“Tony West. Excellent timing, man.”
“Shortstop timing.” Tony cuffs Nathan despite his insistent protests that we hit him. “That may be, sir, but you smell pretty intoxicated, and I bet you drove here. We’ll sort it out.”
Nathan continues to yell out every few minutes. “You’re friends with the cop? This whole town is rigged. I’ll sue you! I’ll sue all of you!”
Another police car pulls in, and a female EMT asks questions and shines a light in my eyes when Annie tells her she thinks I hit my head. Sam gives me one last squeeze before releasing me to Jude.
Tears turn to sobs the minute he touches me. He carries me to the ambulance so I can sit down while a younger officer asks us questions. Jude never lets go while we give our statements and answer everything we’re asked. He tells him it’s happened before, and he’s sure Lainey and I have both reported Nathan to management.
Officer Tony talks to Dave, Lainey, and Gavin while Jude negotiates with the EMT and the other officer to let us driveto the ER to get my head and hand checked. Tony must think highly of Jude, because he tells the younger cop to let us go.
“Where’s the blood coming from?” I ask Jude, looking at my hand. “I don’t see any cuts.”
“Baby, I’m pretty sure it’s his.” He grins at me. “Nice job.”
“I’m sorry. You told me to quit.” I look Jude over in the sexy, probably ruined suit.
“What? And miss all this? Come on. You can quit now if you want to.”
Once we’re in his SUV, he palms the steering wheel, backing out with his left hand, when I see the puffy angry purple of his right.
He meets my horrified eyes and winks to ease my concern.
“Totally worth it, but I’ll get it checked out, okay?”
I nod, and he drives up to where Tony’s talking to Dave so I can officially quit. Poor Gavin is distraught, apologizing profusely for setting me up.
“It’s okay. You didn’t know.” I tilt my head at Dave. “But he did.”
Sam and Annie stay to wrap things up while Jude and I take a left toward Community First Hospital, fully aware the questioning we just endured was merely a warmup for the interrogation we’re about to face.
“I don’t know whether to be proud or freaking strangle you.” Jace flings both hands up in frustration before lacing his fingers together through his messy black hair. “I’d high-five you for breaking the jackass’s nose, sweetheart, but you have afractured wrist. What the actual hell?”
I can’t resist messing with him now that my adrenaline’s come down. “I can tell you’re upset, but have I ever told you the blue scrubs really bring out your eyes?”
“We told you to quit!” Jace glowers.
“Watch it,” Jude warns.
“I have bills, Jace! My phone, car insurance, rent…” I list them off when Jude’s body stiffens next to me and Jace’s face drops into a blank stare.
His eyes shift to Jude and back to mine. “When JC Enterprises takes money from your account on the first of the month, whoexactlydo you think that is?”
“Johnson Cit—” I begin when Jace’s facepalm tells me I’m an idiot. “Wait … Jude Crawford?”
Jace tilts his head and holds a palm up toward Jude, who’s begun stroking his good hand through my hair.
I knew that.
If I’d been asked under different circumstances … it just never crossed my mind.
“John Crawford Enterprises,” Jude says gently. “The company. Not me personally.”
“It doesn’t matter. My bills are my responsibility,” I tell them both, winding Jace up again.
“You had a vindictive ex and people to help you! There’s no reason to be a stubborn little—"
“That’senough, Jace!” Jude’s tone makes me shiver next to him on the ER bed. “She did what she had to do. Drop it.”
