Chapter Twenty-One
“It seems there’s bad blood between your old boyfriend and your new one.”
Nichole kept her gaze steady on the man who’d introduced himself as Detective Margolis.“You’re wasting your time trying to pin this on Jack.He would never hurt someone like that.”
Two days had passed since she’d learned Jack had been arrested, and he still hadn’t called or tried to see her.No matter how much that hurt, how much of a jerk that made him, this detective was never going to convince her that Jack had almost killed Lane.
She glanced around the room, then down at the bar bolted to the table that she assumed was meant for handcuffs.Had Jack been in this room, his wrists cuffed to the bar so he couldn’t pull a fast one and escape?Probably, and that made her sad.When the detective had called her, requesting she come to the police station for an interview, she’d gladly agreed.It was her chance to help Jack.
“We have a witness to the fight, Nichole.It wasn’t their first altercation.I have a statement from your mall security that your boyfriend knocked out Mr.Gregory, sending him to the hospital.”
She bristled at the way he saidboyfriend, as if he had a bad taste in his mouth.And damn Mel.“I’m telling you again.Jack.Did.Not.Do.This.As for the incident at the artisan’s mall, Lane attacked Jack, and Jack was only defending himself.Instead of trying to find evidence where there isn’t any, you should be looking for the person who really is guilty.Believe me, the people Lane hangs out with are not the cream of society.”
Everything she said was true, but she couldn’t get the vision of Jack’s bloody knuckles out of her head.Was it possible he had done what he was accused of?He’d been pretty drunk when he’d arrived home.What if...No, he didn’t do it, and she resented the detective for making her doubt Jack.
After a few more questions from the detective attempting to get her to say something negative about Jack, she stood.“I’m done here.I can’t and won’t help you convict an innocent man who is serving his country, who was injured in the line of duty, and who is a hero.”She needed to talk to Jack, ask him straight out if Lane was in a coma because of him, look him in the eyes when he answered.
“I’m not finished, Nichole.”
“Well, I am.”She took one last look at the black metal bar, her heart hurting at the thought of Jack being handcuffed to it.
After getting the call from the detective, she’d phoned Deke, wanting to know what to expect.She could tell he was uncomfortable answering her questions, and she understood she was putting him in the middle.Even so, he’d walked her through what would happen, and she appreciated that.The best thing he’d told her was that unless she was charged with something, she was free to walk out whenever she wanted.
She wanted, so she did.
When she arrived home, Mark wasn’t there.She called his cell.“Where are you?”
“At the dog place.”
Even though Jack had ghosted him, Mark was still volunteering his time there each morning.Her little brother really was growing up.A month ago, he wouldn’t have cared about being responsible.
“Have you heard from Jack?”he said.“He’s still not calling me back.I’m getting really worried.”
“We need to talk.When will you be home?”Not wanting to see his disappointment in his new hero, she hadn’t told Mark about the accusation against Jack and that he’d been arrested.She couldn’t put it off any longer, though.It was better that he heard it from her, and not someone else.
“I’m finishing up, so I’ll be there soon.What’s going on?”
“We’ll talk when you get here.”She disconnected before he could ask more questions, then took Rambo out.It was such a pleasure to walk him now compared to how he’d been before Jack’s training.Everyone was new and improved since Jack had entered her life.Whatever happened between them going forward, he had shown her what it was like to be in a healthy relationship.She would never again settle for less.
That was good, but she didn’t want anyone else.She wanted Jack, but when a man told you what mattered to him and you weren’t on that list...well, she had her pride.He’d been drunk when he’d slung those words at her.When someone was plastered, they had no filter.The things they said were their truths.How was she supposed to get past that?
“Would you be happy living in a convent, Rambo?”
That wouldn’t work.She liked sex too much to do without for the rest of her life.She couldn’t imagine never again feeling a man’s body wrapped around hers while he whispered dirty words into her ear, of seeing his male-satisfied smile when she shattered in his arms.
The problem was that Jack had ruined her.She didn’t want to be with some other man.Even if she cried herself to sleep again tonight, she couldn’t stand by and watch a good man’s life ruined.She would do everything in her power to right the wrong being done to him.
But what if he really is guilty?an annoying voice said in her head.
That voice could take a hike.If Jack was capable of doing something like that, then she would never again trust her judgment in men.She really would check herself into a nunnery as long as she could bring Rambo and her trusty vibrator along with her.
Rambo excitedly barked a greeting to Mark when he saw her brother standing on the porch, waiting for them.She unclipped his leash.“Go see your favorite guy.”Actually, Mark was his second favorite, Jack his first, but whatever.
She jogged up the porch steps.“Hungry?Want to order a pizza?”Her brother was always hungry, and she didn’t want to have a serious conversation with him while he wasn’t paying attention because his mind was on food.
“You’re weirding me out, Nic.You tell me to come home because we need to talk, and then you want to know if I want a pizza.What’s going on?”
“A lot.”She glanced at Rambo.“Let’s get him inside and fed, then we’ll talk.”
