Page 90 of For Emery

“He attacked my girl and her mom. You have no idea what I’d be capable of if he shows up here again.”

The officer shook his head. “Comments like that don’t make you look as innocent as you’re claiming. Now I need to take you to the station—and you can react the way I think you’re gonna react—”

“I did nothing wrong,” Jordan argued.

“You attacked an unarmed man, beating him until he was unconscious. We have laws that say you can’t do that,” the officer explained.

“I want to give my statement,” I said. “Jordan did nothing wrong.”

“Ma’am. He can’t go around beating someone to a pulp. No matter what this guy did. This is gonna take some time.” He pulled his cuffs off his belt and looked to Jordan. “Make this easy on yourself. Don’t give those students in the hallway with their cell phones out something that goes viral. Come to the station willingly so I can take your statement and get you back to your girlfriend who seems to have had a pretty rough night.” The officer looked to me. “Call a lawyer for him. There’s no doubt in my mind that that guy’s going to play the victim and press charges.”

“Call my uncle,” Jordan said.

I nodded, knowing his uncle Cal was a damn good lawyer. I turned to the officer. “I assure you the police in multiple states have been looking for Wayne. He’s a bad man. No matter what he says. He’s a violent drunk who my mom finally had the courage to leave.” Tears began to well up in my eyes. “We changed our names and moved away four years ago, but he tracked us down. We’ve suffered enough because of him.”

The officer nodded, attaching his cuffs to his belt and taking Jordan’s arm to move him to the door.

Jordan resisted, turning to me and cupping my cheeks. “Call your mom. Tell her the good news.”

I nodded, my eyes now filled with tears.

“We’re good,” he assured me. “No matter what happens, we’re still happening, baby.”

I tried to stay strong for him, smiling through my tears as the officer led him away from me and out of my room. But the vision of him being taken away—and the knowledge that it was because of me—crushed every part of my heart.

CHAPTER THIRTY

Emery

I sat on the edge of my bed with my phone to my ear and my hand shaking wildly. I’d called Jordan’s uncle Cal who was on his way to the police station. And now I was trying to reach my mom.

“Emery?” my mom answered.

“Hi, Mama. How are you?”

“Feeling stronger every day.”

I wanted to smile, but every part of me trembled with fear for Jordan. “Are the Gradys there?”

“They’re out back having dinner.”

“Listen, Mama. I’ve got something to tell you.”

She went silent.

“Wayne showed up here.”

“What?” Fear filled her voice. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah. Jordan stopped him. He stopped him, Mama. And the police came and took Wayne away. You’re safe now.”

“Thank God. Where’s Jordan?”

I steadied my voice, not wanting to worry her, though I was terrified myself. “He’s at the police station.”

“Giving a statement?”

“Kind of.”

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