Page 30 of H E R

“I already fucking told you, I’m not fifteen, you idiot. If you uncuff me and give me back my bag, I’ll show you my identification.”

I’ve been here for two hours. Lloyd and his buddies are beaming, ecstatic to have finally arrested Justice. They’re threatening to call child protective services, and I swear I want them to so I can rub it in their faces. But then I’m reminded that Jule is only fourteen, and I wasn’t given legal custody.Fuck.

They don’t have to keep the handcuffs on, but I think they like it. It gives them power, and it makes me sick. They believe me to be fifteen. I’m obviously not a threat, wearing nothing but fucking belts and an open cardigan. I want to stab my heel into them, which is the only reason I haven’t kicked them off. I’m just waiting for one to get close enough. Seriously, the worst night ever!

“What the fuck is going on here? What is she doing here?” Dylan’s thundering voice silences the cackling laughter and gurgles.

Lloyd is the first to speak. “She was outside ofNym-Pho, intoxicated. She’s naked and underage.” He shrugs.

Dylan glares at the men, his eyes darkening as he grabs my arm. His grip is surprisingly gentle, considering he looks like he’s about to empty his gun into every man in the room. He turns me around and uncuffs my wrists. I stretch out my arms and then cross them over my body, wrapping my sweater tightly around me.

“I’m not intoxicated. Someone accidentally spilled their drink on me. And I’mnotunderage.” I grit my teeth. “I kept telling them to let me show them my ID, but they won’t give me my bag.”

I don’t know why I’m telling him all of this, but he puts an arm around me and leads me to a desk in the back. He smells of smoky leather and rose. Dylan motions for me to sit down, and I dare not argue because he looks like he’s going to whip out a fucking machine gun. A vein on his neck pulses dangerously.

“Bring me her bag.”

His voice is steady and menacing. It makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, but I’m not afraid. The cops are, though, and it makes me smile.

A stocky detective leans back in his chair. “She’s probably got a fake ID. That won’t work on us, Justice.”

“She’s twenty-two. And you would know this if you kept your shit together. But simple data collection proves to be too difficult a task for you idiots.”

Lloyds places his hands on his belt buckle. He looks at me, and Dylan bristles and moves to stand in front of me, blocking his view.

“Get me her stuff, now,” he enunciates slowly.

A cold sweat seizes my body, and my legs turn to jelly. I don’t know how long it will take them to connect the dots, but soon enough, someone is going to come around asking questions about Jule. I have a clue as to why the idea of him being my guardian wasn’t questioned–a man caring for his little sister sits better with them. But they fucking hate me, I just know they’ll try to take Jule from me. Like we’ll ever let it happen, but still.Fuck.

Someone tosses my backpack to Dylan and he holds it over his shoulder. My bag looks tiny against his massive back. He turns and holds out his hand. I don’t hesitate,I can’t.

We are drawn to one another, joined by a force stronger than either of us has the capacity to explain or understand. At that moment, I’m sure that there is nothing in existencestrong enough to wedge our magnetism apart. It’s other-worldly, intangible, and it possesses me instantly.

He leads me out, and a quiet stillness wraps around me. He opens the door to his car, and when I slip in, I breathe out, finally feeling the tension ripple out of me. My shoulders slump, and I gently kick my shoes off and wiggle my toes. Dylan gets in and his car rumbles to life. He shifts gears and roars out of the police lot. He’s quiet and I lean my head back, way too comfortable in his space.

I breathe his scent in and it intoxicates me and I melt into his leather seat. I feel like I’m falling, losing the semblance of control that I desperately hold on to whenever I’m close to Dylan. The air conditioning cools my feet and the pain ebbs. I pick them up and tuck them underneath me to rub some life back into them. Dylan watches me from under his thick lashes. It’s pitch dark out and the road lights toss bursts of light into his car, mixing shadow with light.

The sun will be making its debut for the day in less than two hours.

I look out and notice we’re approaching my lot. “You can drop me off at the same place as last time.”

Dylan grips the steering wheel and it makes a crackling sound. “Like hell I will.”

My head snaps and I glower at him. “You’re a cop–”

“I don’t give a shit. I’m not letting you walk two steps dressed like that.”

“I can take care of myself,” I grumble.

“I’m not questioning your self defense skills. I’m driving you all the way home, and then I’m going to wait until you walk inside and close the door.”

I don’t have the energy to argue. I cannot believe the night I’ve had. This is definitely a new one for the books. Dylan turns off his headlights and drives into the lot slowly. He parks by my trailer and then steps out to open my door. I’m too slow and tired to argue that I can open my own damn door.

I’m beyond exhausted, and once I’m out, I lean into the closed door for support. “I don’t know why you did all of this, but thank you.”

Dylan reaches up and cups my chin. The contact ignites me from the inside out. He lifts up my face and then trails his fingers over my cheek. He smooths my hair back behind my ear and grazes his thumb over my jawline. His other hand moves my cardigan open and his breath hitches.

He notices the black metal business card still tucked behind a belt over my breast. It has a gold fox sitting atop a QR code and he peels it off my skin. I freeze at the action, myskin pebbles, and I look at him from under my lashes. He turns it in his hand, separates the money, then slips the card into his pocket.

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