“This time, I don’t think you should come see me.I thinkyou should let a public defender take over and put some distance between us.”The words that came out of Keane’s mouth didn’t make sense at first, and yetthey were perfectly clear.“You need to have a real life this time.Not onethat’s about trying to save me.I’m not savable.”
He had to take control.He stared at this man who had beenthe center of his life until they met Olivia and things shifted, allowing forher to find the place that balanced them.“Master, I need you to stop feelingsorry for yourself and start fighting.I need you to be my damn Dom.”
The words seemed to shake Keane.“I’ve never…”
“You’ve been my Dom since long before we knew what words tocall it.Even when you were inside you kept me where I needed to be.I workedmy ass off so we would have something real when you got out.I went to lawschool because I wanted to be able to protect you if this ever happened again.One of the things a truly great Dom knows is when to be flexible.When tofollow his sub because his sub’s job is important, too.Olivia will feel thesame way.She’ll be pissed if she finds out you’re trying to play the martyr.”
“Play the martyr?”Keane’s voice went low, and there wassomething besides morbid acceptance in his gaze now.“I am trying to save you.You have no idea what can happen inside.You aren’t the one who had to go.”
Finally, they were getting somewhere.Keane held everythinginside.Oh, he might talk to a therapist in clinical terms, but he held himselfapart from what happened to him.He had never told Garrett everything.
“You think saving you from hell means I’m a martyr?”Keaneasked.
He was getting to his Master.“That’s what it sounds like tome, Master.”
Keane’s head shook.“Don’t call me that.I’m not worthy ofthat title.”
“And yet here we are.I don’t see it that way.I think myMaster is scared and he would rather give himself up than cause me a second ofpain, and that makes you very worthy.It also is the reason I won’t allow it tohappen.”
“You can’t stop me.”
“Watch me.”If there was one thing he would do in this life,it was fix this.
There was a knock on the door and Deputy Morgan stood there.“We were hoping to interview Mr.Rollins.In presence of counsel, of course.”
Garrett nodded and prepared himself for war.
* * * *
Keane thought about firing Garrett’s ass.It would bethe right thing to do.If he told the police, they would escort Garrett outright now.He might be able to get Garrett off their radar.This was some kindof setup, and whoever was behind this might be happy with just him.
Not that Garrett seemed to want to leave, but he shouldforce him.By firing him.
Instead, he sat quietly next to his partner, waiting for theother shoe to drop.
Well, he supposed it already had, but he had the worstfeeling there was more coming.At some point he would have to face Olivia, andhe wasn’t sure he would survive it if she looked at him like he was trash.Itwould be better if she never saw him again than staring through him like hemeant nothing.
“I don’t know how legal it is to have a lawyer who’s at thevery least a material witness to the crime in this interview,” Deputy Morganstated.
“We’re not in a court and there’s no one else around.Herequires an attorney beside him as is his constitutional right.I believe evenyour public defender is out of town, so it’s me or no interview,” Garrett saidflatly.“If it comes to court, I’ll bring in a proper defense attorney fromDallas.For now, I’m here to ensure my client’s rights are honored.Ask yourquestions.”
The sheriff huffed in the background.“Go on, Morgan.It won’tchange anything, but we need Rollins’s story for the report.I want to be ableto check everything off on this one.We need to move fast.”
“Because you’re under pressure from the Barnes-Fleetwoodfamily?”Garrett asked.
From Olivia.From the woman he loved, who now thought herisked her life.And for what?He still couldn’t figure out why he would dothat.Motive was important when it came to solving a crime, and he didn’t haveone.
But Jack Barnes might have one.Jack Barnes might not likean ex-con laying hands on his daughter.Would he go this far to keep anunwanted suitor away?As plans went, it would work.He wouldn’t be able totouch Olivia if he was in prison, and it seemed like Jack ran big portions ofthis town despite all the talk of everyone ostracizing him.
Jack Barnes was part owner of The Barn.It would be easy toget the staff to report on who his daughter was with, and easier to get them tofollow a particular story.
He didn’t want to believe it, but he had to think about allthe possibilities.
“This case is important to the community,” the sheriff saidcarefully, his eyes glancing at the recorder on the desk.“We don’t like youngwomen getting roofied in this town.”
“And yet in the last year you’ve had four date rape cases,none of which you chose to pursue.”
The sheriff frowned.“Those were he said-she said cases.I’mnot ruining some boy’s future because a girl had second thoughts.”
