Alex clears his throat, still going double the speed limit. He takes a moment to compose himself, his knuckles white on the steering wheel. “No matter what happens, your father needs to get the evidence. Promise you’ll give it to him.”
I open my mouth but instead ofI promise,a yelp escapes me when Alex slams the brakes. He pulls up by the curb, turning toward me and lunging forward like he’s about to grab my throat. My back hits the passenger side door, eyes wide, panic rising like a tidal wave.
“Watch,” Alex orders, unhooking my necklace.
Using his thumbs to push apart the hooks he opens the heart, exhaling a shaky breath.
Inside, stuffed into a slit, is a small, black square.
“Memory card,” he tells me. “All the evidence I gathered is on this. If anything happens to me, give this to your father.”
42
CARTER
“Iasked you a question,” I seethe, summoning Rhett’s attention.
The vengeful glimmer in his eyes as he glares upward to where Hailey is makes my trigger finger tighten a fraction of an inch. He’s my father, but if he takes one threatening step Hailey’s way I will shatter his kneecaps.
“I have a better question for you.” Rhett swings his gaze my way. “Where’s the evidence?”
“Somewhere safe. You enjoy getting out in the fresh air?” I jut my chin toward the nearest armchair. “Then drop the gun andsit. You’re in no position to make demands.” Glancing between Rhett and Vaughn, I add, “Neither of you are. The evidence will bury you both if it sees the light of day.”
“You’ll turn me in?” Rhett scoffs, shaking his head. “You’re a joke, Carter.” Disdain layers his voice, but he’s not an idiot. He knows I have the upper hand so he reluctantly lowers his gun, urging Apollo to do the same.
“You’ll both get your share of the evidence,” I say, my finger grazing the trigger. “But it’ll cost you.”
I have this figured out. Vaughn’s price is retirement. Either he hands over his gun and badge, or the pictures will find their way to his superior’s desk by Monday.
If he retires he won’t try to bust my ass at every turn. It’d be a shame to have my future father-in-law build a case against me. No fucking way will I allow Vaughn to separate me from his daughter.
She’s mine now.
As for Rhett... well, I guess his price for freedom is more or less the same: step down quietly.
I doubt either will be pleased, but they’ve got nothing to barter with.
“What do you want me to do?” Vaughn asks, keeping a watchful eye on my father.
“Crawl into a ditch and die,” Rhett barks. “You used my daughter to clean up your fucking mess.” An arrogant, revolted smirk curls his lips. “You usedyourdaughter. You’re a fucking disgrace. Not even the dirtiest cop I’ve ever worked with would sink as low as you did.”
“I didn’t know Alex asked Aalyiah for help,” Vaughn shoots back. “Not until it was too late.”
“You’re the reason she’sdead.” He points his finger at Vaughn. “You killed my baby girl! You, Alex, and that stupid bitch upstairs!”
“No,” Hailey’s faint voice comes from the gallery. She’s holding onto the railing, her complexion swimming between white and ghastly green, like she’s about ready to throw up. “You killed her,” she adds, eyes trained on Rhett for another beat before flicking to me. “It’s Aalyiah’s blood I saw on him that night...”
My pulse roars in my ears.
The atmosphere shifts in an instant.
Hailey’s words crash over me like a tsunami and the rage marring my father’s face crumbles, replaced by a burgeoning horror.
“You... what did you say?” Rhett stutters, his voice a fractured whisper, disbelief etched into every syllable.
“I saw you,” Hailey denotes, pushing away from the railing to shamble down the stairs. “You asked Aalyiah why she was at the warehouse... she was there to meet me.”
I’m frozen, fucking suspended in time, drinking every word from her mouth, but not processing them quickly enough.
