So I pause, cross my arms over my chest and open Pandora’s Box. “Drake asked me to lie for him.”
Eddie’s eyes narrow, but he stays silent.
“He wanted me to claim he spent the entire evening at the Rotary gala. That we left together.” I swallow hard as nausea surges, bile burning the back of my throat at the memory. “Because that was the same night those girls were being moved. And if he was with me… then he couldn’t have been part of it.”
Eddie blows out a breath, cracking his knuckles, no doubt wishing Drake’s face was in front of him for easy pummeling. “Was he with you the entire night?”
I meet Eddie’s gaze head on. I’m tired of running.
“No, he left early. Claimed he had business at the station.” I curl my fingers into my palms, my nails biting crescents into my skin. “Drake claimed I was too drunk to remember things clearly. That a few of his cop buddies, upstanding members of the community, would happily corroborate his story.”
“Were you too drunk to remember correctly?”
“I had a few too many champagne punches, but I remember him leaving the gala. He left long before I did. But truth is malleable when your freedom is on the line and your ego believes you deserve a free pass. If my version doesn’t match his, it blows a hole in his story, and he can’t afford that. In Drake’s mind, I’m the only thing standing between him and walking free.”
“Jesus,” Eddie whispers, his jaw tight with tension.
Tears sting my eyes, but there’s no sorrow behind them now. Only a bottomless fury that I missed the signs for so long.
I swipe the tears away and resume pacing. “The moment he asked me to lie, I knew he was guilty, and there was no way in hell I was going to help him walk.”
Eddie rubs a hand over his brow, no doubt attempting to process the deluge of information tossed his way. “I guess he didn’t appreciate your stance.”
“That’s an understatement. His lawyer called several times, but I wouldn’t budge, so Drake sent one of his buddies out to ‘chat with me’.” I make air quotes. “Guy showed up at my place real late at night. Told me Drake didn’t deserve what was happening to him and since I wasn’t on board that I should be careful.”
Eddie slams his whiskey glass on the table. “He threatened you?”
“No,” I scoff. “That would be stupid, right? He offered some friendly advice about my cabin. How the wiring was oldand if it caught fire, which they often do, the trucks would never arrive on time.”
“When the fuck did this happen? Why didn’t you call me? I would have dropped everything to have a little chat with the son of a bitch.”
“It was the night after Nolan’s party. I was not your favorite person, remember?”
“I still would have dropped everything and come.”
Truth is, I know he would have, and that’s exactly why I didn’t call him.
“No way was I putting you in the middle of my mess. So, I grabbed Gus and started camping out here. After tonight, I have no doubt they’ll torture me until I cave or... can’t take it anymore.” I mumble the last few words, not wanting to admit aloud how close I am to that point.
Eddie stands and grabs me in a fierce hug. “Don’t you dare think like that. Do you hear me? We’re going to figure this out, I promise.”
“How, Eddie? These aren’t basic thugs. They’re members of the community. People we work beside, shop beside, live beside.” I focus on his chest, my fingers playing with a loose thread on his shirt. “I’m not sure how I became the bad guy and yet the real bad guys are still walking around, happy as you please.”
“Not all of them.”
“Hopefully it stays that way.”
He scrubs a hand over his jaw, shaking his head. “No wonder you want to move to Los Angeles.”
“It’s not that I want to move there.” My voice cracks. “But I’m not sure what choice I have anymore.”
He rests his head on top of mine, his hands soothing as they drift against my spine. “I’m still angry you didn’t let me in on what was happening to you, but at least now I know why youput so much distance between us.” He pulls back, studying me. “At least, I think that’s the reason. Or was I really just filling a void?”
I cringe at my recycled words. They’re so ugly and untrue, and I’m glad I can finally say what’s really in my heart.
I rest my chin on his chest and meet his dark gaze. “You filled every void, even ones I didn’t know I had.”
“Is that a yes or no?”
