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“I don’t think they’ll actually help you, Em,” Tucker adds and I nod.
“They probably won’t but I want something on the record in case something happens to me.”
Nix is tense again. “Baby, I won’t let anything happen to you.”
My brothers nod their heads in agreement and I sigh.
“Guys, as much as I appreciate the sentiment, something could happen to me. I know you all will do your very best to protect me but I really think it would be a good idea to have a report against Ryan, just in case.”
“No, I don’t like this.” Nix sets me next to him on the love seat and leans forward, bracing his elbows on his knees and running his fingers through his hair.
“I agree,” Tucker snaps and Trey nods. Jesus. It’s impossible with these three.
“Listen to me, really listen. I think this is the best option. We know that they will probably dismiss it but they will have to investigate it. And even if they don’t, I can say that I did everything I could to protect myself. We have to try everything. We need that report, too. If, God forbid, something happens to me, they will have to look at Ryan first if there is a report against him.”
“What makes you think they won’t just ignore it again?”
“I won’t let them.”
“Baby, how?”
“They will have to investigate because if they don’t, then they are obviously covering for a cop and I’ll take it as high as I need to. Right now, our evidence is mostly he said/she said. We have the pictures of me but the notes don’t ever have his name on them.”
“And what if you go as high up as you can and they still cover for him?”
“Then we go to the newspaper and tell them a little story about the Baton Rouge Police Department covering up domestic violence,” I say with a sly smile forming on my face.
“Shit! Did you two know she was so damn devious?” Nix asks my brothers, laughing.
“She hasn’t been for a while,” Tucker answers with pride shining in his eyes. “Are you sure about this, baby girl?”
“Yeah, I think it’s our best option.”
All three of them nod, reluctantly.
“Yeah, all right,” Trey finally says.
“I need all of you there tomorrow.”
“We’ll be there, Emmy,” Tucker assures me and I take a deep breath, summoning the strength I’m going to need.
* * * *
We’re lying in bed after saying good-bye to my brothers, and I can’t seem to turn my mind off. I’m so nervous about tomorrow and I’m wondering what happened to the other report I filed. Is it still there? What if it’s not? I never considered it before but maybe I can’t trust Detective Nelson.
I was incredibly stupid. I was just so happy that Ryan was finally leaving me alone that I never thought to follow up with the original report. I thought it was all over.
“Baby?”
My head turns to the side, taking in the gorgeous man next to me. He has a worried expression on his face that I hate. I wish I wasn’t bringing all this ugliness into his life.
“Yeah?”
“I need you to tell me.”
My body tenses and I lock eyes with him. “Tell you what?”
“Everything.” His voice is barely audible, rough with the emotion he’s feeling right now. “I need to hear it all.”
I balk. I’m not telling him this. I don’t even know if I can. “No.”
He turns on his side to face me and offers an encouraging smile while he strokes my face with his big hand.
“Baby, I’ve got to know what I’m gonna hear tomorrow. I can’t hear all that for the first time in that interrogation room.”
I watch him carefully. He’s got a point. It would be unfair of me to ask him to live through all that with me in front of total strangers. When I don’t say anything, he scoots closer and kisses my forehead.
“Whatever you tell me won’t change the way I feel about you. I just think it might be a good idea for you to tell the story before tomorrow.”
Damn it, he’s got a point.
“I…I…”
“Shhh, sweetheart. I know it will be hard but I’m right here and I’m not going anywhere. I love you.”
I watch him, my brain working at a furious pace and finally, I nod.
“Okay.”
