Page 155 of Black Flag

“Do you really thinkthat’s a good idea?” I asked pessimistically.

“Good point, Jimi willcome with me.” He answered shaking his head. I knew damn well if I ever sawChelsea or Mariah again, I’d be asking Van for pointers on how to dispose ofthe bodies. Regardless if they were remorseful of what they did, I still wouldfucking kill them. No one gets away with threatening my family and nearlykilling them.

“They are both beingcharged with complicity, also known as aiding and abetting. An accomplice issomeone who helps in, or in some states merely encourages, the commission of acrime. Courts will sometimes refer to a person as the aider or an abettor.”Phillip’s eyes flickered toward me as he read over the documents placed infront of him. “This is where Mariah, Chelsea, and Gordon come in to play. Danawas released because frankly after speaking to her, I’m surprised that girleven knows her own name sometimes. Anyway, an aider or abettor is a person whodid not commit the crime, but his or her actions helped enable someone else todo so. Examples could be supplying weapons or supplies, or in Mariah’scase—acting as a lookout. Or in Gordon’s case—signaling the victim’s approach,”His eyes once again, shot toward mine knowing my reaction.

I felt the blood leavemy face. I was standing instantly, adrenaline taking over. “What the fuck areyou talking about?”

“Jameson, sit down.”Phillip ordered; his voice low, bleak and demanding. “Now is not the time foryou to act foolish. You’re lucky you’re not being charged for murder right now...so if I were you, I would sit down andkeep my mouth shut.”

“There’s no proof thatI actually did that.”

“Yes, I know. But if itwasn’t for Van you would be in a heap of shit right now.”

After a few moments, Iregained my composure that I’d just lost and sat back down.

“Now Chelsea, shemerely encouraged the crimes. Accomplice liability means anyone who helps inthe commission of a crime is as guilty as the person who committed the crimeand can be punished as severely, if convicted.”

I struggled with thewords to speak for a moment, feeling the pain once again. “So they’ll bepunished for what they did?” Instantly the images from her attack flashedthrough my mind.

“Yes,” heanswered,his expression hard to read. “There are a numberof witnesses who will attest to everything so it’s fairly cut and dry. They alsoadmitted to everything—including Gordon. There have also been a few crewmembers suspended too for their involvement in Pocono and previous races wherethey have been linked to malfunctions with your car.”

“Say what?”

He gave me that lookagain. The one that said knock it off.

“Why did Gordon getinvolved? He was a fucking NASCAR...Jesus...”

“I’m not entirely surebut taking a guess I’d say it was because Darrin is his nephew.”

“So somehow he signaledDarrin that Sway was heading to the restroom? This is so fucked up.”

Phillip shook his headknowing damn well what I was doing right now.Clever bastard.

“Jameson, this isn’timportant and will not change anything.”

I nodded understandingfor once. He was right. I couldn’t change it.

“Listen, I know thatall this has been hard on you and more than any twenty-three year old kid needsto be dealing with, but please, just let me do my job and stay out of it.Don’ttalk to the media anddon’tmake matters worse. You’re in the public’s eyesright now, every move you make, they’re watching, waiting for you to ruin yourcareer or say something stupid.” He stood, closing his brief case andstraightening his tailored Armani jacket. “Don’t let them succeed. Just keepyour mouth shut, your head clear and race.”

It’d been nineteen dayssince I saw Sway.Nineteen miserable days.Butthankfully before the last three races of the season I was able to see her.

When I finally arrivedin Elma is was around two in the morning and I was so exhausted I could barelykeep my eyes open.

As I walked into Sway’sroom, I tripped over Emma sleeping on the floor. I simply just rolled heroutside the door, into the hallway and closed Sway’s door—locking it.

Once I had my clothesoff, I moved to snuggle with her, enjoying the warmth of her body, the feel ofher smooth porcelain skin against mine. I buried my face in her long dark hair,breathing in a deep breath of her freesia shampoo. As I let out the breath, Irealized that all this time away I felt as if the other half of my heart, mysoul was right here with her. I felt that to breathe, really breathe, I neededher for that. I was operating on half myself in every way when I was away fromher.

I must have woken herbecause she pushed back against me. “Emma, Jesus Christ...stop.” She slapped at me.“Leave me alone you monkey.”

I chuckled against her,pushing my two week scruff into her neck and my hips against her ass, hopingshe’d realize I was far from being Emma.

My naughty girl didn’tdisappoint and wrapped her arms around me. I was relieved to see that her castwas finally off.

Though I was exhausted,being close to her was raising my compression ratios. It’d been way to fuckinglong.

“You’re home.” Shebreathed.

“Mmm,”I smiled against her lips as she kissed me.

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