He wasn’t deterred. “What can we do to fix this?”

“Like I said, he needs to pay for his crimes and learn a lesson that there are consequences for his actions. But believe me, I will suggest to the victim that she pursue a civil case against him. There are pictures of the bruises he inflicted that match with the video, you see.” The lawyer looked grim. “Anyway, you can see if he’s granted bail in the morning.”

“Is there somewhere to stay?”

I grinned. “There is a motel out on the highway, five or so miles south of here.” There was a better one north, but he didn’t ask me for better, did he? I showed him out and left Sam in charge with instructions to ignore the prisoner unless he needed medical attention.

I reached out to Darcy and she texted me her apartment number and asked me to come over.

The apartment complex she lived in was near the covered bridge. I’d never been inside until now.

After a quick knock, she tore open the door and threw herself in my arms.

“Oh, Aiden,” she cried.

Darcy was strategic when she cried. However, when I pulled back to read her expression, I noticed the bruise.

“Did he hit you?”

She bobbed her head.

“Tell me what happened,” I asked because I didn’t want to be an ass and ask her who hit her. I assumed it was Evan.

“He was all pissed off that Emma had embarrassed him at the bar.” So, it was Evan. “He came here, and I tried to calm him down. I might have suggested she’d moved on with one of the cops in town.” When I narrowed my eyes, she said, “I didn’t tell him who. Anyway, he blew up, slapped me, and called me a liar. I told him to get out.”

“Did he?” I said, feeling a fresh wave of anger. I may not be in love with Darcy, but we’d spent too many years together for me not to care about her.

“Yeah. I was never more grateful for bolt locks.”

“What time was that?”

She told me.

“He went for Emma after.” The timeline fit.

“What? Did he hurt her?”

I nodded. “He’s in jail for now, but I suggest you not talk to him or open the door for him if he comes back. Do you want to press charges?”

“I don’t know.”

I didn’t like that look in her eyes. “I can’t tell you what to do, but if no one speaks up, he won’t stop.” I hated guilt tripping her, but that was the truth. I saw it far too often in LA. Battered women taking their abuser back. The vicious cycle usually ended up with someone’s death. Most of the time it was the victim.

“What should I do if he comes back?” she asked.

“Call me,” I said, before I could think. “Better yet, call the station or 911 so it’s on the record.”

“Will you keep me safe?” she asked.

“I won’t let anything happen to you,” I promised and shouldn’t have. Even I knew, if it came to a choice, I would choose to save Emma over her.

She threw herself at me again. I caught her and sighed as she shook from tears.

“No one’s ever hit me before. Not even my daddy.”

I got her a bag of ice and ibuprofen and told her to rest before I left. I longed to be home and comforting Emma. I felt guilty that I was here.

Before I left, I remembered why I’d come. “Darcy.”

“Mm, hmm,” she said, curled on her couch.

“How long have you been seeing Evan?”

“It was only one time a few weeks ago, I think. He’d been flirting with me all week, and then he called and said he couldn’t stop thinking about me. I fell for it. It was late and I was lonely.”

“Do you think you could pinpoint what day that was?”

She sighed. “Probably. I’ll check my phone later and text you. Is that okay?”

I nodded and left. I would have gone home, but I got a call to respond to another domestic event on the other side of town. Two brothers. One woman. It had turned ugly. Wyatt had responded but called for backup.

That one took a while. It was late when I finally arrived home. I stood in the doorway for a while just watching Emma sleeping in my bed.

It made my hellish day turn into heaven sliding in next to her. She was warm, soft, and mine.

“This is exactly where you belong,” I whispered in her hair as she circled into me. “Right here with me.”

I’d slept next to enough women to know the difference.

Chapter 23

Emma

Sunshine on my skin drew me out of my dreams. It wasn’t the sun that warmed me but Aiden’s body cocooned around me, heating not only my skin but every inch underneath. If I didn’t leave his bed now, I couldn’t be blamed for what I would do next.

Tags: Terri E. Laine Romance
Source: readsnovelonline.net