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“What are you in for?”
I look at Larry, a man known to get wasted and start fights over football games won or lost decades earlier.
Great. My first time in lockup and I have to share it with someone.
“Nothing.”
“Me too!” He snickers to himself, and then minutes later, loud snoring comes from the bench he’s sprawled on.
Fucking Lawson took me in. Billy King had me arrested for battery.
Which is completely unfair. He deserves to be beaten within an inch of his life. I punched him once. I hardly classify that as battery.
Lawson comes up to me and leans against the bars. “Really, Conley? You punched out a rich dude? One who’s looking to buy Alpine.”
“He was married to Sarah. Still is from how he worded it.”
“I have a riot book that I can use for you. Okay, I can fucking make one up on the spot. But, really? You’re that insecure?”
“No,” I push the word out, “I’m not. But I know all about him and what he likes, and he doesn’t like women over the age of twenty, and that’s pushing it.”
He doesn’t say anything for a long time. “How young, you reckon?”
“From what I know, she would have been seventeen.”
There are other things too. Things I don’t want to tell my best friend because Lawson is just as likely to go shoot the fucker on Sarah’s behalf while thinking of his sister, Isaac’s niece he’s trying to adopt, Dakota, and any future daughters he might have.
And I’d be more than happy with that.
Christ. The look on her face when William had stepped in my office . . . like someone had punched her . . . said sickening things to her was more than enough to make me fucking livid. His hands on her? I wanted to string his intestines up. The fact he said he’s married to her, I just hit him. I didn’t even think.
Pieces fell into place with her. She’s too old by his standards but shit like that must cut deep. No wonder she’s all over the place with me.
“Barely legal.” He pauses. “Or illegal in some states.”
I breathe out. “Yeah.”
Lawson gives me a long look as I rest my hand on the bars in front of me. “Why do I get the feeling there’s a whole lot you’re not telling me?”
“I don’t want you up on murder charges, and right now, I’m barely fucking keeping it together.”
“Tell me. I’m guessing if I start poking about, I’ll find out.”
He would.
I close my eyes and rest my forehead against the cool metal of the bars. “I don’t know how far it went with her, but let’s say he likes others to watch, likes to show his prowess as a man, and Iuse that term loosely. Recently, there are stories of gang activity, if you get my drift.”
“I’m going to kill him.”
“No. If anyone’s doing that, it’ll be me. But we’re not. What I just told you is between us and is going to stay that way. The only reason I’m telling you is so you get why I fucking punched him.”
“Yeah.” He scoffs.
I open my eyes and glance at him. “Not a word to anyone, including your wildcat.”
“C’mon, man.”
“That’s Sarah’s job, and besides, Dakota might already know.”
