Page 85 of Chasing Xander
Before Xander could do or say anything else, the other officer had his arms secured behind his back, and hard metal handcuffs clicked around his wrist. The pinch of the cuffs was intense, and he gritted his teeth against the pain. “Take my car, Ky. I’ll catch up with you later.”
Sheriff Rick was busy handcuffing Bill, who was twisting and thrashing. “I didn’t fuckin’ do anything! I’m innocent. Let me go!”
“Sheriff Rick, please.” Kylie touched Rick’s arm, her eyes filling with tears. “Let Xander go. He was only protecting me. He didn’t do anything wrong.”
“I’m sorry, Kylie, but I have to take both of them down to the station,” Sheriff Rick said as he guided Bill into the back of the cruiser. Xander was put in the second car. Rick and the other officer stood outside talking to Kylie, but Xander couldn’t hear what they said.
His body ached, every breath sharp as a razor blade. He wouldn’t be surprised if he had bruised ribs. But the physical pain was nothing compared to the thoughts racing through his mind. What the fuck was he going to do? How was he going to get himself out of this one? Shit, he didn’t even know if Kylie was pissed at him or not.
…
“I’m entitled to a phone call,” Xander said as soon as Sheriff Rick escorted him into the police station.
“Sit.” Rick nodded at a metal chair. “You’ll get a phone call as soon as we have a little chat.”
“Oh no.” Xander shook his head. “I’m not talking to anyone until after I get my phone call.”
Rick sat in a chair opposite him, elbows on his knees. “Look, Xander, Kylie told me what happened. Now, I’m sure it’s no secret to you that her father spends a lot of time here. He’s accusing you of assault, and I don’t for one second believe he didn’t have it coming, but as an officer of the law, there are certain procedures I have to follow. If I don’t do everything by the book, this could go real bad for you. But if you cooperate, I can make this all go away. You get what I’m saying?”
He didn’t have a clue, but he wasn’t about to refuse the help. Xander nodded.
“Good.” Sheriff Rick stood. “Let’s get you booked, and then you can make your call.” He took hold of Xander’s elbow.
Ten minutes later, Xander stood at a pay phone. There was no way in hell he could call his parents. Finn wouldn’t be any help. He glanced at the clock on the wall. Ryder would be on a plane headed for New York right now, so he was out of the question. That only left one person. With a heavy sigh, he dialed the phone.
“Not a good time, Xan.”
“Tanner, I really need you not to be a dick right now and help me.” He kept his voice low and his back to the officer keeping guard.
There was a much too long pause.If he fucking hung up on me…“Tanner?”
“Yeah, I’m here. Make it quick because I’m about to board the plane.”
“Whatever you do, do not get on the plane.”
“If this is your idea of a joke, it’s not funny.”
In the background, Xander heard the call for the rows to begin boarding. “Do I sound like I’m joking? I mean it, Tanner. Walk your ass back to the ticket counter and buy a ticket to Ohio. I need you to bail me out of jail.”
“What?” Tanner shouted.
“Look, I don’t have a lot of time. I’ll explain when you get here, but please hurry. And don’t tell anyone about this.”
“I’m on my way.”
“Oh, bring Jules. I’m going to need her help, too.”
After giving Tanner all the information he needed to get there, Xander ended the call. The guard then escorted him to a cell.
He sat on the small bed and let his head fall back against the wall. Closing his eyes, he settled in to wait for Tanner and Jules. He also hoped to hell Kylie was all right, and that she’d be around when he got out. Because if she wasn’t, if she’d decided she had enough of his shit, he didn’t know what he’d do.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Kylie bounced her knee nervously as she waited for Sheriff Rick in the police station. This was not her first time there, but it would damn well be her last. If her father really thought she should’ve died with her mother, then she was done with him, once and for all. He’d said a lot of shitty things while drunk, but he’d never said that. That was unforgivable.
After what seemed like an eternity, Sheriff Rick emerged from the back. She stood and greeted him.
“You sure you want to do this?” He held open the door and ushered her through.
