“I know. That statement has always been true. Which is why it killed me so much to see you struggling after Zane left. It’s like your determination and strength left with him. But after seeing you fight for him earlier, almost assaulting a police officer in the process, I’m thinking you got it back.”
My face scrunches as I blush with embarrassment. “Not my finest moment but that guy was an ass—”
“Officer, hello.” Dad speaks louder than necessary to cut off my rant. “Any news?”
I turn to find the only officer who seems to carry the sympathy gene and relax when she smiles.
But it’s short-lived.
“This can’t be happening. How could his parents do that? His own flesh and blood?” My pacing picks up again, but this time, it’s accompanied with blind rage.
“I don’t know, sweetie,” Dad tries to calm me. “I could never fathom it, but I’ve also never lost a child.”
“Achild. Not two. They lostoneand now they’re fucking up the life of the other. I’m going over there.” I spin on my heels and beeline for the door, but Dad’s faster.
“As much as I admire your spirit, that’s not going to help. We have a lawyer on the way, and we need to be here when he arrives. Zane’s going to need our support for his hearing tomorrow. Trespassing and assault charges are not small misdemeanors. And I have a feeling that Ron has witnesses on his side, because someone had to have called the police.”
“Well, Zane hasme. I was there for it all. Ron provoked him. He pushed me. He was taunting Zane, practically begging him to hit him. Doesn’t that count for anything?”
“It does, but you’re also his girlfriend.”
“No, I’m not. We haven’t spoken inyears, Dad. I just happened to be walking past and—”
“Don’t,” he scolds me, suppressing his smile. “I didn’t raise my daughter to be a liar. Even if it would help immensely.”
“I know.” I huff out a breath. “Pity you weren’t more dishonorable."
“Sorry, kid.” He chuckles.
I smile until my mom pushes through the glass doors, her expression panicked, her eyes searching the space…for me. She catches my gaze and opens her arms, waiting for me to run intoher hold. And like I’ve reverted back to the five-year-old me who just fell off her bike, I rush forward, tears in my eyes.
“Oh, Blair. I’m so sorry.”
“I can’t help him, Mom. There’s nothing I can do.”
“The best thing to do is to be there for him. All of us. It’s our time to step up and be his family. He deserves to be loved.”
She squeezes me tightly and pulls back, her expression sympathetic as my tears start to fall, my body shuddering from the heartache mixed with love. She’s right. We’re his family. It’s time he found out that he has one.
CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX
Zane
Istand as a well-dressed man enters the room, his head buried in paperwork until the door shuts behind him, then he glances up with a smile.
“How are you doing, Zane?” He walks around to my side of the table and pulls out the chair next to me, offering me his hand to shake before sitting down. “I’m Simon Rowland. Tim Stevens hired me to represent you and—”
“Mr. Stevens hired you?”Blair’s dad?I stare at him confused as I slowly sit down.
“Yes.”
“When? They told me they’d discuss representation tomorrow at the hearing.”
“He called me a few hours ago. And yes, while lawyers aren’t typically present at initial hearings, it can’t hurt to be prepared ahead of time. Especially in these circumstances.”
“You mean because I killed someone, and I’m currently being investigated?” Technically, I killed more than one but I’m not sure now’s a good time to mention that.
Simon stares my way, not even flinching at my admissions. “No, that’s not relevant to this case, and I strongly suggest you don’t mention it unless it’s brought up. I’m referring to you being a high-profile person of interest. It won’t be long before you have reporters surrounding you everywhere you go.”
