I’d thought my presence in Piper’s life wouldn’t cause her any harm. Maybe I’d been wrong, and that was bad enough.
But that truth would’ve been far easier to bear if I wasn’t in so deep already where Piper was concerned. If I didn’t crave having her in my arms so damn badly.
TWENTY-THREE
Piper
The Silver RidgePD contraband drop box was behind the station. I’d driven by it a thousand times at least.
And never had I imagined I’d be dropping off something here myself.
If Teller could see me now… Ugh, that wouldn’t be pleasant.
The sun was sinking as I pulled a baseball cap low over my eyes and got out of my car. Then grabbed a paper bag from my trunk. There were always cars in the station parking lot, but it wasn’t a shift change. Nobody was out and about.
There were still cameras, and at least one would be trained on the drop box. But according to official department policy, contraband could be left here anonymously, no questions asked.
And if Chief Nichols recognized me in the security footage and decided to ask questions, well, my memory would conveniently come up blank.
It was also possible Nichols would report all of today’s events to my brother. The two of them were still pretty close. But I would have to worry about that later.
Somehow, Danny was responsible. This was indirectly my fault. So I was going to fix it.
Moving at a steady walk, I headed straight for the drop box.Once I reached it, I lifted the lid and tossed the bag inside. The lid slipped from my fingers and clattered as it fell, making me jump.
Gah, I was wound up tight. My pulse wouldn’t slow down, and my breaths were shallow enough to leave me light-headed. Pivoting on my sneaker, I tried not to run as I made my way back to my car.
A relieved groan left my throat as I collapsed into the driver’s seat, shutting the door behind me. Thank goodness that was over.
I drove off. After taking a couple of turns, I pulled behind Grayden’s Dodge, which he’d parked several blocks away from the police station.
When I slid into the passenger seat of his truck, the cabin was toasty warm. His fingers were drumming a nervous rhythm on the dashboard.
“All set?” he asked.
“Yeah. It’s done.”
“Did anyone see you?”
“No? I don’t think so. Except the cameras.”
He groaned. “Cameras?”
“I knew about the cameras. It’s not a big deal.”
I explained about the department policy and my backup plan to deny, deny.
Grayden rubbed his eyes. “This is so fucked, Piper. All of it. Drugs showing up in my place, and thenyouhaving to get rid of them for me. If Ashford and Teller knew…”
“They’re not going to know.”
“Unless Teller’s friends in the department decide to inform him. For all I know, Officer Bronski is Teller’s new bestie and already texted him the gory details.”
I scoffed, though just minutes ago I’d been worried about Teller getting an earful from Chief Nichols.
Guess what your little sister has been up to?
“Hardly,” I said. “Bronski is a newer hire. The department’s had a lot of turnover. Teller barely knows him. But that’s besidethe point. If any of our family hears about this, we’ll tell them the truth. That you didn’t do anything.”
