On instinct I tried to go to him, but Spencer yanked me away, making me grunt.
“Mom!” Baker begged.
Mark snarled. “You little—”
“No, don’t touch him,” Lexi cried, running between them. Tears erupted from her eyes.
“Lexi,” Mark demanded, his eyes going wild with anger.
Lexi’s wide eyes were glued to Mark’s when she said, “My son’s telling the truth.”
A second later, the older cop grabbed Mark and shoved him against the lobby windows to handcuff him. “You’re all coming in for questioning,” the cop announced. “Let’s go.”
“But you can’t just—” Spencer started.
The older cop fixed a withering glare on Spencer. “They’reallcoming in.”
.
44. JP - HOME
“Okay, so how about we put this little pattern to rest, eh?” Johnny asked, blowing on his hands and rubbing them together for warmth as we walked out of the police department together for a second time. I’m not sure how many hours passed while we were in the station, but the sun was now setting, creating a deep pink and purple sky above the massive pine trees, and I was free from all charges.
I laughed as I rubbed my wrists, which were still sore from the handcuffs. “Fuckin’ happy to.”
Johnny went to slap me on the back, but I evaded his hand to protect my shoulder. “All right,” he said with a chuckle, “get some rest. You need a ride home?”
“Nah, Ali’s coming to get me. Should be here any minute now.”
He gave a nod before striding off in his designer peacoat.
In the past few hours, Mark was charged with domestic violence and for making false accusations about his truck’s vandalism. Turns out, Lexi had proof that Mark was the one who messed with his own truck because they had a heated text message exchange about it after Mark demanded to use her car. Lexi argued it was his own damn fault he didn’t have a truck, so he should figure it out on his own. Rossi’s text came back with how he did it to protect her because Iwas dangerous. I was asked if I wanted to press charges, but I had a better idea.
“Johnny,” I called across the parking lot. I caught him just before he closed his sportscar door shut. “What about—”
He smirked. “You’ll be hearing from me real soon. This divorce should be a piece of cake now.” He winked before shutting his car door and speeding off.
I hoped he was right. I leaned against the police department’s railing, breathing in the frigid Michigan air and appreciating the beautiful sky. Sunsets were pretty in Chicago, with the skyscrapers all reflecting the sun’s rays, but they were always the backdrop of busy traffic and sirens. Out here, the sunsets were peaceful. The only sound came from the wind rustling through dead branches. And I knew that as soon as the last of the sun's color faded, there’d be a sky full of stars.
I watched Ali carefully drive my truck on the snow-covered road and pull up to the front of the station.
“What happened?” she asked as soon as I plopped into the shotgun seat.
I blasted my truck’s heat and rubbed my hands together. “Everything’s dropped.”
Relief bloomed on her face, and she immediately broke down in tears.
“No, don’t cry, babe,” I said with a smile. “It’s all good. I have to pay a fine for breaking the restraining order, but—”
Her head popped up and her eyes were red and glassy. “What a load of—”
“It’s okay.” I laughed, brushing her hair behind her ear. “I’m very happy with how everything turned out.”
Her forehead creased. “Okay, if you’re sure.”
“They asked if I wanted to press charges.”
Her eyes widened. “Did you? I hope you did.”
