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“I didn’t do it to be impressive.” She sinks onto a chair. “I did it to get away from Eddie.”
“I thought you’d never be able to escape him,” I admit. “Honestly, I thought you didn’t want to.”
“For a while, I didn’t.” She twists her mouth, her tone bitter. “Then last year, I saw him murder a street dealer. I knew he was a killer, but I’d never witnessed it before. The guy was…what, eighteen or nineteen years old. Maybe not even that. Eddie shot him point-blank in the head. It horrified and shocked me to my senses. If I didn’t find a way out, Eddie would get rid of me at some point. And probably go after you too. So I contacted Kevin…Sheriff Peterson. He agreed to provide me with protection.”
I shake my head, both stunned and in awe at the same time. “When did you give him the tip?”
“As soon as I found out the details, which was about a week ago.” Regret tightens her mouth. “I’m sorry I couldn’t help you, Hannah. I was scared you’d get even more caught up in the whole mess than you already were. I was hoping to find you after I got away from Eddie. Speaking of that bastard…”
She narrows her eyes as Sheriff Peterson strides back toward us. Though his expression is impassive, he radiates an air of deep frustration.
“Eddie?” Selina asks.
Peterson sighs and runs a hand over his hair. “He got out through the side window, evading the back team. My men are out looking. No sign of him yet.”
My heart plummets. Dane swears under his breath, and Selina drops her head into her hands.
Peterson puts his hand on her shoulder. “We’ll get him. He’s hooking up with some pretty big fish. He won’t be able to stay under the radar for long.”
Selina lifts her head and wipes her eyes, mumbling that she needs to use the bathroom. Peterson lets her go and returns to the operations.
Dane turns, locking his arms around me. I hug his waist and inhale his scents of sweat mixed with jasmine and cocoa butter.
“You okay?” His voice is rough.
“I am now.”
He pulls back and brushes his fingers against the cut on my cheek. Though his expression is hard, concern and tenderness rise to his eyes. “You need to get this looked at.”
“It’s not that bad.”
Officer Randall approaches from the kitchen. Dane tenses, tightening his arms around me.
The officer holds out the driver’s license I gave him for identity verification.
“Hannah Clark?” he says.
I nod, though he already knows that’s my name. Unease flickers inside me.
“There’s a warrant out due to your failure to appear in court, Miss Clark.” Randall extends a pair of zip-tie handcuffs. “You’re under arrest.”
ChapterEighteen
Dane
“What doyou mean she’s being held without bail?” I storm to the other side of the lawyer’s office, my fists clenching and unclenching.
“She was arrested on drug charges and jumped bail,” Paul reminds me. “She’s a proven flight risk.”
“That’s bullshit,” I snap. “I don’t care how much the judge wants. Make the deal. I’ll pay it.”
With what, I have no idea, but I can’t fucking stand the thought of Hannah spending one more second in jail. She’s been locked up for three nights already, and they won’t even let me or her mother see her.
Peterson is from another district, so even if he could pull strings, it’ll take a while. And with Eddie fucking Keller still on the loose, Peterson and the rest of the damn department are busy covering their asses.
All of this means my girl is stuck in a goddamn cell where she doesn’t belong.
“Get her out, Paul.” I flatten my hands on the desk and glare at him. “Whatever it takes. She won’t miss another court date. I’ll see to it myself.”
