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“Awesome. Does there happen to be a bank near there?”
I must sound like a raving lunatic, but I honestly just need this woman to take me to Brooks. I can figure out everything else later.
“Yes. It’s a few blocks down. Planning to commit a felony while you’re at it?” She laughs softly before opening the back door.
“Look, Deputy…” My voice trails off as I look down at her nametag. “Flores. I need to get to the bank before Brooks drains his savings to pay off my stepfather’s mob debts.”
“Before he does what?” She eyes me skeptically before helping me climb into the backseat.
“I know it sounds insane, but my stepfather filed all these charges against me so he could get my inheritance. He owes the mob a bunch of money, and I doubt they’ll take an IOU or discuss a payment plan.”
She continues to look at me in confusion as I remember the text I have on my phone from Hunter.
“My cellphone is in my back pocket. You can check the text messages he sent me this morning. It’s not a number that I recognize, but I know it’s him.”
She stares at me in silence for a few minutes before pulling me out of the car and turning me around. “I could lose my job for this.”
“Does that mean you’re going to help me?” I ask hopefully as she reaches into my back pocket for my phone. “The code is 0826. My birthday.”
“That’s today,” she deadpans as she types the numbers in and opens my text messages.
Her brow furrows slightly before she pushes it into her top pocket and puts me back into the car. Without a word, she slams the door before climbing into the driver’s seat.
Panic overtakes me, not because I’m probably going to jail, but because I won’t be able to help Brooks. Every horrible thing that could happen flashes before my eyes, each one worse than the last.
The deputy sits there for a few minutes mumbling to herself before we lock eyes in the rear-view mirror. “I don’t know what’s going on, but for your story sounds plausible. It won’t hurt to stop at the bank before taking you to the station for booking.”
As she turns her car around and heads down the driveway, feelings of dread settle in my stomach. That can’t mean anything good.
CHAPTERTWELVE
BROOKS
“I’m here.” I stop a few feet away from her stepfather, clenching my arms at my side and trying to keep my cool.
That last thing I need is to get arrested. I need to get him his money and get back to Savannah. I already know I’m going to get an earful when I do. She’s going to be pissed that I left the house without leaving her a note, but even more so that I came here. We were supposed to handle her stepfather together. I just hope she can forgive me. The only thing I want to do is protect her and keep her as far away from this situation as possible.
“Took you long enough,” he growls as he blows a large cloud of smoke in my face. “Let’s get this over with.”
“Can I get your name? I’d like to know who to make the check out to.”
“Hunter Crowley.” He motions down the block toward the bank. “I assume this is your bank since it’s the only one in this tiny-ass town.”
Living in a small mountain town, there aren’t a lot of options for pretty much anything. I’m just glad I didn’t take the bank owner’s advice and move my account to one of the bigger branches in the city.
I don’t respond. I just nod as we head toward the bank.
I take my time, wanting to get a better idea of the type of man he is. He barely comes up to my shoulder. His dark hair looks unkept and dirty. His clothes are a complete mess, with droplets of blood running down the front of his shirt and a small hole in the knee of his pants. I doubt anyone is going to believe he isn’t forcing me to withdrawal fifty grand from my account.
“You could’ve at least tried to clean up before coming here. I don’t know if the bank if going to believe I’m just loaning you the money with you looking like that,” I scoff, crossing the street and heading for the door.
“I didn’t plan on getting my ass kicked, either. But we’re both doing things we never expected. Just get me my money so I can get out of here.”
I doubt this man is as dumb as he looks. There is no way the mob is going to just let him run off and not pay him their money. He must have some sort of plan on how he’s going to get out of town. Maybe if I have that information to turn over to the police, I can clear Savannah’s name.
“I doubt your associates are going to just let you leave town when you owe them money.”
“Not if I want to keep breathing,” he scoffs, coming to a stop in front of the bank. “Just get me my money, and I’ll take care of the rest.” He takes one more pull from his cigarette before dropping it on the ground, stomping it out, and pulling the front door open. “After you.”
