Page 6 of I Ain't Lyin'

“You don’t remember anything between that phone call and this morning?” Ashton frowned. “There is just a black void where your memories jump past?”

“Exactly.” I nodded. “I have never felt this way before. Even in my younger years, when I would drink myself stupid at a party. I still remembered little fragments from the night. This is the first time I can’t recall anything for a long time.”

“How many hours would you say are missing?” Lilianna looked up from her notes. “The police picked you up at around seven a.m. When was lunch and this phone call?”

“I would say I got out of the meeting around eleven a.m.” I frowned. “So if the call happened around noon, I’m missing twenty hours of a day? How is that even possible?”

“We don’t know yet, but we will do what we can to find out.” Ashton kissed the side of my head. “My team should be arriving soon. They may be able to figure out why you can’t remember.”

Ding.

Ashton checked his phone, stood, and headed toward the door. “Speaking must have summoned them. I’ll be right back. I must check them through with Captain Matthews.”

As Ashton left the room, I felt the comfort of his presence fade, and the weight of the situation settle back onto my shoulders. I leaned my head onto the table. “Am I really going to be okay?”

“Leo, look at me.” Lillianna’s stern tone persuaded me to listen to her demand. “Your mate, his team, and I will do everything possible to ensure that you regain your freedom and the real criminals are apprehended. I will need you to stay strong and not let the other officers trying to work the case get you down. If Ashton or one of his team can’t be here with you, I will stay and make sure you are never alone with them. You should have never been withheld water or questioned without the proper representation. I will ensure they don’t try that crap again. Okay?”

“Yeah.” I nodded and took another drink of my water. “I’m just scared and feel helpless. I hate knowing that almost a whole day is missing from my mental files. I still remember times from when I was a toddler, but I can’t remember the events of a day ago.”

“If there is a way to get those memories back for you, we will find it.” Lillianna reached out and touched my hand. After much arguing, the human officers finally allowed me to be in there without the restraints as long as I allowed Ashton to put a spellon me that made me incapable of harming another living being. That mixed with the spell on the door that wouldn’t allow me to leave, they didn’t need to restrain me in the mundane ways. I was trapped and helpless. I hated it. But I guess it was better than metal wrist cuffs.

Knock.

“I’m back.” Ashton opened the door, immediately came to my side, and kissed my forehead. “Willa and Dean are my partners for the case.”

“Nice to meet you,” said the tall and slender Willa.

“And you must be Leo.” Dean flashed a playboy smile and reached out a hand. “We will help figure out what’s going on.”

“Yes, this is Leo.” Ashton nudged the flirt named Dean away from me, gesturing toward Lillianna. “And this is his attorney, Lillianna Jeffries. She works with the GSC, so I’m unsure if you have met yet.”

I noticed a strange energy sizzle between Lilianna, Willa, and Dean.Interesting. Maybe after I am free, I’ll try to figure out what that spark I see is implying.

Dean and Willa sat in the chairs on each side of Lillianna, across from me. My attorney seemed flustered, and small smirks played on the two other GSC agents’ mouths.Oh, thereisa story there.

“We have read through the file and saw the evidence that they have. I want your permission to use my magic ability on you.” Dean reached out his other hand, which we didn’t shake with. “My right hand is the one I greet with, but this hand is the one I keep to myself unless I am about to use my power.”

“Dean can sense when someone is lying,” Willa said. “He will also be able to see your thoughts and memories. We can determine what you remember and whether your block is mundane, like hitting your head or drugs, or if a magical reason keeps you from seeing what happened that night.”

“Okay.” I held out my hand. “You can use that power on me. I need to know what’s going on.”

When Dean and I touched hands this time, I felt the energy pulsing between us immediately. This was different than the greeting. I closed my eyes and let him do his thing, trying not to laugh at the tickling sensation his presence in my mind caused.

“There was a spell placed on his memories,” Dean said after several minutes. “It’s like someone placed a cover over the time frame, and no matter how hard I tugged, I couldn’t unveil it.”

“Do you think it might weaken over time?” Willa asked the question I was thinking.

“I did see a few stray threads unraveling around the edges. I believe that every time Leo fights to remember, he takes a thread and pulls it apart. But it may take weeks or months to uncover the information we need, going this way.”

“Is there anything else we can do?” I didn’t want to spend months in this state or, goddess forbid, lockup.

“Don’t worry, Leo.” Willa reached out and patted my hand. “I also have a power that might shed some light onto the situation.”

“What is your magic ability?” My curiosity was piqued, but I wasn’t ready for Willa’s reply.

“I am about to go see Harvey and have a little chat.”

Chapter Six

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