Chapter Forty-Eight
Kira
Four police cars, led by an unmarked sedan, turn up the drive and slowly rumble to a stop. I don’t know how I know, but I feel it in the pit of my stomach—they’re here for me. The world sways, a sickening, lurching motion that sends a wave of nausea crashing over me. God, no. This is it, isn’t it? I’m going to be arrested while standing barefoot on the grass. They’ll stuff me into the back of a police car with my hands cuffed behind my back.
A tremor starts in my legs and works its way up my spine as the sedan door opens and Detective Layton steps out. The drive is a good forty feet away, a stretch of green grass between us, but he doesn’t rush. He stops and takes his time surveying the scenery, a casual confidence radiating from him. My heart hammers with foreboding. Was it always this bright outside? And hot? What happened to the birds—the chirping? The cool, dewy grass that was just moments ago a comfort under my feet now feels slippery and cloying. A black haze creeps in at the edges of my vision, closing in like a shroud. I sway, my head reeling, the world rolling and staggering around me.…
Suddenly, the air rushes out of me. I’m swept off my feet, the world spinning, spinning, spinning in a chaotic blur. The motion is jarring, disorienting, and I can’t catch my breath untilit suddenly halts. The world snaps into focus, and I’m staring at Jax’s face. I’m… I’m in his arms.
“I got you,” he says, his eyes focused straight ahead, not looking at me. His brow is set in a hard concentration, jaw locked. My brain feels slow, the gears all shut down and refusing to restart. It takes me too long to make my mouth move.
“W—what?” I stutter.
He flicks his eyes to mine, a flash of worry in them before he quickly looks up again. “You were about to faint.”
Was I? Well, that doesn’t look guilty at all.
Shit.
“Put me down!” I quietly hiss and crane my neck to see where Layton is, and find him within earshot. He’s strutting straight toward us as he taps a manila envelope against his palm. The other officers are milling around their cars, their heads down as if they don’t want to be here.
“Jax!” I rapidly tap on his chest as I twist back to him. “Jax! Put me down.”
“No.” His grip tightens.
“Jax.” I grit his name out between clenched teeth. “This doesn’t look—”
“It looks exactly how I want it.” He gives me a private smirk. “Like you’re mine.”
“Afternoon,” Layton calls out.
My muscles tense, panic shooting through me.Damn it. I plaster on a fake smile, digging my nails into Jax’s bicep in a punishing pinch as the detective gets closer.
“Feeling alright there, Ms. Noland?” he asks, a smug grin on his face. He shields his eyes from the sun with one hand, getting a better look at me held bridal style in Jax’s arms.
“She won’t be answering any questions,” Jax speaks before I can even open my mouth.
I dig my nails in deeper.What the fuck?He’s making this look even worse.
“Well, it’s a good thing I don’t have any.” Layton lowers his hand and smiles a shit-eating grin at Jax.
I glance between the two of them, suddenly hit with the notion that there’s something I missed.
“Good, then let’s get to it.” Jax’s voice is clipped and impatient.
Layton chuckles but levels his eyes in challenge, the manila envelope slapping rhythmically against his palm, a ticking metronome counting down to… what? Let’s get towhat? Fuck. I try to wriggle out of Jax’s grasp as they have a pissing contest, but he doesn’t give me an inch, the bastard. I inwardly huff.
Layton drops his gaze to me, his grin widening at my predicament. He slides the envelope open with exaggerated care, pulling free a stack of papers. My pulse hammers as he shakes the paper out.
“We’re not here for you, Ms. Noland. Not directly.Not yet.” His grin is almost wolfish. “This is a search warrant. For your vehicle. The one currently at,” He checks the paper theatrically. “Marley Auto and Repair?”
My stomach lurches violently despite the relief that I’m not being arrested. My truck.My truck.God, no. The rusty bed and discarded boxes… and what was once there.
I must look like a deer in headlights because Jax shifts me slightly in his arms, shielding me with his body, but I don’t miss the tense of his muscles under my nails.
“I take it you have guys there now?” he asks without betraying his surprise.
Layton smirks, keeping his eyes on him as he hands me the papers. “You bet.”
