Page 134 of Revival

Spencer nods. “She was his teaching assistant. But she started fucking him before they worked together.” A grunt of pain follows his confirmation as Sheriff Perry yanks Spencer’s arms farther behind his back.

“Cut him loose!” Sutton barks, moving swiftly to intervene between Spencer and the sheriff.

The second the cuffs are unlocked, I dive into his arms. Spencer rubs his wrist as he continues his tale.

“Jim blamed me for their meeting, even though it seemed inevitable with her working beneath Dad. That day forward, he did his best to run me out of town or land me in jail. Neither of which worked.”

Sheriff Perry looks like a movie villain beneath the yellow streetlight. His jaw flexes, and the pure malice in his eyes send a chill down my spine. The fact he’s armed with a weapon heightens my discomfort.

“His threats escalated until graduation. A week before, he pulled me over for some bullshit reason and made me get out of the car.”

“I’m done listening to this,” the sheriff snarls.

“I’m not.” I don’t think I’ve heard Sutton sound so angry. His voice shakes with barely controlled fury. He goes on. “I’m going to stand here and listen to my brother, and if even one-half of his story is true, you better get started on an early retirement. Cash out your PTO, do whatever you need to with admin. If I get back and you’re still there, you’re not going to like what happens.”

“Are you threatening me?” Sheriff Perry sputters, backing up toward his cruiser.

“You’re damn right I am,” Sutton roars. The sheriff scrambles into his car.

Goose bumps spring to my arms, and I shiver. The summer night has a light breeze I’m unprepared for. Combined with the adrenaline coursing through me, my teeth start to chatter.

Spencer doesn’t miss it and wraps me tight in his arms. “Almost done, Kitten.”

“I hate this story, Spence. I don’t know if I can take much more.” My heart breaks for the kid he once was navigating this situation all on his own.

For the kids we were getting torn apart by an adult with a vendetta.

We watch in silence until the police cruiser disappears down the street with a squeal of tires.

The door to the bar opens. Music and voices spill into the otherwise quiet night. Silas saunters toward our group with a grin. “The guy’s fine. Waived medical and pressing charges.”

“What guy?” Lee asks, moving closer now that the sheriff is gone.

“Sebastian.” I turn to my brothers. “He tried to slip something in my drink, and Spencer caught him.”

“Did you drink any of it?” Jack straightens, his stare hardening.

“No. I took care of it,” Spencer answers. His tone implies he doesn’t think he took care of it enough.

Why isn’t he the one in cuffs?” Jude rumbles from the outskirts of our circle.

Lee cuts a sharp glance Spencer’s way and raises his eyebrows. “Did you hit him hard?”

“Nearly knocked him out from what people inside are saying,” Silas fills in, not bothering to conceal his pride.

“Good.” Lee gives a curt nod.

“We can get to that later. Right now, I want to know what else Perry did to you.” Sutton rocks back on his heels.

Spencer reaches down and grips my hand. His fingers weave through mine, holding tight like a lifeline.

“He made me get out of my car and walk into the tree line. Then he pulled out his weapon.”

A suppressed sob falls out with my exhale. I clap my hand over my mouth as tears fill my eyes. “Please tell me he didn’t.”

Spencer’s hand pulses around mine. “We all knew you wanted to go into the force, Sutton. It’d been your dream for so long, hell, half the town knew. He promised he’d make sure you did as long as I left town.”

The somber expressions of my family and friends pluck the string on my already tenuous control. Tears break free and course down my cheeks.

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