“Give me one moment.” I hear some rustling of papers and then he continues, “Hello, I’m Detective Morris. Can you tell me what you have that can help?”
“It’s hard to explain because this is a fucking twisted connection. I met Ms. Denton and we are now a couple. I don’t want to go into details about it, but she told me what happened. I asked my assistant to get the information for me this morning, and I’m calling you because of it.”
“Okay. So is there something you learned?”
“I think I know the bastard who did it.”
“A name?”
“His name is Bob Rhodes. He’s my mother’s latest husband.”
“Oh hell. That’s quite a dilemma. Can you come into my office today?”
“Yes.”
“And bring Ms. Denton with you, please.”
“Ah hell.”
“If you don’t want her to come with you, I’ll have to contact her myself.” We exchange pertinent information, and I promise to be there after I pick up Lena. Damn, I’m so fucked.
***
I pick her up after class and I see some boy trying to talk to her, but she gives him the cold shoulder and comes running to me. I open my arms and catch her as she wraps her legs around my waist. “Missed you so damn much,” I growl, kissing her wildly, thrusting my fingers into her hair and my tongue into her mouth.
She breaks our connection first, but only to say, “I missed you too, Everett.” She kisses my face over and over again, making me laugh. Setting Lena down on her feet, I see the same guy that was talking to her standing there with another guy. I ask, “Who’s that guy?”
“Um…”
“Is that Merrick?”
“Yes.”
“I knew it. That fucker didn’t learn the first time.”
“It’s okay. I told him that I’m not interested.”
“Yeah, I already informed his ass.” I look over her head to see the fucker staring over his sunglasses while pretending to talk to some dude. I don’t have time for this shit. I have enough problems on my hands, trying to keep Lena from leaving once she knows the truth.
“Let’s not worry about him. I’ve missed you all day.”
“Fine.” I glare at the stalker before leading her to my car. Once she’s safely buckled up, I walk around and get inside, giving Merrick a smile because she’s going with me.
As we get out on the road, I say, “I spoke with the detective on your case.”
“Oh wow, really?”
“I told you I would get involved. They wanted me to bring you in for some questions.”
“Why? I thought they had everything they needed. Did they find the guy?”
“I believe they did.”
“You get involved, and they find him. Does money talk?” she accuses.
“No, but I have to say if I’m right…You might hate me.”
“Why? I know you’re not him.”
“Of course not, but let’s just wait until we speak to the detective.”
“Okay.” We weren’t far from the station.
“So how was school?”
“Annoying.”
“Why?”
“Because someone made me obsessed with them and all my thoughts were on him.”
“Really? Well, the same here, love.” I pull into the lot and park. I can see her shaking, and I wonder if this is the last time I’m going to see her. Is she going to run from me?
***
“Oh my goodness.” She stares at the photo lineup and selects the bastard easily. “This is him. This is the man that shot me.” The detectives already knew that because once I gave them a name to the face, it was a formality. There was no mistaking it. The problem is…who was the driver? I don’t know what to think if it was my mother.
“We are contacting the Peoria County Sheriff’s office to set up the arrest. Mr. Williams, if you’d be so kind as to find out if they are staying at the same place. We don’t want to give your stepfather a chance to run.”
I want to jump over the table and choke his ass the second the gasp leaves her mouth. “This guy is your stepfather?” she asks, staring at me with pure dismay.
“Yes. I’m sorry. Will you be able to forgive me?”
“Why are you sorry? Because he’s married to your mother? The mother who you don’t even get along with? Shit, do you think that she…”
“We don’t know that,” Detective Morris interrupts her.
“Wait. You don’t want to leave me because of it?”
“It makes things uncomfortable when your family learns, but of course not. How were you to know?”
“I know. It’s just so damn awful. He nearly killed you. I love you, Lena.”
“I love you too, Everett. As shitty as this is, we’ll get past it.”
“Yes, we can.”
Epilogue
Everett
Three Months Later
The past few months were brutally hard to get through. My mother’s husband wasn’t the only one involved. When charged with attempted murder, Bob sang like a damn canary, taking my mother and my cousin Greg, who was fucking Briana, with him. When asked why he shot Lena, he said he was tweaking on the last of his meth a noise in the room spooked him and he freaked out. It’s fucking crazy, but it’s not uncommon. The detective informed us that users tend to have rage issues and tend to lose control of their actions. Even with the reason, it still doesn’t ease the blow to Lena.