Page 42 of Steel & Jenna
“Who the fuck did this?” Mr. Zarin demanded of their audience. Without waiting for an answer, he asked Jack in a much gentler voice. “Who did this to you, son? Was it your father?”
Jenna couldn’t fault the man for drawing the wrong conclusion. Of the two of their parents, Jack’s father did come across as the bigger threat.
Jack shook his head.
“Why is he in handcuffs?” Mr. Zarin asked the officer beside them. “Take them off of him now!”
“There was an accusation of assault?—”
“So you put thevictimin handcuffs?” Mr. Zarin practically snarled.
“No, I?—”
“It was my mom’s bodyguards,” Jenna told Mr. Zarin. She didn’t know what the officer was going to stay, but she needed to get Mr. Zarin to understand Jack’s innocence so they could get him medical care. “She’s accusing him of kidnapping and sexually assaulting me.”
“Did he?” Mr. Zarin looked her in the eye.
Jenna expected the question to insult her on Jack’s behalf, but instead it made her feel like Mr. Zarin wasmoreon their side by asking it. Odd. “No,” she said loudly and honestly. “I keep telling them that, but they won’t take the cuffs off of him.”
Mr. Zarin nodded to her once and then looked to the cop. “The victim of the alleged assault claims there was no crime committed, why are you still arresting him?”
“Because he assaulted me too!”
Mr. Zarin looked up the stairs to where her mother was standing. Everything about her looked just as pristine as always, except for the splatter of blood on her white collar. “And who are you?” Mr. Zarin asked like he wasn’t impressed by her attire in the slightest.
Jenna’s mom stood up taller. “I am Claudette Scanlon, wife of Barnaby Scanlon and Chief Operating Officer at Scanlon Enterprises.”
Mr. Zarin’s dry demeanor did not change. “Impressive. You name your title at your husband’s company without naming your daughter? I can tell where your priorities are, lady.” He turned to Jack withouteven noticing or acknowledging her mom’s outraged gasp. “Jack, did you assault Mrs. Scanlon?”
“I spat in her face when she threatened to make my life miserable if I didn’t leave Jenna alone.”
“When and how did this happen?” Mr. Zarin asked with a frown. Jenna could not tell if his frown was from Jack’s answer or admission.
“When her bodyguards were holding me.”
“How were her bodyguards holding you?”
“The one had my arms behind my back while the other one was punching me.”
The only reaction from Mr. Zarin at Jack’s words was the tightening of his jaw. It was possible Jenna was the only one who saw it because of how close they were standing.
Mr. Zarin turned to the officer. “I would like to press charges on behalf of this minor for assault, intimidation, and false imprisonment against this woman and her bodyguards.”
“That boy is a drug dealer!” her mom suddenly shrieked. “He has cash on him!” She looked to Jenna. “Show them! You took the money. Where is it?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Jenna said tightly. “I have no money on me.”
Her mom’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t do this, Jenna. You are going to make life very…difficult by siding with this boy.”
“If you’re referring to theboyyou hadbeaten, I will gladly side with him, Mother,” Jenna practically spat. Never in a million years would she have thought her mom would have someone, let alone a teenage boy, beaten as she had with Jack. “My place has been and always will be between him and you. I willnotallow you to spread your vile lies just to save face.”
“That’s enough!”
Everyone turned at the next person to enter the library. The burly man was massive. So tall that he had to duck under the door frame. He wore a police uniform over a large belly. The badge on his chest was slightly different than the other officers’. His mouth was surrounded by the same gray and brown hair that covered his head.
“Timothy,” Mr. Zarin greeted the newcomer.
“Arnold,” the man acknowledged. He came up the stairs. “Daphne just called me, terrified she hasn’t heard from any of you. What is going on?”
