“She apologized, and other things were said, but in the end, I doubt we’ll be seeing each other again. She’s mad that I don’t agree with her life choices.”
“She say anythin’ bad?”
“Nothing I can’t handle and know is a lie. I’m…. It’s just with her dating Country, and if you invite me back to the compound with her there, it might not go down well.”
“There’s no if I invite you back. It’ll happen, but I’ll make sure she won’t be around. To be honest, Country didn’t like how she acted either. She’s been different for a while. Eventually, he’ll see she ain’t for him. But let me know if she comes at you for anythin’, yeah?”
“I will.”
“Thanks, darlin’.” Leaning back in the chair, I grinned. “Though I can’t be too cut with Isla. She did bring me you.”
Her pupils dilated, her breath coming out in pants, but with a shake of her head, she cleared her throat and nodded, looking off to the side. “I thought the same thing.” Her gaze flicked to mine. “I mean about you. That she brought you to me. Wait, I mean….” She sighed. “You know what I mean.”
Chuckling, I tipped my chin up at her. “Yeah, little mouse. I know.”
I tensed and straightened, looking over at the entrance when I heard a commotion starting.
Ray fucking Bond with another few officers stalked my way.
“You’ve got to be fuckin’ kiddin’ me.” I stood up and stepped in front of my woman as she climbed to her feet.
“State?”
“Whatever they say, it’s shit. Don’t believe them, Courtney.” I quickly handed her my phone behind my back. “Call Country, passcode 1209. This cop, Ray Bond, remember his name, thinks I’m doin’ his Polished girl. I’m not. Just call Country.”
“I will.” Her tone was weak, full of fear. Anger wrapped around me. This goddamn prick was going to get what was coming to him for interrupting this date.
“It’ll be all right, baby.”
“Okay.”
“Dominic Miller, you are under arrest for the suspicion of murdering James Sullen. Place your hands on your head.”
I did but looked over my shoulder. “Call Country. I didn’t do this.”
A cop pulled me around and snapped my arms down to handcuff me.
“You have the right to remain silent.”
Now that I was facing Court, I saw worry was more present than fear. “Courtney, I didn’t do this.”
She straightened, jutting her chin up. “I know.”
“Anything you say may be used against you in the court of law.”
I tuned them out and just looked at Courtney while she kept my gaze.
“I’ll call Country. I’ll get you help. Don’t worry.”
“I’m not, darlin’.”
She smiled, though it was a little wobbly. “Good.”
The cop roughly pulled me around and walked me out. I didn’t miss the smug smile on Ray’s fucking face. I’d soon punch it right off him.
I took one look back and saw Courtney with my phone to her ear, talking rapidly and glaring at the floor.
She believed me. That was all that mattered.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Courtney
* * *
“State, aren’t you seein’ your woman?”
I pushed the tingle of hearing Country call me State’s woman away and said, “Country, this is State’s woman. He’s just been arrested by Ray Bond and has been accused of murdering someone.”
“What the fuck?” he bellowed so loudly I had to pull the phone away for a moment.
“I know. It’s a bunch of bullshit.”
“It is, babe. Ray is a client at the brothel. He’s got a hard-on for one of the girls, Lisa, and she lied to him about datin’ State to get him off her back. He’s been stalkin’ your man, and now he goes and does this shit. Fuck. Wreck, Death, office now. Don’t you worry, babe, we’ll get—”
“No, you don’t have to worry. My father is friends with lawyers. I’m calling him now to get onto this. We’ll have State out soon. I’ll call when I have news.”
“Courtney, you don’t have to do that. We have people.”
“So do I. That… that asshole interrupted our date. I’ll be dealing with this and suing the hell out of him for something. I don’t know what yet, but I will. I have to go.”
“Courtney—”
“Talk soon.” I opened my purse with jerky movements and pulled out some bills to throw onto the table before I stalked out of there. I placed State’s phone in my bag and got mine out. As soon as Dad answered, I explained, “Dad, I need your help. State’s been arrested for murder, but I know he didn’t do it. Can you please help me get him a lawyer? Please, Dad.”
“Courtney, calm down, breathe, and explain it slowly.”
Once I was back in my car, I sucked in a ragged breath. My heart was beating a million miles an hour. “Okay, State and I were on our date when cops came in to arrest him. State told me before they reached us that whatever they said would be a lie. That the policeman there, a Ray Bond, had it out for him because a girl who works with State told the cop a lie that she was dating State to get this cop off her back. Obviously, it didn’t work, and this cop still has it out for State. Now he’s been arrested, and God knows what’s happening to him.” My bottom lip trembled. I quickly bit down on it.
“I need you to be honest with me, Courtney. Do you completely believe State?”
“Yes.” No hesitation. No second-guessing. I knew in my heart that State was innocent.
“All right, I’ll make some calls. Why don’t you come over here, and we’ll get to the bottom of all this mess?”
“Okay, good. Thanks, Dad. I’ll leave now.”
“Drive safe, princess.”
“I will.”
My hands shook, but I tightened them around the steering wheel. There was something wrong with that Ray Bond. But I knew it was his name and face I would need to remember because God only knew what he thought about seeing State with me on a date. If he was going to these lengths of fabricating a lie to accuse State of murder because he’s obsessed with this woman, then there was a chance he’d want to keep an eye on me.
A shiver raked over me at the thought of being spied on.
No matter, since I knew my dad would be on the phone trying to get State out. Whatever evidence the police had, because they certainly had to have something to arrest him in the first place, would be faked or at least circumstantial. I could only hope the lawyer wouldn’t look down on State because he was in a club and owned a brothel.
I’d done my research on Polished. From everything I learned about the place, it appeared to be aboveboard, safe, and popular. A lot of the employees had even left reviews saying how good it was to work for a place where they didn’t have to worry for their safety. So surely nothing from his work could be held against him.
State would be fine.
He would be.
Unless what I saw on television was true. Could cops beat on a suspect just for fun and to get answers out of them?