“We hid,” Katy answers. “What do you think? We raised our hands and said here we are?”
She’s always a little bit mouthy, but this is a tad much even for Katy. She sounds as if she’s on her last straw. It’s possible she’s figured out it wasn’t her drink she made her big production from.
Law sighs. It’s deep and long, a sign he is near his end as well. “Anything you’d like to add, Anessa. Anyone want to tell me why they’d be looking for the bakery girls?”
I twist my tongue and roll it behind my teeth biting slightly. Without Ridge or Bennett here, I’m not sure what I should tell. Bennett and I haven’t had the talk about what the hell is going on. Do I tell Law about the money and the bakery or will it get Ridge and Bennett in trouble? Why the hell didn’t we go to the police?
Life was so much similar back home when the worst thing to happen during the week was one of my family members trying to boss me around.
“I take that as a no.” Law throws down his pad of paper. It lands in a spot on the table wet with condensation.
The main entrance to the club, the one we all walked through earlier tonight, swings open, the heavy wooden door hitting the wall behind it. The crash is so loud half the people in the club flatten their hands over their ears and half duck thinking it’s more gunshots. The disruptors barge into the room and I’m saved answering any questions about Bennett or Ridge because, like two overbearing grizzly bears, they waltz in looking as if they belong.
Bennett, with Ridge right behind him, continues toward our group. Bennett’s eyes never leave mine, and the stern look on his face doesn’t dissipate even as I toss him my best smile.
“Don’t worry, Law, we got it from here,” Ridge says not sparing Law a second glance, his eyes steadfast on Tabitha.
I drag my attention away from Bennett long enough to see Law roll his eyes. “Last time I checked, you weren’t part of the force, Jefferson.”
That comment gets Ridge’s attention. “This is my girl and I’m gonna handle it.”
“Three men pushed their way into a nightclub and discharged their weapons into a crowd of people. This is a matter for the police. I’ll let you know the next time we have a bail jumper.”
Ridge stands next to Law the two almost bumping chests. “Fine. Do what you have to do. But I’m taking Tabitha home.”
“When I’m done getting her statement. You need to learn your place in this town,” Law says shoving his pen in his coat pocket.
“My place? My place is taking care of the mistakes your police force makes.” He inches closer, the two now just millimeters apart.
Bennett steps in between the two men, a hand on each of them to push them apart. “Back it up, boys. This isn’t the schoolyard.”
Bennett steps back when the tension recedes enough it doesn’t appear the heated situation will come to blows. Both Law and Ridge have stopped the chest puffing intimidation trick.
“Do you need more information from anyone here?” Bennett asks.
Law steps back retrieving the notebook he threw on the table earlier. “No, we’ve got it.”
Bennett stands beside me, wrapping an arm around my back. He places a quick peck of a kiss on the side of my head, but I feel it all the way in my toes. Here I am standing in the middle of the what a few minutes ago was a shootout situation with the stupid grin on my face because some cute tall guy gave me a kiss on the head. I’m hopeless.
I have serious priority issues.
They’re something I’ll have to deal with later because right now all I care about is Bennett. He walked over here right away. He kissed me on the head. Whatever stupid messed up decisions I’ve made, he must be willing to look past at least a few of them to give me another chance.
“If you have questions, Anessa will be at my house.”
“I will?”
His face furrows, eyebrows pinching together. “Yes. Ridge is right. You’re never leaving my sight again.”
I lose the smile. “What?” There’s no way he actually said what I think he said.
“Especially when Katy is around.”
Well then.
“Hey! I had nothing to do with this.” Katy faces off with the three men, her hands on her hips in our corner of the room.
Bennett doesn’t give either of us a second to explain. With the arm I found sexy a few minutes ago, he gives me a gentle push toward the door.
