I put my hand up, stopping him from saying anything else and making me cry in front of the whole police station. “No. I’m done. No more.”
And with that I walked away, blinking more than necessary. I’d almost made it out of the police station when I heard shouts behind me.
“Agent York, come back here.”
Then a hand on my arm stopped me from opening the door, turning me the other way. And I was once again facing Sebastian.
“Not how this is going to end,” he growled in typical Sebastian fashion. “I’ll take you home, and then we’ll talk.”
No way was that happening. I was all talked out. Done. Finished.
“I’ll be fine. Stella said she’ll pick me up.” I didn’t need him all up in my space.
He ignored me and instead started walking, taking me with him.
“Didn’t you hear me? I already have a ride,” I said, trying to free myself again.
“I know you do, because I’m your ride.”
“Let me go,” I called out as we made it outside and crossed the road. “I’ll find my own way home.”
His bike was nowhere in sight; instead, he stopped next to a huge black monstrosity. The truck was about three times the size of my little car and looked brand-new.
Opening the door for me, he helped me up. Once I was in my seat, he closed the door and climbed in on his side.
“You don’t need to explain. I understand,” I said, understanding nothing at all. But the last thing I wanted was to listen to lame excuses that would hurt me even more.
In response, he interlaced his fingers with mine, not giving me a chance to pull away. “I don’t think you do.”
I messaged Stella to let her know I was on my way home. She responded immediately and told me the kids were asleep and that they could stay with her and Mason. Instead of messaging back and forth, I called her.
“Hey,” she answered. “Everything okay?”
“I’m fine. Just so mad at myself for being so stupid.”
“What happened?”
“They arrested Jim, and I got caught up in the process.”
“That ratbag,” she cursed. “What can I do to help?”
“I just need my kids close,” I said. The thought of them not being home with me made my heart hurt. “Can I pick them up?”
“I’ll get their stuff ready.”
“Thanks, honey. I’ll see you in a few minutes.” I ended the call and turned to Sebastian. “I need to pick the kids up from Stella’s.”
He nodded, and we turned onto my street. “Let’s swap cars, then.”
I didn’t protest when he went inside to get the keys to my car. When we pulled up in front of Stella and Mason’s beautiful farmhouse, it was pitch dark, the stars in the sky clearer than I’d ever seen them.
The front door opened and Stella rushed out, engulfing me in a big hug that I didn’t know I needed as soon as I was out of the car.
“I can’t believe you had to go to the station,” she cried, pulling me even closer.
“It was only to talk. They didn’t arrest me,” I said, untangling myself from her tight embrace.
She looked behind me to Sebastian. “Sounds like you were conveniently absent when all this happened.”
