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“What the hell is going on?” I’m angry and scared and the tears haven’t stopped since I found the picture. My body feels beaten and used; my soul heavy while my heart is full of fear. “Detective Consuelos, please answer me.”
“I’m sorry, Miss Moore, but I’ll need you to stand and turn around.”
“What?”
“Please stand and put your hands behind your back, don’t make me use force.”
“Why are you doing this? I called you for help.” As I ask this, the two other males with them leave and start going from room to room, calling back empty as they stomp around. I can hear things falling and a few glass items meeting their demise on my floor, but what kills me is the yelp of my dog as one of them grabs him. “Detective, I demand an answer.”
Said man gives me a look that makes me shrink back. So much coldness. “Gabriella Moore, you’re under arrest as an accomplice to murder.”
“Who came?” I haven’t used my one phone call yet. There’s no one to come and help me, and I’d rather sit here for a year than talk to Elise after our last encounter. Theo? But he has no way of knowing, especially, since he’ll be in L.A. for another day. “There’s no one that I—”
“Hurry up, the person is waiting up front.”
“Okay.” The other women in the holding cell give me wide berth, moving away from the now open metal door. No one moves until I step through and I feel like a monster, so uncomfortable, that I put my head down and follow without another word. I can feel everyone’s eyes on me, though. Can feel the judgment and hate but continue walking until we’re out and I hear the one voice that makes this nightmare better.
“Oh, sweet girl. What have they done to you?” Theodore’s words cause my head to snap up and tears to fall. Moreover, I don’t hesitate and throw myself into his arms. He catches me, cradling me against his chest while I let go.
The woman who walked me out scoffs, but then quiets down. Theo’s head snaps to the side, his body slightly shaking. “Who the fuck are you? I want your name and badge number.”
“Sir, you need to watch your tone. I’m a—”
“It’s you who doesn’t comprehend the severity of your actions, but I’m sure your boss will be here soon enough to explain.”
“That’s laughable. Captain Bron wouldn’t dignify himself by...” she trails off then and the temperature inside the room seems to drop. I try to lift my head to see what’s going on, but Theo’s warm hand scratches my scalp lightly while keeping me in place.
Something is happening.
Then steps come closer. Heavy and loud, stopping close but not speaking.
I’m scared. Tired. Angry.
So full of ire for how unjust I’ve been treated, but more than that, I can’t take anymore.
My nervous system has taken a few hard lashes since my birthday, one after another, and mentally I’m cracking. Can feel each open wound grow and morph into hate. Into dark thoughts that I’d never voice out loud.
For the first time in my life, I want retribution. To not be a weak link.
“As your lawyer, I ask that you let me handle this, Theodore. I assure you; they’ll feel your wrath.”
“Deal with it,” Theodore hisses out after a minute, a deep rumble building in his chest with each syllable. His voice is deeper. The command is full of ire. “What they did was—”
“Mr. Astor, can I have a word please?” At the sound of Detective Consuelos’s voice, I pull closer to Theo and he responds by tightening his arms around me. I’m not afraid of the detective, but rather the fire that seems to course through my veins at the mere sound of his voice.
I want to hurt him. I want to scream.
But instead, I let Theo be my wall at the moment, a human shield from the bad, and I couldn’t be more thankful for meeting this man. He’s the only person who’s never judged me. Who cares and actually sees me.
“You’ll be speaking to my lawyer, Consuelos. And mark my words, this is just the beginning.” My brows furrow at Theodore’s words. What does that mean?
“Sir, the department wants to apologize to you both. We misunderstood the situation and reacted instead of thinking logically as we are trained to do.”
“No, you didn’t,” I say with my head still buried in Theo’s chest, but he nudges me back a little and then tips my face to meet his. His eyes are warm and full of so much understanding. Of care.
“Speak up, sweetheart. You have every right to be upset.”
“Gabriella, I understand you’re angry—”
