“Hey, Carter, I think your car got stolen. Good news is cops caught the thief and everyone’s at the station. At least that’s what came off the police scanner.”
Fast halts. “You let Mallory drive your car?”
“Would you give me your mothereffing keys?” I shout. I’m not here for a damn discourse on how picky about I am with my car. We’ve got an actual emergency on our hands. “Aly was with her.”
“I can drive.” He slams the phone back to me and takes off, streaking across the parking lot to his car. He’s already in the vehicle and has the engine started by the time I reach it. I knew that little detail would get him moving.
“Took you long enough.”
I’d laugh if I wasn’t so damned scared. “Just drive.”
While Fast tears out of the parking lot, I call my dad, not caring that I’m probably interrupting dinner or some kind of European sex fest he’s got going on. Thankfully, he answers instead of making me go to voicemail.
“Son, what a nice surprise. It’s siesta time here, though, so can I call you back in a few hours?” There’s a distinct sound of slurping in the background that I tell myself is someone having a smoothie for lunch and not something else, more disgusting, that might turn me off of sex forever.
“I need the contact information for Mayor Al and an attorney.”
“What’s wrong?” Dad’s voice is suddenly alert and business-like.
“My girlfriend”—no, I need him to be seriously invested in this—”your future daughter-in-law got picked up on some bogus charges. I need to make sure that they let her go, and, more importantly, that they don’t repeat this mistake.”
“I’m not certain what is more disconcerting—you asking for my help or you saying that you’re going to marry a girl you towed home just a week or two ago. Nonetheless, as always, I’m happy to help you, son. Don’t worry about Mayor Al. I’ll place the call myself. The attorney will meet you at the station.”
Relief turns me into a puddle and I slump against the car seat. “Great. Thanks.”
“It might be advisable for you to cut off the root of the problem—whatever that may be. The family resources are at your disposal. Before you marry I would ask that you have your beloved sign a prenuptial.”
“Unnecessary,” I bark into the phone. “Can you go any faster?”
“Do you want to get picked up by the police?” Fast growls.
“Why not? We’re going to the same place.”
“I’m not sure what good it is if you’re locked up.”
Unfortunately, he’s right so I go back to arguing with my dad.
“The prenuptial is merely another contract, like the marriage license, and it allows for convenient separations,” he’s saying.
“I’m not separating so it’s not going to be a problem.”
“Fine. You won’t leave her, but that isn’t always the problem. Sometimes she wants to leave you.” He says it softly but there’s still hurt there. I don’t know what went wrong with my parents’ relationship—maybe it was sick to begin with. Once, when I was little, during one of their arguments I overhead, my mom yelled that she wasn’t a piece of property that could be bought and sold. Even if it their union wasn’t one that started out in a good place, that didn’t mean Mallory and I weren’t going to last.
“If she wants to leave, I won’t let her.”
Dad laughs. “What will you do? Tie her to the bed?”
“If I have to, yeah. Gotta go. We’re at the station.” I turn to Owen. “What would you do if Aly said she was done with you?”
Fast’s head whips around. “What the hell are you talking about? Did Mallory say something?”
“No. I just wanted to know. Would you let her go or would you keep her?”
“Keep her,” he answers immediately.
“Me too.” Even if Mallory wanted to leave me, I wouldn’t let it happen. She gave herself to me. She had to know it was a forever promise, not one that lasted until she was tired of us. If I had to, yeah, I’d absolutely tie her to the bed, lock her in a room, build a castle and cast a spell that wouldn’t allow anyone inside but me. If anyone is going to imprison her, it isn’t going to be the town police. Oh, hell no. Mallory belongs to me.
Chapter 28
Mallory
I knew the second I looked into the rearview mirror and saw those lights flashing that I was done for. My anxiety ramped up as I watched the two officers from the party step out and head toward the car. For one second I considered gunning it but I knew that would only make things worse. I was caught and Carter wasn’t here to save me. I should have stayed outside, like he told me. The man was bossy but it was always for the best reasons.