What the fuck?
“Jessie G. Whitemore, please remove your hat and put your hands above your head.”
She obeys the guard’s commands. Four more town guards surround us, each of them holding a hand just above their tasers.
“What the hell is going on?” I snap. I look at Anders, who tries to push his way toward Jessica, but the head town’s guard holds him back.
“Jessie G. Whitemore, you were identified by several witnesses that you were involved in a bar fight last night.”
She nods, confirming his claim.
“What the hell is going on? Is he being charged with something?” I prompt before he can ask her any more questions. I step in front of her and growl in warning, “Answer my question. Is he being charged?” I use my commanding voice. These guards are older, but I still outrank them. My skin starts to prickle from their fear. Who are they afraid of? Me or Jessica? I fist my hands at my sides. Why the hell is this asshole not answering me?
“We need to take him in. We have reason to believe that he is involved with the murder of Alfred Marks, one of the men he fought last night.”
“That’s not possible. I was there and saw all five men alive before I left,” I explain.
The guard shrugs, dismissing my response. He looks down his nose at Jessica as if she is already guilty of the crime.
I’ll fix this, I tell her through our mind link.
She doesn’t reply, her attention fixating on the twins.
“There are witnesses that saw him in the alley, the same alley the victim was found in, with a cue sticking out of his chest.” Other guards handcuff Odyssey and Skunk.
“What the hell are you doing with them?” I demand, diverting my attention for a moment. A guard from behind me bounds forward, grabbing Jessica and slamming her against the wall.
“What the fuck!” Anders yells. The twins rush down the hall.
Jessica yelps in pain, and I twist around to clutch the guard by his neck. “Touch him like that again and you can kiss your fucking career goodbye.”
He squeaks, face turning blue from my death grip. He slaps at my hand for me to let him go.
I release him and pull Jessica back toward me, quickly checking her for injuries. “Don’t answer their questions. Don’ttalk to them unless your parents, Anders, or myself are present. Do you understand?”
She nods, unshed tears filling her eyes.
I turn to my recruits. “The same goes for you two.”
“I hope he has a good lawyer,” one guard mutters under his breath.
“I’m his lawyer,” I proclaim and turn to the guard who manhandled Jessica. “I’m warning you. Touch him again and I will sue your ass for assault.”
Chapter 47
Jail Time
JESSICA
Seven Years Ago
Silently, I follow the guard into a holding cell. This is the same guard who slammed me into the wall earlier. He eyes me wearily, measuring me, assessing me. He already thinks I’m guilty. I don’t have to hear his thoughts to know.
He uncuffs me. “I need you to remove your sweatshirt,” the guard says.
I nod and comply with his request. He pats me down, checking for weapons. When he’s satisfied I’m not carrying, he pushes me forward and closes the cell door.
I didn’t murder that man. I replay the fight in my head. I may have knocked out three of the men, but they were still moaning on the floor. I don’t remember what happened to the cue.
