Page 49 of Clash of Kings

“My license is in my purse, which is in the back seat.”

“Reach for it slowly,” he warned.

Dakota mouthed, “What the fuck?” to Lydia as she got her purse.

“The registration is in the glove box,” Lydia informed him. “Is it okay if I open it?”

“Slowly,” he repeated. When he had the requested documents, he looked them over. “Says here your name is Young but the owner’s name is Stone.”

“Yes, sir. Honestly, we’re engaged, but I already consider him my husband.”

“She’s telling the truth, officer. The owner of the Jeep is my cousin. I can show you my license. We have the same last name.”

“And where is Mr. Stone hiding?”

Dakota rolled her eyes, earning a glare from the deputy. “He’s not hiding. I didn’t want to subject him to a morning of shopping. What is this really about?” Dakota already knew considering there was a warrant out for Sebastian’s arrest. With Grace telling the Atlanta detective Bas was in West Virginia, they must have sent out some type of bulletin to all the local police.

“Miss Young, please turn the vehicle off and step out for me,” he instructed, ignoring Lydia. Dakota did as he instructed. The deputy returned the gun to its holster and closed the door. He had her follow him to the back of the vehicle. “Miss Young, our office received a BOLO on this vehicle. That means be on the lookout. I need to ask if the other young woman is in on it.”

“In on what? This really is my fiancé’s Jeep, and she really is his cousin.”

“We were advised you were taken against your will, and the owner of the vehicle was responsible.”

“That meddling asshole.” Dakota kicked a rock, and Deputy Brown took a step back, his hand once again going to his pistol. Dakota held her hands out in front of her. “Sir, I left home willingly. My father is an overbearing git. He wanted me to marry someone different, and when I refused, he became belligerent and borderline abusive. I tried to leave town once before, but someone had put a tracker on my car. They found me and took me back. They’re the ones who need a BOLO, not Sebastian.”

“How do I know this Sebastian Stone and his cousin didn’t coerce you into telling me this story?”

“If I was in trouble, now would be the perfect time to say so. I’d get in your patrol car and leave with you. Look, I’m not lying. My father or whoever filed this false report is the one in the wrong. Not Sebastian, not Lydia, and not me. I tried to call my mother yesterday and let her know I’m okay, but my father answered the phone, and after a heated argument where he told me to get my ass back home, his exact words were ‘consider yourself warned.’ I’m an adult who can make her own decisions regardless of what my dad thinks.”

“Would you be willing to come down to the station and give your statement?”

“Absolutely, and while I’m there, I’ll file my own complaint.”

“Very well.” The deputy handed Dakota her license and Sebastian’s registration. “Follow me. It’s only a couple of blocks.”

Dakota got back in the Jeep and slammed the door. “My fucking father!” She slapped the steering wheel, then started the engine. Deputy Brown drove past, and Dakota put the Jeep in first to follow. “He put out a missing persons report on me saying Bas had kidnapped me. Hell, it might have been King’s doing. Motherfuckers. Now I have to go to the station and give my statement.”

“I’m putting you on speaker, Bas.” Dakota jerked her head toward Lydia. She hadn’t realized Lydia was on a call.

“Dakota? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. Pissed, but fine. While you’re kicking King’s ass, do you think Tony could put a hurtin’ on Arthur?”

“That can be arranged. Do you want me to meet you at the police station?”

Dakota blew out a breath. “No. I got this. Depending how long it takes, I might not get to go shopping.”

“And if you don’t, you’ll still look great in a T-shirt. Don’t worry about that, okay?”

“Yeah. We’re here, so I’m going to get in there and get this done. I’ll let you know when I’m on the way back.”

“Okay,Cucciolina.Call if you need me for anything.”

“I’ll take care of her, don’t worry,” Lydia told Bas before disconnecting. “Come on. Let’s get this over with.”

It didn’t take long for Dakota to give her statement, and Deputy Brown said he would handle the false report. Lydia assured her they had enough time to stop at the boutique. When the sales associate welcomed them, Dakota told the woman what she was looking for and her size.

“I have something I think you’ll like.” She walked to the far side of the room and stopped at a table of sweaters. “Here you are.” She held out a soft sweater that was nearly identical in color to Sebastian’s eyes. Dakota shrugged off her flannel, then slipped the sweater on. It was a perfect fit. “I’ll take it.” She removed it, then handed it over while putting her button-up back on. Dakota thanked the goddess for allowing her to find something quickly. Once she and Lydia were outside, Dakota called Bas to let him know they were headed back to the hotel.

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