“Faith—” I reach for her, but she sidesteps out of my grasp. A ring of cops stand from their cars, advancing toward us.
I move as if to step in front of Faith and shield her, but Reiny’s like a rock in my arms, and as much as I want to protect Faith, I know she wants me to protect Reiny. It was the promise I made to her, and even if it breaks my heart, I won’t break my promise.
“Faith Rousk, we need you to come with us.” A squat officer steps forward, his hand on his hip like he’s going to fucking draw on her. Unfiltered rage consumes me at the thought, and my arms tighten around Reiny.
“Officer Duffy, please.” Nathan races between the officer and Faith, raising his hands as he does. He places himself in front of Faith, shielding her body from the handsy officer.
I know we’re not supposed to like him, but can he be that bad?
The cops eyebrows droop in confusion, and Nathan takes the spare moment to turn toward Faith, wrapping his hands around her biceps. She doesn’t move—a frozen figure in a field of quickly moving pieces.
“Stay quiet, please. I can help, you know I can. Let me help you, just this once,” Nathan pleads with her, and Faith opens her mouth as if to protest.
“Faith,” I hiss, desperate to make her see reason. She doesn’t have to like or even trust him, but if he can buy us enough time to see this situation to a calmer place, I’ll fucking take it.
She glares back at me, an unspoken warning in her eyes. Her gaze drops to a still sobbing Reiny in my arms, and then she sags, as if the weight of seeing her sister so broken is enough to do her in.
Nathan nods, turning to face Officer Duffy, one hand still wrapped around her arm. “Officer Duffy, please take a moment. You know Faith. She’s a kind, innocent, abused young woman. She’s incapable of what I know she’s being accused of.”
For the briefest moment, I wonder how Nathan knows. It’s like a tingling at the back of my mind pulling me toward some unseen puzzle pieces just waiting to click into place.
Before I can pull them from the depths, though, the officer huffs, his hand tightening on the gun at his hip. From the corner of my eye, I watch Rafael stiffen, his body squaring up like he’s going to tackle the man.
“I’ve seen crazier things, Nathan. She’s not under arrest yet; we just need to bring her in for questioning. It’s protocol, and you know it. Now, step aside, son.”
My mouth flops open, but I quickly close it, trying to keep my surprise hidden. Faith doesn’t so much as flinch.
Nathan shakes his head wildly. “No, no, listen to me.”
“You listen to me,” the officer growls, growing impatient. “We found her mother dead, in her bed, with signs of foul play indicating suffocation.” My breath catches, the world tilting on its axis. It’s obvious the officer’s distraught—they’re not supposed to disclose that information, even I know that—but he clearly thinks this is an open and closed case, not even worth his time to do his due diligence. It enrages me—I know Faith, and I know what she’s capable of.
Don’t I?
Officer Duffy continues, “I have a witness who has pointed us in this direction. I’m just doing my job.” His face is crimson, the effort to explain himself more than he’s used to doing.
Reiny screams, her knees giving out as she drops to the ground. I crumple with her, landing on my ass to soften her fall. She pulls her hands over her face as she cries, and I do everything I can to comfort her, holding her as tightly as my arms can muster.
Faith still doesn’t move. She’s a statue, and I begin to fear the woman she’s becoming right before my eyes.
“But,” Nathan turns back to Faith, wrapping his hand around her elbow, “tell them, Faith. Tell them the truth.” He begins to shake her, and she looks up at him, her face devoid of any emotion.
She opens her mouth, a look of acceptance crossing her features, and I expect her to confess right here and now. Before she has a chance, a familiar roar fills the air, a crack of electricity cutting through it like a bolt of lightning. All gazes snap to the motorcycle racing down the driveway, and I watch him approach at maddening speed, my heart in my throat.
The cops all turn defensively toward the newcomer, but he doesn’t seem to notice.
McCrae gets closer, ignoring the perimeter of cars, cutting through a small opening and stopping only once he’s feet in front of Faith. He doesn’t turn off the bike; he just jumps off, causing the bike to turn on its side and skid along until the tires meet the front steps of the house. It finally stops with a boom, the structure rattling with the impact.
Everything’s happening so quickly but also in slow motion.
He rips off his helmet, his eyes blazing with a fury I’ve never seen before—icy blue orbs of fire that could cut through any object. A great man would wither beneath them, but Faith doesn’t so much as shake, staring back at him with equalintensity. The cops all gape at the unfolding scene, and I couldn’t look away even if I wanted to. McCrae takes a menacing step toward Faith and Nathan, and Nathan’s grip tightens on her arm. He doesn’t quiver, and I applaud him for his strength—even though it’s not enough.It’ll never be enough.
I feel Rafael move to stand directly behind me, the heat of his legs pressing into my back in reassurance. A single spark, and this entire place would go up in a devastating explosion. I cling to Reiny, prepared to protect her from the fallout.
And then, McCrae’s mouth opens in a snarl, his words rocking the world like a meteor crashing against the ground. “Take your hands off my wife.”
