“Sutton.” Kyler’s tone is soft and probably meant to be pacifying. “I’m sure you want to believe that, but we have no evidence proving otherwise.”
I’m unraveling, a spool spinning out of control. There’s no hope of winding my brain around this new reality. “W-what happens next for him?”
He offers a limp shrug. “Protocol is for him to be booked with preliminary charges, especially for an assault of this degree.”
“Assault?” My voice is hollow.
Kyler almost seems shocked by my reactions. “Well, yeah. Battery at best. Didn’t you see Lance’s face?”
A fresh wash of tears blurs my vision. “This can’t be happening.”
“I was a bit surprised myself. Never took Grady as the type to be brutal.”
“Because he’s not,” I whisper. “You have to believe in him.”
“The proof against him is pretty damning. Not much can change his fate.”
“Have you heard Grady’s side? Doesn’t that count for anything?”
He scratches his jaw. “It does, but he’s refusing to speak to anyone.”
That makes this entire shit-storm even worse. My heartbeat ratchets up, creating an erratic thumping I feel everywhere. “There has to be something we can do. Where are they taking him?”
Kyler averts his gaze. “He’ll be pent up at county for a week or two, maybe more. You never know how long it takes for trial to be set.”
“Can we get him out on bail?”
He snorts out a laugh. “That’s way down the road. He’s assumed guilty and stuck for now.”
I clap my palms over my ears. I refuse to hear these lies. My knees buckle and I almost face plant onto the sidewalk. “Why is this happening to him?”
Kyler glances over my shoulder. “Lance told us this was a lover’s quarrel. Whatever that means.”
“They weren’t fighting over me.” I force my tone to remain level. On the inside, I’m bordering on hysteria.
“The official statement suggests otherwise.”
I let my jaw pop. Enough of the lies. Boiling fury rises inside of me and the need to attack flexes my muscles. I swing my gaze to Lance. A steady finger gets pointed directly at his chest.
“You did this.” I don’t even recognize my own voice. “You staged this entire thing.”
Lance shoots a scathing glare at me. “You have no clue what you’re implying.”
I lunge forward but an arm flings out to hold me off. “Sutton, stop. You’ll be no good to Grady behind bars.”
The warm voice cuts through the bleak darkness. I glance over at my friend. “I can’t do this without him.”
Lacie tucks a few locks of hair behind my ear. “You have to. There’s no choice. He needs you, Sutt. Be strong and rise up for the good.”
That snuffs out the fight roaring in my veins. I sag against my friend. “You’re right. I need to start planning ahead.”
She gives me a small grin. “Yes, exactly. That’s what he would do.”
I cast a quick glance at the activity buzzing along the street. A twitch curls my upper lip. “Let’s get out of here. Can I catch a ride with you? I need to get thinking smart and strategize.”
“Wanna sleep at my place?”
“I need to go home.”
