Page 71 of Ruin Me

Nikita sighed and pulled my arms from around her neck. “Alright, baby. Bawling ain’t never solved nobody’s problems. We’ll go to the jail in the morning, but in the meantime, tell me everything you know.”

I relayed what Ife told me, which wasn’t a lot.

“Cops love throwing their weight around, especially when dealing with wealthy people like Kent. I bet they sat on their arrest warrant to ensure Kent spent the weekend behind bars.” Mom brushed my hair out of my face and wiped the moisture from my cheeks. “Since there’s no sleeping for the rest of the night, let’s use those skills of yours to manage this crisis. Or did you forget what put you on the map and kept you thousands of miles from home for so many years?”

Nikita’s much-needed reminder stopped my crying more effectively than telling me to stop. I couldn’t believe I cracked under the pressure when I’d never faltered before.

“Thanks, Mommy.” I straightened with new determination and got to work. Kent needed me more than ever.

Once the sun rose, I was ready for any challenge dumb enough to fall in my way. My confidence remained until I reached the jailhouse and encountered Ife. Her eyes were as bloodshot as mine, but she didn’t have an ultimatum hanging over her shoulder the way I did.

“Figures you’d be here,” she muttered and turned her back on me to address the officer at the entrance. “I’m here to see my father, Kent Luxe.”

The woman glanced at her and yawned. “You’re here really early for a Saturday morning. This guy important?”

“He is to us.” I stepped forward. As much as I respected Ife’s right to see her father, I was too impatient to see him for myself.

The woman checked something on her computer. “Sorry, don’t see a Kent Luxe.” She shrugged and returned to her previous activity of watching the monitors on her desk.

“How’s that possible? I was there when the cops took him into custody?” Ife banged her fist against the officer’s desk.

“Don’t know. He’s not in the system.”

“He has to be. Check again,” Ife insisted.

The woman swatted Ife’s hand away. “He’s not here. Now, leave.”

I narrowed my gaze on her and peeked over her desk at the monitors. Because the images were upside down, it took me a few seconds before I found him on the fourth monitor. “That’s him right there.” I pointed to Kent’s face. “Now, you can either allow us to see him, or I’ll make this weekend one you’ll regret. Even if I have to call the mayor himself.”

“People like to drop his name all the time because they’re taxpayers.” She leaned closer to me. “But let me let you in on a secret. Just because your taxes pay his salary, doesn’t mean you have him on speed dial.” She settled in her chair with a satisfied smirk.

“You would be correct if I were a mere taxpayer.” I pulled my phone out of my handbag. “But you see, here’s the difference. A Joe-Schmo taxpayer wouldn’t have Valentino’s personal number on speed dial, or rub elbows with him at fancy events like this one.” I turned my screen for the woman to see.

Her tanned complexion paled.

“Now, do I press this number that clearly states Valentino DeLuca Home? Or do you do your job and get me in to see Kent Luxe, who by the way, is also good friends with Mayor DeLuca?”

Within two minutes, Ife and I stood in front of an interview room. She hadn’t stopped staring at me since I bullied the officer out front.

“You should go first,” I said. “Kent will be worried about you since you saw them take him last night.”

“That…performance you put on?—”

“Ife, I know you don’t want to understand my feelings, but what I did was no performance. Kent has become my world, and I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure he keeps everything he loves.”

“Does that include me? You’re going to make sure?—”

“Ife? Madison? You shouldn’t be here,” Kent said. He raised his cuffed hands toward us, the sheen in his eyes belying his harsh words.

Two guards stood beside him. “You each have twenty minutes.” They escorted him inside the room and Ife followed.

As time ticked by, I wondered what they were saying. I rested my head against the door as whispered prayers fell from my lips. All of a sudden, the door keeping me upright swung inward and I almost fell on my face. Before I had time to recover, Kent pulled me into his arms and stole my breath with a desperate kiss. My body began softening until I remembered we had an audience.

I pushed at Kent’s muscular arms caging me in, but he wouldn’t relent until I twisted my face away and whispered, “Ife’s watching.”

My conscience wouldn’t allow me to look in her direction. Instead, I hid my face in Kent’s neck.

He loosened his arms but didn’t release me. “Ife, if you have a problem with me showing Madison my feelings for her, turn your back.”

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