Page 88 of A Little Tempting

I flinch at the sound, and my blood runs cold as Everett and Griffin lift their hands into the air. But the officer? He isn’t looking at them. His eyes are pinned on Reeves andonlyReeves.

And Reeves? His bloody hands aren’t raised. They’re loose at his sides as he stares numbly in front of him.

“Look, it was a stupid fight,” I interrupt, desperate to cut the tension. To explain how they aren’t needed here. “They’re over it. It's fine.”

The cop ignores me, reaching for the cuffs on his utility belt as he takes a step toward Reeves and continues tonotacknowledge a very guilty and bloody Everett beside him.

What the hell is this guy’s problem?

I move closer, putting myself between Reeves and the cop who clearly has it out for the guy, though I have no idea why. “Look, the fight’s over, okay? We’ll get out of here right now and?—”

“Miss, if you could please step back.” The first cop’s partner moves closer, his hands half raised as if trying to look unthreatening. It would work if the first cop wasn’t acting like an ass.

Fingers brush softly against the inside of my wrist as Reeves murmurs, “It’s gonna be okay, Dylan.” When he turns back to the first cop, he raises his hands fully into the air. “Hey, Dad.”

What the actual fuck?

I blink, convinced I’m hallucinating.

“You’re his father?” I whisper. The bastard doesn’t even deem me worthy of a response. “Listen, I know fighting is stupid, and I have no doubt Reeves and Everett realize the depth of their stupidity at this moment. But if you could…back off, we’ll go our separate ways, and…” my voice trails off as I shove my fingers through my hair and search the premises.

Feeling his pity, the partner takes another step toward me and touches my shoulder. “Miss, what happened to your face?”

I touch my cheek, then wince.

“He hit you, didn’t he?” the first officer snaps.

“What? No! He didn’t—” I turn to Everett. “Everett, tell them!”

The first officer doesn’t even bother acknowledging my argument. Instead, he orders, “We’re gonna need your statement, and we also need you to decide if you want to press charges.”

“Are you kidding me?” I seethe.

The same pity shines in the second officer’s eyes as he shakes his head back and forth. “Your boy here has priors, miss. We have no choice but to take him in.”

“Then take him in, too,” I seethe, pointing to Everett.

Everett’s muscles are poised as he steps forward. “She’s right. I’m the one who started it.”

“Everett,” Reeves growls. A warning. A threat.

“What’s your name, son?” the unhinged officer demands.

“Everett. Everett Taylor.”

“Never heard your name. You ever been arrested?”

He shakes his head. “No, sir.”

“Then it seems we can let you off with a warning.”

“What?” I screech. “That isn’t fair!”

“She’s right, it isn’t,” Everett argues. “If you take Reeves in, you might as well take me, too.”

“You want to be arrested, boy?” the first officer demands. “Have a mark on your permanent record?”

“Let it go, man,” Reeves warns as he stares at Everett. A look passes between them, and Everett backs off.

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