Page 126 of Strange Lad

Jorge’s mom, Lucy, asks him something in Spanish, and now he’s the one blushing.

Everyoneis accompanying me.

Granted, I’m not going to have ten people storm the damn police station, so Jorge and Phoenix will be the only onesgoing insidewith me. I never thought I’d have such a massive support group backing me through this, but I’ll be forever grateful. I’m nervous about it all and unsure how it’ll go, especially since we fought with the guy I’m reporting. However, Jorge was right. If I want justice, I have to fucking take it. And so I am.

“You do seem to have a rather large stick up your ass,” Devon remarks with a smirk and Jorge slaps his arm.

Phoenix looks like he might hurl. “Please stop talking about it. I don’t need that imagery.”

“Me either,” Dad says gruffly. “I love you, son, but keep it in your pants, alright?”

My knees buckle with embarrassment. This was a terrible idea.

When we reach the front doors, two officers walk in and eye our group suspiciously. I wave off myposseand open the door for Jorge. Phoenix trails in behind us. The lights are blinding in here, and the smell of coffee is potent in my nose. A few people sit in the small lobby, officers move around the front area, and buzzers sound somewhere in the back of the building. I swallow hard. This is it. Time to buck up. I steel my spine and approach the lady in blue behind the reception counter.

Jorge squeezes my hand tightly, keeping me grounded and focused. “Hi, how can I help you?” the officer asks.

I swallow again. My lips part, but nothing comes out. Phoenix whispers in my ear, “You got this, man.”

Nodding, I make eye contact with light brown ones and force myself to speak. “I’d like to report a rape.”

From there, my body goes on autopilot. I’m asked questions, given forms, and instructions on hiring an attorney. We end up stuck in the station for over an hour, considering I’m accusing a decorated officer’s son of rape. The detective who talks with me is very thorough in her questioning, and I have to recant details I’d rather not. I relay it all, including times and dates, potential witnesses, and any injuries I might have suffered. When we are through and the detective says she will be in touch, I’m ready to bolt through the doors.

“I’m so proud of you.” Jorge beams at me, still holding my hand. He refused to leave my side, and I’m glad he didn’t. I don’t think I could’ve done this without him.

“Take me home,” I whisper. Home means his house, and he knows it.

“I know that was a lot, but I was wondering if you’d come by the studio in the next couple of days?” Phoenix asks me as he steps outside.

“Yeah…yeah, sure.” I nod absently, wanting to scrub the grime off my skin and be absorbed back into my safety bubble.

Phoenix hugs me, murmuring he loves me in my ear, and then I have to rehash everything to my family and Jorge’s friends. Jorge’s Uncle Miguel is a defense attorney, and Gabriel said he’d have him call me. I thank him as best as I can, but I feel so fucking drained. Just as our group departs, the detective I spoke to comes rushing out the doors.

“Mr. Sawyer,” she blurts.

“Yeah?”

“The bar you were at was Corral Club, right?”

“It was.”

“I just got a call that Adam Langley is pressing charges.”

I blink. Blink some more. “Langley?”

Eli wanders over to the detective. “Any relationship to Jake Langley?” he asks, eyes flicking to mine.

“His son, yes.” Fuck. Detective Sloane frowns deeply. “The hospital found high levels of Rohypnol in his blood. And we’re working on getting the security footage from earlier in the evening. Can we call on you as a witness?”

“O-Of c-course,” I stutter, unable to believe what I hear.

“Good man. I’ll call you soon so we can get the ball rolling.”

She turns away, and I grab at my chest while my heart beats so fast I can hardly stand it. He drugged mytherapist’sson! If I hadn’t shown up...if I hadn’t stopped him…

“Shh, it’s okay, babe,” Jorge coos, rubbing soothing strokes down my back. “He’s going down. We’re fucking taking him down. He won’t get away with it.”

I nod fast, blinking away the unshed tears. “I know. Morgan preyed on his last victim.”

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