Page 15 of Ace of Spades

Well, crap. Are they here forme?

Less than a week here and I'm already finding trouble. Julian pushes me back behind him in a protective stance.

"Hello, officers," he says in greeting. I imagine he's flashing them his million dollar smile.

The cops don't bother with him.

"Ma'am, we have a few questions for you regarding a call we received." One of them says. He's wearing sunglasses, even though it's nighttime. And his name badge says T. Briggs.

Levi stands off to the side, watching me intently. Arms still crossed like it's his permanent state of being.

"Would you please step this way?" His partner motions to an empty area and I follow them.

How amIthe one in trouble here?

“I’m Officer Huxley and this here is Chief Briggs.”

"Hi, I’m guessing this is about the tires on the black Audi outside?" I ask.

"So you admit to breaking a law?" Chief Briggs fires back, his tone anything but kind.

"Does slashing the tires of a petty little prick who touched you without consent count as breaking the law?" I pop my hip. "I wasn't aware."

Briggs has a look in his eyes as he narrows his gaze at me. Like he doesn't believe a word coming out me.

"That littleprickis my son, so if you want to press charges, Miss. I'll need to know the full story."

There's a presence behind me, tall and casting a shadow over the officers standing in front of me. I look over my shoulder to see Levi there.

"It's true.” Levi’s voice rumbles. “Your boy and that Duncan kid were propositioning this young lady. Touched her even when she very clearly saidno."

Levi's voice is even-keeled and unemotional until he says that last part.

Like the thought of someone touching me without my consent is the last thing they'll do if he has any say in the matter. My stomach flutters with butterflies.

And I really wish it wouldn’t.I’m still mad at him,I remind my body.

"And I don't need to be a lawyer to know that constitutes as sexual assualt," Levi continues. "So instead of questioning this young lady on whether or not she slashed some fucking tires—why don't you ask her if she'd like to press charges against your son and his friend?"

Levi stands behind me, a solid wall of man. And I don't need to feel his skin to know he's heated from the way the words come out clipped and raw.

The second officer looks at Briggs and clears his throat before looking at me again.

"Would you… like to press charges, Miss?"

I consider it. It's not like those assholes didn't deserve it, but I have more creative ways of getting my revenge.

"No," I say just as sternly as I told those boys out in the yard earlier.

"Are you sure about that?" Levi's voice says with a hard edge.

I look at him over my shoulder and nod, turning back to the officers.

"I won't press charges as long as they stay as far away from me as possible. I won't be so forgiving if it happens again."

Chief Briggs closes the notebook he held open and slides it back into his pocket. "I'll be sure to relay the message, Miss…?"

"Riley. Sienna Riley." I stand straighter under their watchful gazes.

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