Page 40 of Swan

“I think it’s best we take this down to the station. We still need your statement on how you happened along here at the right time.”

And he’d never know how we got notified as soon as the crazed bitch stepped onto the street with a gun. A civilian, who’d the club had helped before, had followed her while he was on the phone to a brother. She’d kept repeating the restaurant’s name over and over.

“I told you about the call to my daughter. I told you what I overheard and recorded, which is more fuckin’ proof that my daughter is the victim and not a suspect.”

“I want to hear it all again at the station.”

“I think fuckin’ not.” I pulled out my phone and found the number as I squeezed Swan’s shoulder.

“Put the phone away,” the cop ordered, hand going to the gun on his belt.

I lifted the phone to my ear. “Hey. … Yeah. … No, they want to take us to the station. Swan ain’t ready to talk, and no one is pushing this, hear me? … Yeah, and while you’re at it, can you explain what we were doin’ in the area.”

I handed the phone out to the cop, who took it. I heard Parker’s rough and hard tone but not his words. Still, whatever Parker said had the cop stiffening and clenching his jaw.

“Yes, Detective.” He ended the call and threw the phone my way. I caught it. “You’re free to go, but we expect you at the station in the morning.”

I grunted and crouched next to my girl. I touched her chin and gently moved her gaze to me. She stared back blankly.

“Sweetheart, we’re going home.”

Nothing.

“Swan?”

My gut twisted.

I held her elbow with one hand, and the other I placed to her back. Slowly, I guided her to her feet. “Come on, sweetheart.”

Without a word or a sound, I led her out of the restaurant. Talon had left me a car, so I headed to it and helped her in. She didn’t move to put her seat belt on, so I reached over her and snapped it into place.

What did I do?

What did I say now?

She lost the man she’d always loved. How the fuck was I supposed to handle a situation like this for my daughter?

Clenching my jaw, I closed her door and started around the car as my phone rang.

“Princess,” I answered, voice tight.

“Bring her home, Grady. Bring our girl home, and we’ll help her get through this.”

I dropped my head back and blinked the damn tears away at the sky.

Clearing my throat, I told her, “We’re on our way.”

Fuck me.

Fucking hell.

Jesus Christ.

My poor baby girl.

My poor Swan.

We’ll get her through this.

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