Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
“Wylde?” His name came from my lips like a prayer. And maybe it was.
“Yeah. Said he knew you from the coffee shop.”
“Oh, thank God!” I nearly sobbed in relief. If anyone could help me, it was Wylde. I looked at the officer in front of me. “The girls can go with him when he gets here. Wylde is my friend.”
“Wylde? Funny name.”
I frowned. “So? He can take my sisters. I’m their guardian. There’s a paper in my wallet saying so. You can check with Social Services when they get here. It’s all on record.”
“That’s up to them. But if you’re their guardian and you say they can go with your friend, I don’t see any reason why they couldn’t.”
Finally! The man was being reasonable. It was the one thing that might go right in this situation.
The officers ushered me outside and into the back of the patrol car where we waited. It wasn’t even five minutes before a huge, dark blue Bronco pulled into the parking lot beside the cop car. There, larger than life, Wylde climbed out and stalked over to us. He looked angry as hell. Another man got out of the other side and walked over to the police. Wylde said nothing, but his gaze was focused squarely on me. It was the other man who spoke.
“I’m Wyatt Raven, Miss James’s lawyer. What’s the charge?”
“Shoplifting. She’ll be booked in county. I’m sure they’ll let you see her once she’s been processed.”
Mr. Raven gave the officer a long hard look. “I’ll be accompanying Miss James.” He looked to me. “Did they read you your rights?”
I nodded. “Yes, sir.”
Wylde growled and took a step forward before catching himself. “You do everything Raven says, Danica. Don’t say a word unless he says so. Understand?”
Again, I nodded, my gaze clinging to Wylde’s. “Please take care of the girls, Wylde. I’ll never ask you for anything else. Don’t let them go with CPS.”
“I’ve got them, honey. You do what Raven says, to the letter. He’ll get you out, then bring you to me. We’ll take care of everything.”
“OK.”
The cop shut the door while Mr. Raven climbed in the other side to sit beside me in the back seat.
“Take a few deep breaths, Danica. Everything will be all right.”
I certainly hoped so. I couldn’t afford to spend the night in jail. Not only did I need to help Lemon with her project, but I had to work in the morning. And yeah, I realized I had bigger problems, but I was in shock.
“Don’t worry about any of that,” Raven said. “I’ll have you out in a couple of hours.”
“Did I say that out loud?”
He smiled gently. “You did. It’s OK. I’ll take care of everything. We’ll have you back with your sisters in no time.”
I watched Wylde help the girls into the Bronco. He turned to look at me, giving me an encouraging nod. I had no idea how this situation happened or why Wylde had come so quickly or even how Apple happened to know someone who immediately sent Wylde to us, but I was grateful. If there was one thing I knew, it was that Wylde was a man of his word. He was also wicked intelligent.
Once we were out of sight, I let out a little shuddering sob before sucking it up and getting myself back under control. I couldn’t break down. Now yet. Later. When I was back in my own home behind closed doors, I’d let it all out. Right now, I had to be strong. And I would. For myself. For my sisters. I’d get through this, and all would be well.
At least, I hoped so.
Chapter Three
Wylde
I paced restlessly in my office. I’d already sifted through the information from Danica’s arrest. The nine-one-one call came from the store manager, who was acting on a tip from an anonymous source. The security footage had been erased, but I’d recovered it and found Little Miss Thang, Jordan, had been the one to take the paint vials from the shelf. Then she’d bumped into Danica, which was likely when she’d planted them in Danica’s purse. I’d forwarded all this to Raven. He’d hotly growled that I’d breached chain of custody and gotten the information without a warrant and blah blah blah…
Bottom line was, he’d convinced the police Danica was innocent and they’d let her out. Raven was bringing her back to the clubhouse now. Which was the reason for my pacing. There was no way I was letting her go back to her house with the girls until I knew for certain she was safe. Jordan might not try anything else, but she’d just become my number one target. It would give me great pleasure to ruin her life. The only thing stopping me was Apple and Lemon. And who named their children Apple and Lemon anyway?