Maybe it’s impossible to ever know another person.
But it’s not, is it? I know Emerson.
And I know what was true. I’m not making it up. I wasn’t brainwashed. I wasn’t hurt. I was a captive. That’s all. That was partially my choice, too. Will gave me the option to leave, and I didn’t take it. I wanted to stay. It’s not illegal for a person to change her mind. Leo changed his. He married Haley, despite how he felt about the Constantines. Once he met her he couldn’t let her go.
“I’ve been looking for you.” His voice is rough. Strained. “For days.”
“I know that. I knew you would. I felt awful about it.” Tears burn my eyes. “I never wanted you to worry. I thought about you the whole time.”
“It was your choice, but you didn’t call?”
