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I’ve ruined my life, and possibly my sister’s.
“No,” I say as tears come to my eyes and I dive for that golden nametag wrongfully attached to my sister’s chest. “I will not let you go down for something I’m responsible for.”
Charlie bats my hands away. “In your dreams, Lottie. This is my fault and we both know it,” she shouts a touch too loud.
Everett pulls me to him. “Let her do it, Lemon. I’ll make sure she gets the best of the best as far as representation goes.” He nods her way. “Charlie, I will move mountains to get you out on bail as soon as possible.”
“Bail?” My voice spikes in horror. “And what about prison?” I shake my head at my sister. “There is no way in heck I’m letting you go away for me.”
“Then fix this mess,” she hisses as an officer comes over and helps her to her feet. “I’d like to see Evie’s high school graduation myself.”
The officer walks her a few steps over before cuffing her and hauling her right out of the room like a common street criminal.
A horrible groan comes from me. “That should have been me.”
Everett nods. “Let’s follow them to the station. You can fill me in on the details of this nightmare on the way over.”
We race our way to Everett’s SUV and I tell him every last detail about the secret casino, the illicit drugs, the dealer I was hoping to nab and gift to the Ashford Sheriff’s Department Narcotic Division myself.
I keep one little detail to myself.
Jed Silver might just be the only one who can help track down whoever is—was—dealing drugs through that place.
And ironically, Jed Silver might just be my only hope in getting both Charlie and me out of the mess of a lifetime.
Evie and Lyla Nell run through my mind on a loop.
I could have cost us everything.
I’ve already cost Charlie plenty.
And now more than ever, I want to nail that elusive drug-dealing bastard to a wall.
* * *
The Ashford Sheriff’s Station is a box of blinding white light.
My shoulder still stings, but I don’t dare say a word to Everett about it.
The two of us race to the booking station where we see Charlie standing behind the counter as they process her. Max stands next to her, giving the processing officer a piece of his mind.
Good for him.
Although, technically, she was in possession of a dicey substance—even if the she in this equation is actually me.
“Charlie, wait,” I call out just as Noah steps in front of me.
“Lottie Lemon.” His voice is tight and there’s an edge to it I haven’t quite heard before.
Noah walks both Everett and me over a few steps before staring sternly into my eyes.
“What the hell were you thinking?” Noah doesn’t mince words.
“I was thinking I could catch a criminal. I had an opportunity,” I say. “And if I told you—well, you would have got the narcotics department involved and spooked the perp. Which by the way, I’m sure has happened. And just for the record, outside of tonight, I’ve never actually seen any drugs. I just knew they were being pumped through the place.”
“What made you so sure?” Everett asks and my mouth opens and closes as the two of them await an answer.
I can’t very well come out and tell them that Jed told me so.
