Page 16 of Virtue & Vengeance

I could feel the tears stinging my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.

“Okay,” I agreed.

The officer directed us toward his car, but I paused.

“What about my car?” I asked, emphasizing the word my.

“I’ve already put in the call to have it towed and impounded.”

Impounded again?

There was no way I was going to have the money to pull it out and still be able to leave Las Vegas now.

Once again, I was screwed.

“Can I get my things out of the car?” I asked.

He sighed and stood there looking back at me as he thought it over. Finally, he gave.

“I’ll put the things in the back of my squad car.”

“Thank you.”

If I wasn’t going to be getting the car back anytime soon, I at least needed my things out of it.

He helped me into the back of his car, and once he closed the door, the small space began to close in on me. Somehow knowing that I couldn’t open the back doors and get out made me feel trapped. The glass barrier between him and me didn’t help much.

Breathing deep, I tried to relax as he pulled into traffic, leaving the Oldsmobile behind.

The car ride to the police station only managed to fill me with fear and anger, and by the time we arrived, I was in a full-blown panic attack.

I was put into an empty holding cell. The walls were brick and bare, with just a tiny window looking out that was too tall to reach. A row of bars kept me in and beyond that was a large steel door with another small window of bars.

I turned, taking in the space around me.

There was no way I was getting out of this.

Quickly, I reached for the bars and stopped the officer before he could walk through the door and leave me alone.

“Can I call someone?” I asked.

He didn’t even stop or turn around when he said, “You’ll get a phone call.”

“Thank you,” I said tightly.

He shut me in with a loud bang that echoed throughout the brick interior.

A phone call.

I had no idea who I was going to call when they finally gave me my phone call. Of course, I thought of Aunt Kennedy, but I didn’t want to put all of this on her. Especially with her being so far away.

I sat in the empty cell in silence for what felt like forever as I waited for anyone to come in and tell me anything. Finally, I heard the door open. I looked up expecting to see the officer from before, but instead, shock froze me in place.

Zander Hale.

He stood in the opening looking back at me through the bars holding me captive. His broad shoulders filled the doorway completely, blocking out the space behind him and making me unsure if anyone was with him.

“What are you doing here?” I snapped.

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