There’s a tense moment before the guy storms off, muttering under his breath and leaving me alone with Julian’s favorite lawyer. He’s gotten us out of enough jams by now that he’s kept on retainer, but it doesn’t mean I have to like the guy.
No one willingly devotes their life to protecting murderers and thieves if they’re a good person. And with the way he was eyeing Elyse at the casino when he didn’t think anyone was watching? There’s interest and lust, and then there’s something darker, something cruel.
If I thought he was worthy of her I wouldn’t bat an eye, but he isn’t like Everett. Daniel doesn’t look at Elysium like she’s his salvation, he looks at her like something he wants to break, and would take great pleasure in doing so.
“Slipped behind something on the shelf,” the officer declares, tossing it on the tray as he flops back into his chair.
Lifting it, I run it between my fingers rather than flicking it open to inspect it and have him able to claim I pulled a weapon on him. The weight is a familiar comfort and I tuck it into my pocket before gathering the rest, slipping every piece back exactly where they belong.
“Have a great day,” Daniel blandly responds, ushering for me to go first before following behind on our way out of the precinct. He’s always so careful never to turn his back on me.
When we’re outside, Ev’s the only one left, leaning against Daniel’s overpriced car. “What took ‘ya?”
“Might be good with a pair of handcuffs, but not so much with math.”
He scrunches up his face in confusion before Daniel explains, unlocking the car. Everett slides in to ride shotgun while I stretch out in the back with a groan, tired as fuck. By the sudden tension in the lawyer’s shoulders, I imagine visions of stabby sugarplum fairies are dancing in his head. If he had his way I’d be riding in the trunk, but he’s smart enough not to say a word and just fires up the engine.
“Where are we at?” Ev asks him as I shut my eyes.
Daniel sighs. “It’s not great. Thomas Miller is playing the ‘poor, worried father’ card. The dead girl they planted at the club would be to show you guys have a type, to try and establish a history of behavior. He came up with this whole story about how you tried to rob him, tortured him, and abducted his daughter; that he’s been looking for her for weeks.”
The sound that escapes Everett promises revenge enough for the both of us. My ventriloquist dummy, stealing the words from my mouth. “And they just bought that he hadn’t reported her missing in all of that time? That they just so happened to be at the club before it opened with a body that was clearly killed off site and dumped there?”
Daniel takes another turn before he responds, weighing his words carefully. “Apparently he reported her missing the day after Julian seized the house. But with her not working or any known friends to start their search, as well as being an adult, her case sat at the bottom of the priority list.”
I scoff in disgust. “As a ‘fuck you’ for going back on the deal he thought I accepted. If he can’t trade his daughter to get him out of the debt, he wants her back. God forbid he loses his favorite punching bag unless it benefits him.”
Daniel’s quiet for long enough that I crack open one eye to peer at him. He’s white knuckling the steering wheel, body so taut that it might snap.
“What?” He sends a pleading glance at Everett that has me sitting up, narrowing my eyes as I lean forward. “Secrets are only fun if they’re dirty, you know.”
I follow the bead of sweat beading on his temple as it trickles down the side of his face while he rushes out, “Part of the agreement to get you guys out was offering up enough evidence to prove everything he claimed was bullshit. One of the requirements was a welfare check on Elysium.”
Despite the way he thinks I’m going to fly at him, I remain frozen in place, not so much as breathing.
She can testify to the way he beat her, but it’s been long enough that she doesn’t have the marks to prove it. She doesn’t have any photographs, witnesses… it’s her word against his.
It would be a perfect out for her. She could tell them her father was beating her, that I abducted her. They would take her from us, from me, and help her escape from under Julian’s thumb.
They think me so blind that I haven’t seen it, haven’t read between the lines when she talks about leaving, refusing to meet my eye. But she doesn’t get to hide, not from me. She thinks she’ll have to run eventually, knows Julian will never let her go despite their agreement. I just need more time, have to show her that she can stay and be happy.
That we can protect her, even if we can’t save ourselves.
You should let her go.
Biting the inside of my cheek, I shake my head in an attempt to dislodge the intrusive thought.
Meeting Everett’s hard stare, it’s clear that he followed my train of thought, but I’m not sure if we ended up at the same station. “And the other?”
“Relinquishing the security tape that showed them breaking in with the dead girl’s body. But it meant they saw Grave unnecessarily torturing Thomas. So,” he trails off, completely pale now.
“So, what?” I demand, getting incensed.
“There’s a restraining order in place between you and Thomas Miller, and he’s pushing for one to keep you away from Elyse as well. Thankfully, she’s an adult, so it doesn’t work like that. But they’re looking for any reason they can to convict you for something despite the strings we’re pulling, and it might be better to agree to it to show we’re cooperating, or I’m not sure if even I can keep you from serving at least a little time.”
Ev’s reflexes are better than I gave him credit for, gripping my wrist tight enough the bones might fracture, splinter apart like the rest of my life. He doesn’t try to pry my knife from my hand, but he doesn’t budge, ensuring that I can’t drive it into the side of Daniel’s neck.
“G, calm the fuck down. She’d have to agree to it for that to happen and you know damn well she isn’t going to,” he growls, fingers digging into my flesh.
